VIDALIA — The sound of summer time could be heard when The Dart fell on Murray Drive in Vidalia Wednesday.

The laughter of Conner Shows, 9, Cody May, 11, and Tiffany Brewer, 12, as well as the sounds from the splash of a four-foot swimming pool in the back yard of Donnie Shows’ house echoed throughout the Vidalia neighborhood.

But just three summers ago, that giant pool was just a child-sized puddle of water in Brewers’ yard.

Donnie, Conner’s grandmother, moved to Murray Street in 2012, and she said Conner visits often and they have always been close.

So when Conner came to visit his grandmother’s new home, Brewer and May noticed there was a new kid on the block.

“Tiffany came over first to say ‘Hi,’ then Cody showed up,” Conner said.

Brewer invited Conner and May to her home for a swim, but Conner said he was less than satisfied with what he saw.

“First thing I saw was the kiddie pool,” Conner said with dismay.

Brewer said the small pool was a last resort for her to cool off in the summer heat.

“I couldn’t have a big pool because of a law about having a fence up, so we put a little pool in the front yard and I would lay in it to stay cool,” Tiffany said,

The Louisiana Barrier Law specifically identifies that Class A swimming pools (for competitions or diving) and Class B walls (exceeding 2.9 feet) have to be enclosed. The barrier can be a “fence, wall, building, enclosure, or solid wall of durable material,” according to state code.

Now with two neighborhood friends to play with, the inflatable pool just wouldn’t cut it anymore for Brewer.

So Donnie made a deal with the trio.

“The house I moved in had been abandoned for 15 years, so I planned to clean out the back yard and put a fence up,” Donnie said. “So I told them if they helped pick up the limbs and clean up the yard, I would get them a bigger pool.”

Donnie said it took the children just one day to clear the yard of its debris, and she kept her promise.

The children are still close friends, as they enjoy the benefits of their hard work while basking in the summer sun of the large blue pool in Donnie’s backyard.

Brewer said she enjoys spending time with her male friends, and it’s a getaway from the female crowd she usually spends her time with.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Brewer said. “I have three girl best friends so it’s nice to have some boys around, too.”

Outside of Donnie’s backyard, May said the group of friends likes to hang out around the neighborhood.

“We all got electric scooters for Christmas, so we ride together,” May said. “They’re all the same color, too — red.”