Sara screamed as Kelsey Lynn ran by with a plastic cup, splashing its contests onto Sara’s back.
“I got you, Ms. Campbell!”
Despite the sadness that Ellis’ departure had brought her, Water Works had succeeded in driving all thought of him from her mind.
She and Stan were impressed with the level of detail and work that went into the construction of the water castle. Many of the male faculty members, and some of the women, had gotten together to build the fort in the school’s playground area, with help from local contractors. The love they had for the children certainly showed with every nail. Sara had helped paint a few drape cloths but that was over a month ago and she’d never seen the final designs. Those remained secret until today.
People of all ages ran through the castle now, and when Sara came across a child, she let them hit her with whatever aquatic weapon they were carrying. She was soaked to the bone. Her t-shirt was suctioned to her skin and her hair was plastered to her neck and face in messy, dark strands, but it was worth it to see the children having so much fun. And now, as she chased Kelsey Lynn down a second story ramp, Sara was amazed by how much fun she was having.
“I’m gonna get you!” she yelled.
Kelsey Lynn squealed, but then a sudden burst of ice-cold water slammed into the side of Sara’s head as she passed by an interior window, causing her to stumble and slide down the soaked ramp like a Slip n’ Slide. Stan’s laughter was unmistakable. She looked incredulously at the man who had been lying in wait with a mounted water gun, and who was now trying his best to angle the weapon for another shot. She laughed hysterically.
“Kelsey Lynn, you played your part perfectly!” Stan said as the little girl cackled from the bottom of the ramp.
“You’re evil!” Sara shouted.
She lazily tossed a water balloon at Kelsey Lynn and missed, but then launched another through the window at full force, barely missing Stan.
She rushed through the halls of the elaborate castle and found Stan right where he had been perched. With her last balloon in hand, she tackled him to the ground. Kelsey Lynn and several others joined her in the assault, and water soon poured over Stan’s face with a twist of the balloon, soaking him.
“Traitor!” he proclaimed of Kelsey Lynn between fits of laughter.
The tiny girl merely continued her trademark cackle.
The battle went on for an hour and a half, occasionally joined by other friends and children, but Stan eventually surrendered, stating that he needed to shower and eat before returning to work. With a collective sigh of disappointment, the children begged him to stay. Instead, he handed Kelsey Lynn his last water balloon and told her to avenge him. The other children screamed and ran.
Sara and Stan watched them play a moment longer before jogging from the battlefield, dodging the rain created by fountains and water guns that shot at them from atop the castle. Once clear, they broke into a fit of laughter and Sara nudged Stan playfully with her shoulder.
“I should have known,” someone said in a bitter voice.
The two turned and found Stan’s wife, Leslie, standing just beyond the school’s chain link fence.
“Known what?” Sara asked defensively.
“I should have known he’d be here with you.”
“Leslie!” Stan called after, her but she stormed off in a huff, unwilling to hear what he had to say. He cursed beneath his breath and looked apologetically at Sara. “I’m sorry—again.”
Sara shrugged it off. It was comical how often Leslie accused Sara and Stan of something foul. Leslie’s jealously could never cope with their friendship, not even while Sara was dating Phil.
“I’m guessing you’re going to go after her?”
“Yeah, I probably should.”
And with that, Stan followed his wife at a brisk but unexcited walk. Sara watched him go and shook her head. She didn’t believe in divorce, but there were times when she’d make an exception. That also went for pulling hair and driving your fist through someone’s face, but despite her opinion of Leslie, the thought of marriage always brought her back to Jake—and now Ellis.
She disregarded these thoughts, or at least tried to. Becoming frustrated with herself, she began focusing on Jake alone, but this trend of thinking had become all too familiar. She loved Jake with her whole heart, but he was no longer capable of loving her back. She needed more.
“Phil?” she said cautiously.
His name had once been an option, but that possibility dried up a year ago. He’d come to mind now, not because of his marriage potential, but because of the surprise of spotting him standing across the street. She thought it was Ellis at first, as Phil seemed to be wearing Ellis’ clothes; but no, it was definitely Phil. He had been watching her during the water fight but was now stumbling down the street, seemingly running away. She was concerned for him; it was her fault that he was like this, after all. It was her fault that he couldn’t let go of what might have been.
In a way, she thought to herself, I can empathize with that.