Page 38 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
Pulling one of the costumes out, Pete held it up and pulled a face. The bright pink lobster outfit was just as ridiculous as he remembered, complete with padded claws and antennae on a headband. It had clearly seen better days – one claw was slightly misshapen, and there was a dubious stain on the underside of the tail – but it would do the job. At least the second costume was in a better shape.
‘I’m sure she’ll be thrilled,’ Pete muttered to himself, stuffing the outfit back into the bag.
A quick shower at the surf club’s facilities – not quite as nice as the one in the hut, but good enough – and Pete was ready to face the day. He dressed in his wetsuit, grabbed the lobster costumes, and headed towards the café where the fancy dress participants were already gathering.
The Limpet Café had been transformed into a makeshift changing area for the event, with people in various stages of undress milling about, helping each other into elaborate costumes. Brian Singer was directing traffic, clipboard in hand, his chest hair now mercifully hidden beneath a captain’s outfit complete with epaulettes and a jaunty hat.
‘Pete! About time!’ called Mick, making a show of checking his watch. ‘We’re starting in twenty minutes!’
‘I’m here, aren’t I?’ Pete replied good-naturedly, scanning the crowd for Scarlett. He couldn’t see her among the mermaids, Neptune-alikes, and assorted sea creatures preparing for the swim.
‘If you’re looking for the honorary Chilly Dipper who snogged you in front of your evil ex last night, I think she’s in the kitchen trying to figure out what to wear,’ said Mick, with a raised eyebrow.
‘Say it a bit louder,’ huffed Pete. ‘I don’t think they heard you outside.’
‘No point coming over all shy after last night’s little show!’ said Mick with an unrepentant grin. ‘Besides, it was the cutest thing I’ve seen in years.’
‘Hold that thought,’ chuckled Pete, holding up the lobster costumes.
Mick’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Matching outfits? Getting serious, are we?’
‘It’s a fancy dress swim, not a proposal,’ said Pete, feeling his ears grow warm. ‘Where’s Libby?’
‘Over there with the rest of the youngsters.’ Mick nodded towards a group of teenagers by the window, all in various states of face painting. Libby was having blue scales drawn onto her cheeks by one of her friends, her costume—some kind of mermaid ensemble—was already in place.
Pete made his way through the crowd towards the kitchen, dodging a man struggling with an enormous jellyfish headpiece that was threatening to garrotte anyone who came too close.
The kitchen door was slightly ajar, and he could hear frustrated muttering from inside.
‘Knock knock,’ he called, pushing the door open slightly. ‘Decent?’
‘Barely,’ came Scarlett’s voice. ‘Lou’s brought me something to wear, but I think it might actually be a child’s costume. I can get one leg in, but the other is proving problematic.’
Pete poked his head around the door to find Scarlett hopping on one foot, attempting to wedge her other leg into what looked like a sparkly green mermaid’s tail. The resulting pose was more flamingo than fish, and her expression of intense concentration was so endearing that Pete couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
Scarlett’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing at his amusement. ‘If you’ve come to laugh at me, you can clear off.’
‘I’ve come to rescue you,’ Pete corrected, holding up the bag. ‘I borrowed something that might actually fit.’
Relief flooded Scarlett’s face. ‘Oh, thank god. This thing is an instrument of torture.’ She abandoned her efforts with the mermaid tail, which slithered to the floor in a puddle of sequins. ‘What have you got?’
Pete extracted the slightly less battered of the two lobster costumes and presented it with a flourish. ‘Your fancy dress awaits, madam.’
Scarlett stared at the costume, her expression shifting from hope to disbelief. ‘You’re joking.’
‘Afraid not,’ Pete said, trying not to laugh at her evident horror. ‘It was this or a seagull outfit with suspicious stains down the front.’
‘And you chose the lobster?’ said Scarlett.
‘I chose the lobster,’ Pete confirmed. ‘Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one looking ridiculous.’
He pulled his own costume from the bag, holding it up beside hers like a proud parent displaying twins.
Scarlett’s mouth twitched, the beginnings of a smile breaking through her dismay. ‘You’re wearing one too?’
‘Of course I am,’ said Pete. ‘Can’t let you suffer alone, can I?’
‘That’s…’ Scarlett paused, searching for the right word, ‘actually quite sweet, in a bizarre way.’
