not fair.”
“My dad always said nothing’s fair. The sooner we learn that the easier to get beyond it.” I glanced around the circle, slower this time, making sure we were all on the same page, like it or not. The tall black woman I remembered from earlier in the day was chewing on her lower lip, but her focus was one hundred percent on the hands. I liked that. Keep the attention on the solution to the problem and not on the problem.
“Sorry I didn’t get your name?” I said to her, catching her gaze.
“Serena.” She seemed momentarily startled, but it was more the knee-jerk reaction you have when you’re deep in thought about something else.
“Any thoughts about untwisting this human knot?” I asked.
“Can’t be done.” Dyslexia inserted, working too hard to be proved right, rather than putting the energy into solving the problem.
“Go ahead.” I kept my gaze on Serena’s, feeling the tick of time whispering past. “Something’s better than nothing.”
She grinned, an expression that changed her face from average to engaged. “Okay, let’s try it.”
She proceeded to start directing individuals within the group. Sometimes the move worked, sometimes it didn’t, but every time she stopped I egged her on. A few others contributed when they could see an option from where they were standing that Serena might not see. Even Kelly offered a suggestion, and when it worked, she beamed a halleluiah smile. This stupid game would be worth it just because of that.
Only Dyslexia kept grumbling till I wanted to default on the game simply to get a hand free and smack her.
Stone must have been channeling my thoughts as he stepped near me, then leaned in and asked, “How’s it goin’, Noziak?”
“Just peachy,” I shot back.
He actually grinned.
I was thankful the woman across from me didn’t release my right hand as I instinctually tugged. For that I’d owe her.
Stone strolled away still chuckling as he announced, “Three minutes left.”
Sadistic.
The tendency with the time announcement was for people to start to panic.
“Slow down, we’re almost there.” I looked Dyslexic straight in the eye until she stopped her agitation. Then I glanced at Serena. “You’re doing a great job. Baby steps and we’re there.”
I was right, we were only about two twined hands away when Vaughn Monroe’s group gave a high whoop whoop and raised their hands above their heads to show they were once again an untangled mess.
I smiled for them and turned back to my group. “Let’s finish this.”
But it was too late. Dyslexia had already pulled her hand away, crossing her arms and grumbling, “I told you it wasn’t fair.”
Kelly moved between me and my target as I took a step forward. Her clear schoolteacher voice rose. “Let’s give Team Two a cheer.”
I managed a smile and nod. So we did a high-five hand pump with a chorus of way-to-go. Chiquita’s team had kept their hands together, but were still a tangled mess when Stone called time a moment later.
“Team Princess wins,” he announced, with an expression that looked like he was sucking lemons. Team Reyes in second.” That earned a cat-eating grin from Chiquita who nodded in my direction. “Team Noziak is disqualified for releasing hands before the exercise ended.”
“Sorry, guys,” I said to my crestfallen group, trying to keep eight gazes from pinpointing exactly who in our group had flubbed up. As far as I was concerned a strong team celebrated the good times, but didn’t point fingers in the bad patches.
“I want a new team,” Dyslexia announced, loud enough that even Stone could hear her. “I think we should be able to pick our own teams rather then get stuck with being chosen by the leaders.” She added just enough emphasis on the last word make it clear that she wasn’t thinking too highly of her current team leader. Moi.
This time it was Stone with a hand to my shoulder, even though I could have sworn I hadn’t moved.
“My dad always said nothing’s fair. The sooner we learn that the easier to get beyond it.” I glanced around the circle, slower this time, making sure we were all on the same page, like it or not. The tall black woman I remembered from earlier in the day was chewing on her lower lip, but her focus was one hundred percent on the hands. I liked that. Keep the attention on the solution to the problem and not on the problem.
“Sorry I didn’t get your name?” I said to her, catching her gaze.
“Serena.” She seemed momentarily startled, but it was more the knee-jerk reaction you have when you’re deep in thought about something else.
“Any thoughts about untwisting this human knot?” I asked.
“Can’t be done.” Dyslexia inserted, working too hard to be proved right, rather than putting the energy into solving the problem.
“Go ahead.” I kept my gaze on Serena’s, feeling the tick of time whispering past. “Something’s better than nothing.”
She grinned, an expression that changed her face from average to engaged. “Okay, let’s try it.”
She proceeded to start directing individuals within the group. Sometimes the move worked, sometimes it didn’t, but every time she stopped I egged her on. A few others contributed when they could see an option from where they were standing that Serena might not see. Even Kelly offered a suggestion, and when it worked, she beamed a halleluiah smile. This stupid game would be worth it just because of that.
Only Dyslexia kept grumbling till I wanted to default on the game simply to get a hand free and smack her.
Stone must have been channeling my thoughts as he stepped near me, then leaned in and asked, “How’s it goin’, Noziak?”
“Just peachy,” I shot back.
He actually grinned.
I was thankful the woman across from me didn’t release my right hand as I instinctually tugged. For that I’d owe her.
Stone strolled away still chuckling as he announced, “Three minutes left.”
Sadistic.
The tendency with the time announcement was for people to start to panic.
“Slow down, we’re almost there.” I looked Dyslexic straight in the eye until she stopped her agitation. Then I glanced at Serena. “You’re doing a great job. Baby steps and we’re there.”
I was right, we were only about two twined hands away when Vaughn Monroe’s group gave a high whoop whoop and raised their hands above their heads to show they were once again an untangled mess.
I smiled for them and turned back to my group. “Let’s finish this.”
But it was too late. Dyslexia had already pulled her hand away, crossing her arms and grumbling, “I told you it wasn’t fair.”
Kelly moved between me and my target as I took a step forward. Her clear schoolteacher voice rose. “Let’s give Team Two a cheer.”
I managed a smile and nod. So we did a high-five hand pump with a chorus of way-to-go. Chiquita’s team had kept their hands together, but were still a tangled mess when Stone called time a moment later.
“Team Princess wins,” he announced, with an expression that looked like he was sucking lemons. Team Reyes in second.” That earned a cat-eating grin from Chiquita who nodded in my direction. “Team Noziak is disqualified for releasing hands before the exercise ended.”
“Sorry, guys,” I said to my crestfallen group, trying to keep eight gazes from pinpointing exactly who in our group had flubbed up. As far as I was concerned a strong team celebrated the good times, but didn’t point fingers in the bad patches.
“I want a new team,” Dyslexia announced, loud enough that even Stone could hear her. “I think we should be able to pick our own teams rather then get stuck with being chosen by the leaders.” She added just enough emphasis on the last word make it clear that she wasn’t thinking too highly of her current team leader. Moi.
This time it was Stone with a hand to my shoulder, even though I could have sworn I hadn’t moved.
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