Dinner was crazy. The boys all fought over the seats. Wes and Dane wrestled over the chair next to me.
Eventually, I had enough. I yelled at them, so Wes sat next to me and Dane sat on the whole other side of the table.
After my rant about how I wasn't going to tolerate fighting at all for the summer, they were speechless. I couldn't help but to laugh in my head. Two of these guys are older than me!
The tacos were good, of course. I brought out the brownies, put one in each bowl, scooped some ice cream, and gave them the bowls. In a matter of seconds, the bowls were all licked clean.
"Jeanie, you are a fabulous cook," one of the twins said. I couldn't tell if it was James or Jack. Oh well.
"Thank you," I replied, carrying the bowls to the kitchen.
"Let me help," Alec said. "Also, I have a question. My girlfriend, Abigail, and I have been dating for four years now. I was wondering if maybe she could come visit for a weekend or something? She lives in Chicago because she goes to school there."
"Absolutely. I look forward to meeting her," I said, opening the dishwasher. "Be right back."
The boys had all moved to the living room. Wes and Dane were sitting on the big couch, talking, the twins, Ben, and Sam were wrestling on the floor, and Andrew was sitting in the corner with a book.
"Excuse me! Alla y'all put your butts in the chairs and watch sports or something as long as you're quiet and don't destroy my house!" I yelled over the noise. They obeyed, surprisingly.
"Do you need more help in the kitchen?" Wes and Dane said in unison.
"Well, I need someone to supervise here, and I guess one of you can come in the kitchen."
"I'll help you," Wes said. Dane looked mad at him. I would be, too, if I had to watch all of those kids.
Wes and I walked back into the kitchen. Alec had started washing the pans that couldn't go in the dishwasher, so I began loading the plates into the sishwasher. Wes helped me finish.
Then I wiped down the counters and table, while Wes picked up the wrappers from the package. We finished at about the same time Alce did.
I was about to speak when a large noise erupted from the living room. With a sigh, I said, "Alec, can you please help Dane?"
He nodded, and left. I grabbed two towels, and handed one to Wes. We began drying the handwashed dishes, then putting them away. The towels were soaking wet afterwards.
"Where does this pan go?" Wes asked.
"In that drawer over there," I pointed. When we wasn't looking, I twisted my towel and whipped it at him.
Hearing my giggles and holding he spot on his back, Wes shook his head. "You really shouldn't have done that."
He picked his towel back up and whipped it at me. I turned, but all that did was make it hit my butt and not my arm.
"Ow, that hurt," I said, fighting back laughter. I walked over to the sink, dipped my hand in the dirty water, and splashed Wes. Before he could react, I ran out to the dining room.
He chased me around the house, and we whipped each other. I've never had this much fun with a complete stranger. Not complete, I reminded myself, because I know his name, age, and where he's from.
I hid in my closet. Hopefully, Alec and Dane have control of the other five kids.
"Jean, are you in here?" Wes's voice wondered in. I giggled. Shoot.
Well, I may as well get out. I leaped out as fast as I could, and jumped on gis back. He stood there, stunned.
Wes started walking in the direction of the door, but then he tripped, and we both fell on my bed.
"Sorry," he said.
"It's okay, I don't really feel like a piggy back ride right now. How 'bout a thumb war?" I suggested.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war," we said in unison, "five, six, seven, eight, try to keep your thumb straight!"
I decided to use my trick. It technically is cheating, but oh well. Ipulled my first finger out, and pushed Wes's thumb down.
"I win!" I yelled.
"No, you cheated!" Wes complained.
"And what're you gonna do about it?"
"Nothing." Wes got up, and walked out.
"Aw come back!" I yelled out to him.
"Actually, you come here. Chaos is everywhere in the living room."
I walked out, and into the living room. Alec and Dane were on the ground with the five kids jumping on top of them.
"Alright, everyone up! We are going to play a game," I said. At the sound of my voice, they all stood up straight.
"What kind of game?" Jack or James asked.
"Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Everyone, single-file line behind me!" I said, and marched out through the front door.
I led them to the barn. I own a horse named Bella and a goat named Jessica.
"Do any of you guys know how to drive an ATV?" I asked.
They all said yes. We have five ATVs, which is weird, because there's only three people in my family.
"Let's see, twins, ride the yellow one. Be safe. Alec, take Sam, Wes, take Ben, Andrew, by yourself, and I'll take Dane." I'm not really sure how that worked out, but it did.
"Where should I hold on?" Dane asked.
"Anywhere but my shoulders. I need those to steer," I replied, backing out of the barn. Dane put his arms around my waist and I rolled my eyes.
The other four ATVs followed behind me. I went fairly slow, so they wouldn't go that fast behind me. The boys don't know the trails.
We reached our destination, and I parked. The creek.
I waited until all eight of them stood around me. "Tonight, we are going to play Capture the Flag. Each team will get a side of the creek. I will decide teams based on age." In my hand, I held out two objects: a baseball and a horse brush. "Rules are as follows: When you're tagged on the enemy's side, you go to jail. If your team member tags your hand from jail, you get a freebie back to your side. The creek is the border. No puppy-guarding your object. Don't forget where you hide your object. Got it?"
They all nodded. I then divided the teams. In the end, it was Alec, the twins, Dane, and Sam against Ben, me, Wes, and Andrew.
Even though they have five people and we have four, I have a feeling that we were going to win. We got the side with the ATVs parked on it.
After the other team went on their side, we talked about where we were going to hide it. Together, the four of us walked into the woods and found a good spot.
Then we decided that Ben and Andrew were going to guard while Wes and I went to look for their item.
When we all met back at the creek, and started the game, Wes and I walked back into the woods before we went to their side.
"I think we're good," I whispered.
"Ladies first?" Wes asked. I just rolled my eyes and got up. No one was waiting at the border, so I ran across and hid behind a tree.
After a minute, Wes still hadn't come over. He was supposed to meet me here.
I went looking for him. Wes can't have gone to far. Soon enough, I found him.
"Idiot!" I muttered to myself. He was standing in a tree, looking around. "Get down here!" I yell-whispered to him.
"No, come up here. There's a great view," he replied.
Sighing, I climbed up the tree.
"Woah!" I slipped.
"Got ya," Wes saved my life practically.
"I hate you," I said.
"Well I kind of just saved your life."
"I wouldn't be in danger if it wasn't for you."
"My apologies," Wes said, "Sh, they're coming."
He pulled me behind a branch, holding his arm around my waist. I leaned against his body.
As it got darker, the air got chillier. It's only June. The guys from the other team stood there for about ten minutes before wondering off. Luckily, we heard the whole conversation.
We heard where they hid the baseball.