PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold
Matt tapped his lip and danced his foot but I knew it had nothing to do with planning his next move.
“Is your mom home?” he grumbled.
“Yep.”
“So?”
“She’s not going anyplace,” I answered.
“Not like she understands any of this.” Matt was too proud to admit that her presence affected his concentration.
“Tammy’s staying.”
He scowled but must’ve heard the edge in my voice, and dropped it.
No one messed with my little sister. Nonverbal doesn’t mean stupid. Also, Tammy was memorizing all his moves. She’d show me, and next time Matt and I play, I’d win.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Na'ama Yehuda 
Clever Tammy
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Yep. Not too shoddy brother, either … 😉
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Everyone should have an elder brother like this one 🙂
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Yep! 🙂 And it sounds like she’s a pretty good little sister, too … 🙂
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Na’ama Y’karah,
Nonverbal doesn’t mean stupid. Love that line. It tells us so much about Tammy without going into a lot of detail. Methinks Matt has an education heading his way that he won’t forget. Well done. Love the title.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle! 🙂 This was a fun prompt and given the children I work with, and my clinical field, it is all too often that I still encounter people who think that children who aren’t speaking (or aren’t speaking clearly, or aren’t able to formulate their thoughts well) aren’t intelligent … When so often they are very bright, just differently abled. Me agree that Matt has something coming to him, speaking about someone as if they are a pest is not a good way to relate. He will hopefully be humbled into learning. 🙂 The title was FUN! 🙂 Na’ama
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Now that is clever!
It does remind me of a trick Darren Brown played on a bunch of chess players where he was memorising moves and essentially playing them off against each other, only they were each so into their chess ( and their own opinions of themselves) they didn’t figure what was happening.
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Thank you MJL! 🙂 Yeah, sometimes we all fall into the trap of being so focused on ourselves, we miss all that’s going on around us — sometimes with bigger consequences than others … but always a lesson to be learned. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Please come again. 🙂 Na’ama
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I was thrown a little by the “is your mother home?” part… then realised it was Matt’s way of trying to get rid of the little sister…
Methinks next game, his butt is being properly whupped!
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Yep, he didn’t like the gal hanging around them … (and perhaps, someplace, was picking up on her being some form of a ‘threat’ to him, though little does he know in what way…) and … yep, Matt’s butt is about to be whupped. 😉 Hugzeez
Na’ama
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With good reason… it’s not easy to have such an intense watcher…
Hugzez back!! 😘
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Very clever idea and great writing, well done.
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Thank you! 🙂 I appreciate the comment and feedback and I hope you stop by again. 🙂 Na’ama
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Using Tammy to memorise moves! Why play at all?
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I don’t think he is ‘using’ her as much as allowing her to do what she is clearly interested in, and if it also serves to keep his friend in check … then … well … 😉
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The pair of them will make formidable opponents.
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Indeed! 🙂
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And now the title makes perfect sense. Excellent writing.
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I’m so glad you ‘got’ it! 🙂 I was feeling quite pleased with myself over that title. … 🙂 Have a lovely weekend and … thank you! Na’ama
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Brilliantly detailed.
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Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
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Nice story. This is one occasion where being nice to little sister will pay off big time! Lovely, fluent writing, Na’ama.
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Being nice to little sister ALWAYS pays off big time … (said the 5th of seven … ;)) Thanks, Penny!
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🙂
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