He considered this momentarily. “Not really,” he told me. “The party scene really isn’t my thing.”
“Yeah, same here.” As the words left my mouth, I realized how hypocritical they sounded. Since moving to Colorado, I’d been to more parties in the past month and a half than in my entire life.
Nathan must not have been paying attention, because he kept talking. “The only bad part was trying to fall asleep with all the racket outside, and of course the food fight.”
“Food fight?” I questioned.
“Zack and Benny got in a fight over who was better: the Green Goblin or the octopus dude. I forget his name.”
“Doctor Octopus,” I added.
“Yeah, him. Well, anyway, they started throwing popcorn at each other. When they ran out, they used their grape soda. It took forever to pick up all the little pieces and I had to get a mop.”
Before I could respond, I heard yelling from the backyard.
“Giddyap, horsey!”
Getting up, I went over to the window just in time to see Isaac rocket off the deck with Parker clamped onto his back. Around her neck was a cowboy hat hanging by a string. On her feet were a pair of worn-out cowboy boots, and clutched in one hand was an orange squirt gun.
The door slammed shut again, and a second later Benny and Zack leaped off the steps, copying their older cousin. They were both wearing swim trunks and had war paint slathered across their chests. The twins began to launch water balloons at the cowgirl and her horse.
“Turn around, horsey!” Parker said, slapping Isaac on the butt to get him moving. “We need to get those Indians!”
I giggled and pushed the window all the way up so I could sit on the sill and watch. As I made myself comfortable, Zack ducked out of the way of the stream of water from Parker’s gun. His flimsy headband made of construction paper and neon craft feathers flew off his head.
“Time-out!” Benny yelled so his partner could collect his headgear. Parker didn’t listen.
“Hey, no fair!” Zack shouted at his sister who blasted him in the face anyway. “He told you time-out!”
“I don’t listen to savages!” Parker announced. A moment later a water balloon exploded on her arm.
“Kids!” George demanded, emerging onto the deck. He wasn’t facing me, but from the tone of his voice, I could tell he was frowning. “When I told you to stop using the dog as a horse, I didn’t mean for you to bother Isaac. He’s supposed to be helping me fix the kitchen sink!”
Isaac’s shoulders slumped, his fun ruined, and he let Parker slip off his back.
“Aw, man!” Parker complained, crossing her arms. “Now the teams are unfair.”
“Hey, Jackie!” Zack shouted when he spotted me in the window. “Do you want to play Wild West?”
“Of course she does,” Parker said, and before I could respond, she blasted me with a spray of cold water from her squirt gun.
“Hey!” I shrieked. She giggled and pumped up her gun for another attack. “Don’t you dare!”
She pulled the trigger again, spraying my shirt. Trying to get out of the way, I tumbled to the floor with a loud thump.
“You guys,” Nathan shouted from behind me. “We’re trying to study.”
As I picked myself up off the floor, the bedroom door banged open.
“What’s wrong? I heard a crash!” Katherine was panting in the doorway, with a worried look on her normally gentle features. Her eyes searched for Nathan, and when she saw him sitting perfectly fine at my desk, she let out a breath of relief. “Thank God,” I heard her whisper.
“I’m fine, Mom,” Nathan said angrily.
“I’m sorry. I just thought something bad had—”
“That was my fault, Katherine,” I said, cutting in. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just being clumsy.”
She watched us for a moment. “Are you sure?” she asked, still sounding unsure.
“Everything is fine,” Nathan said slowly. I could tell he was trying not to yell.
Just then a water balloon came sailing through the window. It exploded at my feet and sprayed everywhere. A stream of laughter followed the attack.
“Kids!” Katherine shouted. The giggling cut off. “What did I tell you about water balloons in the house? Get inside right now!”
Then she stormed out of the room, leaving us slightly stunned and silent. I couldn’t tell if her anger was caused by the little kids or by stress from what she thought was Nathan having another seizure. I stayed still until Nathan finally let out the air he was holding in.
“Do you want me to leave?” I asked, even though we were in my room. He looked like he needed to be alone.
“No!” he answered and angrily shuffled through his flash cards. Then he sighed and added, “Sorry, Jackie. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’d just like to go back to studying.”