Day four of a long, slow, summer back at our parents' house, and by now, Joyce and me were bored out of our skulls. Time to shake things up.
"Joyce?"
"...?"
"Remember when we played that game we called 'all-day opposite'? Like, literally, all day?"
"Um. No..."
"Really? We played that game religiously as kids. We were obsessed. You don't remember?"
"No." A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
"It's the one where everything you say has to be the opposite of what - "
"Ethan. I said: I, don't, remember." She set her fork down and folded her hands under her chin.
"Oh... hah! Yeah. I get it..."
"I never did like that game." Her smile curled up one side of her face.
"Hah, me neither," I smiled back. Our eyes met. Challenge accepted! I was ready to draw first blood. "Guess I'm on for doing the dishes then?"
"Dammit!" She slapped her palm on the table and scowled.
I smiled contentedly, sipped my beer and watched as she cleared the table and ran water in the sink.
I decided to try one of my old tricks. Sometimes, this ended the game before it had barely begun. I crept up behind her at the sink and poked her in the love handles with both hands.
"Ah!" She jumped and flung her arms and a puff of dish suds spattered the window. "Don't Ethan!"
"Hah!" I wagged my finger at her. "You win!"
"Ugh!" She yelled and stamped her foot, a petulant look on her face.
Then a different look came over her. A sneaky look. "I said, don't touch me! The game's already over!"
I raised my eyebrows at her. I made my hands into claws and stretched them out slowly toward her waist, giving her plenty of notice that I was coming in for the tickle. She didn't move.
"I'm not even warning you," she said. "Don't!" She was fighting a smile, but she also sounded pretty convincing about not wanting me to touch her. I took a step forward, arms outstretched, closing the distance.
She spun away squealing and took off into the living room and I zoomed after her. I caught her above the hips with both hands, my fingers sliding up under her t-shirt, and her squeal morphed into a giggle fit. "Stop! Stop!" She cried when she caught her breath. "I mean it!"
I immediately stepped back, hands above my head. I was sure I had her then. But after her laughter subsided, she said, dead serious, "Don't push me Ethan. Don't touch me again."
My questioning look must have faltered, and she stepped into the breach with a new... invitation? A dare? "Don't even try to catch me."
"Or... what?"
"Or... you'll regret it." Her smile had turned devilish. "You will regret it very deeply." Hmm. When had my sister gotten so good at this game? What wouldn't I regret?
"Oh well," I shrugged. "Can't say as I'm all that interested."
She turned away and started walking slowly toward the front foyer. She glanced back over her shoulder at me and I got a sudden, dangerous thrill from that one green eye peering at me through her dishevelled hair. Then she took off for the stairs, and I ran after.
Her feet skipped lightly up the steps, three ahead of me. The backs of her bare thighs shone golden in the light from the chandelier. The dangerous thrill I felt before intensified.
She zipped down the hall and into her bedroom. She tried to close the door behind her, but I was too quick. I pushed my way in and she tumbled further into the room, falling back on the bed.