Irene knelt beside the canvas bag she'd hauled down from the bluff, her face bright with anticipation as she reached inside.
"Okay! Everyone, circle up. You too, Bruno, put down the rugby ball for five seconds." Her voice echoed out with a teasing smile as she aimed at the rest of the party.
Resa crouched next to her, helping unpack.
At first glance, the contents looked like a tangle of tissue and bamboo, but as the girls set them on the sand. Everyone saw the elaborate lanterns, each one crafted into a different animal.
There were long-bodied dragons painted in red and gold, fish with luminous silver scales, birds shaped like swallows and cranes, even a pair of phoenixes with riotous orange tails.
The whole group gradually drifted in from their various amusements. Suzy jogged up, hair streaming wet down her back, while Nikki and Anna followed, arguing over who had actually won their latest race.
