The Dart: Neighborhood kids turn puddles into paradise

Published 12:06 am Monday, June 15, 2015

From left, Braylon Bush, 8, Branden Bush, 4, Tyson Duck, 4, and Bryceden Bush, 6, play in a puddle at River Manor Apartments in Vidalia. According to the Bush’s mother, the boys play in the puddles every time after it rains. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

From left, Braylon Bush, 8, Branden Bush, 4, Tyson Duck, 4, and Bryceden Bush, 6, play in a puddle at River Manor Apartments in Vidalia. According to the Bush’s mother, the boys play in the puddles every time after it rains. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA — To adults, puddles are a nuisance.

They fill parking lots and yards acting as obstacles from point A to point B.

But to a kid, a puddle is not a necessary evil to cross as a means to an end. It is the end, and kids know every puddle needs a good thrashing.

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When The Dart landed at the end of Carter Street in Vidalia on Friday, Christa Bush’s three children and Leeroy Cotten’s grandson were taking full advantage of a puddle in their apartment complex.

“I was going to make them go into the house, but then they were like ‘water, water’ and before I knew it they were all wet, so I thought what is the point in fighting them,” Bush said.

“They will play in it until it dries up.”

And that is how it started, with Christa’s oldest son Braylon, 8, leading the other two Bryceden, 6, and Branden, 4, into the water.

“We just wanted to play,” Braylon said.

Cotten and his grandson Tyson Duck, 4, were just returning from the spray park at the Vidalia Riverfront when they saw the Bush boys out playing.

“He is over at they spray park almost everyday, and I guess today it wasn’t enough,” Cotten said.

“Right when he got out of the car, he started playing with the other boys.”

The Bush boys and Duck are close. All live in the same building and often play together in front of their apartment under the supervision of Christa and Duck’s mother LeeAnn Cotten.

“I feel lucky to have boys that amuse themselves,” Christa said.

“Sometimes they fight and can be a handful, but with all the iPads and everything computerized, it is good to see natural fun.”