Robin took a deep breath and began to recite his list. "I'm smart, good-looking, probably going to be the best pitcher that's ever lived."
"You forgot egotistical and demanding. Plus, you've never played baseball in your life." Jean's tone didn't match her harsh words; they insulted each other merely because no one else was quite as much fun.
"Sophie? Sophie!" Robin called. The little girl jumped down from her place in the branches of a tree.
"Yeah?" she asked, brushing leaves out of her blonde hair.
"What's egotistical mean?"
"It's an adjective. Self-absorbed, possessing an inflated sense of self-worth, boastful, conceited, va-"
"Okay, okay. I've got it." Jean was doubled over with silent, hysterical laughter. "Are you laughing at me?" Robin asked.
"Totally. Laughing at your sad existence of throwing things and chasing girls who don't even look at you."
"Why I oughta-" They were putting on a show for Sophie who, being ten, was a little too old to really appreciate it but who giggled anyway when Robin feigned a punch at Jean, who pretended to take it.
"Oh, my nose!" she howled. "You've broken my perfect nose! Now when I'm famous I'll have to pay a plastic surgeon to get it fixed and People Magazine will have a field day!"
"Come on." Robin grabbed Sophie's hand, as if he was prepared to drag her along. "We've got to get out of here before Jean recovers and eats our livers." Sophie began playing the game.
"With roasted peppers and lemonade to drink?"
"Of course. That's how she always eats the livers of her enemies. It's time to," he pulled her forward and they took off, "RUN!" Jean counted to sixty before she began walking after them. The afternoon sun was still brilliant and it peered through the dense leaves above her as she ambled through the woods near their favourite park. Everything was still, usual for summer when all the tourists were busy in the center of town and all the natives with money were busy visiting the hometowns of those tourists.
"Hey, hey you guys? Where are you?"