One Tail at a Time

Riddles

The Great Race, also known as the High Gods race is one of the few events that I like to participate in and not because I still hold the title of Undefeated, but because I constantly hope for a riddle that I cannot solve.  The Great race started not long after my father passed into the void by Haode as a way to keep the realms High Gods entertained.  It is one of the few masterful ideas he has come up with, because nothing keeps the realms together than healthy competition.  In fact, there are many such competitions being held around the world at different times of the year, and both dark and light realms enter for a chance to win themselves a little glory.

Only it is on Kunlun Mountain that I find myself creating riddles for my students to solve as a lead in to the main race.  It means a fun day for all of them, but will require a lot of thought in order to solve them, only the enthusiasm and apprehension coming from one little girl in particular, has me wondering just how big a tantrum she will throw is she loses.

She hates to lose at anything.  This is something her brothers have all learned right from the very first test she took which saw her not only go up against Ling Yu for the chance to choose the next lesson, but she threw a tantrum right there in the middle of the class and broke several brush and ink sets because she lost.

Of course she lost because the girl cheats in everything, in fact, I think she is the worst cheat I have ever come across.........

Putting the book down, my eyes goggle down at the open page in disbelief!  I cannot believe he thought I was the biggest fattest cheater in the world, when he was!  Shaking my head, and laughing quietly because it is the funniest thing I have read yet, I turn to look at him sitting in the bay window with our son resting on his thighs and facing him.  He is singing another silly song he made up just to catch our sons first smile while lightly tapping his face as the rhyme unfolds, only the words and his soft sing song voice has me lightly giggling to myself which he is completely oblivious to.

"The skies for your eyes
A rose for your nose
Two squeaks for your cheeks
Two beers for your ears
Twin grins for your chin
And a mile for your smile...... "

...he finishes it with a low chuckle before lightly tickling the boys belly which he has uncovered and to his absolute delight, Mo Yuans eyes glisten most tenderly when our son rewards him with his very first smile.  Even my own is growing wider just watching as he loses himself to a moment I know will end up on a page much like the one I am picking back up again.

I think to address his outright lie that I am a bigger cheater than him, only the tear that is sliding down his cheek at that single smile on our sons face, has me dropping it.  There are so few things in this world that can make that man cry and even less, make his eyes shine with pride and love so strong that I dare not interrupt.  

He works so hard during the day, his attention belongs to everyone else, so this special moment, is the one part of the day, that belongs solely to him.  Of course I too get to see our sons first smile and my heart is just as happy as his, but somehow, that single tear seems even more poignant and special because it is a happiness that he's had so few of in his very long life.

Now returning my attention back to the book, I know what is coming, and it isn't going to be pleasant, but I continue with it, while my husband continues to sing his silly songs to a baby who has found his smiles.

The race about the mountain has been most entertaining to watch though none notice my energy moving about their huddled forms as they solve each clue.  They are not easy to solve, but nor are they impossible to solve either, but they do give each of them a good brain workout.  And as I meander about the mountain, I briefly lose my thoughts to the clues themselves.