Rollie is used to all sorts of obstructions on the boardwalks-accidents, strange vehicles, animals, ill-advised liaisons and just plain people getting in the way-but it's not usually his child.
"Nice craftsmanship," he says, because positive encouragement is important. Or so he's told.
"Thankyou," she says, giving him a slightly odd look because she's not entirely sure what craftsmanship means. She tilts her head and studies him for a moment.
"So what's this then?" I was Roman born and raised. If there was one thing I was used to it was children scribbling graffiti on all available surfaces. This looked like it had a purpose beyond mere petty vandalism though and the overly nosey informer within wanted to know what was behind it all.
"Hopscotch," she says, squinting up at Marcus. She's not sure if she trusts him after he killed that bird, but she'll give him the benefit of the doubt. She raises one eyebrow.
I crouched down to be closer to both the game and the child, doing my best to not smudge any chalk lines. From first-hand experience with my nieces and nephews (not to mention my own daughters), I knew that dealing with children could be tricky at the best of times. Act too adult and they get bored, but too much patronizing and they'll be after your throat. I did my best to balance. "How about we make a deal? You teach me how to play your game and I'll teach you to play one of mine."
"Look at that," Meredith says when she sees what Karen's drawn. She doesn't know the girl well, but that's no reason just to walk on by without a word, and the kid's pretty adorable. "That's very nice. I never got the lines that nice when I was your age."
"You have to concentrate really hard," says Karen, hopping carefully. "And you have to take your time." She squints up, hair tumbling across her forehead. "Hi, Meredith."
"Hello, Karen," Meredith says, grinning. "Smart girl. I think that was the problem. I was always too impatient." That's no less true now that it was when she was younger, however she tries to curb it as the years go by. She has more need of patience than ever lately, too, and it's so hard to come by.
Aragorn didn't have much experience with children, the Elves rarely had any and he had spent so much of his time on the battlefields he didn't have a chance to interact with them.
So when he saw the girl playing some sort of game, he stopped to watch her, seeing if he could understand how it was played.
"I do not know what the game is called or how it is played," he said, finally speaking up after a moment. "But your squares and numbers are made well."
Towering over the small girl, Aragorn gave her a bit of a smile and nodded. He hadn't much chance to learn children's games when he was a child, and now seemed a better time than most.
"I would indeed like to learn to hopscotch, my lady," Aragorn said with a bit of a bow. "I am called Strider."
Quorra watched the small human making her own grid with great interest. It didn't light up or anything, like she was used to but it was clearly intended to be a game, and Quorra did like games.
"Where's your vehicle?" she asked, when the child stopped.
"Oh. That's probably safer." People did seem to be concerned about the small ones not getting damaged, which was sensible but kind of dull. "I've never played this one. How does it work?"
Karen picks up the stone and throws it, watching as it lands on a square. "And then you have to stand on one leg and you hop and then you jump and you just...miss out the square with the stone."
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"Nice craftsmanship," he says, because positive encouragement is important. Or so he's told.
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"It's for hopscotch," she says, helpfully.
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"It's a game."
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"We're not going to kill any more birds are we?"
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"Do you want to play?"
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So when he saw the girl playing some sort of game, he stopped to watch her, seeing if he could understand how it was played.
"I do not know what the game is called or how it is played," he said, finally speaking up after a moment. "But your squares and numbers are made well."
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"Thankyou," she says. "It's hopscotch. I could show you."
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"I would indeed like to learn to hopscotch, my lady," Aragorn said with a bit of a bow. "I am called Strider."
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"I'm Karen."
And then she offers him her hand.
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"Where's your vehicle?" she asked, when the child stopped.
She wasn't sure of the point, otherwise.
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Karen picks up the stone and throws it, watching as it lands on a square. "And then you have to stand on one leg and you hop and then you jump and you just...miss out the square with the stone."
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