It was a day off, and the 'event' was exactly what the colony 'needed'-- a feeling of community. Winter was done, and the sun was shining, and the kids were out of school for the day. It was the sort of gathering that could make a person forget that it wasn't Earth, or, perhaps, that it really wasn't so far-fetched that one could call this home.
The children's noisy laughter was infectious. The games of tag, and Red Rover were played; the children needed no lectures about treating those 'special kids' properly. When all was said and down, the children played 'hard' and laughed harder. Add the puppies into the mix, yapping and running about, and it could easily be called a 'success'.
It was for those kids, ultimately, that General O'Neill had brought some of his sports equipment to the cookout. Baseball was a biggie for Jack, and off along the side, he was playing a game of catch with one of the older kids, their conversation lost in the noise of the day. He 'changed it up', from fast balls to 'flies'... and each time, the youth caught it.. and gave as good as he got. A couple of times, Jack had to take a couple of jogged steps backwards, glove in the air, eyes squinting against the light behind his sunglasses. But, ultimately, the ball would be caught, and immediately returned.
Those parents in attendance kept an eye, thanks to the visit from the heavens yesterday, but conversations in front of the salads, the bean salads and more importantly, the BBQ, held a familiarity that was comforting.
The children's noisy laughter was infectious. The games of tag, and Red Rover were played; the children needed no lectures about treating those 'special kids' properly. When all was said and down, the children played 'hard' and laughed harder. Add the puppies into the mix, yapping and running about, and it could easily be called a 'success'.
It was for those kids, ultimately, that General O'Neill had brought some of his sports equipment to the cookout. Baseball was a biggie for Jack, and off along the side, he was playing a game of catch with one of the older kids, their conversation lost in the noise of the day. He 'changed it up', from fast balls to 'flies'... and each time, the youth caught it.. and gave as good as he got. A couple of times, Jack had to take a couple of jogged steps backwards, glove in the air, eyes squinting against the light behind his sunglasses. But, ultimately, the ball would be caught, and immediately returned.
Those parents in attendance kept an eye, thanks to the visit from the heavens yesterday, but conversations in front of the salads, the bean salads and more importantly, the BBQ, held a familiarity that was comforting.
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