The kids are going to summercamp. They LOVE it. In fact, I love it and wish I could go there myself. They swim twice daily, are picked up, dropped off, fed, have choices like :
lacrosse, soccer,kayaking, horseback riding, cooking, pottery, woodshop, ..in short order, you name it and they do it. They each have their favorites. Boo loves archery, lacrosse, street hockey and spending time in the nature house. Maddie Grace loves lacrosse, swimming, cooking, and the nature house.
I was lagging behind (that happens when all you get to do is type, listen to your iPod and research all day versus playing cool stuff outside). The kids headed outside to practice street hockey versus lacrosse. Boo had his hockey stick and was clattering away while Maddie shuffled her feet in anticipation; protecting her goal.
He zoomed in and flipped the shot! OHHHHHH right by her left foot. Point. Ben did the bull dance and sang the score. She smiled and cheerfully said "Good one." Maddie scooped the ball, cradled it and tossed it out. He backed up and came in again. He flew down the left side but shot to her right. Right in the five-hole. ANOTHER point. This victory dance was closer to Maddie and included trash talk. I saw my daughter begin to grind her teeth. She set her jaw and her spine stiffened. (I don't know WHERE she gets it!!!) She scooped the ball and bounced it hard on the ground to his right forcing him to chase it. He did not notice her small tight smile.
"Ooops. SORry Ben. My bad." she huffed.
Ben did NOT see the warning signs. Shame. So here we are at the magic number in my house: three. Boo begins to jostle the ball. He comes in straight at her. She hunches down and shakes her head no like a pitcher in baseball. He shoots and she blocks it. Good one! But he's right there for the rebound and kicks it in.
The over celebration begins. He's singin and dancin. He's pointing in his older, bigger (usually beating the crap out of him) sister's face. "I win-I SMOKED you-WOOOO HOOOO! Awww YEAH BABY! WORLD CHAMP RIGHT HERE."
"Careful..." I said to no one.
Maddie no longer liked her brother, the game, or summer. She poked at the ball and pouted.
I guess he was trying to console her when he said: "It's okay Maddie...you just throw like a girl."
but ...it failed.
She scooped the ball, cradled it, popped it and chucked it at him with such force and speed that he didn't have time to react; or protect himself. Yep. Square in the junk. He went down like a lead balloon. He could have been shot for all I knew. Maddie SAID she didn't mean to. She jogged out, asking if he was alright. But I had my suspicions since she was twirling her stick like a vaudeville barker.
He was gasping and nodding his head.
"MOM! MOMMY!" he choked.
"What Hon? You alright? Can you stand?"
"Not yet....Can...can..."
"Yes?"
"You buy me a cup?"
I was biting my cheek to keep from laughing. Maddie was singing and strolling around the accident scene. Anyone care to guess? (She's so much like her mother so I hear)
"I'm justa girl in the world....."(by No Doubt)
This IS a great song. Maybe when my son stops gasping and clutching himself, he'll appreciated...in a different sense. But then--he's just a boy.
