051: Water

August, 2019

"Henry! Henry, stop!" Maxine screeches, giggling uncontrollably. "Please!"

My sixteen year old son is chasing his younger sister across the backyard, his hands clutching a hose as he attempts to spray her. Anyone who heard the laughter and joy in Max's voice would know that she doesn't really want him to stop, so the chase continues.

"Stay away from your brother!" Kerry calls out from where she's sitting in the Adirondack chair next to mine. "If they get those hearing aids wet…" she mutters under her breath, shaking her head.

I give her a small smile and pat her hand, then look back at the kids darting around the backyard of the lake house. Gwen has now joined the chase, and her long legs are carrying her as fast as they can away from her eldest brother. Max screams again as Henry hits her with the cold spray and she and Gwen sprint even faster, moving as far away from him as possible.

"Ha!" Max exclaims from behind a large tree where she's far out of reach, "You can't get us here, can you?"

Henry makes a kink in the hose to stop the water flow and stays stationary with his eyes trained on his sisters and brother who, unbeknownst to the girls, is approaching them from behind. Henry's tanned face twists in an attempt not to smile as he watches intently.

"What are you smiling at?" Max asks, narrowing her blue eyes, "You can't even get us from there!"

Henry shrugs but his smile grows.

I smile, too, and glance at Kerry. She has a sly grin on her face as well.

Suddenly, Henry signs a few, quick words in the girls' general direction, more specifically towards Eli, who is slowly approaching them with what looks like a bucket full of water.

I'll never, ever regret making sure that our three other children learned ASL as well. Not only does it give them a leg up on communication with Eli, another foreign language under their belt, and an opened door to a whole community and culture, but it also allows them to communicate seamlessly, and sometimes secretly, with each other. It provides a sort of bond between them and, in this instance, is extremely helpful. Well, at least for Henry and Eli.

"One more second until what?" Max asks. "Why are you signing?" She questions before spinning around quickly, a connection having obviously been made in her head.

At that moment, a shrill scream escapes both Max and Gwen's throats as Eli dumps the large pale of water on them.

"Eli!" Gwen screeches, giggling and running towards Henry who, naturally, begins spraying his youngest sister mercilessly. "Henry!" She exclaims between laughs, "Stop!"

The teenager slows down and releases the hose. "Okay, okay…" he says a little breathlessly, running a hand through his damp hair. "Truce?" He asks, looking first at Gwen and then at Max.

My eldest daughter nods rapidly before throwing herself dramatically on the grass with a loud groan. As expected, Gwen follows in the theatrical act and joins her sister on the wet grass.

You're horrible. Max signs, glaring at her brothers.

Henry smiles innocently and Eli shrugs. "It's just water." He tells her.

Max rolls her eyes, attempting to stay angry, but is soon giggling. After a moment, she's in full fledged hysterics and within seconds both Henry and Gwen have joined in.

"What's so funny?" Eli asks, looking at me with a confused expression.

I shrug and smile; I have no idea.