"BALL!" yelled 6. He'd wandered off, and now came running back with a floppy yellow thing in his hands. I took the now ink-stained bit of rubber from him.
"Uh, 6? It's really, um, pretty, but how can we play ball with it?"
6 rolled his optics- a gesture he must have copied from 7- and snatched it back. Holding it carefully so as not to shred it with his pen-nib fingers, he put it to his mouth and blew air into it. The balloon inflated and he gave it to 2.
"Knot it! Knot it!" 6 cried excitedly. 2's dexterous fingers tied the end of the balloon, then patted it to 3. The balloon floated gently towards the small figure and she grabbed it, rapidly cataloguing it at the same time. Her twin tried to snatch it from her but she was too quick and tossed it to me. I hit it so it flew straight into the air and down towards 6, whose face shone as it gradually descended towards him.
"MINE!" he exclaimed, then jumped and attempted to grab it with both hands.
BANG!
6's sharp fingers had unfortunately got in the way and the yellow balloon had burst. At the loud noise, the stitchpunk shrieked in surprise and fell squarely on his behind. An expression of shock was on 6's face and he whimpered. What was this strange exploding thing which had seemed floaty and gentle?
It wasn't only 6 who had been surprised by the balloon's 'bang'. Suddenly 8 lumbered around the corner, kitchen knife in hand. His cautious expression turned into one of relief.
"No cat beast," he called behind him. "Only stitchpunks having fun."
"WHAT?" came 1's shriek as he rushed around the corner. "HA! Caught in the act. You disobeyed me AGAIN! 6, what were you playing?"
"B-b-ball game… Don't be angry, we were only having fun…"
"FUN IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED! MERRIMENT IS DISTRACTING! LAUGHTER-ˮ here he glared at the twins; who had been unable to keep straight faces after seeing 6's surprise- "IS A WASTE OF OUR ENERGY!"
"It's a stupid rule anyway!" cried 2 bravely. 8 booted the old 'punk in the head and he collapsed, stunned.
"8, stick another sign up here- No Ball Games."