Page 3 of Wrath's Nightingale
We put our helmets back on and get back on the road.
Millie
“Ican’t believe this crowd and we have hours before the bikers show,” Nay says.
“Thank you for inviting me. This is amazing. I can’t believe you all set up a carnival on top of the food and concert.”
Nay smiles. “We aim to please.”
We walk the grounds and I take in all the club has set up. There’s a bouncy house that looks like a circus tent. Next to it an enormous inflatable gator slide that’s close to forty feet long. An inflatable obstacle course and even an inflatable pirate ship for toddlers. It’s open instead of enclosed, like a regular bouncy house. There’s even a giant inflatable Hungry Hippo game.
There’s old fashioned-games and rides like a dunk tank, the duck pond, a small Ferris wheel, a carousel, various dart games and ring toss. There’s even a mechanical shark to ride instead of a bull. I guess they couldn’t find a gator.
“Stormy said the insurance for the bigger rides was too costly. Maybe next year.”
In addition to the rides and games, they had food booths as well. Everything from cotton candy to deep fried everything. The ladies from the King’s also cooked up a storm, making a ton of food in addition to the food trucks.
Nay told me they had a little over twenty-five hundred riders. With more people coming to the park for the event. It’s going to reach eighty today. I’m glad I wore shorts. They’re adorable if I say so myself. Denim shorts made to look like cut-offs, but they cover my ass. The front left pocket has a pink and white heart and a small hot pink Gerber daisy with a bright yellow center embroidered on it. Back left is the same Gerber daisy. While my right back pocket has a large white daisy with a pale pink center and a hot pink Gerber daisy.
My pale pink tank ends at my midriff. It’s the same color as the center of white daisy. There’s a cropped denim jacket with matching embroidery hearts and flowers across the back. I pulled my long blonde hair into a high bouncy ponytail and finished my outfit with pale pink high-top tennis shoes.
“Where do you want me?”
“Do any of the booths strike your fancy?”
“I’d rather be a pinch hitter if you don’t mind. Maybe running supplies or relieving someone for a break. I can help get the box lunches set up.”
“Perfect.”
The box lunches are grab and go for people who don't want to stand in line for hot food or want to take it to go. I follow Nay to a group of tables set up with stuff for the box lunches. They’re offering fried chicken, thick sliced ham sub, slow roasted roast beef sub, veggie sub with hummus spread, or a shrimp po’ boy. Typical sides: pasta salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, cucumber and tomato, baked beans, and baked mac and cheese.
We no sooner get the box lunches packed than the crowds start pouring in. Soon there are lines at every game, food stand, and ride available. Nay told me the King’s closed their businesses today so the employees could be here to man the carnival.
Chapter 2
Wrath
We made our last stop. The grin hasn’t left my face since the last stop. My fifth and final heart tucked into the pocket of my cut. I have a good chance at winning this. I can’t imagine anyone having a better hand, but there could be a tie with as many people as we have in this rally.
Our turn out doubled from last year. So did our jackpot. I can’t wait to learn the last count from today’s tally. With the club covering most of the expenses, we’ll be able to donate a large amount of money to our two charities. The club also does a toy run in the fall.
This year we’re thinking of doing a second poker run for the toy drive. Proceeds would go to the local children’s hospital.
I pull the trike into the designated King’s parking area. Willow is off the back, stretching her legs while I back into a spot.
“I’m starving,” she says.
“I could eat. Where do you want to go?”
“Everywhere. They have smoked turkey legs and Italian sausage. Oh, and is that BBQ ribs I smell?”
I laughed. “You are hungry.”
“I’m about to be hangry.”
“Don’t let me stop you. I’m walking a little slow after that long ride.”
Willow stands on her tiptoes and drops a kiss on my cheek.