Gaga ball is an intense game played in a hexagon on wood chips. It's kind of like a cross between doge ball and some native American game of death. You're not allowed to kick, pick up, or hold the ball. You can only swat it at people. There are so many rules at a bunch of them just get tossed to the wind when the guy counselors are playing.
And that's exactly what happened, much to the girls distress.
It was going great, until Baron hit the ball out of the court... and straight into Little Maggie's face.
"Maggie? Maggie? Are you okay?" I asked, bringing her in for a hug. Little sobs wrack her entire body and I feel so ashamed that I let one of my kids get hurt.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Is she okay?"
"Is she dead!" All the juniors crowd around us, asking about their friend.
"Come on Mags, I'll take you to the Nurse's station." And that's what I did.
"Here's a trashcan, Magdalena." Nurse Vydia smiles kindly, handing Maggie the trashcan.
"But, I'm not sick?" Maggie whimpers, pressing her ice pack on to her face tightly.
"No, but I think you might have a concussion." Like a person taking a cue, Maggie empties her lunch into the bin.
"Mister Green, you'll need to wake her every hour tonight. It's going to be a rough night Magdalena, can you be a trooper?"
Maggie just nods her head pathetically and it makes me feel sick.
Vydia leaves the nurse's lodgings and Maggie lays down on the bed.
"I'm sorry Mister Jason." She whispers, curling into a little ball.
"Don't worry about it Mags, I'm sorry you got hurt." She just nods a little and tries to rest her eyes without falling asleep.
"I heard you might need some company tonight." Caitlyn gives me a lop-sided grin, while bounding up the porch steps.
"Thanks Caity. I feel awful about Maggie." I confide, leaning my head against a post and closing my eyes.
"You couldn't have known that the ball would hit Maggie. Hell, all of us were shocked. Baron almost cried, I think."
"I could have just taken the Junior's canoeing like they asked, instead of taking the challenge." I grumbled, looking at the timer. Only twelve minutes before I'd need to wake Maggie up again.
"Oh Jase, how do you know something worse couldn't have happened while canoeing? She'll be okay." Her hand rests on my cheek and she turns my head to face her. She locks eyes with me before smiling, "I promise that she'll be fine. You know I'm a person of my word." I grin slightly, taking her hand in mine.
"Thanks Caity."
We sit like that until the timer goes off.
"Maggie, you need to wake up for a minute. Drink this water for me." I request, propping the young girl up on her pillow.
"Mister Jason, are you and Miss Caity married?" She asks sleepily, rubbing her non-black eye. I choke for a second.
"N-no. No we aren't."
"You should be." Kids, gotta love 'em right?
"Maybe one day." I smile taking the water from her when she finishes.
"If it doesn't work out, will you marry me?" She asks, closing her eyes again.
"Sure Maggie."
"Ask Miss. Caity first, she likes you. Not as much as I do, but I'd feel bad."
"I'll ask Caity on a date tomorrow." I meant it in a joking manner, but Maggie just holds up her pinky and does the darnedest thing.
"Pinky swear."
Damn, kid.
