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 Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:59 pm
"Betcha can't catch this one!" Manny shouted, lobbing the softball back at a small group of neighborhood kids. She was dressed more casually than usual, in a pair of khaki shorts and a tshirt. Her hair was tugged back into a ponytail, though it was already showing a coating of dust that her mother would be upset about later. It was nearly dinner time and her playmates would have to leave soon, but she was planning to stay until Mama Estelle came for her. It wasn't often she got to come to the sports park, mainly because of how far off the subway route it was, and she wasn't going to give up a minute of it. She'd just have to find someone else to play with.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:48 pm
"I wanna go plaaaaaaaaaay!" Leviathan wailed, not pausing to watch his father. He knew how this was going to go down. If he cried long enough, hard enough and earnestly enough, his dad would give in and take him outside. This Levi knew very well, even if he was just a toddler. Sable had the will of a wet noddle. (Leviathan liked noodles.) "Pweeeeease!" he added for good measure, sniffling and flailing a little. Within minutes, Sable gave in and scooped his son up.
Victory! Park away!
Leviathan loved being outside. Even if he liked the ocean best, the park was nothing to scoff at. As soon as Sable put him down, the boy was off, toddling to gods know where. He seemed to be making a beeline for a tree when he noticed someone playing...what was she playing? Terribly intrigued (Sable was sure this innate curiosity was due to being to product of two scientists), Leviathan toddled as fast as he could to the girl, sitting in the dirt once he got close.
"Hiiiii!" he chirped loudly.
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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:07 pm
Manny tugged a baseball cap on over her ponytail, turning toward the sound. Spotting a child with brightly colored hair, she waved, cracking a smile at his enthusiasm. "Hey little guy," she offered, nodding a goodbye to her departing friends, "You want to play with me? We could play catch, or you know, something else." Her tail lay stretched out on the ground behind her, poised out of her way so she could run without tripping on it.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:42 pm
Leviathan brightened when the girl offered to play with him. "Weally?" he asked, mismatched eyes wide. His brothers never offered to play with him! This girl was so cool! He wasn't really sure what catch was, but if she liked it, it must be pretty cool too. The lobster boy nodded eagerly. "O'tay! We play catch!" He nodded sagely, getting up and toddling closer. "How we play?" he asked, eyes shining. Leviathan was always ready for something new.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:58 pm
Manuela tapped the ball against her old mitt, brushing off some of the red dirt. "I throw the ball like this," she explained, tossing it to him with a soft underhand, "And you just catch it, and throw it back." She rocked back on her heels, taking a step backward, "And then we get further apart until you have to throw it really hard. And if one of us drops it we gotta start over."
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:10 pm
"Oh!" Leviathan said, as though that was the easiest thing he's ever heard. Of course, it wasn't, but he wasn't about to tell the cool girl that. "O'tay. We play that," he said, confirming as he nodded. This would be fun! (Even if he never played it before. He still caught things his brothers threw at him and sometimes he threw a pillow. How much different could it be?) "Wha's your name?" he asked, waiting for Cool Girl to throw the ball.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:18 pm
"I'm Manuela Ceballos-Escalera," she proclaimed proudly, readying to throw. As she let the ball go she added, "And you?" She had been a little wary about the choice of game because of his funny arm, but since he seemed enthused she wasn't worried.
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:58 am
"M' Leeeeeevi," he announced, still unable to pronounce his full name. Oh no! The ball was flying at him! Leviathan yelped and scurried sideways, trying his best to catch it. It sailed right over his head. Frowning, the young boy darted after just like an over-enthusiastic lab and trotted back to where he was standing. He tossed the ball back to Manny. That part was easy. The boy frowned. "S'haaaaaard."
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:11 pm
Yeah," Manny conceded, catching the ball in her mitt, "But if you practice you'll get good at it, don't worry." She took a few steps back and made a motion to throw underhand. "This one might be easier to catch," she told him, lobbing the ball lightly. This ball was about chest level to the boy, hopefully easier than her last high pitch.
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:29 pm
Of course he'd get better at it! The boy concentrated on the ball fully this time and actually managed to fumble around with it a little before dropping it. Oops. He'd have to practice this at home with his brothers, or his dad. One of the two. "S'fun," he said, in case Manny thought he didn't like it. He tossed the ball back to her, a little too far right. He grinned. Could she still catch it?
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:39 pm
Manny had seen the ball swerving right after he had thrown it, but it hadn't occured to follow until it was too late. When she finally did begin to strafe it was already coming too fast and as she reached the spot it slammed into the ground. "Good throw," she told him as she reached to pick it up, "Can you throw with your other arm?" Oops, she blushed at the question, realizing he would probably find it offensive.
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:10 pm
Leviathan cackled with glee when Manny missed. So even cool kids missed? That was good to know. He blinked looking down at his left arm when she said something and shrugged. "Iunno. Ne'er tried," he admitted, not the least bit bothered by it. He didn't get why Manny blushed when she asked, either. His daddy did that all the time, but his daddy usually broke out into tears sometime soon after. "Wanna find out?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:41 pm
"Sure," Manny chirped as she tossed the ball to him, greatly relieved that he wasn't sensitive to dumb questions. He was kind of cute for a little guy when she thought about it. "I can't do anything with my right hand," she joked, offering a smile, "But I guess some people are good with both."
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:57 pm
Hehe. Didn't Manny know he was good at everything? He reached forward to catch the ball with his left, but ended up fumbling with both before actually catching it. The hand-eye coordination of toddlers was not something that impressive. "I jus' good," he informed her, proud he managed to keep that throw from hitting the ground. He tossed the ball back to the older girl. "Be'er than my brothers, y'know." It was important to be the best when you were so little.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:29 pm
Manuela smiled, catching the ball in her glove. A few blocks over a cathedral bell began to toll the hour and a frightened look came over her face. "I'm sorry," she said quickly, tossing him the ball, "I have to get home before Mama Estelle comes looking for me." Thinking she added, "Keep the ball ok? Practice and maybe we can play a real game sometimes.
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