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I rub the spot where he kissed me. "My word, your kissing is as good as your singing."
"So, terrible?" Calloway jokes.
Waxley snickers. "That was a pretty weak kiss."
BJ sticks his tongue out. "Can it, Waxley."
It’s tough not to laugh. "Let’s not break out into a fight before snuggle movie night."
I think about some of the epic battles I’ve witnessed at RenFest. There are some wild feuds between dragons and lords that always draw a laugh out of me. I once saw two knights challenge each other to a jousting match that ended with one being whisked away to the hospital.
I first attended RenFest when I was a college student. I was blown away by all the intricate costumes that the festivalgoers wore, and kind of wanted to purchase one myself at one of the stalls that lined the cobblestone paths. I liked the clinking of the tankards, the wise-cracking jesters, and huddled groups of knights, noble ladies, and courtesans. I bought gifts from the artisan booths, watched blacksmiths hammer away at red-hot metal, sparks dancing in the air as they created horseshoes, while I strained my ear to hear a minstrel's lute that filled the night with a riveting melody. When the sun set, lanterns transformed the field into a magical land.
Some people say that RenFest is nerdy, but I beg to differ. In fact, I think it’s the least-nerdy thing on this planet, because it teaches you history. It’s much lamer and nerdier to sit around and watch TV every night instead of watching actors put on a Shakespearean play. To be or not to be, that is the question. In my mind, it’s always nobler to head to RenFest than judge it from afar.
I had a business associate discriminate against me once when I talked about RenFest at a meeting. They scoffed and said, "Of course you’d fit in there." I nearly challenged them to a jousting match before I remembered that I didn’t know how to joust. My second brilliant idea was to challenge them to a duel, but I decided against it because they were from Texas and actually knew how to fire a gun. I wound up stealing a property from them and making three million off of it, and donating a big chunk of the profits to the RenFest board. I’m now the biggest sponsor of the festival.
BJ grins at me. "You’re the only man who could stop me from challenging my friends to a duel."
"A duel?" Waxley rolls his eyes. "Working guys don't do duels, BJ."
"Yeah," Calloway concurs. "Threaten to hang us from a crane or something. Duels are so Middle Ages."
My delicate heart batters against my ribcage like a butterfly. Did my boy say… duel?
I take BJ’s delicate head between my cheeks. "I’m not sure I heard you correctly, boy. Say that again."
"You’re the only man—"
"Skip to the last word."
"Duel."
He really said duel.
I nearly faint right then and there, my mammoth body collapsing on the floor. All six-foot-eight feet of me would shake the Hug Club’s foundation, no doubt about it.
"Are you a fan of… the Renaissance, boy?"
BJ shakes his head. "No, but I could learn about it if you are. I just wanted to challenge my friends to a duel."
I bury BJ in my arms. "You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect."
I check the wall clock. Sure enough, snuggle movie night is going to start soon. As much as I love chatting with BJ’s friends, I have to help set up.
I smile at Waxley and Calloway. "How would you two boys like to help BJ and I set up the beanbag chairs?"
Waxley bounces on the balls of his feet. "I’d love to."
"Do you have any animated movies with rainbows?" Calloway squeezes his teddy Constable Charlie tightly. "Me and Daddy watched a documentary about rainbows the other night. They’re beautiful."
BJ looks at me. "Is there a rainbow in Finding Nemo?"
I furrow my brow. "I have no idea, sweet boy. Here, I’ll give this task to Jako and ask him to look up some films."
All three boys busy themselves with setup. They drag the beanbag chairs in front of the projector screen, set out bowls of snacks (and steal some), arrange juice boxes in alphabetical order (starting with A for apple and ending in P for punch), then turn off the lights.
BJ beams at me. "We finished, Daddy!"
