Word: Rollick

 

rollick

\ ROL-ik \  , verb;

1. To move or act in a carefree, frolicsome manner; behave in a free, hearty, gay, or jovial way.

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               The heat from the late summer sun beat down on the partygoers.  The sounds of the children’s laughter and shouts filled the air along with the scent of hamburgers and hot dogs cooking.  The children were running around the large yard, shooting at each other with squirt guns while they jumped, bucked and dived around anything and everything that they could use as cover, including some of the more unlucky parents.

                They had chosen to deal with the heat by playing with the toys, making up some kind of game resembling tag as they went.  The rules were vague at best, and the players seemed to make up rules whenever it suited them, much to the chagrin of all the other kids playing. 

                The adults chose to stick to the shade with cold drinks to deal with the heat, while hoping they wouldn’t be used for cover for the children’s game.  Most of them anyway.  Some of them actually seemed to position themselves in such a way that the kids would use them as makeshift cover, taking advantage of the cold water that was being used in the small squirt guns to help cool off.  Those who chose this path tended to be those who disliked parties, large crowds, or the others in attendance, but were obligated to attend the family gathering for various reasons. 

                The party was an annual gathering of the family.  Many viewed it as just another fun little tradition that had popped up over the years, but to others it was an absolute necessity.  This was a family that liked to spread out.  They were scattered all over the state, and some even had traveled to other parts of the country.  This meant that they rarely saw each other.  Even those in good standing with others had little to no contact.  This party was one of the few times of the year they all gathered together.  Even holidays weren’t reliable as they used to be for family gatherings.

                This did lead to the party being used more like a class reunion than an actual party, the most common conversations starter being ‘So, what’s new’, or some variation.  And not all of them were as willing to share as others.  In fact, there were more than a few who didn’t even want to be there, thinking that they got by the entire year without talking to each other, and wondering why they suddenly needed to act like they cared.  Many were thinking it was for the children’s sake more than the adults. 

Watching them romp and play, it wasn’t hard to see why.  They were young enough now that they could at least act like they got enough contact with each other to play such an ever changing game, but it wouldn’t last.  The oldest among them was about to turn nine, and the others weren’t very far behind.  In a few years they would be acting more and more like the adults.  Many of the parents felt that the cousins should get some play time in with each other while they were young enough to not care about things like distance and the various problems it caused.  For now, let them play with each other like they actually cared.

                  Those who actually wanted to be at the party were doing their best to keep conversations going.  Most of them were forced though, and the pleasant atmosphere was colored by rising tensions.  It wasn’t so much that the family didn’t get along so much as they just didn’t care as much as they used to.  This led to less and less pleasant things being brought up as the adults got tired.  Old grudges, issues, and other problems took the place of the obligatory catch up conversations.  Everyone did their best to keep it as light hearted as possible, but it was a shallow attempt and nobody over the age of thirty was fooled for an instant.  Still, they kept up appearances, again for the children.  Maybe if they pretended to care and get along, the next generation would be able to salvage the unity that the family once had. 

But the illusion wouldn’t hold very long.  Some were starting to lose the happy facade, and getting into arguments over some small matter that had been considered closed for years till someone made a poorly worded joke.  It was small and contained though, so nobody really noticed yet.  But it was gaining volume and dragging more people into it as it continued. 

                Suddenly, everything stopped as one of the younger children started crying, and while all the other young ones gathered to see what was going on.  The child had accidentally crossed paths with a wasp and had been stung on the arm.  The child’s parents immediately went to comfort the child, breaking up the building argument as they did.  With that one moment, the adults had been able to put their masks back on, and continue to act like they cared about each other as each parent went to their own child to make sure they hadn’t gotten in the way of another of the stinging insects. 

                As the game ended, it seemed like the party had instantly died down.  This meant that the adults could at least pretend to care about the family.  At least, for one more year.

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Hmmmm.  Not sure about the ending to this one.  Does it seem too rushed?  This might be one of my less favorite stories, but if you guys like it, do let me know.