My eyes followed Jamie as she vanished into the crowd. And speaking of the crowd, the crowd just lingered around the dunking booth. If a person did not want to buy three balls for five dollars, they could just walk up and push the button for ten dollars. Like Jamie she had dropped ten dollars to drop me in freezing cold water, the little brat also managed to sneak in another push of the button when nobody was looking.
So it was kind of a buy one get one free deal. Anyway, if nobody wanted to waste five dollars on three throws, and if they were too much of a scrooge to drop a ten dollar bill to walk over and press the trigger. Then one could if they felt so inclined to, drop their pocket change into a wicker basket. And it seemed many of the passersby did just that. Many of them tossed there lose dimes, nickels, quarters and pennies into the basket. And so with the strong Mississippian sun shining down on me I sat there, watching the crowds of people passing back and forth.
Then I noticed another one of my friends, a petite raven haired girl who wore a simple blue sundress with matching plastic blue sandals. Hanging on her arm was a boy who had shaggy blonde hair that was tied back in a low ponytail. He wore a fading pair of denim jeans and a white button down shirt and a matching blue blazer, it seemed odd to me that most of the boys in our group always seemed to wear their hair long and in shaggy ponytails also they seemed to always sport white button down shirts and blazers. It was kind of like a uniform, most of us girls always wore colorful dresses.
I knew the boy, and I knew the girl too. The boy was named James, but we called him Daisy. And Daisy was sweet on the raven haired girl that clung to him, Cerridwen, a self proclaimed witch. Daisy had just moved to Benton a few months ago, he had transferred from St. Katherine's Episcopal School in Vicksburg to Benton Academy due to some issues he had with bullies. Anyway Daisy was my cousin. And something of the little brother of the group.
And I gotta say it was cute seeing the two making their way through the crowds, holding each other's hand and leaning in close to each other. It was sweet, and of course me being me, I had to tease them a little. I mean both Cerridwen and Daisy were members of our little group. Both were members of the local anime club, and as president of the anime club it was my sworn duty to tease the junior members. And with me perched over several hundred gallons of freezing cold water. They could easily get their revenge.
“Hey Daisy!” I cried out at the top of my lungs. And as I had opened the blonde hair boy spun around and blinked. I knew then I had his attention. “Hey Daisy, take a chance and try to dunk me! Five dollars for three balls, and if you sink me, you get a prize.”
At this point Cerridwen had turned around too. It was then I noticed the outline of a bathing suit under her sundress. I knew then that Cerridwen would be taking over for me once my one hour shift was up.
“Come on squirt. Take a chance and dunk your big sister, show me what got.” I called out. “Come on, you gotta have some strength in those little twigs you call arms.”
Daisy blinked and blinked again and soon he was walking over to the counter. He placed some money down on the table and was rewarded with three soft tennis balls. He quickly reached down and picked up the one closest to his left. Once the ball was in his hand, he drew back and let the ball fly.The ball sailed through the air and then bounced off the side of the dunking booth. I gotta say I felt my heart leap into my chest as I watched the ball fly through the air.
“Oh sorry squirt. You came close, Gotta be careful though, I don't want you to throw too hard pull something. KDH would love to see you though.” I teased as he reached down and picked up the second ball. He gripped the ball tightly in his hands and eyed the target. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. A few seconds later I felt the seat give way and once more I was dropped into the freezing cold water below. For twelve solid seconds I floated along the bottom, making sure to press my face into the viewing glass in the middle When I felt my breath give way, I broke the surface of the water and smiled a little.
“Okay kiddo! You got me!” I said pushing the seat back up. “But you gotta do it again. Because the first time is always when you know beginners' luck. So come on, show me what you got.” I called out.
“You know, you talk too much.” Daisy said in a flat tone of voice. “Way too much, I think you need a cold bath to settle yourself down.” It was then I noticed a mischievous look had taken hold of him as he reached down and picked the ball up and darted behind the throw line that had been spray painted on the ground.
“What in the world are you doing?!” I shouted but a few seconds later I once more felt the seat giving way and once more I was dropped into the freezing cold water below. This time though, I wasted no time in popping my head up above the water and swimming toward the edge of the tank. I gave Daisy a glare that would melt through a block of ice.
“You know, you were supposed to hit the target right? Not just dart over and smash it?” I asked as I once more pushed the seat up and climbed out of the tank. A minute or so later I was once more seated at the edge of the seat, hands folded on my lap, hair dripping wet and to be honest, I was a bit cold. The wind was starting to pick up now, and the once blue sky was starting to become cloudy with gray clouds. I knew the weather bulletin for the had issued a forecast for mostly clear skies, with a bit of rain in the afternoon with a slight chance for rain later that evening.
“I know, I also know you were being something of a brat. And I thought a nice cold bath would cool those heels a little.” Daisy said, smiling a little.
“What ever.” I said rolling my eyes as I peered toward the pink eye boy. That another odd thing about Daisy, his eyes were the palest pink you've ever seen and they often sparkled like two pink sapphires. It was kind of cute.
“I'm just saying you need to earn the right to dunk me, by hitting the target.” I called out as the boy just stood there shrugging his narrow shoulders. Then he folded his hands across his chest and cocked his head to the side as unfolded them and slipped his hand into the pocket of his faded pair of jeans. A few seconds later he was placing another five dollar bill down upon the wooden counter. He was rewarded with three more balls.
“Daisy,” Cerridwen said, smiling as she walked up and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Don't spend all your money love, remember you promised me a steak dinner.” She said rubbing her chin on his shoulder. It was cute, but also kind of weird seeing the girl I considered my little sister rubbing up on the boy I considered my little brother like some kind of cat in heat.
“Hey!” I called out to Cerridwen. “I thought you and Daisy were going to come and join us for dinner. Kayla has been expecting you too. And Heather's made enough of her house salad to feed a whole troop.” I paused. “And Mrs. Potter cut us a deal on a whole short loin. USDA choice and a inch and a half thick too, and I know you like a good steak Cerridwen, though this might not be the steak you want.” I said with a wink.
It took them a few seconds to catch on to what I was saying. But once they did, Cerridwen turned a beat red and Daisy looked away blushing. And I busted into a gale of laughter. It was cute watching Daisy blush like that and Cerridwen always needed to be teased. Now, only I and Jamie could tease the two, if somebody else started to mess with them, then the claws came out. We were family, only family can mess with family if somebody else started giving the two a hard time. We'll, I'm a tomboy, and despite being a cheerleader, I'm not afraid to throw down. And according to some fellow adventure scouts, I can throw a mean right hook.
Cerridwen soon recovered from her blushing fit and calmly she reached down into her pocket book and pulled out a five dollar bill. Smiling she placed the five dollar bill down upon the counter and in due time she was rewarded with three balls.
“Daisy love, can you please sink this loud mouth brat.” She said smiling as she picked up one of the offered balls. “Or would you mind if I go first?” She asked as she squeezed the ball tightly.
“After you love.” He said smiling softly as he stepped aside.
“Could you two get a motel room already!” I shouted again at the top of my lungs. Once more the two turned beat red. I love teasing the pair.
Then it happened, I was so busy laughing at the pair. Laughing at Daisy blushing and laughing at the coy look Cerridwen was giving Daisy when I suggested they book a hotel room that I had not noticed Daisy had thrown his first ball and had smashed the target. I could only feel the seat giving away and the splash of the freezing cold water in the tank below. My bottom quickly touched the bottom of the tank and a deep blush formed upon my face as I broke the surface of the water.
“Maybe that would teach you to cool your jets!” Daisy said, smirking as he reached down for another ball.
“I doubt it love. Madeline like that bunny, she just keeps going and going and going.” Cerridwen said, smirking as she watched Daisy pick up another ball.
“Okay, that again was just a lucky shot!” I called out again. “Lets see you do it again! And no cheating this time!”
A few seconds later, I once more felt the seat give way. And once more I was dropped like a stone into the freezing water below. And again I pushed the seat up and once more I climbed up and once more I was greeted with the sight of Daisy standing there holding his third and final ball. I closed my eyes and then again I felt the seat giving away as the boy struck the target. The boy had some skill, I'll give him that.
“You know.” I said coughing up a little water as I climbed back up. “I think the Benton Belle's are accepting new members. Why don't try out. I mean, you need a hobby, and with your skills you'll make a good pitcher for the local softball team.” I said smiling as I turned my attention toward Cerridwen now. After his third throw, Daisy had stepped aside and allowed her to take his place at the throwing line.
“So Cerridwen, are you going to summon up some magic to help you dunk me? Or do you have some muscle in those twigs you call arms?” I teased. Cerridwen was a pagan, and I had a deep respect for her. And there had been sometimes when we depended on Cerridwen to ward our campground. Heck I even depended on Cerridwen Wiccan knowledge when I went hiking. The area's she suggested we steer clear of, I did. But still I had to tease her, she was after all my little sister.
“I could.” She said, smirking as she tossed the ball back and forth. “I could summon something, but that would take all the fun out of it. It seems this muggle game depends on skill, magic it seems would take all the fun out of it.”
“Muggle? Girl I know you're a Wiccan and all, but come on. Do you really gotta borrow a word from Rowlings? I thought you were something of a wordsmith or something?” I asked.
“That would be you, dear Madeline, you're the one who wrote down all of our stories, typed them up and edited them and later published them. I think the title of wordsmith belongs to you. I'm more of a budding manga artist and cosplayer.” She added as she drew her arm back and tossed the ball toward the target.
I splashed down a few seconds later and once more I found myself floating along the bottom of the tank. Through the viewing glass I noticed that Cerridwen was standing there, laughing her bottom all. A deep blush colored my cheeks as I once more broke the surface of the water. Still blushing I pushed the seat up and once more I climbed up.
“Beginners luck?” Cerridwen said, smirking as she tossed another ball up in the air. “Or did I use a little wind magic to nudge the ball toward the target. The world may never know.” She teased as I inched my bottom toward the edge of the seat.
“You know, your next right? And I'm so going to get you back for this,” I said in a flat tone of voice.
“Oh?” Cerridwen said, smirking a little as she pitched the ball back and forth. “I thought you enjoyed teasing people. But it seems when the tables are turned on you, you don't enjoy it as much.” She then tossed the ball and this one missed. It sailed a little to the left. I wanted to say something, something cute and funny, but I noticed the look in Cerridwen's eye and something deep inside told me she had missed that one on purpose. And so I kept my mouths shut and true to form she did not miss her third and final throw. At this point I was pretty water logged. And a little sore from all the splash downs.
“Let that be a lesson to you, my dear friend Madeline. Do not taunt forces you don't understand. Or else they might come back to bite you in the button.” With that she gave me a playful wink and then she turned toward Daisy.
“Come beloved,” She said in a voice that was smooth as velvet. “I would like something salty to snack upon. the popcorn from the popcorn man smells wonderful.” And with that the two walked away from the dunking booth. Cerridwen's hand tightly woven around Daisy's hand and the two drinking love from each other's eyes. And I had only fifteen minutes left in my shirt.
