Page 56 of The Sky in Summer
“Don’t open until I say so,” Scarlett says. “You all have to have the same amount of time to come up with a story…or not!” She says it with dramatic flare.
“And I don’t know if Van filled you in on this, but there is no discussion after each story. You don’t want others to share in your insights.”
You would think we were holding the Academy Award envelopes. Silent challenges are being sent across the table.
“All right starting now,” Scarlett says, setting the timer on her phone, “you all have one minute.”
Envelopes are opened, and pictures looked at front and back. Mine is of a guy carrying a surfboard, looking back at the camera lens. No smile. Hmmm. Looks like it is from the sixties. When I check out his actual information on the backside, I want to laugh, but that would be a rookie mistake. I keep the straight face.
Tyler looks like he is scrambling to come up with something. David has already closed the envelope and sits with a grin on his face.
“Okay time!” Parish says, as the timer sounds.
“Let’s start with Sam. We’ll go around the table and end with Dad,” Scarlett instructs.
With a nod from Parish, Sam carefully removes his photo and holds it facing out, against his chest. It shows an old bent man handing out waters to passing marathon runners.
Everyone at the table, minus Layla and her boys, yell, “Who the hell isthat?!! While pounding their fists.
It always makes us laugh. We have said it a thousand times, and it never fails. And now we have three new recruits, to join in next picture.
“This is Horace Bedstone.”
“Hi, Horace!” the table greets the man, which brings more laughter. We are idiots, entertaining ourselves. Parish writes Horace Bedstone next to Sam’s name and waits for the story.
“Horace is the father of the runner he hands the water to. He used to run himself in his younger days. Oh, and he won seven marathons.”
Sam keeps a straight face, neither laughing or serious.
“Interesting, you are struggling not to laugh,” my father says.
“But that could be to fool us,” Teddy says.
“That’s right. You are catching on quickly,” Aurora adds.
“My turn,” Aargon says.
He pulls out a very interesting eight by ten glossy. The fiftyish woman in it is not smiling. In fact, she looks kinda pissed. But it looks like a professionally photographed picture.
“Who the hell isthat?!!”the game players, including Layla, Tyler, and David holler.
“Say hello to Beverly Talbot.”
“Hi, Beverly!”
“She is an English stage actress. This is one of her many headshots, showing different moods.”
“Well not a very famous one!” Aurora says.
“Regardless. That is who the hell this is,” Aargon announces.
Parish writes the information.
“Okay, Teddy. You’re next.”
The photo is taken out and it faces us. It’s a child staring directly at the camera. Kinda haunting.
“Who the hell isthat?!!!”
