Page 4 of Another Love, Another Time
“Sure,” we answer. After a ton of different poses, some of the other kids ask if they can take pictures with me. I don’t want to, but I know that my mom would want me to, so I do. Then, Melissa asks if she can take a picture with me.
I tell her “No.” I want to go outside to find River and Logan and play, but my mom gives me the mom look that says, “Don’t even think about saying no.”
“Sure, Melissa, but only one, okay?” I say.
She goes to protest, but my mom interrupts, “One more picture, guys and gals, and then we’ll do a group picture.”
Melissa wraps her arm around me in a half hug, and Mom takes a picture. Then, Mom starts corralling all the kids in for a group shot with the help of all the other moms. “Auggie, get in the center, please.”
I grab River’s hand to pull her with me to the center of the group. River’s mom and mine know this is just how it is. We do serious and silly pictures.
After everyone’s bellies have settled, we head out to the obstacle course. I can’t wait to show River what my dad and I set up. All the kids are lined up around my dad as he explains the course and the rules. The parents have all grabbed their folding chairs to sit around and watch all the kids compete.
My mom has everyone choose a number to determine what order we will go in. She puts us in order. Then, she pulls me aside and asks, “Since you’re the birthday boy, you get to decide when you would like to go. Do you want to go first or last?”
“Last.”
“Okay. Head back there.”
River is in the middle while Logan is first. Melissa is the last one in line, so I stand by her. She starts to talk, but all I want to do is watch everyone going through the course. I ignore her, and she starts talking to her friend in front of her.
My mom and dad say I’m really competitive. I need to watch to see how everyone is doing and what time I need to beat. My dad places Logan at the starting line and says, “On your mark, get set, go!”
Logan takes off. He struggles a little bit on the monkey bars, but he doesn’t fall. He finishes running through the wall ofcardboard boxes as my dad yells, “Two minutes, twenty seconds. Good job, buddy!”
Aunt Ashley is there to stack the boxes back up as my dad gets the next person ready. One by one, each kid goes. No one has beaten Logan’s time.
It’s now River’s turn. She is just as competitive as me; I know she wants to beat Logan’s time. Once my dad tells her to go, she takes off. She goes through the obstacles with no issues. She gets through the monkey bars and does a little victory dance. My dad tells her she'd better get her booty going, that she’s wasting time. He knows how competitive she is.
As she runs through the cardboard wall, my dad yells her time, “Two minutes, twenty-two seconds!”
“What? Uncle Eddie, no way!” she protests.
“Don’t give me any sass, Riv. You’re the one who wasted time doing a happy dance. Next.”
River stomps off towards her dad, probably trying to persuade him to get her a second chance.
Pretty soon, sassy River has been replaced by smug River. She comes to stand beside me and bumps my shoulder. “You got this, Aug,” she encourages.
Just then, Melissa turns around, says the same thing, and smiles at me. River rolls her eyes. “Melissa, how are you going to this in a dress? Aren’t you afraid that everyone is going to see your underwear?”
“No. Auggie’s mom gave me a pair of his shorts to wear under my dress.”
“Well, good luck, Melissa,” River responds just as my dad calls her name.
I’m up next, and I start getting nervous. “Will I beat Logan’s time?” I wonder.
River senses my nervousness and grabs my pinkie in hers. She looks me in the eyes. “Aug, don’t stress. It’s just a game. I know you will do great, but if you don’t, it will be okay.”
Whenever she does things like this, I always feel like someone is tickling me. I shake my head to refocus and respond, “Says the girl who just threw a fit because she didn’t beat Logan’s time.”
She gives me a huge smile. “My dad said he talked to your mom. After everyone leaves, you and me get to race each other to see who is the fastest. Booyah!”
I roll my eyes even though I know it will be fun. Just then, I see Melissa trip through the wall of boxes. I don’t pay attention to her time; there’s no way she beat Logan’s time.
I’m up next. I release River’s pinkie and go up to the start line. Aunt Ashley sets the cardboard wall back up. I hear my dad say, “Go,” and I take off. The next thing I know, I hear my dad yell, “Two minutes, twenty seconds. Tied with Logan. Do you want to challenge each other?”
“No.” I decide not to and forfeit. I need to save up my energy so I can beat River later.
