Cerridwen's in the Dunking Booth

Part 2: The Opening Dunk

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy,  bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka dot bikini
So, in the locker, she wanted to stay

I knew Jamie would make good on her threat to come and pull me out of the locker room. Jamie had political pull at the school and half the boys in school would die for her. Many were willing to thrash somebody on her behalf. Save for Daisy, who would only thrash somebody for me. That thought brought me a small amount of comfort. Anyway, after sulking for a few minutes I started toward the door. The hallway was deserted. Which I was thankful for.

I felt my heart start to race as I slowly made my way down the hallway, a few minutes later I was pushing open the double metal doors located at the end of the hallway and out into the blinding early summer sunshine I stepped.

I had to raise my hand to shield my eyes from the bright rays of the sun, the field behind the school was bathed in sun. The dying yellow and brown grass seemed fitting enough for a painting about the deep south. And located on top of this acre and a half of parched ground one of the most gaudy money making schemes ever thought up by man. 

It was a verbal bazaar, food trucks were lined up bumper to bumper, with folding tables and metal chairs set out in front of them. The air was thick with the smell of fish being fried, of chicken being grilled, of beef franks and hamburgers being charbroiled on an open flame. Groups of people, students, former students and just random locals were all walking around. Some were snacking  on hunks of grilled meat that had been speared on a wooden stick. Others were sipping cold cokes.

While others were holding hands and making love with their eyes. And toward the center, was the dunking booth. A massive tank with a viewing glass in the middle, with an old metal target sticking out on the side and a plastic next wrapped around the top.  A cardboard sign located in front of it had the following message plastered to it.

“Benton Academies Annual Dunking Booth Fundraiser! Sponsored by the cheerleaders. Three throws five dollars. To push the button, ten dollars.”  

To the left of the sign was a cardboard table with a money box sitting on top. Behind the table, I spotted Jamie was wearing a nice, blue and white sundress complete with white sandals. Her golden, blonde hair was tied back in a high ponytail that had a matching blue ribbon tied around it. Her baby blue eyes seemed to glitter in the strong sunlight. She quickly spotted me and waved.

I blushed and walked up the table. 

“Hey! Five minutes to spare, good we can open up early then.” Jamie said smiling. I knew in years past that Jamie's older sister Lily would be the one sitting behind the table, taking peoples money, making change and handing out the balls. With one of the footballers being the one to round up all the missed and stray balls. And as I figured her long time boyfriend Ben was the one who she had drafted into doing that. 

“Hey squirt!” Ben called out with a smile. As he walked over to me. “Were Daisy? Normally he's following you around like a lost little puppy.” Ben added with a chuckle.

A crossed look came over Jamie as she pushed her elbow into Ben. Ben blinked and started to rub the back of his neck and thankfully he did not say much. 

“I don't know. Daisy has been kind of silent.. I know he's raising a ton of money. Last time I talked with Mrs. Croft, the one who puts on that Dotty Fundraiser, said Daisy has managed to raise close to six thousand dollars. Smashing your record, and Madeline's record.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

Jamie said nothing but just turned her head around and nodded.

“Anyway.” She said as she pointed toward the dunking booth. “I need you to get up that ladder and settle yourself on the seat. Taylor is going to have the second shift, then Rebecca. And you're going to finish out the day by taking the fourth and final shift. Each shift is around forty five minutes, with a fifteen minute cool down time to get the tank cleaned, the balls picked up and stuff. But you might need to work an extra fifteen minutes if there is a long line or something.” Jamie said.

I nodded my head.

“Okay Cerridwen.” Jamie said, taking a deep breath. “Up the ladder you go.” 

I blinked and blinked again.

But I gathered up my courage and slowly I started to walk up behind the dunking booth. I then noticed a ladder with twelve rungs. The ladder led to the top of the dunking booth. Once at the top of the ladder one could crawl over and sit there bottom down upon the plank that would drop them into the three hundred gallons of ice cold water that waited at the bottom.

Slowly I reached up and took hold of the iron side of the ladder. I then put my barefoot on the first rung. After a few seconds I lifted my foot to the second rung, and then to the third and then to the fourth till I was at least inching my bottom out onto the plank. I edged toward the edge and then folded my hands in my lap.

Jamie nodded her approval and then turned toward the gathered crowd and in a loud, booming voice she called out.

“Alright everybody! The dunking booth is now open. Our first lovely volunteer is none other than Cerridwen Circe Whitethorn! Proud member of the 'B' squad and Benton Academies only witch! Though I assure you she won't melt when she hits the water!” 

I blushed a little and offered a little wave, to someone who I don't know.

“It's five dollars for three throws.” Jamie added as she held up three, yellow and white tennis balls in her hand. “Or for ten dollars you can come up and push the button and send our lovely volunteer into the dunking booth! And remember guys, all the money raised from this dunking booth goes directly into the cheerleader's banking account. So step on help and help us fund another year of cheerleading and help us carry on the proud tradition of the Benton Academy cheerleaders!”

A little too much pepper there Jamie I wanted to say, and just was this proud tradition of 'The Benton Academy cheerleaders' that Jamie spoke up. The only traditions we had were showing up to games and flashing our underwear to the crowd when one of us did a high flying stunt and sitting in a dunking booth. Or volunteering to get covered in chili to save puppies. I don't count those as traditions, not in the true sense of the word anyway.

I must have lost myself in my musing because at that very moment I felt the wooden board I was sitting under give way and like a stone I dropped into the freezing cold water below. The cold water took my breath away and the sudden onset of gravity caused me to yell. And then it happened, my world turned blue as I floated around the bottom of the tank. I swam if you could call it that toward the front viewing glass. I pressed my face to the glass and then came to the top, cause you know I still needed to breathe.

The moment I broke the surface of the water a small wave washed over the top of the tank.

“That was cold!”  I said as I wrapped my arms around me for warmth as I bobbed up and down in the dunking before somehow getting myself together enough to swim toward the edge. Blushing I started to climb up over the edge and onto the ladder and once more I managed to seat myself on the seat.

I then noticed out of the corner of my eye that Jamie was standing beside the trigger. A smile a mile wide seemed to be plastered across her face.

“My top could have come off!” I shouted as I peered toward Jamie. One of the drawbacks of wearing a string bikini was you had to make sure the strings were tied right or you ran the risk of your top coming off. “I would have somehow managed to flash the whole freaking school!” I added.

“I hope not.” Jamie said, sighing. “You only have apples up there and nothing more. Really I'm sure you could get away with going topless if you wanted too.” Jamie said grinning. “Maybe you should? That would really bring in the money!” She said grinning sweetly.

I wanted to call her a 'bitch' because she was acting like one. But I stopped myself. It seemed the closer to graduation Jamie came, the more she started to act like her old sister Lily, who I'm told was famous for such comments and such teasing remarks. Instead I just pouted a little and folded my arms across my chest and turned my face to the side.

“They are  big enough for Daisy!” I added with a glare.

I could tell Jamie was about to say something when Daisy appeared. He looked hollowed.  No, he looked ghoulish. Like a man who had braved the perils of Hell and returned to tell the tale. Come to think of it, he always looks like that after he comes back from that scout-camp he attends. His eyes seemed slightly sunken in, his shirt hung off him like a sail, and he seemed to jump at the slightest noise. His one desire I  know was to become an Eagle Scout, and at fifteen he was posed to become the youngest one in the history of Scouting in Mississippi. But it seemed for that honor he would pay in pounds of flesh.
Jamie blinked and Ben blinked. 

“Hey Daisy..” Jamie said, leaning over the counter. “Want to put five dollars down and try to dunk your girlfriend.” She said, I noticed she did not look into his eyes. His eyes seemed hollow. Kind of glazed over.  

“I guess.” Daisy said, shrugging his shoulders. He then reached into his wallet and pulled out a crinkled up five dollar bill. I noticed his wallet looked like it had seen better days. Hell Daisy looked like he had seen better days. 

Jamie blinked and reached over and slipped the five dollars he had placed on the table and slipped it into the change box. She then placed three, yellow and white tennis balls down upon the table and stepped sideways. Ben just looked on and shook his head and muttered something along the lines of 'That boy is going to kill himself over a damn badge.'. Under his breath.

“Hey Daisy.” I waved as I stuck out my chest a little and peered at him. “You going to dunk me?” I said, smirking a little as I wigged my bottom on the seat. I hoped a little flirting would lighten his mood. And cheer him up. Instead he just blinked, slowly blinked like a cat.

I smiled sweetly and felt a huge sweat drop forming at the back of my head as I watched him do his thing. A few seconds passed then like greased lighting the ball seemed to leap from his hand and seemed to sail through the air before smashing into the tarp behind the metal target. It was only a hairs breath away from smashing into the iron plate.

“Wow! Easy their big boy!” I said as my eyes went as wide as saucer plates. “A little too much pepper on the ball!” I said. “The goal is to hit the thing, not smash it into a thousand tiny little bits and pieces.” I said sticking my pink tongue out a little.

Daisy muttered something under his breath. And he reached for the second ball. Once he had the second ball wrapped around his fingers, he pulled his arm back and tossed it toward the target. A second or two later the ball smashed into the center of the iron round target.

A second later, I felt the seat going out from under me, I dropped like a stone into the freezing water below. And like before, I swam toward the plastic viewing glass that was located in the center of the tank. I pressed my face up to the plastic viewing glass and made a goofy face before floating toward the surface.

Daisy just stood there blinking, but a smirk a mile wide came across his face.

“Do that again! And I'll give you a kiss.” I said winking as I climbed back up.

Jamie and Ben raised an eyebrow. Daisy just blushed a little and reached down and picked up the second ball. A moment later, I felt myself once more dropping into the freezing water. Having been dunked three times in quick succession. I felt the strings that held my bathing suit together starting to loosen. So I made a mental point to fix that as soon as possible. I might have, as Jamie said, just 'Apples' but I still wanted to keep them covered up.

Anyway I floated toward the edge or rim of the dunking booth and leaned over. 

“Come here boy and get your kiss.” I told Daisy as I smiled.

Blushing Daisy walked over to where I was floating and then it happened.
Fireworks, wonderful fireworks, as soon as his mouths connected our tongues came out of hiding and we started to kiss. I tossed my soaking arm around him and leaned in, pressing into him, pushing my tongue into his mouth and he in turn pushed his tongue into my mouth. Bright, neon images of color flashed through my head as we kissed.

Finally both Daisy and I needed to come up for air.

“I love you babe.” He said smiling sweetly, it seemed the kiss had restored a noticeable measure of color to his cheeks.

“I love you too.” I said smiling. “Want to get something to eat after my shift?” I said smiling as I looked into his eyes, his eyes seemed to once again twinkle with life. The twinkling of his eyes gave me hope that somewhere deep in that ghoulish shell of his, was still the heart and soul of the boy that I loved. I hoped all he needed was some food, some drink, and plenty of tender loving to cast off that ghoulish shell and return to being his old self again. After all, he was to play Dotty at the end of the month.

“Sure I would love it too.” Daisy said as his cheeks bloomed with color.

“See you in forty five.” I said and with that Daisy left to do Daisy things.

I smiled and hung over the edge of the tank. That kiss had kindled a fire deep inside my maiden heart. I noticed at that moment that Jamie seemed to just be looking at me with a scowl across her face. Ben, her boyfriend, seemed to look a tiny bit amused.

“I refuse to believe you're a virgin.” Jamie said, sighing. “No virgin would act like that!”

“I hope I can lose my virginity soon to him.” I said, sighing as I climbed up on the dunking booth. “But I'm saving myself for my Junior Prom.” I said as I climbed up and eased my bottom down on the drop seat. “Prom is supposed to be romantic. So it makes perfect sense for a girl to cash in her v-card on that night. Plus, I quite enjoy kissing. And there are other fun things for a girl to do, that don't require her to cash in her v-card.” I said, poking out my chest.

“Not that you would know anything about Ms. Jamie Sarah Potter.”

And with that I started my first forty five minute shift in the dunking booth.

Cerridwen in the Dunking Booth

Part 3: A Forty Five Minute Shift

She was afraid to come out in the open (bop-op-op-op)
And so a blanket around her she wore (bop-op-op-op)
She was afraid to come out in the open (bop-op-op-op)
And so she said, bundled upon the shore (bop-op-op-op)

Sitting in a dunking booth is an embarrassing and awkward experience for sure. You have to sit there, with your legs curved under the seat and your hands firmly placed upon your lap. Your back straight up and your chest poked out. The most mortifying thing about it? You have to heckle the crowd. After Daisy dunked me, people seemed to just walk right on by. Nobody seemed to be paying me much attention and I was fine with that.

And much to my amazement ten solid minutes passed without anybody stepping up to throw at the target. But then again the fair was just starting and from the seat of the dunking booth, I could see a steady stream of people filtering in through the front gate. Most of the patrons seemed drawn toward the many side games that had sprung up like toadstools after spring showers on the right side of the field.

Classic games of skill and luck, you know games where you pay three dollars for three balls and then use those three balls to knock down a pyramid of plastic milk bottles. Shatter the pyramid you win a prize, what prize? By the looks of it a stuffed animal. I kind of wanted Daisy to win me a stuffed animal. Maybe I should win him one?

I heaved a sigh and started to think, what had I gotten myself into now? My life it seemed was one big misadventure, a fun misadventure, but a misadventure all the same. Had I really come out of the egg for this? I could have stayed hidden till I was in college, or till I'd gotten a degree, and my life was half settled. Maybe I should have? Maybe coming out of the egg was a big mistake?

“A penny for your thoughts?” Jamie said

“Thinking how in the world you talked me into volunteering for this crazy thing.” I said, taking a deep breath as I peered toward Jamie.

Jamie cocked her head to the side, folded her arms across her chest and then smiled a little smile.

“First off, you did not 'volunteer' for this thing. The word you're looking for is 'conscripted'. Second, as a member of the 'B' squad you are expected to do these kinds of things to help out the squad. It's kind of a rite of passage. When I first joined the squad I was on the 'B' squad and it seemed every time I turned around my older sister Lily was volunteering me to either get a pie shoved in my face, kiss a pig, or sit in a dunking booth. Trust me, once you get promoted to 'A' squad life will get better.” Jamie said smiling.

“Kiss a pig?”

“Yes, when I was in eighth grade, and Lily was a Freshman, she had to kiss a pig as part of a fund-raiser. She was also on the 'B' Squad.” Jamie said, taking a deep breath.
At that moment I would have gladly given a good chunk of the two thousand dollars I had stashed away in my savings account at Bank Plus, to see Jamie kiss a pig. Okay, but not a good chunk of it. But maybe a hundred dollars of it. And that would have to be one hell of the kiss. Like full on mouth to snout.

“I see. So once I get promoted to the 'A' squad, I won't have to sit in a dunking booth anymore or stand behind a plywood cutout target and have whipped cream and pudding pies tossed at me? Or I won't have to kiss a pig to raise money for the squad?” I asked.

“Correct, you're a Sophomore right now? So next year when you become a Junior, and you've had one more summer of training behind you, you will get moved to the 'A' squad and will select another Freshman or Sophomore to replace you. Then you'll be the 'A' Squad for your Junior and Senior year, then you'll walk across the stage, get your diploma and leave Benton Academy behind you.” Jamie said grinning.

I was about to say something when I once more felt the seat I was seating over give way. I looked to the side and noticed that some little kid had walked up behind the counter and had pushed the button. Unlike before I did not piddle in the water. In fact I jumped out as quick as possible. The kid caught sight of me giving him a crossed eye look and rushed off.

Another ten minutes passed.

“I guess people are afraid of you.” Jamie said, sighing. “I thought well, seeing how adorable you look in your new bikini and seeing how popular you were with the local business. People would be lining up for miles to throw. But then again you are a witch, so I guess people are afraid you're going to put a hex or a jinx on them if they dunk you.”

“You know, we don't really do that anymore. It's not like I'm a Harry Potter witch, I'm just a Wicca Witch who believes in a moon Goddess instead of a trinity of beings.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“But you attend church with Daisy? I've seen you at Mass down at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.” Jamie said, also shrugging her shoulders.

At that moment my best friend Taylor showed up. Taylor was around my height and had long, coppery hair that reached down to her shoulders and a milky face that splashed with freckles. She was super popular with the boys and was the next one on the list. She, like me, was a fellow member of the 'B' squad who, as Jamie had put it, had been 'Conscripted' to staff the dunking booth for the duration of the summer carnival.

“Hey Cerridwen!” She called out as she placed a five dollar bill down on the table. “How is it going!” She asked as she watched Jamie place three yellow and white tennis balls down upon the table.

“It's going.” I said, taking a deep breath. “Soaking wet though! Some little kid just pushed the button, without even paying!” I said, sighing. “Daisy soaked me once though and Jamie had to push the button to see if the thing was working correctly!” I tossed Jamie an accusing look toward Jamie who only whistled a little tune as she shuffled her feet around.

“So you've been dunked three times, pretty good. Here to make it four times!” Taylor said as she reached down and picked up the first ball. She drew her arm back and let the ball fly through the air. The ball sailed through the air and before I could blink the ball struck the metal ringer.
“Oh you little bi..” But the seat giving way underneath me cut my sentence off. I felt myself dropping like a stone and soon once more I felt my bottom landing upon the plastic floor of the dunking booth. Peering through the viewing window I could see Taylor standing in front of the booth, holding up her hands in the classic 'V' for Victory pose. Or was that the Peace sign. I'm not sure. Anyway it reminded me of an anime girl posing for a picture.

Slowly I started to swim toward the surface, as soon as I surfaced I moved toward the side of the tank and took a deep breath as I pushed the seat back up into position and swam toward the side. A few seconds later I was back into position.

“I still have two more balls!” Taylor cried out.

“Oh you little bit..” Again it happened, the sound of the ball smashing into the metal target filled the air as once more I felt the seat giving way out from underneath me. And once more I felt myself dropping through the air. A few seconds later I was splashing down in the dunking booth. I was now soaked to the bone.

“Can't a girl catch a break!” I yelled as I climbed up and once more took my seat down upon the drop seat. Taylor to her credit just smiled and shook her head. “Nah.” She added. “You don't get a break!”

And with that she threw her last ball, and thankfully that ball sailed right over the target. As I watched the ball sail over the target I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I was spared that humiliation.

“Well, two out three is a passing score I guess.” Taylor said as she shrugged her shoulders. And with that she walked away before I could come back with a witty remark.

A dozen or so people lined up to throw after Taylor left. None of them came close to hitting the target. For that I was thankful, it gave me a chance to catch my breath and dry off. I had about five more minutes left in my shift when guess who happened to show up? That's right my own mother happened to show up.

My mom and I are about the same height, and we kind of look alike, moms hair is a shade darker than mine though. Though people often mistake us for sisters, that is younger sister and older sister, instead of daughter and mother. Anyway right off the bat I noticed mom was holding in her left hand a small travel along bag. A

“Guess what somebody forgot to bring with them this morning?” My mother said as she held up the bag. She was looking dead ahead at me as she asked this question. So I knew right off the bat it was directed at me.

I blinked and blinked again.

“Somebody forgot to bring a towel this morning, and a change of clothes.” My mom said, “But being the good, kind, caring mother that I am. I decided to go ahead and pop down and bring you some. After all, I doubt you would want to run around the fairground all afternoon soaking wet and wearing nothing more than a bathing suit. Then again, you might.. you're at that age after all.”

I felt a blush starting to rise in my high cheekbones.

Mom smiled and then turned toward Jamie.

“How much for six throws?” She asked as she sat the traveling bag down upon the ground and brought her purse around, she then opened her purse and pulled out her wallet.

Jamie shrugged and pushed six, yellow and white tennis balls toward my mom and with a wink she said.

“According to the time honored traditions of the Benton Academy Cheerleaders, whenever a Cheerleader has volunteered to staff the dunking booth or sit behind the pie wall at the annual pie toss. And a member of her family, be it father, mother, brother or sister wants to dunk them or pie them. The cost for the balls or pie is waived.”

“MOM!” I yelled as I peered toward my mother. “You're not going to DUNK ME! Are YOU?” Sitting in the dunking booth was embarrassing enough But getting dunked on by your mother? That was just.. that was just really embarrassing!

“Of course I am. I'm your mother, that's what mothers are supposed to do.” She said as she picked up the first ball and tossed it toward the metal target. The ball sailed over the ringer and was caught by the net hung up behind it. I heaved a sigh of relief. Without only a handful of minutes left in my shift, I was hoping to avoid being dunked again.

Well I spoke too soon. For a few seconds later, I heard the sound of the tennis ball smashing into the ringer and a split second later I felt the seat giving way and once more I felt myself dropping like a stone into the freezing water below! I felt my teeth starting to chatter together, it seemed the water was getting colder and colder after each dunk, instead of warmer and warmer.

“MOMMY!” I said giving my mom my best pout.

“I still have four throws left sweetheart!” My mom said as she watched me climb back up the ladder. She was giggling like a schoolgirl, clearly she was enjoying herself. Which I'm glad to see, mom needed some time off, to you know kick back and have a little fun. Even if her idea of fun was dunking her daughter in the school's dunking booth.

“I'll chalk the first dunking up to beginner's luck!” I said as I seated myself once more on the seat. “You gotta dunk me at least two more times to change my mind!”

I will forever live to eat those words for a split second later, on her third toss. Mom struck the iron target again, once more sending me down into the icy cold water below. A girlish yell escaped my lips as I felt the seat give way and my bottom touched the surface of the water. This time I went all the way down and my bottom bounced off the bottom of the tank!

“OKAY!” I said as I broke the surface of the water as I resurfaced. “Okay! I learned my lesson!” I said blushing. “Really mom! I think the water is losing the strings of my bathing suit!” I said blushing.

My mom blinked, and blinked again. Then in a very mom tone of voice. She shouted, and I mean she shouted, as the whole fairgrounds must have heard her.

“CERRIDWEN CIRCLE WHITETHORN!”

Those were the first three words that came out of her mouth. Those three words made me flinch a little.

“You get out of that tank at this very moment. You and I are going to have a mother and daughter talk. And I'm going to show you how to tie your bikini in a way that will not have that knot coming loose. I will not have my daughter flash the whole damn school!” She bellowed as she peered toward me.

I blushed as I started to climb out. I knew Jamie wanted to say something because she was holding up her fingers. But one look from my mom cut her off. Now my mom is the sweetest, most understanding woman you would ever meet. But when she was in mom mode. You better just go with the flow, because she was not above snapping on my friends. And well, Jamie might be the head cheerleader, and she might be head girl, and she might be the belle of Benton High Society. But all of that added up to nothing more than a hill of beans with my mom.

And so when she caught one glance of the glare she was giving me, she shut up, turned her head around and started to whistle a little tune. And so that is how my first shift in the dunking booth came to an end. With one shift down, and one to go and a good hour and half to spare between the two. I started to wonder what the rest of the day would hold.