Long Jump Pit

by Warren Fischer
(Granville, NY 12832)

Early one spring day a few years back. I was detecting at the local school athletic field. In the past I have found the normal pocket change and silver pieces nothing to really brag about. It was a warm spring morning and I had been eye-ballin the 1266x hanging in the basement for sometime.

What the heck I grabbed it and took off for the school yard for my 1st run of the year. It felt good to get back in the swing of things and I didn't get as rusty as I thought. It all comes back. The crackles,pops and sweet sounds were still there like I remember.

I searched around for awhile finding the run of the mill things such as modern coin, paper clips, gum wrappers and the like. I dig just about everything it takes time but this isn't suppose to be work.

I worked my way towards the parking lot where my car was parked. Then I noticed the long jump pit. I never found anything there before. I decided to give it one more chance you just never know. What a disappointment the machine was quiet as I searched. Then all of a sudden there it was that sweet sound of success. That smooth sound of silver.

I dug down 2 maybe 3 inches and there it was. A broken
glass bottle with an aluminum screw cap. Right in the area where the kids land after their long jump. This wasn't the first time I got skunked. I trashed the bottle in the garbage. Thinking back maybe this is the best find I'll ever have. No one was hurt except maybe the feelings of the jerk who buried the bottle.