Page 108 of Cookout Carnage
‘It’s not appropriate for today, but I thought it would be fun for another time,’ he said.
‘Thank you, Tris,’ Sherilyn replied, putting it in her purse and glancing at her watch.Shit. ‘I’ve got to run and get ready for the parade. Shall I leave you to it?’
‘Yes, of course, dear. You run along and we’ll see you later,’ replied Emmett.
Sherilyn dithered for a moment. She desperately wanted to kiss Tristan, but with Clara and Emmett standing there and Wiener going nuts, it felt too weird.
‘Okay, see you later. Come along, Wiener.’
She dragged her dog away from his new best friend and started jogging towards Main Street, dialling Amy as she went.
‘Amy, it’s Sherilyn. You at the diner? I’m running out of time. Can you get Wiener dressed and then meet me back at the start of the parade?’ She put her phone in her back pocket and ran.
Fifteen minutes later she’d left her dog and purse with Amy and was back at home and out of breath. Her father was standing on the stoop pointing at his watch.
‘What time you call this?’
‘Sorry, Pa.’
‘And where’s Wiener?’
‘He’s—’
‘And why aren’t you dressed right?
‘I—’
‘Git in the house and help your mama. Parade starts in fifteen. I am not having a Bodean be tardy.’
Fender exited the house, carrying the vat of chilli. He was wearing a button-down in stars and stripes but the sizing was off. His biceps bulged against the material, and the buttons looked ready to pop. True to his intention to grow a beard to hide his jaw tattoo, he hadn’t shaved. If he looked terrifying before, he now looked like Hulk’s scarier brother mid-transformation. Sherilyn ran past him and into the kitchen where her mother was red-faced and boxing up food.
‘Honey, why’d you take so long? Your pa’s in a snit.’
‘Sorry, Mama, let me do that.’
Her mother looked at her watch. ‘Go change. Fender can help.’
‘Axle left already?’
‘Of course, baby. You see the time? Go!’
Sherilyn took the stairs two at a time. She could hear her father bawling that he was leaving. She put on her favourite red, white and blue dress then thundered back downstairs and out the door. She had ten minutes. There was no way she would make it in time.
33
Midway’s Fourth of July parade was small but special. It started at the far end of Main Street, around the corner and out of sight. Here everyone could get into position. Leading the parade was a float from the Elks club, collecting money for their charity work. Following them, a local dance troupe and marching band, then floats from the main businesses in Midway. There was a section for children from the 4H club to show off the animals they’d raised, and one for people with classic cars. Near the back were the dogs hoping to get enough votes to become mayor for the day. Every year it was the same. The parade would proceed slowly up Main Street, then the dance troupe and band would stay in the square in front of the grandstand to provide music and entertainment, whilst the other floats peeled off to the car park outside the VFW hall.
The parade had already started by the time Sherilyn got to the section for the dogs. She dashed into the middle where Amy was struggling to control Wiener, then stopped in horror.
‘Amy! What have you done?’
‘Come on, don’t stop,’ scolded a man behind them. Sherilyn took the leash from Amy and walked on in panic.
‘Sorry, Sherri-Lynne, I probably shouldn’t have given him the whole packet, but he loved them so.’
‘What? What packet?’
‘The treats. They came with the costume.’ Amy handed Sherilyn her purse.
