Alice gazed at me so quietly, her eyes as gentle as a vast ocean. Even my clenched fists relaxed under the wash of that ocean. I quietly watched Alice's eyes; there was not a trace of unease or retreat in them, only an indescribable tenacity. Since my daughter had already said as much, what more could I, as her father, possibly say?
I sighed, nudged the tip of Alice's nose, and said to her, "If you really can't hold on, just raise your hand and surrender. There's no shame in losing this match." Alice looked at me and nodded. I stroked her soft, long hair, wiped the dirt from her face, and then turned and pulled Gibbs's hand as we slipped off the stage.
"Ahem, well then, the match continues!" The priest cleared his throat and announced the resumption of the match.
Chapter 18