It was a bright July day. The downtown section of Benton, the area that  was only a few blocks from the river front was filled to the brim with people. Parking spaces on both sides of the street where filled with cars. People where crammed onto the brick paved sidewalk. The noise and confusion of people shopping and visiting filled the air.

The women where dressed in there finest flora print dresses. The gentleman wore causal dress pants or jeans. Bargemen, men who’s livelihood was tied to the river walked up and down the streets, there pockets full of money.

And there I stood, dressed in a pastel colored dress. The dress made me blush, it was a light cotton dress that reached down to my thighs. It was bright pink and the helm and sleeves where trimmed with lace so white it looked like sugar. A frilly white apron was worn over the dress and tied in the back with a bow knot. A peach colored headband kept my long, golden locks from falling into my hair. White stocking and semi high heel shoes rounded out the outfit.

Beside me stood a booth of some kind. Plastic PVC pipes of varies length and Width formed frame and support a thirty gallon reservoir that was filled to the brim with creamy frosting that was pink with swirls of white blended it.

On the other side of the tank, there stood my best friend, Robin. Robin, was a tall girl with coppery red hair and green eyes that almost seemed to shimmer. And with her fair complexion, she reminded me of one of those chine dolls my grandmother collects and often gives as gifts around the holidays. Robin was dressed in a white, lacey dress. With her headband being mint green.

And finally beside Robin there could be seen a vintage chalkboard easel, written upon the easel was “Lily Elizabeth Potter” followed by “$540.90” and “Robin Katherine Peers” followed by “$550.80” Below that, written in pink, curving script where the words. “Gunge the Maid! Voting ends at twelve noon today! All money goes to charity!!” it was signed by “Ginger Jennifer Evens.” The women who owned the bakery we where standing behind and the one who paid us.

“So Lil.” Robin said as she peered toward the board. “Seems like your going to get gunged.” She said smiling a little as peered toward the crowds that where passing by us. A few pausing to look at us, a few others stopped and entered into the bakery where Ginger was taking orders and collection donations.

“Right, and it might be.” I said turning around and sticking out my pink tongue. “Maybe the cheerleaders will come through and save there favorite little sister.” I said rolling my eyes as I peered toward her.

Robin blushed and looked down on the ground some of the color was going from her cheeks. “Hey, Amy graduated last year.. So like I’m no longer part of the pompom fortress.” She said in a soft tone of voice. “Plus.. Maybe the scouts will come through and help you!” She said returning my smart remark with one of her own.

 “Totally, once you complete CIT your like.. You become public enemy number one.” I said taking a deep breath. That something else that Katherine and I have in common. We’ve both been in scouts since kindergarten. We had advanced through the ranks if you will together.


 “Yep.” Robin said as she peered toward the board. “So, its almost time.” She said smiling as she peered toward the big clock that hung above the door of town hall. The numbers where all written in Roman numerals. And just as she finished speaking, the big brass bell of chimed to eleven o’ clock.

Then the chime above the bakery door opened and there in the doorway stood Ginger. She wore a simple black dress that reached down to her thighs, black flats with a white strap covered her feet. A bracelet of white coat shimmered on her left wrist and her coppery red hair hung lose and free. She smiled toward me and Robin, patting us both on the shoulder.

“Almost time girls.” She said as she turned toward the crowed streets. A crowed of at least a hundred or so people where starting to form around the bakery. “Attention!” Gingers voiced boomed over the noise and confusion. “May I have you attention please!” The crowd became quite and all eyes focus there attention on her.

“First off, let me thank you all. We’ve raised close to a thousand dollars. And every penny of which will be donated to our local hospital, King‘s Daughters.” She said giving the crowed a big thumps up. “And as you know, one of my lovely helpers here.” She held her open hand toward us. “Will soon be getting covered in thirty gallons of my special home-made frosting. Extra creamy and extra sweet!” She said with a wink.


“Now, where going to have one more round of collecting.” She continued. “Then one of these lovely ladies will be getting the goo.” She said smiling as she peered toward Robin.

The crowd started to hoot, and holler and whistle. A few older gentleman in the back even gave the rebel yell. Finally Ginger started to motion with her hands for the crowd to calm down and slowly the noise level dropped to a bearable level.

“Okay all week, ya’ll been donating money to see one of the these girls get covered in frosting. Its been pretty neck to neck, with ya’ll wanting to gunge Robin here and spare Lily, now where going to have one more round of voting. My daughter Tiffany here.” She motioned her head to the side a women a year or so older than me stepped forward, unlike her momma she had golden hair that sparkled like gold in the strong afternoon sunshine. Her eyes where blue too. Cleary she received her mothers eyes and hair must have come from her father.

“Will be passing out the a bucket. Just drop any lose change or small bills you have into the bucket. Who ever collects the least amount of money will be the one going into the tank at the end.”  She paused and then peered toward Robin and I.

“So, Robin.. Can you tell us a little about you. I mean we know you brew some really good tea and your home-made brownies are to die for! But we need to know more about you!” Gingers laugh was one of a refined lady. She even had the good grace to blush as she brought her hand up to cover her

Robin blushed and blushed again. Slowly she started to speak.




“We’ll I attend Benton Agricultural High school, I’m a sophomore.” She paused and started to wiggle her hips as she noticed a hundred pair of eyes peering toward her. “I’m on the field hockey tea and I’m also volunteer at King’s Daughter Hospital. So thank you guys for donating.”

She finished as she watched a few more people drop some folded bills into the bucket that Tiffany, that’s Ginger’s daughter was passing around.

Once Robin had finished speaking, it was my turn. My eyes followed Tiffany as she handed the bucket to her mother and was then handed another empty bucket. She started to make her rounds as all attention was shifted toward me.

“All finished?” Asked Ginger as she titled her head to the side and took the bucket from her daughter and handed her daughter a empty one.

“All finished.” Robin said looking down at the ground. She cute little blush bloomed on her cheeks as she offered a little wave to everybody. The crowd once more started to hoot and howler.

“Okay, Lily its your turn.” Ginger said nodding her head toward me.