Linger

S E V E N T Y

~Daniel's POV~

"Higher . . . higher . . . higher . . . a little lower . . . to the left . . . perfect!"

I leaned back, careful not to miss my step on the ladder as I looked at the banner. "Doesn't it look a little off on that side?"

Brandon adjusted Bennie in his arms as he looked up at the banner.  "Aw, man. It does!" He held his hand over his eyes and shielded them from the sun as it shone brightly this Saturday morning.  "What do you think, buddy?" he asked Bennie. 

Bennie's bright blue eyes eyed the banner curiously before peering up at Bran.

My older brother nodded. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Alright, Dan, move it that way . . ." he told me. "A little to the right . . ." 

I followed his instructions.

"To the right . . . now to the left . . . . " Brandon instructed. "Take it back now, y'all."

"Huh?" I turned to look at him. 

"Coach Bran!!!" a few players called out, dressed head to toe in their soccer uniforms as they rushed up to us. 

"Alright! Look who's here!!" Brandon waved to them with a giant grin as he set Bennie down. "You guys, ready? Let's go!! One hop this time!"  He hopped and the players quickly followed his lead, hopping with him. "Two hops this time!" Hop. Hop. Laughter filled the air. 

"Bran--" I began. 

"Right foot, two stomps!" 

The laughter of the players grew as they stomped their cleat-covered feet against the grass. 

Even little Bennie followed along, stomping his little feet right next to his dad. 

"Left foot, two stomps!!" 

I sighed, but couldn't fight the smile making its way onto my face as I watched my brother dance with everyone. Only he could somehow find time to dance in a stressful time like this, moments before the tournament. 

"Come on, Dan!!" Bran yelled, gesturing me over. "Slide to the left!! Slide to the right!" Everyone followed his directions, their smile never leaving their faces. "Now everybody clap their hands!!" 

Claps filled the air.

"Wooowwww!!!" a tiny voice called out and I looked up to see little Jenny running up to us as fast as her little legs could carry her. An excited smile lit up her face as she squeezed her way in between the players and clapped her little hands. 

"Right on, Jenny!!" Bran nodded at her as they continued clapping. 

Left with no other choice, I steadily made my way down the ladder, clapping along with them. Brandon was the exact representation of the phrase, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and I was more than alright with that. 

"Yay, Coach Dan!!" the players cheered as I clapped along with them. 

Brandon suddenly turned to us with wide eyes. 

"The banner," I reminded him, nodding to the crooked banner, still waiting to be fixed. 

"How low can you go?" he continued to sing with a grin, shuffling his feet as he began to lower himself. "Can you go down low?"

I groaned, yet a chuckle betrayed me. 

"Yay Papa!!" Bennie and Jenny cheered, trying their best to copy their father's movements. 

The players cheered even louder, shuffling their feet along with him. "All the way to the floor!" they sang, lowering themselves to the ground. "How low can you go?"