Biting the inside of my cheek, I watch her posture straighten and her features sharpen, and a whole new side of her emerges. Even if she is just being playful, it’s intriguing. Most of the time, she is so carefree and easygoing that I have a hard time picturing her as a lawyer. But I can see it now. It challenges her, it gives her confidence, and that is so attractive.
Ben rolls his eyes. Through gritted teeth, he says, “Yes.”
Nancy and Scott are chuckling in the background as they, Abby, and I look at the sibling face-off.
Noelle crosses one leg over the other and sits back. “Your reasoning behind not allowing myself to change a rule is because you in fact made up the rules? Seems quite contradictory, if you ask me. Are you the only one allowed to make rules for this game, Ben? Do youownthis game?”
“Noelle,” Ben groans and looks to Scott for help.
Scott is grinning ear to ear as he says, “Answer the question.”
Ben runs his hand down his face. “No, I do not own the game. And I suppose if the group all wants to change a rule, it would be allowed.”
Noelle mockingly smiles. “Oh, that is so kind of you to allow the group to vote. All in favor of allowing team swaps, please raise your hand.”
Scott, Nancy, Noelle, and I immediately raise our hands.
“Rule changed,” Noelle says victoriously.
Ben shakes his head in disbelief. “I hate that all of you are lawyers. It’s annoying. I’m so glad I switched to education.” He sighs with a smirk on his lips. “How incredibly fun that was for everyone. Your rule change leaves us with a new problem. Who is going to swap?”
Holy shit. Here’s my chance.
Without thinking, I chuck my candy cane at Ben. “I will!”
What I didn’t realize is that my aim is amazing, even when I have no target in mind. Because my candy cane smacks Ben right on his forehead, snapping in half.
I wince and shout, “I’m so sorry!”
Ben can’t help but laugh at the whole thing as he picks shattered candy out of his lap. “You two are perfect for each other, you know? A match made in heaven. Both of you threw your candy cane at me in the last ten minutes quite aggressively!”
I join Noelle as she starts giggling.
“Well, the teams are official. Team red is Noelle, Kat, and Scott. Team green is Ben, Abby, and myself!” Nancy announces. “Team red will start at the front of the house. Team green in the back. If you get hit, you are out. Last person standing wins it for their team.” She claps, dismissing us to get dressed and hurry outside.
We all rush to the door, dressing in our coats, gloves, and hats as fast as we can. Ben, Abby, and Nancy disappear after just a minute, heading to the back door.
Scott grabs his gloves and opens the front door for us. “Okay, we need a maker and two throwers—a main thrower that goes for targets and the other one will talk and locate the other team, throwing as needed to help thrower number one.”
Scott grabs a bright orange sled from beside the porch as walk down the steps.
They have a whole plan for a snowball fight. I’m equally excited and nervous about this fact. Who knew it could be so competitive?
“Kat, can you make snowballs?” Noelle asks as we lightly jog over to the big oak tree in their front yard.
Nodding, I begin scanning the surroundings for pops of color against the stark white snow. “I will totally be the snowball maker.”
Scott reaches down and grabs a handful of the flaky, wet snow as we get behind the tree. “All right, just make them as fast as you can. The more, the better. Size variation is good too.”
He tells me that as if I will just have a perfect feeling for the weight differences of the snowballs.
He puts the sled in front of me. “For you to kneel or sit on, so you’ll be more comfortable. And so you’ll work faster.” He laughs at his joke.
Dropping to my knees on the upside-down sled, I get to work, shaping and molding as many snowballs as I possibly can and placing them on top of the sled as I go.
Noelle and Scott both load up with them and then go back to watching for the others.
“Dad, do you want me to keep a lookout?” Noelle asks him.
