Cousins' fun time together
"He’s very sedentary," Miha remarked during a break from playing football behind his grandparents' house. "Yes, it’s true; cousin Žiga is almost always sitting at the table with Grandma and Grandpa," cousin Jaka added. "And his younger sister—what’s her name again, our only female cousin? She just sits there too. She’s even more stationary than Žiga," said Miha’s brother, Luka. "Her name is Sandra, but they call her Sandi. I don't know why," Aljoša noted. "Probably because all of us boys have names that end in 'a'," Miha surmised. "Yeah, she’s always in that wheelchair she uses to get around," Mitja observed. "Žiga has a mobility chair too, but he isn't always in it," Matija chimed in. "He never plays football with us," Aljoša complained. "I’ll go invite him," Mitja said, heading toward the table where Žiga and Sandi sat with their grandparents. "Žiga, do you want to play football with us?" Mitja asked. "No, I don't play football," Žiga replied with an air of self-importance. "What about you, Sandra, or whatever your name is? Sandi?" Mitja asked the younger sister. "No," Sandra said.
Mitja’s mother, Antonija—everyone called her Tončka—overheard this and nearly sprinted toward Mitja, who had already returned to the field. "Mitja, leave Žiga and Sandi alone!" she practically screamed. "Why? I was just trying to be nice," Mitja protested. "Because they aren't like you," Tončka said. "What do you mean? What am I like?" Mitja asked, surprised and a bit startled. "You are able-bodied, and they are sick," Tončka stated. "Okay, I get it now," Mitja said.
"I would have played if they’d offered something else. Football is for the boys," Sandi remarked. "Why didn't you say anything?" Žiga asked his sister. "I wanted to, but he just ran off," Sandi replied. "Let's wait for someone else to come by, then we’ll tell them," Žiga said quite maturely.
Luka approached the table and poured himself a glass of water.
(Continuation)
Luka sipped his water slowly, watching Žiga and Sandi. Even though Aunt Tončka had just strictly told him to leave them be, his curiosity got the better of him. He noticed Sandi staring intently at the ball on the grass—not with dislike, but with a kind of quiet longing.
"You know, Luka," Žiga suddenly broke the silence, "just because we don't play football doesn't mean we don't like company. Our wheelchairs aren't a barrier to conversation, only to running around in the mud."
Luka blushed. "I'm sorry. Mom said you were sick and that we shouldn't disturb you."
Sandi gave a slight smile and adjusted her joystick. "We aren't 'sick' in the sense that we have a fever. We have Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Our muscles just don't work the way yours do, but our brains are firing on all cylinders. And I really don't like football because it's too chaotic. But I'd love to play a strategy card game."
"We can play game with cards. It is great idea," said Luka.
Luka summoned other boys and brought the cards. Then they all sat on the chairs around the table and started to play the game.
Sandi and Žiga finally felt included and Miha finally felt that all of his peers are playing together. It was very fun and they were enjoying game very much.
