Too Equal For My Taste

Chapter 31: A Recap

Christmas was nearing and the season was approaching. Since none of the kids believed in Santa, the families wanted to do something, and since the summer they were looking forward to Christmas to spend together for the first time. Sarah and Elliot especially wanted to see each other, but their relationship was beaten down and it ended sadly.

So, since they didn't want to lose these holidays, Kate and Serina met once again to convince the men to talk it out before Christmas. Two weeks before Christmas, the two families met for the first time in ages.

They were sitting in the Murtaugh's sitting room. It was rearranged to have more sofas and seats in from other rooms to have the Bakers in. The kids were quiet throughout most of the conversation, and merely held side conversations.

"What we know is that both decided not to talk anymore," Serina said to them.

"Wait, let's look at this from the beginning," Tom said, holding his hands up. "We first played Soccer, and we won that. The Murtaugh's won the next game of Basketball. A football game went on, and we lost that, even though we are a football family, and Charlie was absent. We played baseball, and won that back letting Mike discover his favorite part of sports."

"It all started with the fixed race, with two different teams racing on the same team," Jimmy complained.

"He believes it was not right," Serina explained. "And Sarah and Elliot won this. It gives both of us victory."

"Can't we just call it a draw like last time?" Calvin suggested.

"We've been playing for a winner," Jimmy contradicted. "We can't call it a draw again."

"But, if Sarah and Elliot won, we simply don't count it. Our team still won," Tom said back. "Besides, even with Sarah and Elliot winning, they both would've taken the points, or the second place couple taking first. It could've been anything. To suggest redoing the whole thing is pointless and disappointing."

"Well, I offered something you refused for no reason!" Jimmy said angrily.

"If we took the points, like any election in America takes delegates, it would be fairer," Serina said to Tom.

"Tom, they do have a point," Kate said to Tom.

Tom looked down, defeated. "We take the points, but this will in no way decide the best. We won the most games. It would've been more if Charlie was here."

"It only proves that you're better with sports," Jimmy said to him. "But we might be able to make more points."

The truth was, deciding on points occurred little to them all. None knew that if they had decided on points, who would win. They took the ideas without even calculating.

"Deal," Tom said agreeably, and reached his hand across the table to shake Jimmy's hand.

The kids got up, and walked outside. All of them. The snowy lawn looked promising and tempting and it was Mike who started it. He meant to throw the snowball out of anger at Ken for beating him last time, but it spiraled into a game.

A snowball was thrown and hit Ken in the face without warning. Ken took a snowball, and threw it back at Mike angrily. Mike ducked, and it hit Mark instead.

"Hey!" He threw one back at Ken, but he seized Elliot, and made him take the blast instead.

"Human shield!" Elliot yelled, and seized one himself and not threw it, but hit Ken's face with it. Even the older Murtaugh's thought what the heck and threw snow too.

That was how it went out of control, but no one cared, because it was like a game after weeks of tension. It was like all the weeks never happened now. It was like they were all friends for a long time. Even the older kids had fun with it all. After all, which kid, infant, child, or teenager, could resist a nice, good snowball fight?

Elliot was also very good at it, and ducked many snowballs and dodged out before throwing multiple snowballs and hitting a Baker for each. He was a sweet ally of the Murtaugh's, but Jake and Mike could match him.

The game was a lot of fun, and at the end of the day, they finally stopped, full of good spirits. The only ones who were not in the mood for each other, was Mike and Ken, and probably Sarah and Elliot, who, sadly, were still bitter toward each other.

Elliot looked back at Sarah, who had her back toward him and walked back home. He half wished to call after her, or throw a playful snowball to get her attention, but he stopped himself, thinking neither was good ideas.