I focus on my team. I show them one finger. They nod.
I make a sign of shooting from a rifle.
“Sniper,” Pa says.
I shake my head and make a rough rifle design. I know Dad will get it.
“Rifle,” he says.
I nod and move my fingers like I’m typing on a keyboard.
“Typing,” Aunt says.
I point toward her and Dad.
“Typing on rifle?” Ma makes a strange face.
“Type of a rifle,” Pa says.
And Dad starts, “Bolt action, DMR, pump action, automatic, single shot, break action, assault…” I point.
“Assault,” he repeats.
Mom chuckles. “They can’t think beyond weapons.”
I sit down. Aunt whispers with narrowed eyes, “Let’s give them single words as well. Brick for brick.”
“That’s three words,” Dad points out.
She rolls her eyes. “That’s an idiom. How about ‘stranger’?”
Ma nods. “Perfect.” Then she pushes me. “Go and give, Avi.”
I get up and reach the center. She comes on her own. I lean down to whisper in her ear, “I love you.” A visible shiver runs through her. She looks at me, stunned. I smile. “But that’s not the name. Stranger is your movie.”
I turn and walk back to my seat.
“I didn’t know Zo also teases people,” Aunt says with a knowing smile. Then she chuckles, “What had you said to that poor girl that she is still stunned?”
“I think she’s thinking how to act,” Ma says.
Avira turns toward her team and shows them one finger, then stands still.
“Don’t tell me ‘Standing’ is the name,” Wen says.
She purses her lips, then moves her hands up, but drops them when nothing comes out.
Then her face lights up. She looks toward Wen and makes a small space between her fingers.
“Small?” Wen says, unsure.
She shakes her head.
“Little?”
She nods.
“‘Little’ is the movie name?” Mom asks.
