Megan and Adum had asked Izzy what she wanted to do for her birthday and she had said 2 things “Cake and waterslides!” Megan wasn’t sure where she had heard about waterslides but that was not happening this year, not even a splash pad. But Megan felt bad to deny her the fun of childhood so she had ordered a few things online to set up their yard like a little party water park for Izzy and her little daycare pals. They had of course been clear on invites that if kids had any sickness or if families had traveled that they’d love to see them later for a beach day. But now Megan was in the yard filling things up with the garden hose. There was of course a little inflatable pool, a little sprinkler inflatable splash pad, a beach ball water toy sprayer and many goofy plastic and inflatable animals. She even had a little fishing game they could try and play. It was sort of in stations so kids could easily take turns and not be right on top of each other...in theory.
She had made gluten vegan free cupcakes and hotdogs with little corn tortilla wraps since Izzy seemed to react to gluten lately. She even managed to find some vegan hotdogs for little Blaze and his family. She had a great big platter of fresh fruit all cut up as well. And she had done up some little loot bags. Megan had a black floral two piece swimsuit under a simple black and white striped sundress since she was sure she’d get sprayed too. Her hair was up in a loose bun. Megan was over 3 months pregnant now and feeling good but not showing yet. Adum was inside dressing Izzy and it was almost time for her guests to arrive.
Adam Brate had set up a small table for the gifts. But he had added a little touch and it now looked like a tier cake with places for the gifts. He’d missed out on so much of Izzy’s life that he had moved his company to the island, but now he was so busy, he still didn’t get to see his family as much as he would have liked, so this was one way to make up for it.
Upstairs in Izzy’s bedroom, Adum was watching his daughter as she narrowed down her choices of dress. He thought all of her choices were pretty, but she had her mother’s fashion sense. However, at least Izzy would lay out dresses, look at them and then out the rejected ones back in the closet. For himself the choice had been relatively simple. Long blue swim trunks and an old APD tshirt. But he thought that might be because he was male … or certainly didn’t have the fashion brain of his wife and daughter.
Izzy had narrowed it down to three dresses when she realized that her parents had made a whole water slide park in the backyard. So she went to one of her drawers and pulled out four bathing suits and laid them out on her bed to look at. Nodding to herself, then took her dresses and returned them to the closet, then went back to her bed to look at the bathing suits.
Megan walked over to her father in law at his table “Look at you go Grandpa. That looks great.” She fanned herself a bit with the top of her dress “Good day for sprinkler stuff. It’s going to be hot. Oh shit, sunscreen….be right back.” She dashed into the house and grabbed a few bottles of the kid’s spray waterproof sunscreen “Poor Izzy takes after you Brates.” She teased and then holds out a bottle to Adam “Do you need some?” Between her Indigenous and Spanish heritage Megan didn’t need much sunscreen herself but she had learned Izzy burned fast if she wasn’t on top of it. During the fog, sunscreen had of course run out so people had made various homemade salves and creams but the best choice for those who were more sensitive was always to cover up with loose clothing and wide brimmed hats and time exposure so it wasn’t peak time. As she’s still holding out the bottle a few folks begin to arrive.
Jack Douglas strolls across the grass to Megan and Adam with a big blue gift bag with a giraffe on it. “Hello there Adam. Hello Sweetie.” He leans down to kiss his daughter’s cheek “Don’t spray me with that shit. So greasy…..” He laughs and looks at the table and then holds up his bag in question “That for these? Secret hint, it’s zoo animal themed.” He’s wearing a black ACDC t-shirt and long cutoff dark blue jeans shorts with black sneakers. His greying hair is pulled back in a low braid and he has aviator style sunglasses on.
Chris walks down Water street pulling Olivia and Blaze in a little wagon that his parents had given them when they started packing up to move house. He and his brother and sister had all been pulled in it back when they were small. His free hand holds Noelle’s. The kids are having their own nonsensical and giggly conversation as they ride along so Chris enjoys the moment to chat with Noelle. “Goes a little faster with them on wheels.” He jokes. Walking with two small children was constant stopping or carrying depending on their moods. Chris is wearing khaki colored cargo shorts and a plain light blue t-shirt with his usual black and white trainers. He’s also got on a pair of black sunglasses and a APD baseball cap on his head.
Noelle glances back at the kids in the wagon. She’s in a blue sundress with one of Chris’s button downs over it to protect her from the sun with woven sandals on her feet. “And probably more fun for them.” she smiles up at him. Part of her is dying to go to this party because she loved Megan’s ideas and was still considering themes for Blaze. Olivia being more part of the family now, she was thinking how best to combine them. As they approach the house, she looks at it and as they pass it, she again admires the humongous side yard. It’s the largest yard on the island.
Adam takes the proffered sunscreen and sprays his exposed surfaces. Hot or not, he opted for jeans, so his arms and head were exposed. “Well maybe that bean in there will be a bit darker like Momma. You can't all fry in the sun like we do.” he chuckles and then laughs as Jack approaches. “That grease keeps us poor pale creatures from bursting into flames.” he motions to the table. “You may put that on the work of art. I may have gone a little overboard.” he admits. “I’m itching to build. Soon we begin constructing the new community center and library and kids parties will have to do with just a boring table for gifts.”
Upstairs, Adum takes a look at the bathing suits and bites his lip. “As long as you wear a shirt over it so the sun doesn’t bake you like a cake, baby.” he tells her. He is unsurprised when she ignores him, at least at first. She chooses a pink flowered bathing suit and Adum turns around to look out at the back yard while she changes because now that she is 3, she no longer needs her Daddy.
Seamus has been cutting through the backyards and small copses of trees between his house and the Brate’s at the end of the street. Katie is on his shoulders and he ducks low to avoid low hanging branches, making it a bit like a roller coaster ride for his daughter. But at last they break through the final bit of trees and he casually flips Katie up and over his head, landing her on her feet in the grass. He straightens and looks at Iris with a wink.
India walks with Jayla around the corner of 4th and onto Academy. It’s a straight shot to the Brate’s house. She is dressed in a blue jean skirt and a big floppy loose top. Her dreads are half wrapped in a pony tail at the top of her head in material that matches her top. In her hand she carries a large gift bag with Izzy’s present.
Jayla walks along with her mother half walking and half dancing her way to her little friend Izzy’s birthday. She’s wearing a green one piece swimsuit covered with a yellow and brown pineapple design and a purple mesh swim coverup shirt dress. She has little slip on sneakers on and her hair is arranged in two adorable frizzy puff pigtails on top of her head. As soon as she ses Izzy’s house she breaks her hand hold with her mom and tears into the yard with a squeal. So far it’s just some grown ups and she looks around. She spots Katie as she lands and grins running to take her hand just as she sees two cats go stalking by “Kitties!” Now it’s a cat hunt.
Katie loves the ride on Daddy’s shoulders but the flipping to the ground is great fun and she giggles and then sees Jayla and takes her hand. She’s wearing a little pirate girl swimsuit in blue and red covered with various designs; ships, captains’s hats, treasure chests and parrots. She has a little purple dress on top but it’s loose enough to see the swimsuit under. She has a black and white flowered headband on her chin length hair which makes her eyes look extra big. She’s still wearing the kid’s croc fakers with the worn through heels. She had been offered many shoes since but she always chose them. They had been the first shoes, in fact first of any clothing she had gotten to choose in her life from the donated clothes and she was hanging onto them. She ran with Jayla towards the cats and the cats of course ran away from them.
Iris winks back at Seamus and then watches Katie run off with Jayla after the cats and laughs. She sees India, Megan, Noelle and Chris as Megan approaches all of them and they converge. Iris smiles “Hello…..everyone. Fun set up...can grown ups run through sprinklers too?” She only half jokes. Iris is holding a little gift bag since Seamus had Katie on his shoulders as they walked over. She’s wearing what’s quite obviously a retro bikini in lime green tones under a black and beach coverup loose dress with lime green polka dots. She has her usual cat eye tortoise shell glasses on. She’s also wearing a big straw hat and over her other shoulder has a straw beach bag with a few towels, sunscreen and a change of clothes for Katie. Her hair is pulled back at the front but down in the back under the hat.
Megan nods at Adam and then moves to the new arrivals. She and forgets herself and almost hugs India and then makes an irritated noise “I hate not hugging people. Where’s your loveably neurotic man?” She greets everyone else “Hello mental hugs to all of you…..” She laughs “Hey anyone can run through the sprinklers….just makes sure the kids get a few turns in or we’ll have anarchy.”
Chris pulls up the wagon and stops it with a beep beep beep like a big truck backing up “Ok everyone out!” He herds the children but he barely has to since Blaze and Olivia see Jayla and Katie and stampede towards them. “Well that was easy. Oh the poor cats….” He smiles as he reaches for Noelle’s hand and if he can take it he’ll walk with her to greet the crowd. There’s a wrapped box still in the waggon. “Mental hugs back.” He chuckles out “Hey folks.”
Jack is highly amused by Adam’s overbuilding of the table “Hey man, go big or go home right?” He sees Jayla run by witha little redhead girl and blinks “Hmmm…..haven’t seen that kid before. Looks like….looks like a Reinhardt. Fiona having a shotgun wedding?” Then he sees Seamus and Iris as the rest start toa drive and scratches his head with confusion and then waves to the arrivals “Hiya!”
Tamela walks up to the group already talking hand in hand with her wife Frank “Alright the aunties are here. Now we party harder?” She quips. She’s carrying a wrapped gift in her free hand that is ball shaped and without a doubt is in fact a ball, a soccer ball to be precise. Tamela loved soccer as a kid and has been working on Izzy to kick since she was months old and she was just moving her feet for her. She’s wearing long camo cargo style shorts and a short sleeved baseball style black and white t shirt with a double raven design on the front and on the back the words Semiamahoo Arts Centre. Her now longer hair is loose and just past her shoulders. She gives the Grandpas a special nod and grin.
Adum turns and sees that Izzy is finally dressed in her bathing suit and a little tshirt saying APD mini cadet on it. “All ready, birthday girl?” he asks ad offers his hand. Izzy takes it and, hearing the sounds of little girls outside nearly drags her father downstairs and outside where she joins in the cat hunt with a scream.
Noelle laughs at Chris. “Unappreciated driver, you poor thing.” she looks around and waves. “It’s so good to see you all.” she calls.
Seamus watches the virtual hugs, but is immediately attracted by the gift table setup. “Dude!” he heads for it and looks, smiling. “This is fantastic Adam. You could almost have made a play house.” he shrugs and gets on his knees, peering under it. “Katie would never enter it or I’d make one for her.” He explains and is about to back out from under the table when he is run over by two cats, followed by a literal stampede of children, none of which run around him. The most polite jump over him, the rest run over him.
India laughs at Megan. “I know, right? No hugging, no handshakes. No nothing … well … almost nothin if the rumor mill is right.” she peers at Megan with a little grin. She’d heard the usual fifth hand information that Megan was pregnant but wanted to hear it for herself. “Oh … Ryan? Where else would he be? He’s decided that with everyone out of the house he’d give it a thorough cleaning.” she rolls her eyes. “If we’re lucky we don't get sandblasted the second we get home.” she laughs, because as neurotic as Ryan is … he’s still her man and she loves him .. loves teasing him … but thats love too.
Frank is dressed in black cargo shorts and a white t-shirt. Her sneakers are on bare feet and her hair is still manishly short, not having gone for the whole not cutting your hair during Covid. She waves to everyone and shakes her head as she watches Seamus get stampeded. “Hey Megan!” she calls. “You’ll never in a million years guess what out present it!” its a tease because Tams is sometimes incredibly predictable.
Adum walks out of the house behind his daughter and is immediately abandoned by her. The cats and the guests promptly run over Seamus and he laughs. “Jack, you have GOT to get out more.” he points to the man under the table. “The new redhead is Seamus’s. No suggesting Fiona is pregnant. John is barely ready for the total of five grandkids he’ll have by Christmas.” he waves grandly from the porch. “Hello parents and relatives!” he laughs at India when she explains where Ryan is. “I’ll make you up a bag of garden soil and left over cake icing to rub on your cheeks before you go home.” he promises. He was also a very neat man, but having Izzy around had relaxed him more than anything. And as soon as she could walk, Izzy had helped in cleaning more than hindered the process.
Fred and George are fast cats and young enough still to enjoy the chase. The children vaguely notice a large redhead adult lying in their path. Katie jumps over Daddy and thinks he’s playing too. Jayla just delights in the trampling and when she hears a slight grunt from Seamus she looks down at him while standing on his torso and just chirps “You’re fired.” Then she leaps over his head. Olivia mostly jumps but her aim is off and she lands a foot on Seamus’s shoulder on her missed landing spot. Blaze just treats Seamus like a log he needs to cross and his little feet trample from foot to face. Finally Jayla catches George and carries him around by the middle like a prize and then looks curiously at the little kiddie pool. Could cats swim?
Iris had sort of heard the man she hadn’t met. From the context and the group in general she was thinking he might be Megan’s father, but she would wait for confirmation. There was a woman who was unquestionably a sister from their faces and she appeared to be partnered with a blonde woman. They were cops as she’d seen them both in uniform in town. She just didn’t know they were a couple. Then she sees Seamus talking to Adam, who she has met. She gives him a little smile and then Seamus lies down to take in the whole gift table structure and gets completely trampled by children and she both laughs and winces. Then she sees little Jayla carrying one of the cats towards the kiddie pool and shakes her head “Oh no….”
Megan takes the ball shaped gift from her sister and squeezes it “Is it a giant ball of playdoh?” She jokes. Then she hams it up and puts it under her dress. She’s in a swimsuit so she’s not indecently flashing “Me in two months...give or take?” She grins around at the group and winks at India “Yep I’m pregnant.” Then she tosses the ball back to Tamela “Adam made a very special table….don’t let it roll off.” She looks back as Seamus is trampled and cracks up “Oh Seamus….there’s another….and….ow...wow.” She laughs really hard at the end “I’m sure that hurt but holy shit.” She gives her father a look “Don’t they tell bartenders everything in this town?” Then Jayla starts carrying George towards the water “Oh honey he won’t like that…”
Chris smirks at Noelle “Just wait until they’re teenagers asking for a trip to the mainland for a rock concert.” He jokes but it implies he’s considered their lives that far ahead and with both kids. Then he absently watches the kids until Megan says she’s pregnant “Oh hey congrats you guys…” He makes a face at the stampede of children across Seamus “Watch his face…..ha!” He nods to Jack “Yeah Katie is with Seamus and Iris.” He says matter of factly.Then he grimaces at the cat being carried towards the pool.
Jack hears Adum and looks down at Seamus “Hey you’re a dad congrats…..” Then the children run him over “But oooooh sorry about your nuts maybe. Good thing you had one early eh? Don’t tell Fiona.” He looks between Adum and Megan and laughs “No they tell me their relationship crap and usually it’s the old guys. The younger ones just emo tweet. Did I say that right?”
Tamela catches the ball “Sure thing baby mama.” She watches Seamus get trampled just as she walks towards the table “Jesus H Chriiiiist.” She shorts out “Guess you’re thick enough to be the pavement there Reinhardt. Dad when you talk about Twitter you age by 10 years at least.” She settles the ball wedged between things so it doesn’t roll as she carefully steps around Seamus. “Who’s your girl? She’s cute. Don’t worry I’m married.” She grins.
Blaze happens to be near Tamela when she says she’s married and yells out “Mommy and Daddy are getting married!” He’s still quite excited by the idea.
Adum watches the chaos. He looks at Seamus and laughs. “Just remember, the city is not liable for the goings on at my house. But if you need a doctor … oh come on! You’ve had worse in one game than that. Walk it off! Now we’re even for my window.”
Noelle beams when Chris starts making plans. “I’ll get you a chauffeur uniform before then, I promise.” she is thrilled he is thinking ahead .. and not just about Blaze, but Olivia as well. And no sooner does Blaze flit through her mind, then he announces their engagement. “Yes .. yes we are.” she replies and moves to Chris, all smiles. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Jayla heading for the kiddie pool with a cat. Well, this could be interesting.
Seamus does try and get out of the way .. first of two cats and then of a bunch of kids, including his own daughter. “Hey!” he begins. Then “Offf.” when Jayla nearly presses the air from his chest and, to add insult to injury first him … from a position he doesn’t even know if he holds. “You can’t…” he begins, but is stopped as Blaze runs from foot to shoulder stumbling on his crotch. He curls up in a ball, hands protecting his groin belatedly. “Oh God ….” he rolls his eyes and looks in the direction of the voices who were congratulating and teasing him. “I’d hoped for one more but … I don’t know if I’ll be able to now.” he dramatically reaches for Iris. “Yes, Shes my girl .. but she’s straight .. and I’m not sure I haven’t been turned into a lesbian ….” and he mock faints right there in the grass.
India claps with joy at the news. “Congratulations! More bad press for your store, but worth it, I’m sure.” she watches Jayla fire Seamus. “Baby, you can’t really…. Oh … never mind. Seamus when you become a man again we’ll talk unemployment.” she had watched him curl up and now can’t help but to giggle at his dramatics. “God you’re as bad as Michael.” she sees her daughter heading towards the pool. “Jayla! Baby .. noooooo.”
Frank begins laughing at all of it, really. “Well, this one beats last year. I can hardly wait to see what else can happen.” she grins at Iris and elbows Tams. “But she is really cute tho …” she notices.
Adam valiantly protects the table from the onslaught and laughs at everything happening to Seamus. “You’ll be fine, son. Kids will always get you in the … fellas.” he remembers there kids all around him.
Jayla can hear the adults, but she is single minded in her task. But the closer they get to the water, the more George struggles, so she hs forced to throw him the last couple of feet. George lands in the water with a splash and struggles to get out of the pool, his claws grasping for purchase. As he frees himself from the plastic watery hell, the air makes a dreadful noise as the pool deflates in the wake of its abuse. The little slide topples on its side and lays thee, completely defeated.
George scurries away and under the porch to lick himself and emotionally recover until the end of time. A Series of tortured yowls can be heard from beneath the deck like the water is melting him.
Iris walks over to Seamus and looks at him with both sympathy and humour. “I would love you as a woman but I don’t think we’ll have to resort to that. Just take a few deep breaths…” She half teases and then looks up at the police women married to one another. “Thanks for the compliment. I’m Iris Page.” She smiles at Jack too “Hi.” Then she checks on the cat commotion and the pool is deflating. “Oh…..” And then the yowls start and she looks at Seamus “Do you feel like that?” She half teases.
Jayla watches the pool deflate and the cat run under the deck and looks at her mother with big sad eyes “Sorrrrrrry.” She starts to tear up and sniffle realizing she’s done something not good.
Katie was close on Jayla’s heels and gasps as the cat scene unfolds. When the pool deflates and the cat yowls and Jayla seems upset and says sorry she goes to hug her almost protectively, thinking her friend might get in big trouble.
Blaze and Olivia are both fascinated and horrified by the sound the cat is making now and then end up on the deck looking through the boards at him licking and yowling.
Chris was grinning about the engagement blurt out and making eyes at Noelle when the whole cat chaos ensued. He followed Blaze and Olivia to make sure they didn’t try to go under with the upset cat and just kept an eye on them “You need a bag of frozen peas Seamus?” He had empathy of course but he couldn’t resist.
Megan had shot a quick look at Chris and Noelle “Oh awesome you two! Congrats…” She shook her head at Seamus “Push through. You can do it….” And then the cat pool fiasco hit it’s peak and she walked over to Jayla who looked like she felt terrible “It’s ok sweetie…” She tried to catch Adum’s eye and head jutted at Izzy suggesting he run damage control if she is upset about her pool so they didn’t have a whole party of crying children. She sees Katie there hugging Jayla and smiles a bit at her. George’s yowling makes her nod “He does that. He’ll be ok. He’s just loud. Sometimes he falls into the bathtub and then we hear about it.”
Tamela winks at Frank “Great minds.” She looks back at Iris “Nice to meet you…” And then she shakes her head at the cat pool child chaos “Yep…...could be worse though. Dad, remember Megan’s ball pit birthday?”
Jack smiled at Iris and then looked sympathetically at Megan, Jayla, India, and Katie. “Oh yeah parties are interesting with kids. Oh god the ball pit….” He looks down at Seamus and offers a hand now “You ready to move?” He points a finger around “Do not rent a ball pit for a kid’s party…..ever. You don’t know what’s under the top layers. One of those little nose pickers had an accident…...and another one upchucked their cake…..it just coated them in this…”
Megan holds up a hand from across the yard “We do NOT speak of it! Especially what Tams calls it.”
Tamela coughs out “The Barf Ball Pit!”
Adum catches Megan's look and he turns to look at his daughter, who is staring wide eyed at the destruction of the pool. She had really wanted a waterpark in the backyard and, in some ways, that's exactly what they had. Izzy walks, looking a little stummed to where Katie and Jayla are standing. "Wow!" she exclaims and jumps right into what remains of the pool. "So cool!!!" she waves for Katie and Jayla to join her. "Come on!"
Seamus looks up from his feigned death to see that no one is actually impressed. He hears Iris proclaim that she would love him as a woman. "I don't think I have the legs for it." To Megan he holds up a warning finger. "You're telling ME to push? Really?" then Chris has to smart off and, as he takes Jack's hand and slowly gets to his feet, he points at him. "Every word I can't say around the kids, man. Every last one of them." he is limping a little, but basically walking it off. He sees Katie come to Jayla's rescue. "I'm chopped liver, clearly." he mock huffs and gingerly walks to the brates back stairs to sit. "No ball pits. Noted. Only pools and cats."
Noelle stares around between the pool incident, the cat incident and the Seamus incident. When Chris comments she absently hits him in the arm. "You're terrible." she giggles.
India watches the cat destroy the pool, followed by rare concern from her daughter. She opens her mouth to speak when Izzy is suddenly wet and urging the others to join her. She shakes her head and looks at Megan. "Start a tab." she tells her. "I'll cut ya'll a check tomorrow morning." she laughs softly. "Man I'm glad Ryan's home safe with Mr Clean."
Frank gapes at all of it, but especially at the ball pit incident. "So .. this is why you don't want anything to do with kids under 3, babe?"
Adam delights in all of it. "And I haven't had a single toke. This is how life should be!" he beams.
Jack chuckles at Adam “Kids are the best drug?” He snorts and then watches the children pile into the deflating pool. “Yeah buy a bunch of fancy stuff and what they really want is to make forts from the boxes. They’re just happy to play.” He laughs at Seamus.
Tamela smirks “Oh no I like kids. I love the auntie life. We hang out, they reveal their bodily functions and we hand them back to mom and dad. We still get to do the fun parts. I‘d adopt an older one though that can puke and poop in a toilet.” she admits.
Iris giggles at Seamus “Your legs are nice but I doubt you could find ladies shoes for those feet.” She gives his arm a little squeeze as he ends up beside her and then shudders at the barf ball pit “Oh dear. We had an incident one day in the library with a sick kid and the board book bin. Not even a local but a tourist family….I swear I was just waiting for his little head to spin around while I ran for the disinfectant. I can’t imagine their ferry ride home.”
Chris grins at Noelle “I am, but you love me anyway.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Seamus “Text me your profanity then.” He jokes. They had exchanged info as Katie had become pals with Olivia and Blaze.
Megan shakes her head at India “No charge. They don’t seem to care.” She gestures at the children now having a little splash fest in a half deflated pool. She laughs about Ryan “Yeah probably good. Although glad he’s ok after quarantine. Yikes.” She walks around and turns on the other water things “Kids we have more ways to get wet….” She attaches the extra hose to the beach ball that sprays from the splitter spigot on the main line and then rolls it. The children’s eyes go wide and then they chase that around because who doesn’t want a giant beach ball that sprays you.
Blaze kicks at the beach ball and sends it careening down to where Adam, Jack, Seamus and Iris are standing by the gift table. The hose is still attached but it slowly wobble rolls anyway. The other children follow it with joyous battle cries.
Iris stops it before it sprays the gifts but possibly not before it sprays the people.
Adum is thoroughly amused with the party. "That's about right. I made my fair share of forts and cars and stuff out of the boxes that had been presents." he laughs. "Wrapping paper didn't last long but I had what fun I could." he watches the water ball. "And the water toys just get better."
Noelle nods. "I do. I really do." she admits. She cringes at the idea of puked on board books. "Just when I thought being a librarian could be a cool job. And it probably is. You can't have sick kids in every day, right?"
Seamus has to nod at the simple fact that he'd have a time finding shoes for his less than dainty feet. He nods at Chris, but doesn't pull his phone out for the texts immediately. He gingerly stands and heads back to the gift table, only to get sprayed by the water ball. "Oh its gonna be THAT kind of a day then, eh?"
India grins at Megan. "Deal, I'll only pay when the kids get pissed at each other. Buy the live. AInt'no shame in it." she nods about Ryan. "I'm glad he made it through that, too. He loves us, but he's not always the best at little kids parties."
Frank chuckles. "Older kids maybe, but we have the whole town's kids to watch after."
Adam gets sprayed by the ball and laughs. "You had your challenges making toys as a kid, Adum. But you always made the best of it." he looks at the water ball. "I wonder if we could design a sort of water jungle gym for the kids...."
Jack gets sprayed by the ball too and laughs “Wow you’re not kidding Adum. I remember when we had a yellow sheet of plastic and a garden hose with? The Slip N Slide then it became The Wet Banana. Then in the 90s a bunch of people got hurt on them….big kids and grown ups. I mean you gotta know when your body’s just done right?” He looks impressed at Adam about the water jungle gym “Betcha they’d love it. By the beach maybe because don’t they have one like that on the mainland?”
Tamela nods at Frank “Town Aunties and cops……” She nods at her father “Yeah but why use your common sense when you can just sue someone for your own idiocy right?”
Iris nods at Noelle about the sick kids “It happens. Not daily and yes it’s still a great job. I mean teachers, day care workers, camp counsellors and let’s not forget...parents all get puked on. And survive.” she smiles at Seamus. “Yes that kind of a day. But I wore a swimsuit...bring it.”
Chris leans in and kisses Noelle briefly and then adds to Iris’s lists “Cops….paramedics, doctors nurses,,,,it’s grosser when it’s adults. Kids we forgive.” He tries to catch Tamela and Frank’s attention as he says it.
Megan helps to redirect the ball a bit and then walks over to Adum and puts her arms around him “I’d say this is a good Izzy birthday. And so far no puking….thank god I’m through the nausea with all those conversations you guys.” She addresses to everyone. Then she looks at her father in law “If you build it they will come. It will be the busiest place in town every sunny day of the summer.”
Katie starts a new game, possibly inspired by the trampling of Daddy where she lies down and the kids roll the sprinkling ball over her. Then everyone wants a turn and it’s like a train of children waiting to be beach ball steam rolled.
Iris can’t resist assisting in the game and rolls the ball down the line of them “Close your mouth Blaze…”
Blaze is trying to get as much beach ball water in his mouth as he can though “Aaaaaaaahhhhh”
Olivia sees Blaze and thinks it looks like a great idea so she copies him “Aaaaaaaah!”
Jayla tries it and then spits out the water “That tastes BAD!”
Izzy opens her mouth because she has to know if Jayla’s right or not. She looks undecided but then tests it again.
Adum looks at his father. "I like the idea ... I'll talk to the council ... and the lawyers, now that we have a couple. That firm is a sort of melting pot of legal nightmares. We need something a little tourist trapsie ... and I know Fred will object to it if it's too close to Center because he never encouraged tourism." he hugs Megan to him. "But it definitely beats a projectile vomiting contest."
Noelle laughs at the whole conversation. "The kids love the water. Maybe on the beach. I mean there isn't really anyting there since the hotel collapsed..." she watches the new game with the ball and giggles at them.
Seamus looks at Adam, thoughtfully. "That would be cool, but Adum is right ... it could be a legal nightmare." he marvels a moment at his ability to think like a father. "It would have ot be good quality plastics ... and maybe a timed sprinkler? Like those fountains that go off every ninety minutes for ten or something ..." he looks at Adam, as if they are communicating. He watches Katie start a new game. "I am telling myself I was her inspiration."
India listens to the impromptu planning committee and then watches the kids. When Jayla complains and shorts. "It ain't Parrier, girl." then rolls her eyes. "How did I give birth to that little diva?"
Adum gives his wife a one armed hug. "I suppose we can keep going with the usual festivals. We do a longer Winter Festival than anyplace else." he is smiling, as winter was his favorite season and had been Mayor Sewid's before him. Then Chris comments on Ryan and he nods. "Definately from Ryan, and he's not even famous."
Seamus considers both Chris and Adum. "The fence could even be part of the design." he murmurs. "It can be safe and yet attractive to the kids." he watched Katie with obvious love. "Man it's a little weird how that's on my mind so much lately." he chuckles. He looks over at Iris still playing with the kids. "And if it's more like a jungle gym, Katie might even play on it." he loks at the other adults. "She doesn't like enclosed spaces." He sees the ball coming. "Oh no you don't!" he exclaims, laughing. He spreads his legs, bends his knees and carches the ball, lifting it and sending it flying through the air in the direction from which its just come. It socks him, but he is laughing.
India snorts at the idea of Jayla getting her diviness from her father, but has to nod. "She can be pretty bad about that. I always prided myself on being more natural than most in the business." she strokes one of her dreadlocks. "And now that I've gone freeform, it's even moreso. But they still like me and the money is still coming in, so I can afford my husband and child." she watches the ball and laughs.
Frank nods. "Yes and if you ever need pencil, he's the man to go to." she doesnt say they are perfectly sharp, as that joke is always an eye roller for her.
Adam nods at Chris. "We can also have the water set to a timer, so that it doesn't come on during certain hours, as well as turning it off completely between say .. Middle of October until April or May." he laughs as the ball with hose goes flying and the children switch directions.
Frank laughs at the kids. "Man, I love em when they’re like this ... they're less fun with stomach flu or food poisoning."
Adam looks at Seamus and his own son. "Seamus, you draw me up some plans. Next time you have some time, let's get together with Mint. We've been waiting on something you can be part of from start to finish. I know you haven't even started school yet, but .. the books can only teach you so much, son."
Megan shudders at the projectile vomiting contest comment and then leans into Adum “Well tourism is our main industry so what can we do? I think it would rock.”
Chris looks between Adam, Noelle Adum and Seamus “The legal thing….you’d need a non slip bottom...I dunno what kinda materials do that….and then the whole fence by law thing like with pools. You’d have to have a way to close it off in the odd hours I imagine.” He chuckles at the kids and their game and then smirks at India “That must be Ryan’s side...the diva side.”
Jack nods ruefully “Safety first. I’m amazed I lived through my childhood with no fences and non slip surfaces.” He jokes and then laughs at the kids with their game.
Tamela nods at Frank “Oh yeah...way better.” Then she snorts at Chris and India “Yamada is definitely a diva. But he has the best pens if you need to steal one.”
Iris rolls the ball back over the train of kids “Ok last one...then you have to chase it again!” She stops past the kid train and then rolls the ball towards Seamus with a mischievous grin “Go go go!” She yells and the children run wildly after the ball towards Seamus as well almost looking like another stampede coming.
Adum gives his wife a one armed hug. "I suppose we can keep going with the usual festivals. We do a longer Winter Festival than anyplace else." he is smiling, as winter was his favorite season and had been Mayor Sewid's before him. Then Chris comments on Ryan and he nods. "Definately from Ryan, and he's not even famous."
Seamus considers both Chris and Adum. "The fence could even be part of the design." he murmurs. "It can be safe and yet attractive to the kids." he watched Katie with obvious love. "Man it's a little weird how that's on my mind so much lately." he chuckles. He looks over at Iris still playing with the kids. "And if it's more like a jungle gym, Katie might even play on it." he loks at the other adults. "She doesn't like enclosed spaces." He sees the ball coming. "Oh no you don't!" he exclaims, laughing. He spreads his legs, bends his knees and carches the ball, lifting it and sending it flying through the air in the direction from which its just come. It socks him, but he is laughing.
India snorts at the idea of Jayla getting her diviness from her father, but has to nod. "She can be pretty bad about that. I always prided myself on being more natural than most in the business." she strokes one of her dreadlocks. "And now that I've gone freeform, it's even moreso. But they still like me and the money is still coming in, so I can afford my husband and child." she watches the ball and laughs.
Frank nods. "Yes and if you ever need pencil, he's the man to go to." she doesnt say they are perfectly sharp, as that joke is always an eye roller for her.
Adam nods at Chris. "We can also have the water set to a timer, so that it doesn't come on during certain hours, as well as turning it off completely between say .. Middle of October until April or May." he laughs as the ball with hose goes flying and the children switch directions.
Megan nods and hugs Adum back “Festivals you can do socially distanced. Especially in winter. I mean who knows what the fall will bring with this stupid virus. I do question sending the kids back to school. At least we have small enough numbers in ours that they can spread out in the rooms. The daycare sent out a letter about protocols….I mean this is basically the core of it right here and they’re in each other’s bubble already. But I guess we might get a few more and some with older siblings….how do you keep little kids from getting close to one another though?” She answers India “You have epic gorgeous hair India. And of course they still like you.” she laughs “You’re India Tor. And now you have an entourage of divas.”
Iris is playing among the loudness of the child herd so she doesn’t catch all the conversation around. She does laugh at Seamus getting socked and sending the ball back her way. But Blaze and Olivia catch it and try to carry it together. It’s far too slippery to hang onto so they end up sending to flying towards India. Jayla sees where it’s heading and yells “Mama catch it!” Katie just chases the ball with her arms flailing in the air and a look of total glee.
Tamela gives Frank a look about the pencil joke “Oh come on say it...we know you want to.” She smirks and casually watches the spraying ball go from Seamus to Blaze and Olivia to towards India.
Chris’s attention is invested in the water park design conversation. He gives Seamus a knowing look when he talks about how much kids are on his mind lately and sees how he looks at little Katie “Yep, i hear you, completely.” He laughs at what happens with the ball in all directions and then belatedly answers Adam “Yeah good plan.”
Jack sidesteps the spraying ball and heads up the deck stairs “All this water is making me thirsty. Hey Meg mind if I play bartender? Nothing spiked I promise…” He knows the Brate house well enough to get drinks for the others “Juice boxes for the kidlets and fizzy fruity waters for the grown ups?”
Megan looks gratefully at her father “Oh I’m a bad host. I made iced tea and lemonade too. The glasses are here on the table but the pitchers are still in the fridge. Thanks Dad.”
Adum sighs a bit at Megan's concerns. "I've been working with the school board. The plan is to try and keep the class sizes down to 10 or less, not including the instructor. The Drama teacher is taking up the challenge or plays that incorporate social distancing or even masks." he blows out a breath. "The day care is the larger challenge. Susan and Jasper .. the new doctor .. have been thinking now is as good a time as amy to start training the kids to use hand sanitizer on nearly everything." he shrugs a little helplessly. "New normal."
Seamus noda about possible fountain hours and blows out a breath thinking about the upcoming school year. He nods at Chris and then looks to see if India Tor will catch the ball or not.
India listens to the possible changes at the school, and then hears Megan and laughs. "I never had a lot of other people in my videos. but my little entourage is so much different than years gone by." she turns and catches the ball, holding it over her head and getting soaked in her turn. She does a sort of twirling dance with the water ball above her and then tosses it back towards Iris. But she isn't done. "Epic gorgeous wat hair!" she calls out and swings the locs around, being her own water distribution center with the water flying everywhere.
Frank huffs and puts her hand on her hips. "Never!" she proclaims. She laughs at the whole water thing and claps when India sprays most of them with her wet dreadlocks.
Adam claps with joy at all of the water fun. He is on the edge of India's water spray. "Oh my god, Seamus! If we could incorporate something like that in the design....." he watches India's locs as if looking for a pattern. He looks at Megan. "You are a wonderful host, Megan. Have a little fun while you can."
Jack comes back out a few times, with pitchers and then with juice boxes in a little cooler and then with another cooler with assorted canned drinks. India does her water ball catch dance and shakes in between one of them and he had grinned at that “Folks going wild while I’m inside…” He jokes. Finally he’s back out again “Hydration options for all!” He pours a few glasses of each for the iced tea and lemonade and leaves the cooler open to let the others be self-serve too. “Not bartending….no one tell me their troubles…” He teases.
Iris laughs at India as she has fun with the ball and her hair “Wow the power of locs…” She laughs as she gets shaken on even though she’s basically been soaked for a while.
Megan had smiled sweetly at Adum and then saw the beginning of what India was doing and grabbed her phone and filmed it “Sending that to Ryan…..he’ll miss you more. That’s some Flashdance level fantasy fodder India….” She knows it’s flying over the kids heads but not the adults.
The children just think India’s being silly and Olivia squeals “Again!” And tries to give her back to ball with Katie helping. “Mommy’s a sprinkler!” Jayla chimes in. Blaze just chases the ball with his mouth open trying to drink from it.
Tamela cracks up as she takes two lemonades and offers one to Frank “Can we get a copy of that video Meg?” She jokes and winks at Frank.
Chris snorts at Megan and then Tamela and then leans into Noelle “Keep it PG ladies.” He looks at Noelle “Can I grab you a drink?”
Adum laughs as Megan films India. "Man that is something else! He'll be sorry he missed the cleansing dance."
Seamus laughs at the human sprinkler and heads over for some iced tea.
India laughs in delight. "Oh screw it." she untwists the hose from the ball and thoroughly soaks her locs, then gathers them in both of her hands, shaking the water out and all over.
Frank takes her lemonade from Tams and watches in fascination. "That's incredible!"
Adam takes an iced tea and drinks, fascinated with the display. "India you're the most fun celebrity I've even worked for."
Noelle smiles and nods. "Please babe." then she loks at him. "India is always appropriate, goof."
Chris passes Noelle and iced tea “I’m talking about Douglas-Sharp, Sharp-Douglas…..and Megan. God hyphenating makes calling people by last name more to say.” He teases Frank a bit since he thinks he can get away with it.
The children jump up and down in front of India like her hair is their concert and they’re wild fans. A grown up being silly was always the best thing ever.
“Fun for all AGES.” Megan chides at Chris “The kids didn’t know my joke. I know my boundaries Officer Peterson.” She laughs watching India just go for it now and then turns to Chris and Noelle and nods at Frank and Tams “So are you two gonna hyphenate, pick one, keep your own….what’s the name plan?”
Tamela gives India a cheer at her full soak and spray plan “WOOOOOOOOT!” Then she chuckles “Snow-Peterson? Peterson-Snow? Sneterson? Petersnow?”
Jack sits down on a deck chair near Adam “Yep...never dull in this town.”
Iris looks at India “OK this has to be in your next music video now. And I’m not making a Flashdance joke….yes I’ve seen it.” She knows she is in many ways a woman out of time with her love of all things retro.
Adum watches India, fascinated with her energy. He looks at Chris and then Megan. "I was very happy that Megan took my name. I'm not entirely sure why I was, but I was." he still has those gaps in his memory from his gunshot wound.
Seamus grins and drinks. For him just seeing how free and happy Katie looks makes it all worth it.
India stops for a moment. "Flashdance, eh?" she breaks into the old what a feeling song, still flinging the water out of her hair, but once its done, she straightens, panting. "Thank you very much. I'd like some tea now." she tells the kids and heads for the cooler. "My hair won't dry until October now." she laughs standing on the raised porch and letting her hair drip at her feet. From underneath comes fresh howling as it seems George is directly beneath the dripping hair.
Frank drinks and then looks at Chris. "I think I'm going with more unofficially being Douglas-Sharp. Women sometimes have to go through all kinds of hell changing their names ... for some its worth it and for some it isn't. I'm just happy I managed to get married like my mother always wanted." she winks.
Adam claps at the dance. "Oh my god, if I tried to do that I'd be in the hospital for a month."
Noelle smiles and looks around. "I just ... thought I would change my name to Peterson ... I don't plan to ever change back to Snow.'' She seems a little shy suddenly.
Megan kisses Adum and smiles “I’m happy I took your name too. It’s hard to explain but it made me feel properly married…..no offence to people who keep theirs. I just needed to be Megan Brate.” Then India starts doing a full Flashdance routine with the song and she pulls out her phone again and videos “OK she is officially the coolest person we know….not that she wasn’t already.” When George starts howling after India stops and talks about her hair during time Megan looks down at him “Oh you big baby! Move if you don’t like it…..silly cat.” She smiles at Noelle “I think it’s sweet.”
Tamela hoots and hollers at India again, totally amused and impressed and then she slings her arm around Frank “Oh I’m exactly what your mother wanted...she’s just too repressed to know it.” She nods at Noelle “Another Peterson….well that’ll do.”
The kids don’t know anything about what India is singing or her dance but they jump around and dance along and take turns trying to get shaken on by India’s hair or steam rolled by the ball because for some reason that makes sense in their little dance. By the time India is done they’re all giggling in a sopping grassy heap with the beach ball on top of them “You can’t see us!” chimes Blaze.
Iris claps as India finishes “That was amazing…...oh no the cat!” She overhears Noelle say she’s taking Chris’s name and looks thoughtful about the reasons for and against but only says “If it makes you happy Noelle, then it’s the right choice.”
Chris clapped for India too and then looked a little surprised by the fact that Noelle just wants to take his name. It takes him a few minutes to respond but he hears everyone else. “You don’t have to Noelle...I have no expectations…..but if you want to...if it makes you happy….then I support it completely.” He reaches to take Noelle’s hand.
Jack looks highly entertained by India and then laughs about the cat howling. He observes the name change conversation but has no strong opinions to contribute either way so he just enjoys the sun and the fun around him watching the pile of children.
From the side of the house India’s song can be heard again but like it’s playing through something, a small speaker or maybe a phone and around the corner comes Ryan Yamada holding it up. He’s in black swim trunks with a red Hawaiian pattern on them and a black tank top and rubber sandals. He takes off a pair of chrome rimmed aviator style sunglasses “Apparently I’m missing a hell of a show?” He looks around for India and Jayla crawls out from under the ball.
“Daddy!” She flies at Ryan and hugs his leg and he has to try to walk with her attached to it.
Ryan laughs “Oh you’re cold and wet and clammy my girl…” He carefully walks them to where India is and leans in to give her a kiss “Can I get a repeat performance later?” And belatedly after “Hi everyone else.” He gives a cheesy little wave and then picks up Jayla and hugs her.
Adum kisses Megan, smiles and enjoys the dance. "You really are amazing, India." he sees Ryan coming around and cheers.
Seamus applauds at the dance and then makes a show of looking for Blaze. He sees Ryan and laughs as Jayla attaches herself to him.
India looks down at the boards and cat under her feet. "Yea .. ain't nobody chaining you under there." she rolls her eyes, sets down her drink and wrings out her hair. "Ain't got no sense." she then looks around, taking a box. "Well, I ain't in my 20's no mo ... I'll feel this and be walking around like I'm 90 for a week." she jokes .. mostly. Ryan comes around the corner of the house and Jayla attaches herself to him. He makes his way to her and she kisses him. "You sure can. When he picks Jayla up she wraps her cols wet locs around them both. It's hot enough it might actually feel good.
Frank grins and nods. "That's alright, Noelle. And perfect for this kid here."
Adam smiles. "It was a lot simpler in my day. Might not have been right, but it was simpler." he takes a drink. "Just be sure I suppose..." he trails off and drinks a bit more.
Noelle smiles at Chris. "I know I don't have to." she tells him straight out. "I want to. And ... I think Blaze would like being a Peterson as well ... and ..." she shrugs. "Just .. Peterson is a good name." she doesn't mention the possibility that Olivia may someday be part of the family. She is torn about it, but worried about Daisy. To cover both her emotions and her worry, she also makes a show of looking for the children. "Wait ..they were right here!" she exclaims, looking around, moving to the ball and the hose. She moves the ball and looks around, the hose spilling on all of the kids. "Where are they .... Chris! Call the police!" she sees Ryan. "Thank god! A cop! We've lost the children." she flaps the hose around then drops it right on her son, then covers her eyes. "I can't see them anywhere."
Katie peeks her head out from under the ball and sees Jayla attached to her father’s leg and looks delighted by the game. She walks up to her Daddy and tries to wrap her little arms and legs around his leg just as Jayla gets lifted up.
Iris plays along with Katie “Uh oh Seamus….you have a barnacle!” She’s very used to pirate vocabulary from Thea. “Hi Ryan.” She greets after he says hello to everyone.
Chris can’t help but grin at Noelle and then at Frank for what she said. “Noelle Peterson.” He tries it out and likes the sound of it. “Blaze Perterson.” He ponders out loud as well. He chuckles about Noelle’s game pretending to find the kids but can’t help looking at Olivia and Blaze. He can see the edges of both their head. He thinks about the siblings and surnames and adopting and fostering. If he could snap his fingers, they’d all just effortlessly be a family and have the paperwork done. He had compassion for Daisy but he and Noelle had been basically parenting her for most of the summer now and he couldn’t see an end to that where Daisy was well and responsible enough to take her on again. It seemed after all this time that Seamus had been Daisy’s anchor, to her mental health. Then he snorts as Ryan comes around and Noelle says thank god a cop “See what happens when you get outranked Yamada. My fiance calls you a cop…and forget me.” He jokes. Then he walks over to the children under the ball and gently tugs Blaze out by his feet and he giggles when he’s found. Then he does the same to Olivia and she giggles too.
Ryan gets cooled down by Jayla and then India with her locs. He sets his phone on the table on the deck so it doesn’t get wet but doesn’t object. “Ah thank you loves…..it was a hot walk. Happy Birthday Izzy!” He grins at Adum and Megan and then at everyone. “Uh Chris did you say fiance? Congrats Petersons and Petersons to be.” He had overheard bits of it all. He grins about the thank god a cop “I think there’s a few cops to choose from here.” He head juts at Frank and Tamela and laughs and then Adum “Even an old school one. How’re ya doin Adum?”
Jayla starts to get bored of the grown up chatter and sticks a hand over her father’s mouth and giggles as he tries to talk through it.
Ryan makes a bunch of nonsensical noise like he’s trying to talk and then pretends he’s eating Jayla’s hand and she squeals and squeals.
Izzy ends up the last loney lid under the beach ball and rolls it off her to go play in the little splash pad. But all her friends are busy so she calls out to Jack and Adam “Grandpas! Come play with me!’
Jack takes off his shoes and steps into the little splash pad with Izzy as she hops around in it. He waits for Adum but then just keeps one foot in “Sweetie I’m not sure this is a Grandpa sized one. Grandpa Adam might need to design a bigger one for all of us.”
Tamela grins and nods at Ryan “Hey Yamada.” She downs her drink and grins at her sister “Oi, is there a cake at this party? Because if we just stand here and drink we’re all gonna line up for your bathroom in a minute.”
Megan slips away from Adum and rolls her eyes “You’re pushier than the kids Tams. yes there’s cupcakes. Vegan even and gluten free to accommodate anyone and everyone. I'll get the snacks and then the cupcakes and we’ll sing to Izzy.”
Seamus sees Katie and laughs as Iris mentions he has a barnicle. "A duckie barnicle! Very cool!" and he picks her up and reaches a hand to Iris. They join the others in withing Izzy a happy birthday.
India unwraps her family and joins wit the others for cake and singine. She sings like a 'normal person' so as not to steal any spotlights. It isnt that kind of venue.
Frank laughs at Tams and puts an arm around her. They join in with the family.
Adam steps in with Jack and has to nod. "Maybe someday I can. Let's have some cake. I seem to remember this is a birthday celebration birthday girl!"
Noelle beams at the sounds of the names and moves with Chris to get their kids ... and the is thnking of Olivia more and more as a closer relative. Shepicks Olivia up and hugs her as they go and join the group on the porch.
Adum waves to Ryan. "Everything is awesome, man! Glad you made it." Then he helps Megan get the snacks and cupcakes and then picks up Izzy for singing and candle blowing. He's perfectly content today ... his wife .. his whole family, even extended here for the celebration of his first born child.
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