While Melissa struggled with finally finding her twin boys, now all grown up, seven-year-old Ollie's eyes gazed past the massive bodies of his nephews and focused solely on the massive arcade game that dominated the room with its cool graphics, bright yellow cabinet, twin player components with attached laser guns, as well as shiny silver pedals.
"Is that Time Crisis?" He asked breathless with excitement. "It's my all-time favorite game!"
Listening to the little boy's enthusiasm brought knowing grins to the faces of his nephews, but only a look of exasperation on their mother's tense face.
"Ollie! We're not here to play some stupid video game," his older sister snapped.
Ollie chafed at the rebuke. "It's not a stupid game. It's Time Crisis!"
His nephews chuckled at witnessing the exchange. They might look like carbon copies of their adult uncle, but the ice cream on their faces testified to the lingering little boy's lack of attention to cleanliness.
"Can I play?" Ollie remained single-minded in pursuit of his new goal.
"Play!" Melissa exploded. "We're here to clean up this mess." She whirled and faced her boys, although she now had to look up to them. "Where's that….where's the ring?"
Ollie, who had stepped closer to the game, even pumping one of the pedals with his small feet, didn't really pay close attention as Connor and Jackson exchanged glances before Connor spoke up and…