Chapter Six

~Even if it's absurd to think you can change things, it's even more absurd to believe that it is foolish and unimportant to try- Peter. C Newman

Chapter Six

 

 

Halfway through Jaydon’s soccer game the grey looming clouds that had been mocking us since the start decided to soak the field turning it into a muddy haven which the players loved. The spectators however mumbled curses for the mess the mud would make of the team uniforms and inevitably their poor floors and of course for being suddenly drenched in cold rain water while stuck sitting on hard bleacher benches.

 

Kaylie had the biggest grin on her face watching Jaydon and his teammates sink into soft mud, kicking up sprays as they rushed after the dirty soccer ball. They were hooting and cheering, bounding purposefully through the largest collections of water that spotted the field. Kaylie wanted to join them, wanted to sprint through the pouring rain, tackle the player that scored the most recent goal into the mud right alongside her brother. She wished she could let her play all the sports she wanted.

 

She saw Quil turn around and glance up at the two of them from his position beside the coach. She waved and he smiled, returning the gesture. He whispered something in his brother’s ear who waved his hand dismissively as he laughed watching his players giggle as the mud grew. They should have cancelled the game, the grass would be ruined but no one cared, a quick re-sodding was worth the smiles on their faces.

 

Quil made his way up the bleachers, his dark hair scruffy from the rain.

“Bonjour.” He directed to Kaylie, winking at her.

“Bonjour monsieur.”

“Some weather huh?” He asked while squinting up to the sky.

Cadence nodded, “They seem to be enjoying it.”

“How come you’re not out there splashing around?” He raised an eyebrow at Kaylie.

“I’m not on the team.”

He smiled at her, “Well, I happen to have connections with coach and I know he would not mind one bit if you joined them.”

Kaylie’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned her pleading gaze to her mother.

Cadence sighed, “Five minutes thats-“

“Thanks mom!” She wrapped her arms around her and began down the bleachers.

“Whoa whoa!” Kaylie stopped. “Take it easy alright?” Her daughter nodded and bounced down the remaining benches.

 

“You’re sure he won’t mind? They’re in the middle of a game.”

Quil grinned, “Nah, he said game’s over. They’re going to reschedule due to the rain and all. All the players know, they just wanted to keep playing for fun.”

Cadence watched as Kaylie broke onto the field, her brother’s eyes widened at the site of her and he gave up control of the ball to her. What a good brother she thought. Kaylie’s laughter was like music to her ears; her hair was plastered to her face, specs of mud spotting her cheeks like large freckles. Her jeans were already filthy. It was worth it.

 

“She is in her heaven right now.” Cadence said fondly.

“She looks like she could run circles around those boys if given a chance.”

Cadence laughed, “She would love nothing more. That girl is going to be one tough gal.”

“I feel sorry for her first boyfriend.”

Cadence grinned, “No one will be able to push her around that’s for sure.” She often wished she had been as strong herself with Jeremy.

 

Quil paused, “What about you?”

Cadence frowned puzzled, “What about me?”

“Well I can’t imagine anyone pulling a fast one on you either.”

Cadence couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically, “I’m afraid she takes after her father more in that aspect.”

He looked surprised, “I think you are mistaken.”

She chuckled, “flattery Mr. Emmet?”

He shook his head, “not at all.” He smiled, “Unless it’s working?”

She shoved him lightly and he laughed in return.

 

“Tell me about your ex.”

Cadence snapped her eyes to his surprised, “what?”

He shrugged innocently, “I want to know more about you, he’s a big part of your life.”

Cadence was sceptical, she eyed him wearily, “It just seems like an odd question...”

“I’m sorry, you’re right, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He smiled gently, “It’s been a while since I’ve been attracted to someone, I’m a little out of practice.”

Cadence’s apprehension left her in a single exhale with those words; she let out a small laugh and raised a brow, “attracted eh?”

Quil looked down embarrassed before finding her eyes again. He rubbed the back of his reddening neck, “Did I say that out loud?”

She nodded, “Mhm.”

“Well I guess the jig is up, hope that doesn’t weird you out at all.” He was blushing and she couldn’t help but giggle at the cute, awkward reaction.

“Not at all.”

 

He seemed to fumble over his next words like a budding teenager, only making her giggle more.

“So... now that my secrets out... “he grinned, “second date? Maybe a movie, dinner again?”

Cadence shook her head without hesitation, “Nuh-uh.” Quil looked noticeably disappointed and Cadence let her smirk flicker.

“I was thinking more along the lines of the beach.”

He narrowed his eyes, “you’re trying to throw me off my game aren’t you?”

She laughed, “Did it work?”

“Too well I think.” He glanced up at the sky, the clouds showed no sign of calling it quits any time soon, “Think the rain will let up by tomorrow?”

 

She was staring at him. The rain sailed down the steep curve of his nose as he watched the rolling sky with those wonderful chestnut eyes. A few drops rolled over his soft mouth, around the gentle swell of his lips, sliding around his jaw to his exposed neck... She stopped herself, realising he was looking at her amused. She looked away embarrassed, feeling the heat flush to her cheeks.

He pretended he hadn’t noticed, “If it does, then we can go tomorrow?”

She frowned trying to remember what he was talking about.

He laughed and shook his head in a teasing manner, “the beach... if the rain decides to quit turning everything to mud.”

 

Cadence’s eyes brightened as she got an idea, “Want to join them?”

Quil raised an eyebrow.

“It’ll be fun.”

He tilted his head to the soccer field intrigued and she nodded challengingly. He shrugged and climbed to his feet taking her by the hand, it was answer enough. They hurried down the wet bleachers with the other grumbling parents watching and bounded onto the field where the kids laughed and rolled around, pulling each other down into the mud.

 

The grass was remarkable slick beneath their sandaled feet and Cadence immediately began sliding across the lubricated blades that were half drowned beneath watery mud puddles. Jaydon spotted them instantly and came hurtling over, managing to only slip on his butt twice. He smiled broadly and grabbed his mom by the hand dragging her farther onto the field. Quil followed, looking back once to his brother- the coach- who only rolled his eyes at him grinning.

 

Kaylie was near the goal posts with two other kid’s her brother’s age swinging around the polls, sliding through filthy pools that had formed at the bases. She was laughing hysterically and Cadence smiled. Her hair clung to her face in wet tresses; every time she turned her head back to look behind her the hair slapped her cheeks like cold tongues.

 

Jaydon suddenly released her hand but she did not stop moving. Her now brown feet and splattered legs continued sailing over the grass like skates on ice; she flailed her arms at her sides to keep her balance but failed and ended up tumbling back, sliding through the mud on her bottom.

 

Jaydon erupted with laughter as his plan succeeded and a grinning Quil made it to her side to help her up. He held his hand out to her and she took it, with a mischievous smirk, and yanked down dragging him into the mud with her. They began giggling like a pair of fools, sitting in the mud, pushing each other over and slapping handfuls of the stuff at one another. Cadence gave him a good push and Quil tumbled sideways into a rather large collection of murky water, he grabbed Cadence as he went and she rolled into it with him, laughing uncontrollably.

 

The rain continued to pelt down on them, gluing their clothing to their skin and running the filth from their arms which stuck elbow deep in the soggy ground. It took cadence three tries to clamber back to her feet, it only took Quil one. She locked her son in her sights; he was following the abandoned soccer ball that moved at a snail’s pace through the flooded grass, and bounded after him.

 

With his back to her, her attack came as a complete surprise and he screamed and laughed as she scooped him up from behind and planted him in the mud, kneeling over him as he squealed, tickling his sides and laughing herself. Kaylie rushed over, leaving the boys to wrestle with each other still by the goal posts and jumped on her mother’s back to help Jaydon.

 

“Get her Kay!” Jaydon shrieked, squirming around beneath his mother.

Kaylie clung on; her arms wrapped around cadence’s collar bone, dangling like a little spider monkey. She giggled wildly.

Quil came and plucked Kaylie off of her mother in one single swoop and gently dunked her down beside her gut busting brother.

 

“Oh no!” Kaylie cried, “Jaydon they’re ganging up on us!” Quil began tickling her too as she shrieked in response. Soon the other player’s on Jaydon’s team tackled the two adults to help her kid’s escape the unbearable tickle attack, a few became victims themselves but soon cadence and Quil were overrun by the little mud monsters.

 

“There’s too many!” Cadence called out as three boys hung off of her as she shuffled knee deep in mud.

“look’s like we’re out matched!” Quil agreed, he had two boys glued to his back while he held Kaylie captive; hanging sideways under one of his arms. She laughed as one of the boys pulled at his fingers to try and release her.

 

“Okay, okay! We surrender!” Cadence called in defeat. She faked a dramatic end and toppled over sideways sending up a spray of mud and uprooted grass, Quil trudged over to her, covered in kid’s.

“You defeated her!” He declared, looking around at the mud covered faces. He considered his options then smiled, “Can I switch sides?”

The kid’s erupted in laughter and triumphant war cries as they all attacked him at once, “I guess that’s a no!” He cringed back, before feigning an embellished defeat.

The kid’s high fived each other, dancing around the two fallen adults cheering together at their victory.

 

“No one can defeat us!” One of them hollered just as lightening cracked overhead, lighting up the sky.

 

The coach blew his whistle at that cue and parents began calling over their children, wanting to get them home before the thunder and lightning got going.

Cadence and Quil rose to their feet as the kid’s sprang off of the field to their awaiting parents. Kaylie and Jaydon remained by their sides as they all looked at each other up and down. Not one inch of them was unspoiled by runny mud and they laughed, Cadence wrapping one arm around each of her children, Quil facing them, walking backwards towards the shrinking onlookers.

 

“That was so much fun eh Jay?” Kaylie beamed, skipping along.

Jaydon nodded vigorously, “That was awesome! I want it to rain every game!”

“I don’t think I could handle cleaning up this kind of mess every game.” Cadence said examining the damage.

The coach came over from the left and patted his brother on the back, “You’re a mess little bro.” He smiled before wiping off his hand on his jeans. “I’ll see you next week if the field is back in suitable shape by then.”

Quil nodded, “It will be. You still stopping by the shop this week sometime?”

Coach scratched is head, “Uh, depends on the wife. She wants to go visit her mother.” He motioned a gagging gesture and Quil laughed.

“See you next week then.”

 

The four of them reached the fork that branched off to the small parking lot and the path that lead to the road, Cadence went to hug Quil goodbye but he pulled away.

“Whoa, I’m giving you guys a ride, c’mon.”

“Oh no, I wouldn’t feel-“

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re getting in my car and that’s final.”

Cadence smiled graciously, “Go ahead kid’s.” She swatted their bottoms as they dashed towards the parking lot.

 

“You’re good with kid’s.” Cadence noted as they followed behind at a slower pace.

“You should bring them along tomorrow.”

“To the beach?”

“Yeah.”

Cadence tried to suppress her smile, “They’d love that.”

“So would I.”

Cadence giggled, “Your car is going to be filthy.”

He grinned at her, “I know, but so worth it.”

 

The rain continued to soak everything in its sights, the drops bounced off the asphalt of the parking lot giving the illusion the rain was falling up rather than down. Cars filled with muddy kids took turns turning out of the lot with their wipers oh high, slapping at the relentless drops with little success. A few people honked and waved while others frowned, squinting through the blurred windshield concentrating on the traffic.

 

Her kids were waiting at Quil’s car for them, running around the vehicle playing tag or something.

“Be careful!” Cadence scolded.

The kids stopped running, panting. “We are being careful!”

 

Quil unlocked the doors to his Jetta and the kids jumped inside.

“Thanks.” Cadence said over the roof of the car to Quil before climbing in afterwards. Thunder boomed overhead.

 

                      

***

 

 

           

            Cadence sat on the edge of Kaylie’s bed, smoothing her damp hair smelling fresh from her bath just ten minutes prior. Genevieve had told cadence to bring all the muddy laundry over to her house the next night so she wouldn’t have to lug it to the laundry mat and let the machine swallow all of her spare change. She planned on bringing all their beach stuff over as well.

 

            “Mom?”

“Oui mon cher?

“At school yesterday Mrs. Rishard gave us permission forms for a field trip.”

Cadence stoked her soft cheek, “What field trip?” She wasn’t too concerned, usually the field trips organized by this teacher cost nothing to attend; trips to the park to write about nature, draw the sky; journey’s to the local library; trips to farms to see the mechanics behind all the cute animals.

“We’re going to go to the science exhibition, so we can get idea’s for the science fair.”

Cadence stopped and put her hands in her lap, “The science exhibition? Well that sounds like a fun field trip.”

Kaylie’s eyes brightened with excitement, “Oh it will be! They have a gravity room, and a house that’s on an angle but looks normal so when you walk through it your eyes and your legs tell your brain two different things, and there’s a space room! A space room mom! You can see all the planets and stars and black holes and-“

“How much is this field trip?” She asked trying to sound casual.

Kaylie’s excitement dimmed, “Thirty five dollars.” She mumbled.

“How much?”

“Thirty five.” She said more clearly.

“Oh sweetie...”

“I know it’s a lot, I can work for the money, I’ll clean the house every day for... for a month! I’ll do all of Jaydon’s chores, I’ll do my homework every single day-“

“Whoa, you should be doing your homework every day as it is.” She eyes her daughter suspiciously.

“Well I’ll ask for extra homework! I’ll do anything to go, name it and it’s done I swear.”

 

Jaydon came into the room from brushing his teeth and climbed into his own bed, “My class is going to too mom.”

Cadence felt her stomach swallow her heart, seventy dollars for the two of them... Science was Kaylie’s favourite subject; she had to find a way to come up with the money. But rent was still behind. She would talk to the landlord and ask for an extension...again.

“When do you guys have to have the money?”

Jaydon shrugged, “sometime next week.

“By Thursday.” Kaylie corrected, her eyes pleading, hands clasped together like she was saying a prayer.

Tomorrow was Sunday.

“I don’t know guys; I’ll have to see what I can do.” Kaylie wrapped her arms around her mother and kissed her on the cheek. “But don’t get your hopes up okay?”

 

“I want to do my project on the brain.” Kaylie declared.

“The brain?” Jaydon asked, “What’s so interesting about the brain?”

“Duh, everything.” She rolled her eyes, “What do you want to do yours on that’s so much better?”

Jaydon grinned, “Weather.”

Kaylie rasied an eyebrow bored, “Weather. Really?”

Jaydon frowned, “Yes really. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes.”

“Earthquakes aren’t weather dummy.”

“What do you know.” He grumbled.

“I know that an earth-“

“It doesn’t matter.” Cadence spoke in, interrupting the escalating argument. “I think you both chose great topics this year, I can’t wait to see what you create.” She patted Kaylie‘s leg before moving to Jaydon’s bed.

 

“Are we going with you to the beach tomorrow?” He asked, pulling up the covers.

“If you want to, of course.” She smiled down at him, “you know I would never do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable or left out right?”

He shrugged, “I know.”

“I don’t want you worrying.”

“I know.”

She looked into his bright eyes before kissing him softly on the forehead. “Love you both. Now get some sleep.”