Page 71 of The Leaves In Autumn
“Why are you so happy?” Sam asks. “Papa’s a beast. He’ll rip your head off to win.”
“Thank you, Sam. I appreciate the compliment.”
She gets up and joins Gaston. Water is taken and held in full cheeks. They are laughing before anything happens. Jillian commences with a little pre-victory dance just to rub it in. She is rewarded with a tortilla to the face. Then he pretends not to know how it happened. He looks at his own hand like it is someone else’s.
It’s a struggle holding the water. She is talking up a storm, gesturing and protesting in gibberish. Holding out her palm and tight fist, she gives a final instruction. Her partner nods.
Weird how you can figure out what they’re saying.
“Klgasujbn! Ah. Oow. Fra.”
On three, it’s Jillian who has the advantage. Paper over rock. Quick as lightning, she smacks the lion with a fierce energy. All the water, and some spit flies out of his mouth and onto her face. He hesitates.
“I’m sorry, honey. Did I get any on you?”
She smacks him again! He returns the favor, minus the Rock Paper Scissors business, and it is all the girl can take. The water she so successfully held flies everywhere. Including on some of the audience.
“Ahhh! You got me!”
“I almost had it!”
“Nobody remembersalmost! You both lost.”
“My turn!” Layla calls, hand in the air.
“Get it, Sister!”
She picks out a name.
“Ohhhhhhh. Come here, Sam. Meet your maker!”
“If I can’t smack Uncle Van, you’ll do until I get a chance.”
Van exchanges looks with his father. “It’s funny how delusional kids can be.”
“Hysterical.”
Before filling their mouths with water, Sam does footwork around her, like a demented sparring partner. There’s an overconfident look on his face. She smacks it off. Hard. He spits out the water.
“Oh, you got served!” David says laughing.
“Good one, Layla!”
Sam looks stunned. “Yo! Chill out, Tyson!”
It only encourages my awesome sister. She does it again. He retaliates. She takes a swing that he avoids by slipping on the lost water.
“Man down!” Van hollers.
“Be careful!”
“I’m okay,” Sam says, attempting to get up. He’s laughing too hard. So my very smart sister takes advantage. She leans over Sam and slaps the sides of her face showering him with her water.
“My husband sends his regards.”
“Burn!” David calls.
“God, I love this woman!” Van says, grabbing her as she passes.
