Page 114 of The Champion
Still sitting next to Tommy in the dirt, he looked at me,with wide blood shot eyes. “I sometimes think that my ideas will work onJameson.”
“Fire crotch,” I shook my head rubbing his back softly.“I sometimes think that I could have been a professional dancer and thenreality sinks in and I say to myself, that’s a pipe dream.”
He looked concerned. “Are you saying I’ll never get himback?”
“No. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
Tommy moaned and fell back into the dirt. “Did theyreally brand my chest?”
I nodded with a smile. “Yes, that really happened.”
“Are my eyebrows missing?”
“Yes, that really happened too.”
Before heading back to our tent, I looked at the campsiteand cringed at what ten adults were able to do in one evening.
We had no beer left, no hard alcohol and most of our foodwas now gone. Not to mention we almost set the picnic table on fire,successfully discovered how to make a bomb with Pepsi and Mentos, made a beerbong with Ami’s breast bump, gave Tommy a tattoo with a branding iron Aiden hadmade on his chest that said “I’m your bitch” and lost Ryder. Actually lost him.
It was time for bed.
Jameson, who used the kids as a defense device when Ifound him in the tent, had nothing to say for himself until I showed him thecuts on my back from the tree.
“I’m sorry?” he offered playing with Arie’s curls as sheslept on his chest.
“Sorry he says.” I repeated shaking my head beforezipping myself up to my nose in my sleeping bag.
Pit Board – Jameson
“Daddy, daddy!”
I groaned, opening my eyes to the blinding light comingin through our tent. I got very little sleep with all the bugs and everythingthat happened last night. Oh, and when I finally did reach the tent, Ariewormed her way in between us.
I tired numerous times to put her on the other side ofSway but no, every time she found her way back to me and my sore back.
After about the tenth time of Arie saying, “You awake?”that morning, I opened my eyes to find her staring at me.
“Finally,” Arie sighed. Her big emerald eyes gleamed withbrightness. “Get up,” she ordered pointing her tiny finger at me.
For being nearly three, she was demanding. I blamed Emmaand Alley for that.
“Flowers,”
Oh, right. I promised her we’d pick flowers today. How wewere going to find flowers here was beyond me. So far, all I’ve seen is redclay mud, water, and bugs.
“Daddy!” she yelled jumping on me. “Up.”
“I’m up sweetie, I’m up!” I turned over to see Sway wasstill sleeping. “Just let me make some coffee first. And don’t wake up mommy.She’s mad at me.”
She seemed to contemplate this for a moment. “Onemimmut,”
“You are so adorable.” I grabbed her chubby cheeks inbetween my hands kissing her nose. “So adorable,”
“No me not.” She said sternly frowning as she pushed againstmy chest.
“Oh yes youare.” I tickled her ribs as shecackled, continuing until she was screeching loud enough to wake Spencer andAiden.
I let her up after that so she could catch her breath.For the first time I noticed what she was wearing and I had to bite my lip tokeep from laughing. She obviously dressed herself this morning. The outfitstarted-off normal enough, with a t-shirt and jeans but the jeans were tuckedinto bright yellow boots. Along with those she was wearing a pink ballet costumeover the shirt and a tiara that was slightly askew from our tickling war, ontop of her head.
