GAME LITTLE KID
She watches you lazily while you souse the dishes in the lake and wipe them clumsily. She feels rather guilty about it, but at the beginning of the hike you have insisted on taking care of everything. It is your party. And it is a nice party, too. The moon is there, and the air is warm, and somewhere there is a flower that smells very sweet. She closes her eyes and leans against the rock and feels happy.
Knock the ashes out of your pipe and sit down by her, taking her hand in yours. “Swell night,” you say.
“Oh, yes! I’m having a good time.”
“So am I. I’ve had a better time today than I can remember since I don’t know when.”
“Really?” she protests smiling. “How about that race at Mackinac?”
“That was pretty good too. Only you weren’t along. It could have been perfect.”
She laughs easily. “I’d have been in the way. You’ve never tried telling me anything else before. What’s the matter with you tonight? Getting soft?”
“Not much use of that, is there?” You both chuckle. “You’re too cagey. I couldn’t say anything nice to you even if I meant it. You’d bite my head off.”
“Sure!”