Page 19 of Whimsical Ink

5

DANIEL

December 24th:The game.

We gather in a circle around Emma, who set the yellow wicket on the right with a deep line in the sand in front of it to act as the crease, while twenty-five paces to the left only has a line.

“Okay, rules today. Batter against everyone else. The ball’s in play if it goes in the water, but if it gets to the dunes, it’s a six and the batter’s out. Batter gets one free shot, then anything’s game. If you hit the ball, you have to run to the line and back to the wicket crease. I don’t care how shit it is. Bowler rotates after six balls. Batter is out if you hit yellow, and after eighteen balls regardless. Fielders and wicket keeper can be anyone else whenever. Everyone gets a chance to bat and once the rotation is complete, whoever got the most runs wins. Make sense?” Emma claps her hands, ignores Maddy’s dazed face, and hands the yellow plastic bat to Mum and the yellow ball to Maddy.

“When was the last time you played cricket?” I ask her.

She chucks the ball up and catches it and rolls her arm in a practice bowl. “Not since I was eleven. I’m sure it’ll come back to me.”

I glance at Emma, who’s staring at Maddy. “She’s gonna annihilate us.”

Emma wiggles her eyebrows. “She deserves to, dealing with you.”

“What are you planning?”

“Nothing.” She strolls to the water. “Take wicket keeper.”

Everyone takes their positions, and Maddy stands behind the line while Mum hits the sand with the bat, getting ready.

“Underarm please, honey.”

Maddy changes course quickly. A line between her brows appears. She squints and throws the ball.

The ball cracks against the bat, and the game begins.

Mum doesn’t last long, or deliberately gets out early so she can stand in the sun and only move when the ball comes her way.

Dad lasts longer, but we still get him out before eighteen balls. Emma lobbed the ball at the wicket, and his dive wasn’t quick enough. He wipes sand off his T-shirt and rolls his eyes at her.

“Couldn’t give me a break?”

“Nope.” She takes the bat from him, and I take the yellow ball from Mum, taking my position behind the line while Maddy stands behind the wicket.

“You ready?” I yell.

“Go ahead.” Emma bends her knees and fists the bat.

I roll my arm over my shoulder and twist my hand when I let the ball loose.

“Don’t spin it, you bastard,” Emma shouts as she hits the ball and runs.

“It wasn’t in your rules!” I duck out of the way as she barrels towards me and flinch when she swings the bat at my feet.

She crosses the crease as Mum throws the ball at the wicket. It goes wide and Maddy runs after it, bending down to reach itand giving me an eyeful of smooth skin, barely covered in black fabric. I look away before anyone notices, but when I lock eyes with Emma, she smirks at me.

Caught.

The ball hits my chest and bounces on the sand. I snag it and see Maddy grimacing at me.

She mouths an apology, but I smile at her. And try not to fixate on the V of her one-piece. The string holding her hat dangles between the V, trailing down and swinging between her breasts. Miles of smooth skin, and I can’t touch.

“Danny, you still playing? Bit distracted?” Emma laughs and leans against the bat.

I throw the ball at the wicket before she can adjust her position and cackle when the yellow wicket topples over.

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