Our Hope

31 - Hope

... and they did.

They planted Kale on another unseasonably hot and sunny afternoon. They maintained a ten-row lead the entire time. That was greater than the lead they had at the final. Plus, they held back too.

Cole beamed with happiness, through a face full of dried dirt. They gave each other a high-five.

"I can't believe we finally passed them," she told them.

"We trained our butts off during the break. I also think working with your grandpa helped," Cole said, agreeing.

"Yes."

Cole said, "He taught me many tricks that he'd already showed you."

They hugged and she wanted to continue their Christmas discussion, but she wreaked of sweat and manure. She pushed him away out of embarrassment. "We need to shower before we do that again."

"Agreed."

She did not check for sun spray this morning because she thought it would be cold. They ran out at the beginning. Her skin was tender again, and it hurt when anything touched her.

They grabbed their packs and strolled over to the parking area.

Her mom picked them up. "How was today?" she asked.

"We won!"

"Yay! I would high-five you but you two smell horrible... and red." She rolled down the vehicle's windows and drove them back home.

"Did you forget to put on sun protection?"

"Ran out."

"I hope that doesn't happen again."

"Name Jinx!" Hope shouted.

She reached over to pinch him.

But he placed his hands up to stop her. "Wait Hope, please don't."

"This is going to hurt." And it would hurt a lot. "I think we should call a truce."

"A truce?" She inspected his bright red skin and grinned.

"For the rest of the day."

"The only way, that I will stop is if you quit and declare me the winner." She did not want him to end it because she loved playing.

"I'm not gonna quit. But, be warned the next time I win..."

"If you win."

"The next time I win, I will do it with maximum force."

"You're saying you've been holding back?" Hope asked.

"Kind of."

"Are you done?"

"Yes." He closed his eyes.

She pinched him with full pressure.

"GODDAMMIT!" Cole yelled.

That had to hurt. Hope and her mom chuckled.

Hope said, "Language."

Her mom parked in their driveway.

They got out. Her mom stated, "I do not want to see you, until you are both squeaky clean."

"Thanks for the ride, mom," Hope said.

She ambled to her house, went into her room, and took a long shower.

She relished the warm water running down her back. Before school, she limited this to five minutes. She knew she was well over her time limit and did not care.