him and his recovery, and it had subsumed him, but these people didn’t know him, nor did they care. The kids certainly didn’t.
“We’re going to start at that end.” He pointed to the end where the kids were already waiting. “And you’re going to run all the way to me, weaving in and out, and I’m going to time you with my stopwatch.”
Arlo had given out a few of them this morning, along with the rest of the equipment he’d somehow managed to procure, and Cole brandished it now because the man with the stopwatch was king as far as kids were concerned, even if it was a basic, old-fashioned piece. There was an actual moving hand and a button at the top that stopped the hand when pressed. It was the kind coaches had used when he’d been a junior and nothing like the high-tech ones of today.
Still, the kids had already had a turn with it and asked what felt like a million questions about it, including where was it made, could it receive telephone calls, and was it from the olden days like him.
Which made Cole feel about a hundred and three.
“Okay, Finn, you’re first.” Putting Finn first was strategy rather than favoritism. The kid followed instructions to the letter, and it gave the other kids an example to follow. Cole held up the watch and counted to three. “Go,” he called.
Finn took off, executing the course perfectly. Cole high-fived him at the end and called on Rambo next. The kid charged through the course with a bloodcurdling cry like he was hauling himself out of a trench and running toward the enemy. Roo bounced her way through the course, Crikey stepped very delicately in case he stood on any innocent bugs or worms, Moo skipped all the way to the end, and Qantas paused halfway through when she spotted a plane overhead.
Overall, it took ten minutes longer than it probably should have, but the kids were having a good time, and Cole figured his blood pressure could stand it.
“Okay.” He took his cap off and used his forearm to wipe away the sweat before cramming his hat back on again. “Let’s take a break.” The kids all whooped, running for the table under the trees where Arlo had set up ice buckets full of water bottles and containers full of sliced oranges.
Austin Cooper, who’d been running a catching exercise with the older participants, wandered over for a drink and an orange slice. He was also not in uniform, but the senior students—all guys—clearly knew he was a cop. There was an easy rapport between them, though, and Cole supposed he was probably only about ten years older than the youngest of them. There’d been quite a bit of smack talk going on and a lot of laughter.
“You look like you have your hands full,” Austin said as he cracked the lid of an icy-cold water bottle and took a swig.
Cole gave a half laugh, half snort. “I’ll swap you.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure my knowledge of ants or the olden days is up to scratch.”
The young cop laughed, and Cole rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, mate. I’m putting you at this station tomorrow.”
“Oh no, what a shame.” Austin grabbed his chest in faux disappointment. “I’m back on duty.”
Cole shrugged. “I’ll give them to Arlo.”
“Better plan. They already think he’s a superhero. They’ll probably listen to him.”
Yeah, Cole hadn’t been that great at getting his young charges to listen. But then, he hadn’t expected the cast of The Muppets, either.
“I’m going to take a wild guess here and say you don’t have any kids of your own.”
Cole glanced at Finn. He’d never thought about kids in any real way before. In an abstract one-day-maybe kind of way, but nothing concrete. Looking at his little charges today, that seemed wise.
Finn and Crikey were catching crickets and putting them in the bug catcher he’d insisted on bringing with him. Roo was hopping after them and causing ructions because she was chasing the insects away. Qantas was lying on the ground again, looking at the clouds. Moo was lying next to her, also looking at the clouds while chewing on grass. And Rambo was karate chopping a nearby tree.
“I don’t know what you mean, man,” Cole said as Roo accidentally ran into Crikey and knocked him over. “I’m a natural.”
Austin gave a laugh, then winked as he called out, “Hey, kids, come here.” He shoved an orange