All Things New: Chapter Three

You know, just a pretty normal chapter. Still world building 😅

CHAPTER THREE: CELEBRATIONS!

The following day was bright and sunny, perfect for the first day of Nia’s birthday celebrations. Wendolyn made a big breakfast for the children. It was scarfed down quick as a snidge buzzes. And then, Nia began telling her plan for the day.

“I thought we could play get the boot today. Arth, you should know how to play, because you were in the Durgan.”

Artham nodded, and Nia began to explain to the other three what the game was.

“There’s a boot hidden somewhere in the Hollows. Someone has to find it. And then they run, but the other players have to try and get it from him. If you have the boot, you have to protect it.”

Arundelle looked a little concerned. “Um, I could get pretty dirty and bruised doing this, right?”

Nia smiled. “In that nice silk dress, dirty but in some borrowed trousers, you’ll fit in perfectly. You too, Emerald.”

Esben smiled. “It sounds fun.”

“It is! We’ll play till late lunch, and then come back, eat ice cream, and listen to Papa tell stories about his pirating days.”

“Podo was a pirate?” Artham asked.

Nia nodded. “Long time ago.”

She took a drink of her water, and Artham was left wondering how Podo, whom Emerald had compared to a jolly old giant, could be a pirate.

A couple of minutes later, Artham found himself stretching and looking at all of the big Hollish boys and wondering how he would fare. Arundelle looked nervous, but Artham couldn’t deny how pretty she looked, and that made his face feel hot, which distracted him further.

“Ready Artham?” Olumphia asked, looking at him with a strange expression.

“Um, yes. how about you?”

She grinned. “Born ready.”

Artham frowned slightly, but covered it up quick.

Podo was standing outside, ready to call the signal for when all of the kids should run. Podo winked at Artham, almost giving him the confidence to know he was going to win.

“Alrighty, you young’uns,” Podo began, walking towards them all and looking them all up and down. “No head shots. No stomach shots. And, if you find the boot, don’t put it on your feet. That’s cheating.”

Everyone nodded. “Alright. Three…. two….one…. go!”

Everyone went off at laser speed, but Artham made sure to stick close to Esben, as Throne Warden. Artham wasn’t exactly sure what happened after that. He heard Nia shout something, and then he was pushing Esben out of the way to stop him from getting trampled to death. Nia was sure fast, even with all those people chasing her. They ran for several minutes, Nia’s long dark hair trailing behind her like a flag.

Artham had no intention to chase her, and neither did Esben, so they just sat there, uncertain and unsure of what to do.

But when they heard Arundelle scream, they ran after the crazy party anyway.

Arundelle was standing at the finish line, clutching the boot as if it was life itself. Artham’s jaw dropped. Nia had stumbled into Ari at the last second, and Arundelle had stumbled backwards with the boot in her hands, right onto the finish line, and she had screamed because she thought everyone would chase her.

Nia laughed and hugged her, congratulating her on the first win of the day.

Podo came around, a bit shocked to see Ari, but also a little grumpy to have had his game so short.

“Aright you youngsters, I wanna another game, and I’m sure you do too. Let’s get with it.”

The children all took their places once again, and Podo gave the signal. The only thing different this time was that Arundelle sat this one out, not wanting to get clobbered by some of the bigger children, even if she had one that one game. She instead spent her time making lemonade and things of that sort.

Nia’s words did ring true. They played till after four o’clock, and then they went their separate ways. Nia had won once, Artham once, and Esben three times. He certainly had the best timing and speed for such a game.

As Nia and her friends walked home that evening, Emerald was complaining about her feet, so she eventually landed up on Artham’s back, where she fell asleep.

“Shelby looks so peaceful when she’s asleep,” Arundelle commented.

Artham smiled, perhaps a little sad. “Well, she hasn’t been so peaceful lately. She’s been so off, I wonder what’s wrong with her.”

Nia looked at Artham. “I’m sure she’s just feeling she’s older than she is. Don’t let it worry you. We have a big meal to eat, and the tomorrow, we play zibzy.”

“What’s that?” Esben asked.

Nia just smirked mysteriously. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Nia tried again and again to explain the rules as she and the older children walked to the Field of Finley. Emerald had opted out for staying home, feeling a bit sick and out of sorts, so just the brothers and Arundelle went.

“What’s a dragon-strike, again?” Artham questioned.

Nia sighed, shaking her head a little bit. “How about you play and find out the rules. We’ll do a practice match before we actually start the actual game with the scoring and stuff.”

“That’d be nice,” Esben said, smiling at Nia. Nia flushed slightly, and Artham and Arundelle exchanged a comical glance.

Podo was once again referee. “Alright, youngsters, let’s get this little game started. Now, zibzy is a Skreean game, but Nia’s half Skreean, since I’m from there. But that doesn’t matter at the moment. No matter where you’re from, zibzy is a fun game. So, let’s get started. It sure is a fine day fer it.”

Today, Podo whistled for his signal. And everyone ran for brooms and sticks, and Nia seized the ball to serve.

Surprisingly, Artham, Esben, and Ari started understanding the rules pretty quickly. And soon, they were all [playing and laughing and bumping into each other as if they had always known how to play.

One thing that Artham noticed, was that Nia was exceptionally good at it. She was small, quick on her feet, and smart. She dashed around the bigger boys like a little snidge, and she jumped over obstacles with all the grace and poise of a flabbit. And she was smiling the whole time.

Esben watched her with eyes full of admiration. “She doesn’t even looks like she’s playing,” he whispered on a break, “it looks like she’s dancing.”

Esben was also exceptionally good. Because of him, his team won five game blocks! Artham however was not very good at it. He was too tall and lanky. But somehow, I managed a few points. Arundelle was also terrible, but she was having the time of her life playing. Artham couldn’t help but smile to see her so happy.

“Alright!” Podo shouted, as the last match was played. “Looks like, if my scoring is correct, the sea dragons won!”

Nia’s eyes lit up. That was her team! Esben grinned. He had opted for Nia’s team as well! Nia jumped up, shouting a thrilled “Yes!” Esben smiled, and clapped Rudric on the back.

Artham ran his fingers through his hair and shrugged.

“Can’t win ‘em all, hey Arth?” Esben asked with a grin. Typically, Artham would beat Esben at any game. But these Hollish games Esben. Had under foot.

Artham laughed. Arundelle came up beside him and giggled, pulling a leaf out of Artham’s hair. “Especially when you’re terrible at it,” she said, still giggling.

Once again, the children found themselves walking back to the Helmers home, but this time, most of the other children were with them.

When they got there, they knew why. Wendolyn had prepared a big birthday dinner, and she was smiling as wide as the table.

Artham heard Esben’s stomach growl loudly, and he shook his head with a smile.

“Well come on, kiddies!” Wendy said, smiling, “I didn’t make this food just for you to stare at it!”

Everyone practically dove for the table. Podo sat at the head, with Nia by his side, and Wendolyn on the other. Artham thought he looked like some kind of a king, with a lovely little queen and princess by his side.

“I just want to say a few things about out Nia ‘afore you all eat through the table.”

Nia smiled and shook her head. Artham noticed she looked a bit uncomfortable.

“Our Nia is a big blessing to everyone. And now she’s sixteen, a young lady now. One day, in a few years, I reckon I’ll be walkin’ her down an aisle, givin’ her away to some young man she’ll meet. Maybe he’s even sitting here now.”

Artham heard a universal gulping sound. Artham saw every boy squirm, especially Esben. And Nia was now blushing.

“Papa,” she quietly scolded.

Podo squeezed her arm. “Alright, I’ll finish up and bless the food. I’m jest thankful to have a daughter like her. There ain’t ‘nother girl I’d rather have.”

Wendolyn wiped her eyes. Nia smiled, though she still looked embarrassed.

“Well then, to my little girl!” Podo said, raising his glass of bibes.

“To Nia!”

Then they ate some, laughed some, talked some, but the rest of the night Artham noticed a strange look on Esben’s face.

Nia is not officially sixteen yet, it's gonna be a long celebration over many days, but this is the most formal dinner. I hope you enjoyed! Let me know if anything seemed weird or wonky.