The Married Life of Jeremy & Andy

Monkey in the Middle

Matt Clyde was playing with his ball in the backyard. 

He was throwing it up in the air, over his head. 

At one point, it landed on top of his head, and he fell on his back with a giggle.

His big sister Lucy approached him. "Matthew, you're doing it all wrong."

Matt looked at his sister very awkwardly.

"This is how to catch a ball" said Lucy.

She threw the ball in the air lightly and caught it perfectly.

"Not like this" she said.

She imitated Matthew's actions, ending with laying on her back and laughing. "That's what you do."

What a cheeky little one Lucy is. 

Matt grabbed the ball and ran away, holding it over his head.

"Matt, come back, you little sneak" Lucy laughed.

She chased her baby brother and grabbed the ball from him.

Matt tried to get the ball back, but Lucy held it over her head.

Maybe Lucy was teasing Matt just a bit too much.

Their mother Andy came into the yard and took the ball. "Lucy, have you been teasing Matthew?"

"Not really, Mummy. I was teaching him how to catch" said Lucy.

"Really" said Andy. "I know a game that'll teach Matt how to catch. It's called Monkey In The Middle."

"Hurray!" Lucy and Matt cheered.

"Lucy hon, you take the ball and stand over there. And Matt, you stand over there" said Andy.

Under her orders, Matt and Lucy stood on opposite sides of her. 

"Good. You have to throw the ball to each other and I have to try and catch it. I'm the monkey in the middle" Andy explained.

"Mummy's the monkey in the middle!" Lucy sang.

Then she threw the ball. "Catch, Matt!"

Andy missed the ball, but Matt caught it! 

"Hoo-way!" he cheered. 

"Good job, Matt. Now you throw the ball to Lucy" said Andy.

Matt tried, but he didn't throw it high enough.

He tried and he tried and he tried, but he couldn't throw the ball past Andy. 

"Come on, Matthew. Give the ball to me" said Lucy impatiently.

"Okay" said Matt.

He crawled through Andy's legs and handed Lucy the ball before going back to his spot. 

"Silly Matt!" Lucy giggled. "I can do that too."

She tried to copy Matt, but she was too big to fit through Andy's legs.

By the time she got out, she'd dropped the ball.

Andy laughed. "I got the ball. Lucy, now it's your turn to be Monkey."

Lucy got in the middle as Andy threw the ball to Matt. 

Matt caught the ball once again. 

He threw it again and Lucy caught it. 

"Got it!" she said. "Matt, you're the monkey."

Matt got in the middle and tried to catch the ball as Andy and Lucy threw it to each other.

At one point, Lucy had the ball. 

"Here's the ball, Matt" she said mischievously.

Matt thought she was handing it to him and tried to take it.

But Lucy threw it away, which made the little guy cry. 

"Lucy, you shouldn't tease your brother like that!" scolded Andy.

"Sorry, Matt" said Lucy.

Andy's husband Jeremy came outside, found the ball, and approached his family.

"What's all the noise?" he said.

"Daddy, Matt's too little to play Monkey In The Middle" said Lucy.

"Oh, I'm sure he's big enough" said Jeremy.

"No he isn't, Daddy. Watch" said Lucy. 

She threw the ball and Jeremy lifted Matt up so he could catch it. 

"Catch it, Matt!" said Jeremy. 

Matt caught the ball and Jeremy sat him on his shoulders.

Lucy stomped her foot. "That's not fair!"

"Yes it is" said Jeremy. "I just gave Matt a helping hand."

Lucy gave a little giggle. "Mummy, can I have a helping hand?"

"Sure, honey" said Andy.

She put Lucy on her shoulders so she could play catch with Matt. 

Lucy loves catching the ball. Matt love catching the ball.

Everyone loves catching the ball.