Page 3 of A Little Christmas! 4: Song

“Awesome name!” Ajay said, while Shanny giggled.

“Ajay plays guitar,” Shanny declared. “He loves everything to do with music.”

“I play drums!” Song declared.

“And anything else he can get his hands on,” Zachy said. “You should have heard him with all the musical toys before a daddy made him stop playing.”

“Awe,” Ajay said as he and Shanny joined the circle for more Ring around the Rosy.

“Ohh, Duck, Duck, Goose, Duck, Duck, Goose!” Kayla said after they were all dizzy from dancing in circles through balls that churned and swirled.

“You gotta be the goose then,” Ryu declared.

She stuck her tongue out at him, then patted him on the head. “Duck.”

“Duck.”

“Duck.”

“Duck.”

She was careful when she patted them on her way around the circle, until she got to Shanny and declared him thegoose.

The chase was on then.

Balls were kicked and flung as she bounced and leapt, barely managing to stay a few inches out of range of Shanny’s hand on their way around the circle. Everyone got smacked with a wave of balls when she dove into the empty spot Shanny had left behind, but she was safe, and now it was Shanny’s turn to walk around the circle, choosing who were the ducks and who was going to chase him.

There were almost as many balls on the ledges around the ball pit as in it by the time they’d finished several rounds of the game.

“Zachy,” Papa called after he’d finished his turn at being a goose. “Time to clean up so you can have a snack before the show.”

“Okay, Papa,” Zachy called and scrambled to get out.

“Ryu, you too.” Daddy Hank declared.

“Which means you as well, my love,” Mama Mimzy called out.

“There’s gonna be a show?” Ajay asked.

“Drag queens and furries,” Zachy explained.

“Ohh yay!” Shanny said as all of them scrambled up over the edge and started collecting balls and returning them to the pit.

Song stayed by Zachy’s side, helping to locate the balls their playing had sent flying out of the pit, but when they’d finished, he looked uncertain, and shot Zachy a questioning look.

“Are you sure your daddies won’t mind me sharing your snack?” Song asked.

“Uh-huh, I promise, they won’t mind,” Zachy replied, holding out his hand.

He waited while Song shuffled from one foot to the other, nibbling on his lower lip as he made up his mind. When he smiled and finally settled his hand in Zachy’s, it felt like he’d handed Zachy a gift.

Tables had been pushed together for snack time, with Sir Ferocious and Ajay’s Daddy Walker having joined the other caretakers at the table. There were two paper plates filled with food and two juice boxes between Daddy Gage and Papa Cooper when they reached the table. Zachy could feel his new friend relax when he realized he was welcome.

“See, it’s okay,” Zachy said as Papa Cooper pulled out chairs for them.

“Thank you,” Song said, smiling at both of Zachy’s daddies before he sat down.

“You’re welcome, sweet boy,” Daddy said. “Will you be joining us for the show?”