Keeping Katie Ch 16

He went out to greet everyone. "Welcome everyone. George, Melinda, Fin, I'm glad you could come today."

"Hey, Captain." Fin said.

"It's Don today. Just so you all know, Katies grandparents are supposed to be here later, but it won't make any difference. It's just something that we had to do."

"Do we need to be on our best behavior?" Fin teased.

"No. You're normal behavior is ...well, maybe you should, Fin." Don teased back.

"Oh, nice."

The rest of the group laughed. They made their way toward the assembled picnic area. George dropped back and walked with Don. "Do you want my opinion on the Jones when they get here?" he asked.

"No, George, but thanks. Everything is fine. I appreciate you asking."

He was in the middle of the group and Karen came out to join them. She walked right up to stand next to him, smiling at him. This was where she wanted to be and he liked her there. John and Charlene were talking off to the side and the kids came swarming toward the assembled group. "Let's get the games started." Karen said.

He nodded. He could see there was a budding riot here if the energy wasn't redirected. Never mind that most of the kids were teenagers or older, they were still kids. First up was the three legged race. Fin refused to join John in the race.

The noise from the assembled group was getting loud. The kids were arguing. "Okay, lets get the games started. Where's Elliott and John?" Don called loudly.

"That's our cue." Elliott said.

The two men rejoined the group. "We're having races. Who wants to judge the three legged race?" Karen asked.

"I will." Olivia said.

"Okay. Contestants line up. Don and BB are one. Elliott, do you and Elizabeth want to be a team?"

"I'm game." Elliott said.

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

"Laslo, how about you and Katie?"

"Aw, Karen."

"Can I do it?" Joseph asked unexpectedly.

"Sure. Do you want to team up with Katie?"

"Okay."

"Come on, George. How about you and I have a go?" Casey said.

"Okay."

"I'll help tie the legs." Fin volunteered before anyone could ask him again to race.

The contestants lined up at the edge of the garden and Olivia raised the towel for the starting flag. She dropped it and it was off to a good start. It was a hilarious race, though not particularly fast as no one had had a chance to practice. Don and BB were ahead coming around the far turn, but Elliott and Elizabeth were gaining fast. Elizabeth tripped and brought them both down. George and Casey were coming up next, but one of Elizabeths trailing legs tripped George and they both went down. Joseph and Katie got off to a rough start, but they were going strong. Partly because Joseph was half carrying Katie. There was a great deal of laughing going on. Don and BB won the race, with Katie and Joseph second, Elliott and Elizabeth next and George and Casey last.

Charlene kept track of the winners and contestants. Next they had an egg and spoon race, then they had a dizzy stick race. Most of these Katie lost because she was so small, but Karen kept her in there trying. Then they had an elbow race. That was hilarious because the contestants had to crawl on the ground on their elbows and knees. The last race of the group was a toe race.

"A toe race?" Dickie asked with a horrified look on his face.. "Racing around on your toes?"

"Nope. In order to do this, you have to take off your shoes and socks." Karen grinned at him.

The contestants were Katie, Elizabeth, Olivia and Casey. They lined up four chairs and put a cloth down in front of the chairs. "Each contestant must keep their hands on the seat of their chair at all times. Elliott, you want to judge this?"

"Sure."

A bucket was brought and put in front of each contestant. Katie was allowed to sit on the front of her chair. A lunch bag full of items was dumped on the cloth in front of each chair. There were nuts and bolts, washers, beans, buttons, a stuffed toy, a piece of rope, a coin, a feather, a pebble, piece of gum and a piece of yarn

"The object is to get as many of these objects into your bucket as you can in five minutes. Use only your feet or toes. Are you ready?" The women nodded.

"Go." Elliott said pushing the button on the stop watch. It was funny to watch the concentration on the womens faces. Katies face was particularly funny as she strained to get the stuff in her bucket. Her stuffed animal rolled out of her reach. Olivia, sitting next to her, rolled it back to her.

At the end of the five minutes, Elizabeth and Katie tied for the most agile toes trophy, but there was cheering for everyone in the group. "I think that's enough for this morning." Don said.

"I think we're ready for a snack. You guys can bob for your snack." Karen said.

John and George brought out a tub with apples bobbing in the cold water. The kids were allowed to bob for whatever apple they wanted, though the adults were allowed to pick one up with their fingers if they chose. The kids protested but Don overruled them by virtue of being the host. They sat down and ate the fruit while they talked. After the snack, the kids chose to play with the basketball. Katie was tired and came to sit down between Don and Karen. Don smiled down at the girl. She leaned against him and he gave her his lemonade.

"So how is your case going?" Casey asked.

"Not so hot. We aren't happy with the attorney we have. We're going to look for another one. We met the Jones lawyer and he's a real go getter, even slightly shady." Don said, touching Katies hair lightly. She was dozing against him and he smiled at that.

"She's happy here." George said watching her.

"She's been here since she was a year old." Karen said.

"Who's that just arriving?" Fin asked at the older car that pulled into the driveway.

"Katies Grandparents. The Jones." Karen said.

In spite of her assertions that she was okay with them coming today George was aware that she had tensed up. It transmitted itself all over the table when Don did too. This was a group that was used to working together whether they were aware of them or not. He made a mental note of their reactions.

"Let's go greet them." Don told Karen.

"Okay." she nodded and got up to move away with him.

The Jones had arrived.

TBC