remains silent as she slowly realises we are winning.
On clipping our final point, we are aware of Mark’s (we know this by his voice) team being not too far behind us, so we run like a hurricane, darting this way and that way, in order to find the best possible path through the field. Even Tabitha’s cool demeanour is melting away as excitement builds with the possibility of us being first. We even have a bonding moment when we helped each other over a style. I finally start to see who the real Tabitha is and I much prefer this one to the facade she usually hides behind. I don’t understand why she uses this disguise, when her own self is much more fun.
“Quick Lizzie–run!” Tabitha shrieks with the delight of a child on Christmas morning. This is so refreshing, that I decide to try to pull the fun out of Tabitha this weekend. When she’s like this, I could honestly be her friend. Finally reaching the centre door, we are greeted by James’ cheer and announcement that we are in fact the winning group. He hugs Tabitha and me and pats John and Owen on the back. “Well done, that’s a brilliant time. In fact I have to admit that it’s three seconds faster that the time Peter and I got when we tested the course out before you came, so that’s some great map reading!” James says enthusiastically.
“Well we can all thank Lizzie for her map-reading skills. I have to say, I did doubt you at first, but you were fabulous out there, and of course, we’ve beaten Mark’s team. He will never live this down during the next Sunday lunch at your parents’ house,” gushes Tabitha. I am amazed, but secretly pleased that she has said this, especially in front of James.
“Here are his team now and that’s a huge 45 seconds lead on them – you’ve destroyed them!” laughs James.
“Gosh you’ve taken a long time Mark, we’ve been here ages,” Tabitha giggles like a school girl -she’s in her element.
“Well you had the unfair advantage of my dad’s map-reading genes being passed on to Lizzie in abundance, much more than I inherited anyway. As much as it pains me to say it–well done!” answers Mark.
“How did you know I was good with maps?” I ask him curious that he remembers this.
“Lizzie you always have been. I’m your brother, so I just know you are, and I was very much hoping you’d be in my team tonight,” he answered with a warm smile and also a friendly punch.
“Thanks for that,” I reply with a beam on my face. Maybe I am too harsh on Mark or perhaps I see don’t see enough of him these days to see his true nature. As much as he mocks me, he has always supported me and aren’t brothers meant to mock their little sisters?
During the next twenty minutes, the rest of the groups trickle in full off sparkle, all laughing, and in various states of cleanliness or should I say dirtiness. Kate and Ruth arrive back, literally dripping, but in hysterics. Apparently Kate fell in the stream and Ruth tried to get her out and ended up in the stream with her. Just the squelching sounds of their water-logged boots each time they take a step sends everybody into fits of laughter.
After well-needed hot showers, we all meet down in the lounge area for a hot chocolate, complements of Pete again. Mark is handing out bottles of wine and cans of beer to everybody. “Lizzie, what would you like?” he asks as I enter the room with Ruth and Kate.
“Are you sure Mark? I’d love a bottle of red if you’ve got one. How much do we owe you?”
“Of course, help yourself, there’s plenty to go around and this is my treat,” he replies without any fuss. Again I am left to evaluate my thoughts on my brother. I think back to family holidays and times we spent together before he went off to university and never returned. Remembering a time on a family holiday when I lost my pocket money and he gave me half of his, I realise that Mark was always generous. I recognise that, although we have different lifestyles
On clipping our final point, we are aware of Mark’s (we know this by his voice) team being not too far behind us, so we run like a hurricane, darting this way and that way, in order to find the best possible path through the field. Even Tabitha’s cool demeanour is melting away as excitement builds with the possibility of us being first. We even have a bonding moment when we helped each other over a style. I finally start to see who the real Tabitha is and I much prefer this one to the facade she usually hides behind. I don’t understand why she uses this disguise, when her own self is much more fun.
“Quick Lizzie–run!” Tabitha shrieks with the delight of a child on Christmas morning. This is so refreshing, that I decide to try to pull the fun out of Tabitha this weekend. When she’s like this, I could honestly be her friend. Finally reaching the centre door, we are greeted by James’ cheer and announcement that we are in fact the winning group. He hugs Tabitha and me and pats John and Owen on the back. “Well done, that’s a brilliant time. In fact I have to admit that it’s three seconds faster that the time Peter and I got when we tested the course out before you came, so that’s some great map reading!” James says enthusiastically.
“Well we can all thank Lizzie for her map-reading skills. I have to say, I did doubt you at first, but you were fabulous out there, and of course, we’ve beaten Mark’s team. He will never live this down during the next Sunday lunch at your parents’ house,” gushes Tabitha. I am amazed, but secretly pleased that she has said this, especially in front of James.
“Here are his team now and that’s a huge 45 seconds lead on them – you’ve destroyed them!” laughs James.
“Gosh you’ve taken a long time Mark, we’ve been here ages,” Tabitha giggles like a school girl -she’s in her element.
“Well you had the unfair advantage of my dad’s map-reading genes being passed on to Lizzie in abundance, much more than I inherited anyway. As much as it pains me to say it–well done!” answers Mark.
“How did you know I was good with maps?” I ask him curious that he remembers this.
“Lizzie you always have been. I’m your brother, so I just know you are, and I was very much hoping you’d be in my team tonight,” he answered with a warm smile and also a friendly punch.
“Thanks for that,” I reply with a beam on my face. Maybe I am too harsh on Mark or perhaps I see don’t see enough of him these days to see his true nature. As much as he mocks me, he has always supported me and aren’t brothers meant to mock their little sisters?
During the next twenty minutes, the rest of the groups trickle in full off sparkle, all laughing, and in various states of cleanliness or should I say dirtiness. Kate and Ruth arrive back, literally dripping, but in hysterics. Apparently Kate fell in the stream and Ruth tried to get her out and ended up in the stream with her. Just the squelching sounds of their water-logged boots each time they take a step sends everybody into fits of laughter.
After well-needed hot showers, we all meet down in the lounge area for a hot chocolate, complements of Pete again. Mark is handing out bottles of wine and cans of beer to everybody. “Lizzie, what would you like?” he asks as I enter the room with Ruth and Kate.
“Are you sure Mark? I’d love a bottle of red if you’ve got one. How much do we owe you?”
“Of course, help yourself, there’s plenty to go around and this is my treat,” he replies without any fuss. Again I am left to evaluate my thoughts on my brother. I think back to family holidays and times we spent together before he went off to university and never returned. Remembering a time on a family holiday when I lost my pocket money and he gave me half of his, I realise that Mark was always generous. I recognise that, although we have different lifestyles
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