Fifteen minutes remained in my shift. Cerridwen had already changed and was standing by the booth. The petite raven haired girl had changed into a cute two piece bikini that really showed her curves of her body. Right now she was modeling the swimsuit for the gathered crowd. Her mother Pandora was standing by her side, looking as proud as a peacock Pandora was the newest member of that small business owners that formed the bedrock of Benton. And right now she was chatting up the locals, I guess having your daughter volunteer for the town's dunking booth was good for the public image.

And so there I sat, the warm summer sun pretty much dried me out. I was even getting something of a tan as I sat there on the plastic drop seat. Then I spotted him and my cheeks flushed a bright neon red. Out from the crowd came a boy, not just any boy, but one that meant a lot to me. His name was Matthew and he was my boyfriend. Matthew and I had been dating for about two or so years now. We happened to meet while I was working the dunking booth at The Discover Benton Festival two years ago.

Anyway, every time I see him I can't help but blush a little. He was my first kiss after all and the way things were progressing between him and I, I was sure one day I'll be wearing his ring. I quickly noticed he was looking extra handsome today. Today he was wearing a long sleeve button down shirt, a green tie and khaki pants. Rounding out the outfit was a pair of brown loafers.

“Hey sweetie!” I called out from the top of the tank. “Working today?” I quickly added. Matthew was a part time clerk at Sunflower, Benton's only full line grocery store. The store was a local favorite, everybody and I mean everybody did there shopping there. And the outfit Matthew was wearing was pretty much what all employees wore.

“Just getting off.” He said, smirking a little. “Came in at five this morning. Helped to finish off the last bit of stock the stock crew had left. Bagged a little and since I'm close to forty, Mr. Sinclair toward me to knock off for the day. He said to enjoy the rest of the day and enjoy my day off tomorrow.” He said, shrugging his shoulders a little.

I nodded my head. William Sinclair was the store manager, I had seen him a few times at Mass at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the same church my sister and her fiance attended from time to time. I knew very little about him, only he had started off at the bottom of the ladder if you will. He then rose from the lowly position of Courtesy Clerk to Produce Clerk to Store Manager over the course of fifteen or so years. He had a heart of gold and had even hired my cousin Daisy on as a Courtesy Clerk. According to Matthew who was in charge of training all the new Courtesy Clerks, Daisy was really trying to make something of himself.

“Oh Mr. Big Money.” I said in a teasing tone of voice. “So what are you going to do with all that big money?”

“Thinking about taking you out to eat next Saturday Night. You know Ms. B's Steakhouse? The one located just off the bridge east of town. You know the one cross before you get to that old haunted railroad crossing.”

I blinked. Ms. B's Steakhouse was one of the finest steakhouses in Benton, it was more like a private dining club than a restaurant. Located a little off the highway it was special place, a kind of private place. And kind of Romantic too. I felt my cheeks starting to blush.

“You're blushing might hard Maddy.” Matthew teased as he reached down into his pocket book and pulled out a five dollar bill. He placed the five dollar b ill down upon the table and was rewarded with three yellow and white tennis balls.

“Never mind that.” I said folding my arms across my chest and peering hard at him. I looked a little to the side and noticed that Cerridwen was doing a little model work. Her boyfriend Daisy was standing to the side, looking a bit crossed. I could sense he was not happy with his girlfriend getting that much attention. Cerridwen though was drinking up the attention like a cat drinks milk. I sometimes wandered about those two. One one hand you had Cerridwen who seemed to always take any and all chances to mess with Daisy. That normally earned her a passing swat. Then you had Daisy would often just stand there and pout when other girls paid him any attention. Cerridwen on the other hand would be willing to throw her tiny hands the minute she expected somebody else was moving in on Daisy.

But I also knew the two cared for each other, Maybe more than two young teens should. I know when Daisy was down with the Flu last year, and needed to spend a day or two in Hospital. Cerridwen was always by his side, she even spent the night there. After getting into a shouting match with the doctor on duty and a few of the nurses. She refused to leave his side.. and Daisy was always toting her books around for her. The two had their fights, but I could tell, by the way they held each other's hands, and nestled up to each other. The two really loved each other. Like I could see the two getting married to each other one day.

“Earth to Maddy!” I heard a voice calling out. I knew the voice belonged to Matthew. So I turned my eyes away from Cerridwen and Daisy and focused them back on Matthew.

“Just watching the two love birds here.” I said peering and shrugging my shoulders. “Sometimes I need to keep my eyes on them. You know, before they get into trouble.” I added with another shrug of my shoulders. Not quite a gallic shrug but the best I could muster on the spot.

“I see.” Matthew said nodding his head. And with that he tossed the ball. The ball sailed through the air and smashed into the target. The seat I was sitting on gave way and I dropped like a stone into the freezing cold water below!

“Wow!” Matthew said as I broke the surface of the water. “I'm getting better at this. That or the target is getting bigger.”

“Matthew you are a dork!” I cried as I spat a stream of water out.

“Takes one to know one.” He said reaching down and taking the second ball into his hand. I had five minutes left in my shift. I knew it was more than enough time for him to dunk me again. And to be frank, I was quite waterlogged at this point. My rear was quite sore from several dunks that had caused me to bounce off the bottom of the tank.

“Come on!” I whined. “Save those other two throws for Cerridwen!” I said shifting my attention toward Cerridwen who was waiting to take my place.

“Nah.” Matthew said, shaking his head. “She has a boyfriend already. And after Daisy totally hammered those bullies, I want to say on his good side.”

“Well you better hurry up.” I said, smirking. “I have less than five minutes remaining in my shift.” As soon as those words left my mouth I felt the seat I was sitting on give way and once more I was dropping a stone. Once more I felt my bottom bounce off the floor of the tank. Taking a deep breath I swam toward the surface of the water, breaking the surface I started to swim toward the edge of the tank.

“Okay lover boy,” I said pouting hard as I pushed the seat back up. “That's enough fun for one day.” And with that I made my way toward the edge of the tank. Quickly I climbed down. I was soaking wet, but it had been pretty fun. I had been dunked a ton, I had gotten to tease all my friends and I had even gotten dunked by my boyfriend.

And with that, another one of my misadventures comes to an end.