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“Oh! Too slow!” I holler at Jaromir, then high-five Ryan for a shot well made.
We’re spending our last night where we began our first one, in the game room. Well, game arena really. It’s what the kids and I took to calling once we realized there was more to it than we thought. And that’s saying something.
It took a full two days for Ryan, Tina, or I to notice many of its best features, let me put it like that. Which during the holidays is just cruel. The TV that dropped down from the wall across his overstuffed and custom-made sectionals was my favorite. That and the numerous game systems, including the classics.
Tina blocks another one of my shots, and I can’t help but be annoyed and proud in equal measure. “Ooh, look at me go.” She turns to high-five Jaromir, which is precisely when my favorite nephew strikes. The drop of the ball means it’s time for us to high-five again. My palm tingles from the force of his slap.
“Careful, that’s how bones are broken. I’ve got pictures.” My tone is casual, and my eyes are on the game. It’s both intentional and part of a new plan. I’ve decided I can ease up on the helicopter-parent thing. At least when it comes to chastising my kid for having a little fun.
I can trust Ryan to get a joke and know I’m not about to open up my phone and traumatize him to prove a point. And that goes double while on vacation. It’s been a great winter break. Perfect really, since the only thing I’d like to change about the last week is the fact that it's done.
“Oh, too slow squared!” I tell Jaromir, as the ball rolls past one of Jaromir’s foosmen, a brawny orc who looks suspicious just like him.
If I’d known earlier the kids were this good at foosball, I could have planned for it in the Christmas gift budget. I mean, not a real big one, of course, but something small and portable.
“Not for long again,” Jaromir growls. I pull on one of the handles and squeal when my player blocks his player’s shot.
“Don’t you mean forever?” Ryan teases.
“Take that back, boy,” Jaromir kids, and I warn Ryan his favorite athlete might be serious.
“Not a chance,” Ryan remarks, just as Tina sends the black and white mini soccer ball straight down the line. It rolls right into our goal, and I have to cover my ears as Jaromir and Tina do a very long and veryloudvictory lap around us.
When they’re done, Jaromir grabs the ball, points at Ryan, then slips it into the serving hole. “What about now?”
“You don’t scare me.” Ryan narrows his eyes and tries not to smile. I watch the corners of his mouth curl up into a grin, despite his best efforts, and cover my own with a hand.
“He laughs in the face of danger!” Tina adds.
Jaromir shoots her a wounded look. “Hey, whose side are you on?”
Tina can’t answer the question and guard the goal at the same time. Not if my fast hands have anything to say about it.
“I’m on everyone's side. I—” The sound of my first point sends shivers down my spine. I can’t deny it feels good to win, especially playing with your favorite people like I am.
“I did it! I did it! I did it!” I jump up and down like I’ve won free concert tickets to something good. Jaromir catches me in his arms, then spins me around.
“Legs!” Tina grabs her brother, despite the fact I’ve curled my legs like the seasoned hugger I am.
How do they think I know how bad two swinging legs feel? I’ve been on the giving and receiving end too many times to count. They both leave ugly bruises, just in different spots. Both are terrible outcomes.
“You know who I used to yell at when I was younger?” I’m suddenly struck with a distant memory of Tina’s dad spinning their mother.
“Who?” Ryan asks, though the look in his eyes leads me to believe he knows who I’m about to bring up. The holidays can be a difficult time of year, but I’m not going to let it stop me from sharing memories, even if they sting a little. It’s worth it to remember such a happy couple.
“Your dad,” I answer, stretching the truth just a little. “Your mom loved to spin him in high school. She was good at it, too.”
I’m not technically lying, though most of what I mean is that Wendy was great at sneaking up on people, then grabbing them around the waist and spinning them. I don’t know if I’d actually call it a hug.
“Cute!” Tina exclaims, drinking it in. “Jaromir, spin me.” Tina turns her back to Jaromir and opens her arms.
“Trust fall!” Ryan lets go of his grip on the foosball hand to run over to his sister. “I’m ready, go.”
“No!” I lurch forward before Tina can manage to teeter back into her brother. With the way Ryan’s standing, there’s no way she doesn’t smack the back of her head right into his lips.
“That’s not a trust fall.” Jaromir scoffs. Tina squeals as he lifts her up and onto the pool table. “Thisis a trust fall.”
“Awesome! Me next!” Ryan begs as Jaromir motions for Tina to turn his back to her.
