The Sweet Purple Scent of Wild Grapes Swimming in the Scantic River in the hot swarms of gnats and sweet purple scent of wild grapes: boys and girls splashing naked together, school looming a few weeks ahead. As the afternoon wanes we leap dripping and pink from the lukewarm fish-smelling current and dress and run off in creepy little gangs, boys sneering and girls aloof as if we didn’t know each other, going home to hot dogs and beans. …