Helen looked around surprised when the two boys began to call out Aria's name. "Why? Where did she go?" she asked, looking worried.
"Don't worry." Jacob was immediately at her side, "She hates losing, and it doesn't help that she's usually very good at everything. She has probably gone somewhere to cool off."
He said, helping Helen stand up as the bell for dinner had just rung.
"How many times did she lose today exactly?" Joseph asked, setting down the now packed box on the table and falling into step with the couple. Jacob shrugged, "I stopped counting after five." "And I after six." Joseph added and the two burst out laughing.
Helen hit them both on their backs before she said, sounding genuinely worried, "But what about dinner?"
Joseph put a reassuring hand on her back as he said, "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She's a big girl. And I'll pack some dinner to take up to her room."
Another month later found the four friends lounging under the shade of a huge maple tree, Joseph stretched out in Helen's lap who was sitting with her back to the trunk, and Aria and Jacob splayed out close by.
"Ahhhh, it's finally a cool enough day to lie around outside. For the past few months stepping outside has felt like torture." Jacob said as he stretched on the grass.
"That's because it's cloudy today. You try to have practical lessons in the ground with the sun shining on your back. It's like the heat is torturing me for information. And I want to give it, I just don't know what it is!! Plus, it doesn't help that we're working with fire." Joseph ground out, sitting up with passion to make the speech, but collapsing back onto Helen's lap by the end of it.
Helen stroked his hair in a sisterly fashion as she asked, "No luck this month either?" Joseph shrugged and pulled his hat over his whole face as he replied, "None whatsoever. I really didn't want to ask father for any tips, but it looks like I have no choice."
Silence settled over the quartet for a few seconds which was broken by Jacob. He raised himself on his elbow as he said, "What's wrong Aria? You've been awfully quiet the whole afternoon. Did your exam not go well?"
"It was fine." Aria replied with a dismissive wave of her hands, as she sat up and adjusted her clothes. "Actually, I was thinking about something." Three pairs of questioning eyes turned towards her as she continued, "I got to thinking after Joseph told me about his exam. And I think it'll be easier if he can try to make a very thin wire out of fire and then encircle the squirrel." She continued as everyone stared at her with rapt interest, "Of course, the squirrel might notice it and try to run, and be hurt in the process. So I would suggest that you make a big circle around it, and then slowly close in once you have left no space for escape."
She looked around as she finished, waiting for reactions. Jacob was the first to react. He started to slowly clap as he said, "That's Aria for you. Such a brilliant idea!"