'21s Ablaze

The wood piles up.

The morning rain has subsided.

The moment is nearly at hand.

Hit the first floor for some East Wheelock fun;

Draw on some face paint and snap some glow sticks.

Patience struggles to control impending excitement.

Take a short walk... stop on the stairs.

Wait for the others...

Soon the mob becomes visible.

Join the throng!

Last but not least!

The excitement is too much;

Jog to enter sooner.

RUN. RUN. RUN.

The wood is quiet,

Then suddenly a spark alights...

And in the next moment a roaring blaze.

Everyone is hyper and the adrenaline is palpable.

The first few laps are solo.

Then I spot them,

And we run together.

The mob splits us apart,

So off again at my own pace.

A few times around and I find them again.

It has almost been 21 laps.

2 more to go.

The last lap:

I sprint for the heck of it.

I weave in and out of people,

Trying to stay vigilant so as not to collide.

My legs know no pain; I have unlimited energy.

It is done. I made the 21.

I continue, searching again for them.

Another long run later I find them.

They are with our other friends;

It is good to see everyone in one place.

We finished. Everyone made their twenty-one laps.

Time to hit the (hard-earned) showers.