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“No, thank you, Mom. We’ll get one later,” Corbin calls back.
Undeterred, he walks up to the next booth, which houses the shooting range game.
“Your dad’s right. These things are rigged. You’re just wasting your money,” I tell him.
He puts his money down anyway and sits at one of the toy rifles. Music starts, and then tiny yellow ducks pop up, and he starts shooting a spray of water at them.
He’s a perfect shot.
He knocks them all down, and I walk away with the cutest and softest giant panda bear.
No one’s ever won anything for me. Thrilled, I hug the bear tightly to my chest as we walk away from the games.
“Maxi!”
I hear someone calling my name and turn in search of the source. My eyes catch Erin leaning out of the window of a truck in the concession area, waving in our direction.
“I’ll be right back.”
I leave Corbin speaking to an older man and walk over to her.
She whistles. “That’s a nice prize you have there.”
I squeeze the stuffed animal proudly.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I’m running this kickin’ chicken food truck for Hazel,” she replies.
“Anything to get out of the office for the day,” I assume.
She nods. “Yep. Can I get you a chicken and waffle sandwich?”
“Make it two,” I say as I dig in my pocket for cash.
Erin takes the bill and presses buttons on the old-fashioned cash register. It dings loudly, and she adds the money and digs out my change.
“Uh-oh. What is she doing here?” Erin asks, looking behind me.
I turn to see who she’s talking about and find Susanna standing where I just came from. Corbin looks annoyed.
What is she doing here?
I drop the change into the pickle jar sitting on the ledge.
“I’ll be right back,” I say.
“Hazel, two birds on a raft, and I’m taking a break. I’ll be right back,” I hear Erin call before the door at the end of the truck opens and she hurries to catch up to me.
As we approach Corbin and Susanna, we and everyone in the immediate vicinity can hear their heated conversation.
Corbin
“Why are you here, Susanna? We’re not together anymore,” I ask.
“Just because you’re being stubborn doesn’t mean I can’t be here. I’ve come to this shindig every year since you started at Valley Fire and Rescue, and I’m friends with all the wives.”
She is maddening.
