After the indoor word-guessing game, the teacher organized another one outside.
Tail Tag.
A strip of cloth was tucked into the waistband of each child's pants. Then, a parent would carry their child on their back, trying to snatch other teams' tails while protecting their own. The final ranking was based on the number of tails collected.
This time, there were no teams. It was a free-for-all, with all the parents and children from the class battling it out.
Kristin carefully tucked the cloth strip into her waistband, worrying it might fall out. She adjusted it several times to be sure before patting Marico's back, signaling for him to squat down so she could climb on.
Marico obliged, and as Kristin clambered onto his back, he deliberately stumbled forward, making her yelp and wrap her arms tightly around his neck.
"Am I too heavy?" Kristin asked, embarrassed.
Marico had intended to tease her, but seeing the apologetic look on her face, he changed his tune. "How much could you possibly weigh? You're lighter than my dog."
"I'm forty pounds," Kristin said seriously.
"See? I told you. My dog weighs sixty-one pounds."
Only then did Kristin realize something was off. "Why are you comparing me to a dog?"
Marico grinned. "Because you're smarter than a dog."
Kristin huffed. "I don't want to be smarter than a dog!"
Over with Hamilton and Queena, Hamilton had no interest in participating in such a childish game, but Queena was insistent. He was getting really tired of dealing with kids; after babysitting Queena a few times, he was starting to think he didn't want children of his own at all.
Just then, he saw Marico with Kristin on his back, the two of them laughing and talking. To any observer, they looked like a happy, affectionate father and daughter.
Father and daughter?
Hamilton's gaze darkened. When had Marico and Natalie met, and how had they become so close?
He couldn't help but think back to six years ago, to the night Natalie had cheated on him. He had chased her to the hotel, and a man had fled in the chaos...
The teacher blew a whistle, and the game began.
Marico bounced Kristin up on his back, telling her to hold on tight.
"Want to get some revenge?" he asked, glancing back at her, his eyes fixed on Hamilton's team.
Marico slammed back. "What can I say? I'm a natural with the ladies. It's a gift!"
Hamilton charged again. "Even married women? You'll sleep with anyone, won't you?"
Marico sneered. "I have to admit, it's a thrill!"
"Shameless!"
"Shameless, despicable, vile—I'll take it all! The one thing I'm not is a hypocrite. I'll leave that to you!"
"So you and Natalie...?"
Marico smirked. "You guess."
As the two men collided, the children on their backs were in their own battle.
Kristin suddenly bent low, trying to snatch Queena's tail. Queena grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her away. Seeing that Queena was playing dirty, Kristin didn't hold back either and head-butted her.
Furious, Queena lunged forward and bit Kristin's arm. Kristin winced in pain but didn't cry. Instead, she raised her hand and slapped Queena right across the face.

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