Page 30 of Xavier

Michael splutters, "You're a girl."

"Oh, I get it, you're scared ‘cos I'm a girl, I'm obviously better at b-ball than you,” she taunts him, winking at me.

My brother’s not sure how to respond and she laughs, poking him in the stomach.

“Hey!” he grumbles, swatting her hand away.

“How ‘bout this? Me and Xavier, against you three, whoever gets the most baskets in five minutes buys the others ice cream!”

“But we don’t have any money,” Brian responds.

“Then you better win!” She steals the ball out of Michael’s hands and runs toward the basket, whooping as her first throw nets her a clean basket.

“Your girlfriend is crazy, Xave,” Brian points out.

“She’s not my girlfriend, but yes, she’s a little nuts.”

“Just like you,” Michael giggles as I chase him over to the hoop.

***

"And I want three scoops, double choc chip and with chocolate fudge and chocolate spinkles."

"Mikey, there's no way you're going to be able to eat that,” I say, horrified.

"Yes, I will! I never get to order what I want and since Malynda's paying, I can!" he insists.

I gesture to the server at Dairy Joy to make them super small scoops and she gives me a wink. We're pretty used to kids ordering way more than they can eat. We've both also had the experience of being the ones who have to clean up, once the kid discovers just how much they can really fit in their tiny bodies.

"That's not nice, Mikey! Don't take advantage of Malynda's generosity,” I scold him.

He pouts, “I'm NOT, I’m taking advana-avtaga, um…”

"Advantage…"

"Advantage of her being bad at throwing baskets!"

Malynda throws us all a look of mock hurt and the boys all dissolve into laughter, clutching their respective ice creams as we follow her to an empty table in front of the ice cream parlor.

It's hot and the ice creams are melting fast.

There’s silence for the first time since this morning as we all race to lick up the drops of ice cream dripping down our arms before they reach our elbows.

It's a losing battle for Hamish and before long, there's more ice cream on his arms and legs than left on the cone. He doesn’t care, he gives me a big chocolate covered grin as he laps at his treat like a parched dog.

I can only shake my head and grin back, glad that they had some fun today. I take a bite into my own chocolate dipped cone and savor the crackle. I love that sound. It's the breaking of a shell to reveal secrets hidden beneath it.

"Oh. I think... we're losing one," Malynda speaks first, tilting her chin toward Mikey.

She’s not wrong, he's struggling under the sheer weight of his ice cream, barely making a dent in the giant dessert he’s cradling with both hands, but he's not giving up despite the distinct green color that's creeping up his neck.

"Er, hey, buddy. Why don't you take a break, yeah? We'll take it home and put it in the fridge and you can have it later,” I urge him, though I predict it will be in vain.

"No! You guys will eat it!”

"No, I promise it's all yours,” I try to reassure him.

"Make Brian and Hame promise too,” he begs.