Page 60 of The Sky in Summer
As he starts with the kisses, Sam is wiggling away. They are both laughing, and not surprised at all at the other’s actions.
“Stop it!” Sam yells. “Get off me!”
“No. I’m only on number four.”
He lays the last one on him and moves away.
“Let’s finish the game!” Sam searches for an out.
“Okay, okay. But then we are going to the fire pit in front for some deep discussion. I want to hear everything!” Aurora says.
We take our seats, but few are interested in the game. There is a new look on their faces, and it has nothing to do with games.
“Is it a boy or girl?” Teddy asks.
“Don’t know yet. We’re not sure we want to find out,” Parish says.
When Aurora’s mouth opens to speak her mind about the subject, Gaston addresses the table.
“Let’s wrap this up. I am too excited to sit still.”
Parish gives final instructions.
“All right. I am going to remind everyone of the stories. You mark down if you think it was a lie or the truth. Scarlett will tally the score.”
We take our pens and paper and follow his directions. Aurora reaches across the table and touches Scarlett’s arm. She mouths a silent ‘I’m so happy!’.
He reads each short story and we come to our own conclusions. I wonder if any of them heard a word. I hardly did. When he comes to his father-in-law, he chuckles.
“As for Gaston, we all know he was telling the truth. So everyone gets a point for that. When you are finished, please pass your lists and pictures to Scarlett.”
I made my decisions, but I’m shooting blindly. Almost all seem like good liars including my two. The last of the lists are passed and Scarlett gets to the tally. While we wait, Gaston and Parish open another bottle of wine and pass everyone fresh glasses.
“Honey, you want sparkling cider?”
“Yes please. I will say this much. For the first time in the game’s history, one of you aced it.”
That starts four different discussions, mostly with the people claiming victory. The teenagers are not lacking confidence at all. To the man, or boy I should say, all think they are smarter than their parents. Let alone grandparents.
They gauge intelligence on how much they know about the latest trends, teen speak, and who just dropped the best song. Most of all, how well they navigate technology compared to every generation that came before them. They have no idea what we think of their conclusion. What saves us adults from insult, and them from ridicule, is the fact we were young once too. You forgive what you understand.
Scarlett stands and assumes a serious mood. “The results are in. We have a winner,” she says dramatically.
The table pounding resumes. “Who the hell isthat?! Who the hell isthat?!”
“Okay, okay. Let’s hear it,” Aargon pleads, touching his temples.
“The winner, with thefirstone hundred percent correct score…drumroll, please.”
We all make our versions of what a drumroll sounds like. I hear a few good attempts and other undefinable percussion instruments.
“Is Layla!”
“What? Me?”
Van starts laughing, David and Tyler, Sam and Teddy look stricken, and Aurora excitedly grabs my arm like I won the Best Actress Oscar. I look at the twins and smile a shittyI told you solook.
“I have been accused of being a bad game player, as recently as today!” I inform the table. “Haha,” I say, sticking out my tongue at the fruit of my loins.
