Page 25 of Serenade Me

“I’d be offended. If it weren’t true.” Seb hangs his head.

“Okay, Benny, you’re up again.”

“Okay… I pick…Uncle Jez.”

“Right on, buddy! We are gonna crush ‘em.” Jez holds up his hand for a high five.

“It’s not too late for adoption, you know?” Emily says, tapping on her son’s shoulder to get his attention, which he ignores, giving his full attention to his dwindling bucket of fries..

“Okay, my turn and… Emily, it is!”

“Hooray!!” She yells and we fist bump, barely making contact and almost punching each other in the face.

“Aw, Mommy, I was going to pick you next.” Ben says, looking sad.

“Well, next time you should pick me earlier. Okay, now hurry up, your turn, Uncle Marius or Auntie Cadence.”

“I pick…”

“No need to say it, buddy, I got your back,’ Marius cuts in and jumps over to stand by Ben.

“…Auntie Cadence!” Ben announces.

“Wha?” Marius stops in his tracks, shocked.

“Sorry, Uncle Marius, but she makes the best jam sandwiches. She puts lots of ice cream in them”

“But jam sandwiches don’t have ice cream in them.”

“And that’s why you’re the last person to be picked for a team,” Cadence taunts Marius and pushes him back over to my side.

“Aunt Anca, it’s your turn!” Ben declares gleefully.

“Yeah, thanks. Not much of a choice, is it?” I pretend sneer and look Marius up and down, trying not to let a grin break out.

“Hey. I’m a master at this “balling” thing. I am gonna. Win. This. You’ll ALL be eating your words.” He grabs a ball and walks up to the lane,” Now, what are those white things at the end of the catwalk?”

***

It turns out, Marius is actually quite good.

So good, in fact, that about half way in, he’s way ahead of anyone else and has about the same amount of points as the rest of us on the team combined.

I, on the other hand, have contributed about 2% of the total score.

And they’re not letting me forget it.

“Aaaaand…she’s up. Godzilla’s foot stand-in, taking her position on the lane. Will she or won’t she… actually get the ball halfway down the lane, is what betters are putting their money down on.” Marius stands behind me, invisible microphone in his hand, adding infuriating commentary.

“You’re supposed to be on MY team,” I grumble.

“I am on your team. I’m also funny.”

I snort and almost drop the ball on our feet. “You’re deluded is what you are.”

“Hurry up! We already know you’re just going to get it into the gutter,” Jez rushes me.

“Yeah, but we don’t know which one,” Sebastian calls out. “I vote the one in the next lane like she did on the last bowl.”