Page 48 of The Leaves In Autumn
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Nobel’s voice rises.
“At Dad’s count, teams turn and walk twenty steps! He will yell for us to stop, and then the battle will begin! We are on the honor system! When you get hit, you must take yourself out of the game. But if your team member survives, she or he can win it for you. You are allowed to hide behind the trees, but you cannot leave the lawn. Everybody clear on the rules?”
“We’ve got it! Let’s go! Start the music!”
I line up next to Aargon and we exchange confident looks. The sound of an ape leaves his lips as the first ominous symphonic notes sound.
“That’s right, baby!”
Opps. I got lost in the moment. It’s okay. He barely heard me over the music.TheRideofTheValkyriessets the pace. We turn our backs to each other, and Gaston begins the loud count.
“One. Two. Three.”
We have our marching orders and take big steps to put as much room between us as possible.
“Eight. Nine. Ten!”
An excitement builds as if we are about to wage a battle. Well, we are.
“Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen!”
Here we go! I take a stronger grip.
“Eighteen. Nineteen. TWENTY!”
We become soldiers with but one goal. Eliminate the enemy! At first there is a lot of scattering. Then some yelling. Running away from early attacks. Aargon and I know where we are going first. The three trees that stand closest to each other. It’s a matter of speed, because others have the same idea in mind.
Fortunately for us, the team we need to worry about most, the most physically fit of us, are under a big disadvantage. All three of the boy’s dates are wearing sandals. Ha! It was a crucial error on Tyler, Sam, and Teddy’s parts. It slows them just enough for us to beat them to the trees and turn our Super Soakers their way. I see Kyle kick hers off.
It takes a few seconds more to pump, but the stream goes farther than any of the other water pistols.
“I got you!” Aargon yells to Tyler.
He scored a direct hit in the chest.
“Hide!” Tyler yells to his teammate. “It’s up to you now!”
This makes Argon laugh and I join him in our evil joy. No one is safe. Not kids or new guests, not aging parents or siblings. Especially not siblings. I put an eye on Layla, who thinks I don’t see where she’s hiding.
“I’m going for my sister!”
There’s no waiting for confirmation from my teammate. He’s already scoping the next victim.
I serpentine through the small grove of trees and hide behind a thick trunk. There she is, back to me. Hahahaha!!
That’s when I feel it. The sharp sting of a spray. I turn to see the evil smile of Van. They set me up for this one. Put the pregnant woman as bait, and I fell for it!
“Fuck me! Fuckity fuck fuck, you assholes!”
Layla turns, smiles broadly and winks in a show of conceited superiority. When I look at Aargon, he is shaking his head. Then he’s off to find someone to take it out on. Just wait till next year!
* * *
Two hours after the water fight, we are dry, tired, and fully satisfied with the day. Aargon and I, and Van and my sister, lay on a blanket under the stars, waiting for the show to begin. These thick pillows are great. Think I could fall asleep right here.
