Zola and his girls
Zola Short was the go-to playmate for his soccer nephews. “The Dudes,” as the family called the oldest five 15er boys, were Zola’s buddies. From playing tackle football in the backyard, eating their hearts content of Kansas City barbeque and then falling asleep on the couch with a soccer game on was Z’s idea of a perfect day spent with his boys.
Over time he had settled into his role of being the default adult on Dude duty, letting Chris, Dom or Dave hang out with the Tribe considering that they were actually dads of daughters. It’s not that Zola wasn’t absolutely in love with the group of four and five year old ladies, to be honest who wasn’t? No, Zola just related to the boys a little bit better.
So it threw the man for a loop when Becky casually dropped the bomb that they’d be hosting five kindergarteners for part of the weekend while the National team played a friendly in Kansas City.
“You watch the boys all the time,” Becky barely looked up at her husband from her book “and you do great with them. Besides, you’re only alone with them on Saturday while we play and then I’ll be back, they wanted to stay with their favorite Auntie Becks anyway.”
Zola scoffed, slipping his t-shirt off before getting into bed next to his wife.
“Okay first of all, I’m the coolest out of all of the aunts and uncles. But the Dudes they’re simple. We play, we eat, we sleep and then boom, six hours have gone by and I send them home.”
“Oh my God you baby, we almost died on a banana plantation and you’re afraid of five little girls” Broon laughed, tucking away her glasses and shutting off her light.
“I’m not afraid Rebecca,” Z insisted, turning off his own light “I’m just apprehensive.”
“You’re scared. It’s totally cool, just take the girls to the zoo, feed them chicken nuggets and then bring them to the game. I promise you, you have nothing to worry about.”
Zola hummed in agreement, kissing Becky twice before falling into a deep sleep dreaming about playing princess tea party with his nieces.
~
“Auntie Becks!”
“Auntie Becky!”
“Auntie Broooooooon”
Five little girls came sprinting up the driveway as soon as they got unbuckled from their car seats. Becky bent her legs, bracing for the impact that inevitably came in the form of a flying Hallie Harris-Krieger. Followed quickly by Kellan, Kaitlan, Chloe and Vanessa all latching onto the limbs of the world’s greatest center back.
“Oh my goodness it’s my favorite five year olds!” Becky set the girls down and gave each of them big kisses that sent the Tribe into a fit of giggles.
Little Kaitlan Werry put her hands on her hips, blue eyes filled with indignance. “Auntie Becky, I am NOT five. I’m six.”
“Sorry KAO” Becky apologized to the first grader who forgave her favorite aunt by wrapping her arms around Broon’s legs.
“Me an’ Nessa are five Aunt Becky!” Kellan grabbed Vanessa’s hands and the two girls began to bounce up and down.
“I thought O’Hara was your favorite five year old” Hope teased from the car as she grabbed Chloe’s overnight bag. Kelley shot her wife a glare over her shoulder. Before she could speak Chloe tugged on Kelley’s hand, her freckled face scrunched in confusion.
“But Mama I’m four?”
“Sorry little squirrel,” Kelley scooped up her daughter and held her tightly “your mean old Mama forgot how old you are. But don’t worry, your cool mommy remembers”
Hope rolled her eyes and exchanged an amused look with her captain.
“I see you two haven’t changed,” Becky laughed “how was the drive over guys?”
Kelley, Hope, Tobin, Alex, Ali, Ashlyn, Syd and Heather all began talking over each other as they tried to explain their traveling adventures. Apparently, after they all met at the Kansas City airport and got the rental cars, they thought it was a good idea to let Ashlyn lead the way to drop their daughters off at the Short-Sauerbrunn home. During which they got lost about four times making their arrival time about an hour and a half later than expected.
“I’m just glad we don’t have to report to the coaches until tomorrow. Otherwise we’d be in massive trouble thanks to Captain Directions over here” Alex teased her friend as they all walked into the house toting their daughter’s luggage.
Ashlyn put her hands up in surrender and then pointed at Ali “Hey blame the co-pilot who typed in the wrong address on her phone”
“Are you seriously blaming me Miss-four-wrong-turns?” Ali raised an eyebrow, a universally known dangerous reaction from the feisty Krieger woman.
“Alright ladies calm down.” Becky used her captain’s voice and smirked when she saw her teammates immediately back down.
“Sorry Broon” the teammates quietly mumbled.
Before Becky could say anything else, Hallie wiggled violently from where she had been perched in Broon’s arms. The women watched with curiosity as they saw the four year old sprint towards the back of the house, her tiny legs pumping as hard as they could go.
“UNCLE ZEEEEEEEE” Hallie squealed, garnering the attention of her best friends.
Zola had come inside from the back deck, covered in dirt where he had been landscaping the backyard. The man grinned and bent down to catch his youngest niece.
“Hallie Blaire!” he laughed, catching the little girl.
“UNCLE Z!” KAO and Kellan excitedly jumped around their uncle.
“UNCLE SHORTY” Chloe latched onto Zola’s back, earning a hearty groan at Chloe’s newest nickname for him.
“UNCLE ZOLAAAAAA” Vanessa sang, happy to see one of her favorite people.
“Kaitlan Breanne, Kellan Abigail, Vanessa Rhyan and Chloe Maureen? Wow the gang’s all here huh?” Zola had been told by Becky that the Tribe’s latest ‘thing’ was being called by their full names so he was sure to use that to his advantage.
Vanessa nodded vigorously “Yeah! We’re gonna have a sleepover!”
Z pretended to be shocked “WHAT? Here?!”
“Yes Uncle Shorty! With you and Auntie Becky!” Chloe giggled.
“Oh man, I’m stuck with you guys?!” Zola rolled his eyes playfully.
Zola walked towards the living room, carrying all five girls in his arms and on his back, where his wife and her teammates had gathered, the wine already being poured and laughter already reaching uncontrollable heights.
Zola and his nieces stood just outside of the living room, out of sight from their mothers but within earshot. At a particularly large outburst of laughter, Zola felt Hallie tug on his shirt from her position as front-pack.
“They’re too loud Uncle Shorty”
“They are aren’t they Hal?” Zola put the girls down, turning them to face him as he knelt to their level.
“Ladies, can I take you on a date?”
It took thirty minutes for Becky and the Gals to realize their daughters were gone and an additional five minutes to see the handwritten note on the fridge.
“Zola took the girls out for ice cream” Becky read, pride surfacing in her voice at the thought of her husband on his own little date with his nieces.
Syd, Ali and Alex let out a collective laugh.
“He knows they’re fucking insane after they’ve had sugar right?” Syd asked.
Broon shrugged, pouring her teammates more wine and heading outside to the front deck.
“I know that and you know that but Zola doesn’t know that and if I’m correct, we need to be at the hotel in two hours right?”
Hope raised her glass in silent praise of her captain.
“Fucking devious Broon, I love it.”