Day 4 prompt: Head pats

Time to play! And as required for today...random head pats ahead.

Let's Play in the Woods

"Camilo!"

"What?"

"It's time to go!"

"Why are you shouting?"

"Oh, sorry," Antonio said.

Camilo shook his head and pulled on his ruana and looked at Antonio's feet. "Where are your shoes?"

Antonio looked down, only just realizing he was not wearing any so took off to find them.

"Where are you two off to?" Dolores asked when she came in the kitchen.

"I'm taking Antonio out. Apparently, the other kids seem to think I need to be there for this."

Dolores tilted her head, "You are such a good hermano mayor," she said and patted his head. Camilo leaned back out from under her hand and rolled his eyes. "I'll let Mamí know," Dolores added with a smile.

"Is that really necessary?" Camilo asked.

"Would you rather I let her go looking for you?"

"Good point. Thanks Dolores," Camilo said as Antonio returned. "We'll see you later, Sis."

"Bye, Dolores!" Antonio said as loudly as he could.

"See you later, hermanito," Dolores said and she patted Antonio's head as well. Dolores' hearing was mostly back to what would be considered normal, though for a while she had a hard time hearing voices of a higher pitch like Antonio's. She said she could hear Antonio just fine now, but she thought it was sweet that he made the effort to help her.

Camilo and Antonio left his Abuela Maria's house to go into town. They'd been staying with his father's parents since Casita fell. Today, Antonio wanted Camilo to play the latest game he'd recently learned from the other kids. It had the ominous name of 'Let's Play in the Woods…' While they walked, Antonio explained the rules. This was a game Camilo knew but he let Antonio tell him all the details. Just the fact that his brother was talking again was something their father said they should encourage. The only time Antonio stopped was when they went with their father to help with the rebuild. It was coming along pretty good, and his father said it would be done by October for sure. Still Antonio would only whisper anytime they came near it.

Upon reaching the center of town, Camilo and Antonio were met by several other children who were playing tag under the Great Oak while they waited for them. He was surprised to see there were other kids there his age. David Ortiz, and the Ramirez twins were there with Mirabel. The twins were on either side of Mirabel speaking softly and quickly to her. The only stopped when Antonio ran up to his prima and launched himself at her in an effort to give her a hug. The twins backed away as Mirabel fell over in a tangled pile with her cousin.

Camilo came up then and said hello to David who was busy swinging his little sister Tina around in a circle. "How'd you get pulled into this?" Camilo asked when they stopped spinning.

"Probably same as you," David said and watched with amusement as his sister toppled over after being spun.

"Camilo?" two voices asked at once.

Camilo turned to find the twins were there, a little off to the side. They waved for him to come over and David just shrugged, so Camilo went to find out what they wanted.

The girls stood close to one another as they usually did. He had no idea how Mira could tell them apart. He surely could not.

"So, Señoritas, how can I be of service today?" Camilo asked. Not really knowing how to address them, since he couldn't tell them apart, he fell back on what he used to say when using his Gift to help out in the village. The pair smiled in a disturbing way and said, "Antonio is your brother yes?"

Camilo only nodded.

"We have a cat that will be a mama soon."

"And we thought maybe you could help us with that."

"We need to find a place for them."

"Papa says they have to go as soon as they are old enough."

The twins would speak one after the other and Camilo struggle to keep up. He had no idea why they would think he could help, but he actually could use this to his advantage so he nodded and said, "I'll tell you what, in a few months the kids," and he waved his hands indicated the ones running about, "are going to be putting on a play. I'm going to ask Mira to help make the costumes. You help me with that and I will take your kittens."

"Promise?" they said together.

"Promise," Camilo said crossing his finger over his heart.

Mirabel came up then with Antonio on her back. "Hey you guys ready to get started?" she asked and shifted her cousin as he patted her hair.

"Let's do it," Camilo said and took his brother off his prima and as a group they trooped off to the woods.