Puppy-dogs' tails

J. has his friends over and they are in the garden knocking each other over, tumbling on top of each other while giggling hysterically. All I can see are heads knocking into noses and elbows bruising cheek bones. When they come up for a bit of air, I open the back door and holler to take it easy, especially J. who seems massive compared to the other first graders. I am greeted with three beamish smiles and the reassurance that it’s all right since the whole point of the exercise is for J. to knock their front teeth out. And I thought that’s what a crisp Granny Smith was for...