Home is Where You are (Ally and Stevie)

11. Pablympics (They said)

*****
(Stevie said)

Ally was voted lopsidedly as the torch bearer for the this year's Pablympics. When she knew about this, she went straight to the gym to build stamina. She was tasked to run a quarter mile, carrying a torch.

"My athleticism has long been buried to the ground. Plus I do not want to collapse in front of hundreds of people," Ally said when she brought me lunch at my work station. We decided to hang out more often--just taking  things slowly. It had been fun getting to know each other deeper.

"Too bad you are also a team captain," I answered.

"What?! I was not even informed about this!"

"I guess you haven't read your work mail."

She excused herself to access her mail on her phone.

"Oh no. That is my name right there! Help me!"

"It is just a sports fest, Ally. You have a house to lead against three other houses. And there are just three events--the a cappella cheer-dancing, the relay race and the ultimate Pabbitch."

"Pabbitch?"

"It's Pab's version of Quidditch."

"Is that a new sport?"

"Oh I forgot. You didn't finish any Harry Potter book--or even any movie adaptation!"

"Hey come on. The books had small letters on it and the movies were too long. But I will watch all of the movies if you watch with me."

"It's a date then."

We both realized I used the "D" word and there was awkward silence. We had not defined what we were. She broke the ice and finally spoke.

"I will bring popcorn." I smiled at her and she grinned back. Under the lunch table, she held my hand and I squeezed hers. In that moment, we both confirmed that we were dating... again.

I felt my face flushing so I distracted myself and told her about Pabbitch.

"Anyway, Pabbitch is a combination of basketball, football and dodgeball. The goal is still to score as much points as possible. There are three rings on each side and just one scorb (a scoring ball). A team is composed of a keeper, four shooters and four dodgers. Each shooter has three lives and those are what the dodgers aim at. The dodgers have exactly three dobs (dodger's balls) each. They may run around with the shooters but could only throw while standing at a dodger's zone. Dodger's zones are scattered around the field.  There are two fifteen-minute periods. If your team has the higher score but the other team was able to eliminate all your shooters before time expired, the other team is the winner of the match."

I was so into telling Ally what Pabbitch was about. When I stopped, she was just staring at me.

"Have someone told you how amazing you are?" Ally asked.

"Allison... Did you try understanding the rules? Pablympics is serious business."

"You lost me at scorb. Ha-ha."

I pulled my hand away and acted pissed. She was just smiling at me.

*****
(Ally said)

What Stevie told about Pablympics was true. Apparently when I signed under Pab's, a part of the pre-employment personality test determined the house I would be in.

I am the team captain of Hummingpuff. My house has been dead last since the great Pab established the media company five years ago.

Stevie is in Rumblingclaw. They won the last three cups since Delphine became team captain. The other houses are Screecheryn (with team captain Chrissy) and Growlingdor (with team captain Bria). They won one cup each.