“I hope you know there’s not another person on this planet I would even consider doing this for.” The plank jutting out over the water is not at all stable and I have to grip it with both hands to keep from plunging in before we’ve even started. I mourn the loss of Ben’s hand the minute I have to let it go.
“I’m truly honored, sweetheart.”
I glare at him from my perch, but there’s not a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. “You owe me big.”
“Happy to cash in anytime.” Ben throws an honest to god wink over his shoulder as he turns and strides down the aisle. “We’re opening the gates now. Good luck, sweetheart!”
“I hate you!” I call to his retreating back.
By the time I get myself fully situated on the plank that will undoubtedly be dropping me into the hopefully not freezing cold water below, a crowd of people has already formed around the booth.
A woman steps up first. I don’t recognize her, but it becomes clear who she is after just a few seconds.
“My daughter used to love clowns. In fact, she even requested a clown theme for her birthday party next month. I bought clown plates and clown cups and clown goody bags. I even hired a clown.” The woman winds her arm back. “And now my daughter is terrified of clowns.” She lets her ball fly.
It misses, but not by much.
“Eight is a little past clown party age if you ask me,” I mumble under my breath.
“My daughter can’t sleep at night, and I’m out hundreds of dollars.” The woman lets another ball fly.
This one connects.
The board folds underneath me and I’m plunged into the water. It’s lukewarm, thank baby Jesus, but when I climb out of the tank and settle back on my seat, the slight early summer breeze is chilly on my wet skin. My dress is drenched and sticking to every part of me and, really, I should have been provided with a wetsuit upon agreeing to this farce.
I recognize the man who steps up next.
He tosses the ball from one hand to the other. “I think you know why I’m here.”
“I was only trying to help, Tim. Your wife is the one who was having doubts.” I’m not about to apologize for potentially saving a woman from going through the heartache and financial devastation of inevitable divorce.
He chucks the ball with perfect aim.
And I go in again.
Tim still has another ball to throw, but he passes it off to Emily, his now wife, who luckily doesn’t have his arm strength.
But Kate does. She knocks me into the water not once, but twice. I think she missed her calling. She should probably quit wedding planning and try out for the local baseball team.
By the time I hoist myself out of the water for the fourth time, I’m shivering. And on top of that my hair is plastered to my head and I’m sure my makeup has completely abandoned ship. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to latch on to even the slightest bit of body heat, but there is none to be found.
I take two more unwilling plunges into the depths of the dunk tank before Ben comes to my rescue.
“All right, folks. I think Cam has had enough for now. Go explore the rest of the carnival and spend lots of money. Remember, it’s for a good cause!” Ben shoos away the crowd. They mumble and grumble a bit, but it doesn’t take them long to find other games to play that don’t involve torturing poor, semi-innocent souls.
I wearily climb down the rungs of the ladder, my skin covered in goose bumps.
Ben hands me a towel, his eyes lingering on the bodice of my dress, which is now practically see through and clinging to my breasts.
“Thanks,” I manage through chattering teeth.
“Oh come on, it’s not that bad. I made sure the water was heated.”
“How very kind of you.” I burrow myself into the towel. “Unfortunately, you didn’t account for the oh so important detail of wet clothes plus cool air equals fucking freezing.”
His brow furrows. “I don’t suppose you brought something to change into?”
I glare at him. “Seeing as I didn’t know water torture was on the menu for this children’s carnival, no I did not.”
