“Oh my, I didn’t realize this went outside of this property.” I stood to be ready to go again. “I say it’s time to claim the throne.”
“There ya go, now that’s the attitude needed. When we go back out, you have to be cutthroat.” Trey rubbed his hands together. “Maybe we need a plan. Let’s walk over that way.”
We casually walked off to the side of the patio while eyes were on us from every direction.
“Well, now that I know what the yard looks like, I think I know where I saw some,” I said softly.
“It’s too late out back. We’ll be hunting in the front now, and by the way, each tier gets a little harder.” Trey chugged the last of his drink.
“So, we’re not allowed to grab any eggs that are still out back?” I scanned the yard spotting a few. “I mean, I can see some from here that no one picked up.”
“Yeah, we’re allowed, but it’s only a few leftovers. Everyone here knows you have to get to the fresh batch.”
“And that is out front, where we have already pillaged.” I waggled my eyebrows. “They have no idea either.”
“Oh, believe me they know, and don’t think they haven’t been sneaking into the next round area either.” Trey took out his cell to draw a picture. “This is where the next round will be, so we have to show up out front, but then one of us has to sneak out.”
“Bloody Oath,” I remarked. “No one, and I do mean no one, Down Under will believe the stories I’m going to be able to tell about this whole day.”
“What, you don’t have crazy family traditions?” Trey joked. “If it’s unbelievable stories you want, I have them, and this day isn’t over yet.”
Chapter 13
Trey
This day isn’t over yet. Now I have to come up with something crazier than this family.
“Hey Three, don’t think I’m going easy on you because you have a newbie on your team.” Murphy readjusted her ponytail. “The bragging is mine this time.”
“Sure it is, Brat.” I waved her off. “I’m winning this and the egg decorating.”
Diana came back out and gave the one minute bell. She announced that round two was in the front yard and that we had fifteen minutes once it began.
“Trey, we were cheating,” Chloe said thoughtfully. “Can we get disqualified?”
“No. First of all, no one even knows we were out there, and second the rules say all is fair.” I gave her a tilted smile.
“Now I know at least that you’re someone I’ll have to keep an eye on.” Chloe stood and stretched.
“Are you ready to be a sneaky partner?” I put my fist out for her to bump. “I know a quicker way to the front lawn, so be ready to follow me.”
“Hey Sophie, are you doing okay to keep playing?” Chloe walked over to her daughter.
“Yes Mummy.” Sophie never looked up from looking at her basket of eggs.
“Okay, then get ready to go. I love you a million Easter baskets,” Chloe called out to her.
“Well, I love you a million Easter Bilbies.” Sophie nodded, proud of her response.
Chloe walked back over to me. “I had an idea. How about when the bell rings, I go get those eggs I can see, then join you.”
“No, we need to attack the front yard to throw off suspicion, then on our way to the next area we can stop here and get those eggs,” I explained. “Besides, if they see us leave and we are followed, they will just see us back here.”
“Brilliant thoughts, Mr. Three.” Chloe clapped her hands together. “I’m ready.”
Diana rang the bell and everyone took off in the same direction. Dad was hobbling along slowly, pretending to be super injured, but I knew better. I’ve seen that man practically cut off his finger and keep going. No, my parents were up to no good.
“Hey Chloe, go on out front so the others see you. I’m going to hang here and see what my parents are up to.” I watched from the corner of the house. “We got a lot from out there already anyways.”
“Should I come back here or wait for you out there?” Chloe asked in sneak mode.
“I’ll be out there in a few minutes. Just make them think we’re both out there somehow.” I urged her to go. “Hurry, before they all come looking for us.”
“Yes, master,” Chloe tossed back at me, laughing and dragging her leg. “We’re gonna talk about this bossy behavior on the next break.”
As I suspected, Mom and Dad were doing their own kind of sneaky. Dad looked around. Seeing the coast was clear, they both scurried off in the direction of the back lot where the koi ponds were, which was the final round.
“Ok, now I see how they keep winning. Why didn’t I notice they were doing this before now?” I said out loud to myself.
I ran to catch up with Chloe and dumped Asher’s basket as I ran by. It wouldn’t be a Hawthorne Easter egg hunt if I didn’t dump his basket at least once. I pulled on Murphy’s ponytail and messed up Parker’s perfectly placed hair.
“Wow, you singlehandedly annoyed the whole family in a matter of a minute.” Chloe shook her head.
“I know, isn’t it great?” I boasted. “And now all of them know I’m here. They’re all frustrated with me so they’ll stay away from me.”
“Ah, leaving you the opportunity to sneak away,” Chloe added. “Bonza and real genius.”
“Yes, I am, if I do say so myself.” I grabbed her hand and snuck off in the other direction.
“Mom and Dad went to the final round, which is round four, where no one would suspect them to be.”
“The apple doesn’t fall far apparently,” Chloe jabbed at me. “So where are we going right now?”
“We’re going to grab those eggs you saw out back, then on our way to round four zone we’ll have to pass through round three zone.” I pointed to eggs in the back as we ran by. “Then we’ll hide in round four zone until Mom and Dad leave.”
“Okay, but aren’t we losing a lot of egg-hunting time?” Chloe grabbed eggs from areas I hadn’t seen. “How does that help us win?”
“Not sure, but let’s give it a try. Mom and Dad win too many years in a row.” I pulled her down behind a bush with me when Diana walked out. “Time’s almost up, Diana is getting set up with the drinks. We have to hurry.”
We ran through round three zone, grabbing eggs left and right until we hit the koi ponds. Mom and Dad were not only finding eggs before everyone, they were literally hiding a bunch of eggs I assume were for later.
“We got them now,” I said to Chloe, who wasn’t right behind me anymore. “Hey, come on before they see you.”
“Look what I just found.” Chloe had her t-shirt rolled up like a little kid. “I found a bunch of eggs buried in the dirt over there.”
“Wait… so that’s what they do. They grab some eggs, then hide the rest so they don’t look like they found too many at once.” I figured it out. “I believe you just found their hidden eggs for round three.”