Back when I worked in the oil refineries in New Orleans, I met a man named Kevin.

We got to be pretty good friends and this is the story he told me.

When he was 10 years old he was put into foster care.

He never said why, but he liked the man and woman who took him in.

They weren't mean, and nor did they expect him to do a lot of hard work.

They both worked outside of the home, so that meant that Kevin spent a lot of time at home alone in the summer.

And back then a parent could do that without worrying.

When he was out exploring he found a lake beyond the woods that were behind their house.

He went home and told us foster parents about it and they told him that he could go back there

and play all he wanted. He was even allowed to swim in the lake as long as he wore a life vest.

And to a young boy like Kevin that must have been paradise.

The next chance he got, Kevin headed back to the lake with his lie fest in tow.

And when he got there he was surprised to discover a boy and a girl already playing in the water.

As soon as they saw Kevin though, they ran into the woods and hid.

Well, Kevin shrugged his shoulders and he went about his business.

Weren't no skin off of his nose if those kids didn't want to play with him anyway.

There was a great vine hanging from a tree that Kevin got a hold of and swung himself out over the water.

And he dropped in with a big splash and had a great time.

Then he climbed out and he did it again.

And off in the distance he could see those two kids watching him.

Clearly they wanted to come back and join him, but they seemed like they were a little afraid to do it.

As Kevin swung out for the third time, he motioned for the two kids to come back and join him.

...