Darcie and the Mouse
Or Countdown to Clutch Part 3

I suggested to Wetgalfan that he call this Darcie and the Messiest Place on Earth. He said no but thanked me for giving him an idea for a Parallel Universe story. It's just as well. You can find plenty of places to get wet at Disney World, but messy is another story. I eventually did and I am going to tell you all about it, but it's not what they're known for. Go down the road a bit to Nickelodeon Suites Hotel.

Dad went all out to make sure everyone was comfortable. We had a double room with a Murphy bed to cover all five of us. Brad and Danielle got a double room too. Mom and Dad got a double with a Murphy bed to cover them hosting either sets of siblings for a couple of nights so we all could have a little privacy. Jacob and Samantha got a king, (Maybe he knocked her up there!). Ashley and Pete got separate king rooms. Mom, Danielle, Sammie and I made it our mission to run blocker for them. None of us is sure whether Dad is just operating under an illusion of their celibacy, so no sense taking chances. We just made sure he stayed away from their rooms.

Ashley is so spoiled anyway. It's that baby of the family thing. I'm telling you for a fact that none of my old boyfriends ever got invited to travel with us for ANYTHING! (At least not until the Yankee came along and then not until we were engaged.)

Anyway, we had plenty of opportunities to get wet during the trip. Ashley and I came up with the idea that all of the ladies should be ritually dunked in the pool at the end of each day. Mom was right on board, but Danielle and Samantha took a little convincing, not much mind you. We lined up every night and let two of them throw us each in by our arms and legs, just like at my wedding. The kids all wanted to do it too and the guys all jumped in once the rest of the family was soaking.

Magic Kingdom has a great place to get good and drenched in Fantasyland. Of course you have to deal with the odd looks from the uptight parents who are sweating on the sidelines while you're out there having fun with your kids.

I will tell you here and now that Jim and I were on a mission to spoil the girls rotten. We had been saving for a vacation even before Dad announced he was paying for nearly everything, so we had our whole budget to blow. So pay attention; I am about to tell you about one of the things we did which is also an important detail for a later chapter. It will make sense when we get there. We took the girls to the princess boutique and let them all have the works just before taking them out for a character dinner with the princesses. They made up Paula as Belle, Carly as Snow White and our little blond Bailey was the cutest Cinderella anyone ever saw. We figured the eighty-dollar dresses could double as Halloween costumes.

Great, now that I've gotten making sure you know that the girls have princess costumes out of the way, I can tell you about having some wet fun and how I still managed to become an outfit-destroying mess at Walt Disney World. Bear with me and I promise I'll put on a show you will appreciate.

The best non-self-inflicted soaking we got was at Animal Kingdom on Kali River Rapids. Our fast pass time was in the middle of the afternoon during the hottest part of the day. I was wearing tan cargo shorts with the little ties just above my knees and a bright red racer-back tank top with a purple bra with the thin straps proudly displayed over my bare shoulders. (You guys love that look. Don't lie! Jim likes it anyway.) Ladies, if your guy tells you he likes you to dress a certain way, go for it as long as it's not too terrible. That sort of thing goes a long way. Jim had packed for comfort. He was in a pair of blue walking shorts and a yellow tank top. Pete looked almost the same, but in brown and tan respectively. Ashley was wearing a white cotton mini-dress just like my green one that I played in the sprinkler wearing. (See the last chapter.) The girls were in shorts and halter tops.

It was just the seven of us together that day. We had all been together earlier but split up into smaller groups to do what we wanted. You've seen these rapids rides before. You sit facing the center of a circular boat. The rafts seat twelve in six sets of two seats. Paula was by herself. Bailey and Carly were in the next two seats, then Jim and me and then Ashley and Pete. Ash and I were across one of the access openings from each other. It was really hot and as we bobbed along, Paula got splashed a little and some of the people in the other seats did, but we were getting a little bummed that we weren't getting wet. Then came the climax of the ride.

This is one of the few rapids rides with a drop in it. Sometimes you just float up and careen down and others they stop you with a little gate to keep from hitting other boats. The latter happened to us. I hadn't been on this ride since the year it opened but I remembered if you went right down, the boat usually spun around but if they stopped you, whoever was in front would stay in front all the way down. That was Ashley and me. We looked at each other just before the gate opened and shrugged. The boat was released and down the drop we went. Of course we were riding backwards in relation to the current, but we threw our arms up just before the bottom. It was in slow motion after that. I saw the first part of the wave come splashing through the opening between Ashley and me, soaking one side of my shorts and one side of the bottom of her dress. Then both of us disappeared. Water splashed up so high it poured over the top of the seats onto us! We weren't hot anymore!

We were all dying laughing when the water settled down. Paula was nearly unscathed. Bailey and Carly were pretty wet. Jim and Pete who were the outside of the wave were totally soaked on their bottom halves with a nearly diagonal line dividing wet and dry across their shirts. Ashley and I were at ground zero and we were simply devastated. There wasn't a dry spot on our clothes anywhere and we were soaked through our underwear. Our hair looked like we were in the shower. We may as well have just been thrown out of the boat into the current to swim the rest of the way. It would have made no difference.

I was wearing gray panties under my tan shorts and the soaking left my panty area just showing through as a little darker than the surrounding areas. Ashley, on the other hand, picked the wrong day to wear white. Well, it would have been the wrong day for someone else. I'm sure she dressed this way on purpose. Her white mini-dress went completely transparent. She had this cute matching bra and bikini panty set in purple with bright blue lace trim around all of the edges. Of course, I hadn't watch her dress, but I could still tell she was wearing this cute bra and bikini panty set in purple with bright blue trim around all of the edgesand so could everyone else. Ashley was laughing the hardest of any of us. Pete grabbed her and gave her a big wet kiss.

HA, HA! the nearly-dry-by-comparison Paula laughed, pointing at the rest of us. She got hers. Near the end of the ride, jets of water shoot across the channel and blast whoever might be on that side of the boat provided that the boat is far enough over. Paula was in perfect alignment and got plastered right in the face. Then further on there are these squirting elephants that people operate to spray people in the boats and a boy about her age standing on the bridge blasted all three girls to make sure they were as soaked as the rest of us.

Let's go again! Ashley exclaimed.

It sounded like a great idea until we saw how long the standby line was.

We'll come back later. Lines always die off close to park closing, Jim said.

We proudly showed off our drowned rat status. (We weren't the only ones.) The girls played for a few minutes in the little fountain near the lockers they have to keep your stuff nice and dry. Since we were soaked, we headed over to the Dinosaur area and rode the roller coaster and concentrated on stuff that was outside in the hot sun that might otherwise be unbearable.

Once we stopped dripping, we did a little shopping. I bought this cute workout tank and three more in girls' sizes for the young ones. They only had the matching yoga pants in adult sizes though. At least I had a complete outfit to change into if I got tired of being all wet, (yeah, right). The outfits are like a heavy swimsuit material. The tops are racer back and the shoulder straps look like they are laced together. Then theoh hell. I'll be describing these all day! Here's a picture; it'll last longer.





I am only making such a big deal about these because 1). Jim told me I'd look really cute wearing them and 2). They make another appearance later in the day.

Anyway, Animal Kingdom currently closes rather early so the animals can go to bed. So about an hour before the park closed, we saw that the crowd had really thinned out. A quick check of the cell phone app confirmed that Kali River Rapids hardly had a wait time. We were just dried out enough and it was still just hot enough for another drenching to be welcome. We stuffed our belongings and recent purchases in a free locker. I wasn't going to soak my brand new outfit, at least without me being in it first.

We weaved our way through the empty queue to find a grand total of six people in line ahead of us. There were seven of us so we got the next boat all to ourselves. We sat in pretty much the same locations we did the first time and Jim and I found ourselves in the direct front of the boat careening down the drop. I grabbed my sweetie's arm and buried my face in it, but that offered no protection whatsoever from the drenching deluge that poured over the tops of our seats and soaked us through our underwear again. At least we got nailed together that time.

Honestly, it felt great. It was still really hot and our clothes had dried to that uncomfortably damp stage. It felt much better to be drenched.

I guess we're going again! I exclaimed. After all, I had nothing to lose.

A large group boarded the boat in front of us that the group of six vacated, but no one was waiting.

Can we just go again? Paula asked a cute cast member expectantly. She smiled and waved for us to stay in our seats and once we made it around the loading turntable, we were underway again.

Pete and Ashley got it this time, soaking her through her white dress and showing off her underwear once again. The undies were cute enough that she could have gotten away wearing them as a sexy bikini if she had wanted to.

A handful of people were waiting, but the cute blond cast member winked at Paula and asked us, Going again? her expression giving away that she already knew the answer.

Yeah! we all answered together.

She gestured over her shoulder and said, Just stay there. I'll have them take the next boat.

It was as if someone was watching us and was trying to make sure we all shared the wet devastation. We got stopped at the top of the drop just like every other time and this time the gap in the seats between Paula and Bailey was lined up in the front. The girls accepted their fate gracefully and sat way back in their seats with their arms thrown over their heads. All three of them disappeared under the deluge and then reappeared laughing their heads off. Now the whole family's underwear was soaked through. No sense in getting off now, as if that was going to happen anyway.

The gap in seats between Ashley and me lined up with the turn table, but there was a guy there that time. Exit this way, please, he said.

Nope, they're going again, our friend announced after tapping him gently on the shoulder. He shrugged and moved over to greet some new people straggling in. At least I assumed you were, she said staying next to our boat on the moving turntable.

May as well, I replied and gestured to my fresh-from-the-swimming-pool appearance.

She stooped down next to the boat. I could read her name tag: Melissa, Ball State University a home girl for Jim!

My favorite part of working this ride is meeting people who like it as much as I do, Melissa said.

Hop in, Pete piped up and chimed in. We've got seats.

If I wasn't working, I would, she replied. I love riding this until the park closes.

We were just about to launch into the stream and she winked at us and said, Stay dry!

Too late! Ashley quipped, throwing her arms open wide and showing off her underwear through the transparent dress.

We went splashing through the course yet again and this time the gap between Ashley and me was in front when we went down the drop. She and I got it worst but the guys got hit too. At least I think they did. Who could tell at this point? Soaked is soaked.

Melissa was laughing when she saw us come slogging in. This is probably going to be the last time around, she told us. Do you mind if we put some more people in here to help us get the crowd moved through?

No, if course not, Jim replied, being the closest to her. She had already been the sweetest thing ever letting us go on so many times.

A heavier boat makes bigger splashes, she said with a giggle.

She directed a family of four on board our boat. I could tell right away that they weren't quite with it.

Welcome aboard! Jim called out. He was greeted with uneasy smiles. They also looked very overdressed for a water ride. The husband was wearing expensive looking golf shorts and shirt. The wife was in an equally expensive looking golf skirt and shirt. They had a teenage girl dressed like the mother, only in different colors, and a slightly younger son wearing something that looked like a soccer outfit. Where we were all either in flip flops, Croc's or Lands End water shoes, all four of them wore brand new-looking Adidas cross trainer shoes. They took the four empty seats between Pete and Paula.

The wife took a look at all of us, especially Ashley and me, sitting there sopping wet and looked very nervous.

It's a wet ride all right, Pete offered.

They smiled awkwardly again and the husband and wife started speaking in a foreign language. The daughter listened and tried to offer up bits of conversation. Every so often they would glance at us. Then it hit me: They have no earthly idea what this ride is about!

We hit a few wet bumps that made bigger splashes than before thanks to the heavier boat, but Jim, Ashley, Pete, the girls or I were usually on the receiving end of it. A little splashed up between the wife and her daughter and the wife laughed nervously. I grinned and wondered who would be in the front for the big drop.

It wasn't Ashley, Pete, Carly, Bailey, Paula, Jim or me! Yep! Someone had to be watching us and manipulating things. The gap between the mother and daughter was lined up perfectly in the front and they stopped us with the little gates.

The gates opened and down we went. I wish I'd had a waterproof video camera because none of them had a clue. We hit the bottom and a wave washed between the daughter and her mother and you could see the look of horror on the mother's face just before both of them disappeared under the wave that washed over the seats. They were totally devastated and the father and son didn't fare well either. What was left dry on them was taken care of by the big sprayer and the squirting elephants. The kids looked like they minded the least and the husband wasn't too concerned. They laughed a little, but the mother looked horrified. All four of them hurried off as soon as Melissa gestured that it was ok.

I don't think they liked it, she said to us with a grin. Hey, you want to go one more time? I have to do a visual inspection. I already asked and it's ok to take you with me.

YAY! all three girls screamed.

I think you have your answer, Jim said.

We saw one of the console operators nodding and snickering at us.

I think he just cranked it up a notch, Melissa admitted when she slipped into the vacant seat next to Paula.

I'm soaked, Paula admitted. You're going to get wet from me.

We're all in for it, Melissa warned still watching the operator who was starting to laugh out loud at us.

Melissa was right. It was up a notch. We started getting splashed early on and some of the geysers that usually cut off when the boat got close stayed on and sprayed us over the seats. Melissa was even a little soggy by the time we got to the drop. I thought it was going to be Jim and me in front again, but since we were the only ones out there, they just let us go over the falls without stopping us. We bumped the side as we started down and Melissa and Paula ended up right in front.

Yippee! Melissa screamed and threw up her arms. Paula threw her arms up right with her. Since they didn't stop us, we went down the fastest we had all day. The boat turned just slightly as we reached the bottom, spinning Bailey and Carly a little more in line and then we reached the splashdown at the bottom. Our three little drowned rats and their soggy new friend totally vanished. The wave swallowed all four of them at once. We could hear bubbly squeals and then the water subsided leaving all four of them drenched head to toe.

They get me every time it's my turn to take the last ride and I love it! Melissa squealed.

Jim and I got hammered too. Since all of the boats were being parked for the evening, they were backed way up into the ride and we got stuck under the big water jets that shot across the stream. That was probably on purpose according to Melissa. Jim and I were in the perfect spot for a five-minute (at least!) hose down. The water shot across in the perfect arc to spray us on the top of the head. We were cracking everyone up pretending to take showers by the time we finally got moving again.

You're getting to see a side of the cast here that guests usually don't see, Melissa said. They're really ornery after the guests have left and they know I love water so they make sure I get plenty. We were moving slowly toward the conveyor that returned us to the loading turn table.

We all love water too! Ashley said just in time to get a shot in the face from one of the squirting elephants.

Nyahh! called the same operator who had turned the ride up a notch for our last trip down. He was leaning over the bridge by the controls for the elephants.

I never would have guessed! Melissa joked. You know I probably shouldn't tell you this since we're competitors, but if you like to get soaked, go over to Universal and ride Popeye and Bluto. There is no such thing as a dry ride on that one.

Well I want to move on with this story, but I'll let you know that since we had some spoilin' money with us, we did take a side trip over there. We also bought the upgrade that Universal sells with their tickets that is similar to Disney's fast pass so we could ride the water rides there over and over again through the hottest part of the day. We didn't make as good a friend as we did with Melissa though.

Ladies and gentlemen, please stay in your seats, the guy who had been pulling all of the pranks on us said. Melissa told us his name was Pat. Melissa and Paula's seats were closest to the turn table. Pat lifted a five-gallon bucket of water over their seatbacks and poured it over both of them.

PAT! Melissa scolded but Paula just sat there laughing.

Now you can come ashore, Pat deadpanned.

I think Pat needs a hug! Melissa said once we were all on the turntable. He tried to get away but she grabbed him and held him tight. Paula hugged him from the back and then Bailey and Carly came in from the sides. Ashley and I leaned in over the two younger girls to make sure his top half got well saturated.

He wasn't as soaked as the rest of us, but we taught him a lesson.

You all have a wonderful rest of your vacation! Melissa wished us. She hugged all three girls before we headed out.

Soaked beyond caring, we joined the exodus of guests to leaving the park. Back at the resort, we changed for dinner at a restaurant at Downtown Disney. I wore my new workout outfit and soaked it playing in the fountains with everyone after dinner. Once again, we were the only adults at first in the water playing with our kids, but a few more came off the sidelines eventually.

I figured I may as well get wet in the fountain. I hadn't had my daily dump in the pool yet. Of course that came shortly after we got off the boat back at the resort (another hint as to where we stayed). We were close to the main pool at the boat dock, so that is where Jim and Pete took us to throw us in. However the lifeguards were working extra late for some reason and the guys had to settle for just watching us jump in. I was surprised that they didn't yell at us for being in our clothes, but I guess they get a lot of worldwide travelers with a lot of different customs.

The guards were still there so that meant that the water slide was still open too. That kept us up late.

Now here is where it starts to pay off for those of you who didn't just give me one star on this story and quit. The next day was sort of a free day. We were planning on going to Typhoon Lagoon later. The girls were up at dawn though, but we wanted to sleep in. Mom and Dad were up and volunteered to take them to the pool.

We slept through breakfast, I said to Jim about ten o'clock. Let's dress up a little and go back to Downtown Disney for lunch.

Unless you're going to eat at Victoria and Albert's, dressing up at Disney means just looking a little nicer than usual. Jim had bought this cute golf shirt with Mickey Mouse on one breast (everything at Disney is cute) and wore that with a pair of nice cargo shorts. I had purchased a new sundress for this trip and was wearing it for the very first time with a pair of strappy sandals.



No, that's not me. It's a model. Jim says that I'm actually hotter than she is. What do I look like? Well, Jim says that I sort of resemble Erica Durance who played Lois Lane on Smallville. I hope so! She's hot! Ashley reminds me of Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars and Beth sort of looks like

All right! All right! I'll get back on track. Put down the pie! On second thought, go ahead. I know you want to! SPLAT! Ok, feel better? I do!

Anyway, (I say as I wipe whipped cream and blackberry sauce from my face), we took the boat over to DTD and had lunch and then returned to the resort. We stopped by the pool to see if anyone was still there. That was a dumb question. All three girls were with a group of kids near the edge of the pool. Two girls about Ashley's age, maybe a little younger, were leading them in dancing and games. They wore matching outfits that resembled scout masters uniforms but in very bright colors: blue, yellow, orange and red, and appeared to be made of nylon or a nylon blend. One was a little wet and the other was soaked. Soon I figured out why. The one who was only a little wet was the straight man and the soaking wet one was the stooge. They played games with bowls of water and she would get dumped all over. The lifeguards did their shift change which is a big production during the games with the ones getting off shift joining in to dance. One of them threw the stooge in the pool twice.

They're going to be here a while, Mom said. They all entered to play a big game later for a huge stuffed Mickey Mouse.

The games went on for the better part of an hour with small prizes like water squirters and small inflatable toys. Then as the stooge opened up the front of a large booth, the other girl announced the winners. I had wondered what that thing was when we were at the pool in the evening. It was all closed up then. The straight man announced a little boy's name and he came up.

Now our other contestant in the Disney Trivia Grand Prize Game will beBailey Sutton! she declared.

Bailey came scrambling out of the pool. Like her sisters, she was wearing the workout top that matched mine with a pair of nylon shorts. All of our tops had been water-tested now!

The straight man, who I will call by her name from now on, Morgan, explained the game to them while the stooge whose name was Rhonda got the booth ready: Now here is how the game works: You both need an adult partner, who also happens to be a really good sport, to play with you. During four rounds, we'll ask you Disney trivia questions. You get points for the ones you get right and for the ones you get wrong, your partner has to take a penalty. The questions get harder each round and the penalties get worse. Now go and find who you want to play with you.

The little boy ran right to who I assumed was his mommy. She was wearing a pink pullover dress similar to the ones Ashley and I had soaked. Bailey started toward my mom. Mom was wearing nylon bike shorts and a tank top and was already wet. I assumed since this was the pool games that the penalties would at least get you wet. I was partly right.

As I said, Bailey started toward grandma but saw that Jim and I were back and ran right to me. Play with me Mommy! she cried, holding my hand and jumping up and down.

I thought for a second about my brand new sundress. I wasn't sure exactly what they were going to do to me, but it wouldn't be the first time I'd messed up something brand new. Now I was going to talk about this during a later chapter when something else cute happens, but now is as good a time as any. I simply can't say, No to her. I love all the girls as much as if they were my natural children, but something is special about Bailey. It's not that she is a favorite or anything like that. It's just that she was so young when their mother died that I'm the only mother she really remembers. She's also young enough to have been my natural child without turning too many heads. I've become the one she naturally runs to for anything. And don't you worry about Jim. He says that's exactly as it should be.

Well I only thought about my new sundress for a second before I got up out of my pool chair and followed her up to where Morgan and Rhonda were.

Are these your moms? Morgan asked. Both kids nodded their heads.

Rhonda took us aside. Do either of you have anything else on under those dresses? she asked. You'll definitely get wet and probably messy playing this.

I shook my head and replied, Just my underwear. I was wearing a set similar to what Ashley had on display yesterday in red with pink lace trim. I might have been able to pull off claiming they were a bikini, but I decided to go for it. I smiled at Rhonda and said, It'll be fine.

The other mother gave me an odd look, (I'm used to those by now), and took off her dress. It was a cover up for a blue tankini camisole top and matching boy shorts bottoms.

Ok, let's get you in the booth then, Rhonda said after having us both sign release forms. She explained that they weren't really about injury and were more for the mess the game tended to make.

(Wetgalfan's note: They do indeed play games with the kids poolside at Disney World, but don't go there looking for this one. It's fictitious.)

The booth had three sections. I was seated in the right section and the other mom was seated in the left.

Sit back against the back of the chair, Rhonda told me. Everything works better that way. And don't forget; you promised that you're a good sport.

Sweetie, you're looking at the girl who invented being a good sport!

The center section included a smaller seating area where they had Rhonda sit down. There was also a control panel that had a lighted section to indicate which round it was. Next to my booth and next to the other mom's booth there were buttons that said, PENALTY and next to where Rhonda was sitting was a button marked DEMONSTRATION. There was a monitor in my booth with a split screen. I could see what the other mom was doing, what Rhonda was doing and what Morgan was doing with the kids. I assumed the other mom had one too. There was also an elaborate set of nozzles in the ceiling and what looked like some kind of catapult folded against the wall next to me.

Ok, here we go, Morgan said. This is the first round. Each question is worth five points. Now if you miss it, you have to give your mom a penalty. To see what that is, I'll just press this button!

Morgan hit the demonstration button. A very heavy stream of water came pouring out of the ceiling above Rhonda. She shrieked when it made contact, but sat there unmoving while gallons cascaded over her. So we definitely were going to at least get wet. Everyone watching got a good laugh. Rhonda sat there with her arms crossed looking disgusted, but let every drop of water drench her.

All right, ladies first, Morgan said. Bailey, what is Lilo's little alien friend's name?

Stitch! Bailey answered.

Very good! Caleb, how many dwarfs helped Snow White?

Seven, he answered.

That was about as hard as the five questions of the first round were. Both kids got through it with perfect scores.

Both of you have perfect scores, Morgan said. That means your moms didn't get wet once!

I started to grin. I had a feeling where this was going.

Well, they both look pretty hot in there if you ask me, Morgan went on. What would you like to do about it?

Neither kid needed any coaxing. They both ran to the booths and hit the penalty button. Oh well, I really was getting hot in there. Water poured out of one of the nozzles in the ceiling and thoroughly drenched me to the skin. The crowd began to laugh and cheer. I sat there and giggled and when I looked at the monitor, the other mom didn't look like she cared much either. Of course she was wearing a bathing suit. What did she have to care about?

By the time the water stopped flowing, I was once again as soaked as if I had simply stood up, walked out and jumped in the pool. It felt wonderful. How many times has that been so far? Not the last I hope!

Well that was kind of mean, Morgan teased. I hope your moms stay around for round two.

Bring it on! I yelled. I saw Morgan and Rhonda laugh and the other mom sort of roll her eyes.

Well, it looks like Bailey's mom is excited, Morgan said. Let's see if she stays that way when we show her this round's penalty. Rhonda, would you do the honors?

Rhonda stood up dripping water and swung the catapult thing away from the wall in her booth to lock in place in front of her seat. Morgan stepped around behind the booth and returned with none other than a creamy overstuffed plain Kool Whip pie. Rhonda sat in her seat and Morgan placed the pie pan in a round bracket on the catapult.

Ok, in this round, get an answer wrong and your mom gets this! Morgan said with a wicked grin on her face. She hit the demonstration button and the catapult made a pneumatic noise and swung up to launch the pie. Rhonda already had her eyes and fists clenched when the pie splattered into her face and the pan stuck there for a second. The crown howled and you could tell she was giggling by the way the pan was shaking still stuck to her face. The pie covered the wall behind her all the way around her head. The pan slipped loose and fell into her lap and whipped cream dripped onto her top. Then she started laughing. Something told me she really enjoyed being the stooge in this show. It looked like a great job to me!

The other mom looked a little apprehensive. She was still smiling, but it was that smile you have when you wonder just what the hell you've gotten yourself into.

Morgan said, Let's get our moms ready for round two!

She went into the other mother's booth and Rhonda wiped most of the whipped cream from her face and came into mine.

Regretting this yet? she asked with a snicker. Her face was wiped off, but was still slick from the coating of whipped cream. Speaking of whipped cream, it was splattered onto her scout cap into her hair and down her wet clothes. She went to work swinging out my catapult into position.

I replied, I promised you that I was a good sport already.

Ever had a pie in the face before? she asked.

I nearly burst out laughing. However I managed to hold it and reply, Oh, once or twice.

It's just whipped cream and crust, she warned. Make sure you're sitting all the way against the back of the chair. The arm will stop long before you're in any danger of it hitting you. Now let's see how tall you are.

I hadn't noticed, but there were hash marks on the wall behind the seat. Rhonda saw which one I measured up to and adjusted the pie catapult accordingly. This is so it won't miss, she explained.

We wouldn't want that, I replied and gave her a snarky grin.

Rhonda went back to her seat in the middle booth. I wondered why she reloaded her own pie catapult. Morgan started the round: Remember, the questions are a little harder and now worth ten points. Bailey went first the last time, so we'll let Caleb go first.

Caleb and Bailey both got their first question right. Caleb got the second one right, but when asked who helped Pooh up the honey tree, she got her stories mixed up and said Tigger.

Ooooo, I'm sorry. It was Christopher Robin and his balloon, Morgan said. Time for a penalty.

I smiled and acted nervous for the crowd. No sense in giving away the fact that I was looking forward to this! Bailey pressed the penalty button and my catapult made the same pneumatic noise and shot the pie, pan and all, to explode over my face. It splattered into my hair, down my dress and into my cleavage to settle in my bra. Best not dig it out in this mixed crowd though! I just sat there and enjoyed it. The pan dropped to my lap and I tossed it to the floor with a loud clang. The crowd laughed even louder. Nice one! I heard my Yankee hubby yell.

Rhonda came in to reload my catapult with another pie. I couldn't help myself and burst out laughing while I wiped the glop from my face. She gave me a sideways glance that made me wonder if she understood.

Morgan continued. Caleb's mother got her first pie when Caleb said that Pongo and Perdita had ninety-nine puppies in One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Well the math added up, but they only had fifteen puppies themselves.

He pressed his penalty button and his mom's pie was promptly launched straight into her face. I heard her scream and then the muffled sound of the pie filling her open mouth. It was a typical first-timer's reaction.

Rhonda reset her catapult. I could see them talking and Caleb's mother looked like she was smiling and laughing as she wiped the glop from her face. She tried to get it off her bathing suit but just ended up smearing it around.

Bailey got her next question right and tied the score up again. She had a chance to pull ahead when Caleb got another one wrong and put another pie in his mom's face, but she missed hers too and launched another whipped cream pie at me. The pans liked to stick to my face which got a lot of laughs from the crowd.

I've said in the past that I love being the clown and having people laugh at me if what I am doing is honestly funny. This qualified. I know it was a kid's game, but after the second pie I started to feel some very familiar stirrings.

You doin' okay? Rhonda inquired when she reloaded my catapult for the last question.

Just fine, I replied and then a little wicked streak made me add, I'm used to really messy and sticky pies.

Rhonda looked at me for a second with her mouth agape. Then she smiled a knowing smile the kind that said she'd just met a kindred spirit. Imagine that! I've met a wet fan and a messy fan in one place! Quietly, almost at a whisper she asked, You sort of like this, don't you?

With pie hanging from my face I said, Whatever gave you that idea?

Rhonda made a raspberry laugh and said, You're going to love the last two rounds.

Both kids got their last question right. Well that's it for round two, Morgan said. We'll start round three in just a minute.

She turned toward Rhonda who was back sitting in her part of the booth. Hey, Rhonda! Did you remember to tell maintenance about the problem we were having with the pie launchers?

No, I forgot, Rhonda replied. I'll tell them tomor

It was all she managed before all three of them fired and plastered us. It explained why she had reloaded hers earlier, but it took me by surprise. Caleb's mom and I both screamed and I threw my arms and legs out. Jim wished he'd had the camera ready to catch it.

I was cackling when a well-pied Rhonda came in to fold up the pie launcher.

You really should have someone take a look at that, I said.

Yeah, I keep forgetting, she replied and stuck out her tongue through her teeth and giggled.

WOW! I had no idea this was going to get this long and I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet! What indignities await me in the next round? I bet you can't wait to find out! Come back for Chapter 4.