14. Smile
Melchior stuck his tongue out at the seven-year-old boy with unruly hair. Moritz jumped up from the blanket and called out into the forest, "Ilse! It's your turn to be the pirate captain!"
After a few moments and the sounds of rustling leaves, out emerged a curly-haired girl in a jumper. She grabbed the captain's hat off Moritz's head and placed it on her own.
"You look very professional." Wendla commented, tilting her head to the left slightly and smiling.
They all giggled and Melchior directing them to their jobs, "Okay, Wendla, you're the beautiful maiden."
Wendla frowned, "Melchi, I'm always the maiden!" she sighed, "Can't someone else have a turn?"
Melchior turned his head to stare the slightly younger boy, who shook his head vigorously, looking frazzled. "No!"
Melchior merely smiled and handed him an apron and bonnet. Reluctantly, he tied the apron around his waist and plopped the hat on his head.
Ilse bit her lip, "You look absolutely lovely, Moritz!"
After they were all in place, and Moritz started attempting Wendla's knitting, Ilse placed her small hands on her hips and announced, "Alright, crew, let's go save the maiden - Moritz, you're supposed to be across the stream."
He slowly dragged himself away and they continued with their game. After fighting off enemies, slaying a sea monster, and dashing bravely through a treacherous cavern, they arrived at their destination. There was Moritz, sitting on the ground, drawing the dirt with some sticks.
"Behold, we have come to rescue you, fair Moritz!" cried Ilse as she walked up to her friend. She pulled him into a tight, childish embrace and slowly let go.
Moritz smiled.
AN: Yes, I said "smile" and it's variants a lot. I was going for something where each of the characters, in turn, smiled. Yeah. There's my... whatever it's called, I don't know.