vagary

"Forrest Gump Forrest Gump!"

23 December 2010, Thursday, is written on the top left corner of the blackboard, in the class monitor Mythali's loopy handwriting.

It is the day before the school breaks off for the winter holidays and Shiloh is having trouble containing her excitement. Being one of the few Christians in her school, it gets a little boring, with almost no one to share about how much she loves decorating her four-year old Christmas tree and wearing bright red Christmas jumpers and garish tights to boot. Or how her father stays up till 3 am the night before Christmas eve to bake plum cakes (it is a family tradition) which are a little on the bitter side, and how she practically swoons when they put up the fairy lights around the house and she makes up excuses to go outside the house just to look at it.

But Shiloh doesn't mind as much because right now Ria, Akshara and Kiera have made it their responsibility to help her in the daunting task of finishing the wonky Christmas cookies she has brought to school, in funny shapes of a polar bear, a squirrel (complete with a scarf around its neck and an acorn in its paws) and a snowman (Mrs. Daniels doesn't do normal, apparently) all with crooked royal icing smiles to boast.

She notices Eli and Tariq sitting a little far off, staring discreetly in the direction of the cookies (or at least trying to).

She beckons the duo over and then before she knows the cookie box (which had about three dozen cookies) has only a few crumbs left at the bottom and they are in the middle of playing dumb charades.

Tariq nudges, or rather, shoves, Eli.

"Bro, it's your turn to act now. You have been laying off for what, three rounds now? And stop with puppy eyes, I don't care if you are not good at acting. Man up, Eli." Tariq says, clearly annoyed but at the same time seeming anything but, what with the huge smirk planted on his elfish face.

Eli huffs, his hands up in mock surrender.

"Okay, alright, alright. I'll act, anything to wipe that stupid smirk off your face, Tar." he says.

Tariq immediately scowls. Shiloh thinks it has something to do with Eli calling him Tar, but keeps her pretty little mouth shut.

Eli, Tariq and Shiloh are in one team while Kiera, Akshara and Ria are in the other.

Right now, Shiloh can see smug triumphant smiles on the three girls' (and they haven't even given the movie yet) faces and inwardly groans.

What is coming is probably, surely, not good.

Eli leans as Ria whispers the movie's name in his ear. He immediately grimaces.

"Are you sure?" he asks. Shiloh knows he is hoping they would say no.

As if.

"Yup" the three of them say in unison.

"Ugh, fine. Better get along with it then." he mumbles.

He starts with the customary signs. He holds up two of his fingers to show the number of words in the movie's name.

Two.

Then he shows his thumb, in an 'okay' sign.

English, Hollywood.

He stands still for a minute, a finger on his chin, wracking his brains to think of something to act. Suddenly, his eyes light up.

"Okay, second word" he says, but quickly covers his mouth with his hands, eyes wide.

"Sorry, I know I'm not supposed to speak, won't happen again."