45
Curt was watching Maisey as she stalked the goat, intent on catching the damned thing as it chewed thoughtfully. The other children were watching as well, cheering her on as she got close enough to seize a horn and stick the hair scrunchie over it before the goat could wrench it's head free.
Cheers and whoops as she ran towards them, her hands waving above her head and Monkey caught her, hugging her as he leapt up and down with her while calling that 'epic'. Then came the huddle. Curt looked down at the magazine he was no longer reading, the image of Walt smiling for the camera a familiar one and he placed down the scissors he was cutting out the articles with to lean back now engrossed as Gracie appeared from the scrum, a scrunchie in her hands and a look of sheer panic. Well now, this was much more interesting, the warm hand sliding onto his shoulder one he knew well and he reached up to place his hand over it affectionately while two men watched their daughter follow her sister into some rite of passage that only made sense to the other children.
Ianto had exited his house, standing with a hand up to shield his eyes as he watched as well, this something different to the normal screaming and running games. The silence was immense as she staked her prey, looking back to see Maisey had left the huddle and was behind her. The relief was obvious and she grinned at Maisy then turned to head for the goat that now knew the score.
This could be either an epic success or an epic fail. Depended on the goat really. Not like it's stupid. No doubt it could not see the scrunchie on the horn already festooned, behind his eyes but it did know something was afoot, the little matching looks of glee telling him to be still as he eyeballed the little girl, her hands shaking.
Then Maisey struck, whipping a hand out to seize the horn again and Grace squealed as she shoved her scrunchie on the partner horn, then both girls ran like something was after them, even though the goat stood with a look of annoyance as he tried to work out what the hell they had been doing.
Cheering now as Maisey let her sister reach the boys first, then cuddles all around as they celebrated. The goat stood chewing thoughtfully with a bright red scrunchie on one horn, a green one on the other. Ianto glanced over at the boys still watching their child with surprise
"Get the camera" he called out "That's a great shot for the bragging book for the kids. Festive!"
With laughter Walt agreed, running for his camera as Curt raised his hands and clapped, calling to to his daughters "Hey you mad cows. Wonderful show."
Grace took a bow as Maisey stuck out her tongue then ran in circles making a mooing sound.
A lovely moment.
Maisey was just another child playing.