Soccer Parents

Chapter 1: First Game

Disclaimer/warning:

Reader discretion is advised for some mild dark humor.

Luke and Lorelai walked from the parking area to the soccer field, each carrying a handle on the cooler because Lorelai decided to volunteer themselves to go first, bringing the after-game snack. Luke was already anxiously stressing from what happened the last time they were on this field. When their seven-year-old daughter announced one night during dinner she wanted to play soccer, the flashbacks were already creeping in. But trying to be supportive, Lorelai gladly told her she could.

Riley hurried ahead of the pair, kicking her soccer ball. She was excited to be playing in her first game. This wasn't her first sport, having played T-ball when she was five. Then a year later it was karate, but that had to stop when the kid accidentally kicked her sensei in the private area. Though Riley had said on numerous occasions, she wanted to try again, promising it won't happen again. For now, though, it was soccer, and even though kicking was the main part of the game. Hopefully, her foot will only be kicking the soccer ball and not another kid's.

As they got close to the field, seeing Riley's teammates and their families were already there waiting for the game to start, they noticed Emily and Richard were also already there. It wasn't hard to miss them since they had come very well prepared, with their own chairs and umbrellas. Lorelai had dropped the invitation the night before while they were having their Friday night dinner, and both of them happily accepted. Or, it seemed like they were happy, anyway. It was hard to tell with Emily, but Richard told Riley he would be there cheering her on, putting a smile on the kid's face.

"Got enough stuff there, Mom?" Lorelai asked once they were close, setting the cooler down at their feet.

"Well, you said there wouldn't be seating," Emily reminded Lorelai of what she had said about the details of the game.

"I brought a large blanket for everyone to share," Lorelai held up the folded blanket that was sitting on top of the cooler.

Emily looked at her daughter as if she had grown an extra head. "You plan on sitting on the ground?"

Riley chimed in, "Yeah, it's the best part about eating outdoors. You get to be on the ground and if you're real lucky, a bug will crawl on you and you can name it Jim Bob."

Emily just rolled her eyes. "She clearly is your daughter, Lorelai."

Riley then opened her mouth to say a smart response when Lorelai suddenly wrapped her arm around the kid's head to cover her mouth, pulling her in. She could see it coming a mile away.

"What was that about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just felt like giving Riley a good luck hug for her game." The kid licked at her hand to make Lorelai let go, who quickly wiped it on her jeans. She leaned over to suggest Riley go warm up with her teammates before the game.

"Okay," Riley replied, and dashed off onto the field to join her team.

Luke moved closer to whisper, "You know your mom's not wrong, right? Riley does have your smart mouth."

"Yours doesn't help much either, so, ha!" she quietly shot back at him.

Riley truly was Lorelai's "Mini Me", which Lorelai has taken to calling her, like from the Austin Powers movies. To be fair, the kid may have been an actual karma payback for Lorelai because the kid could act the same way when she was growing up. Riley was the spitting image, but with Luke's nose and Emily's hair color, and shared the same smartass humor. To the point, she has actually given her food names and voices during dinner.