Page 61 of Merry Mayhem
I have to admit that I’m now picturing Thea in a muumuu with it hiked up around her waist, too.
“So, we actually came over with a proposition,” Thea says. “What would you two say about switching partners?”
Muriel slides up next to me and hooks her arm through mine. “Sure.”
Thea presses her lips together, clearly fighting a smile, but then she explains our thought process and the rest of the Merry Mayhem activities, leaving out only the part where we don’t want Sam and Ashley to win.
“We’ll be unbeatable,” Muriel tells me.
I grin. “Can’t wait.”
We go to Nora, tell her we want to switch our teams, and point out that there are no rules that prevent us from doing so. She loves the idea that this will allow Muriel and Patty to fully participate in the activities she was concerned about. She calls the judges over, and they all agree.
“What about the points Josh and Thea earned during the first challenge?” Wilson asks.
“We’ll split them between their new teams,” another judge suggests.
Thea and I nod. “That’s fine with us,” she says.
Sam and Ashley still have zero points. That’s all that matters.
“Okay, that’s done,” Nora says. “Everybody up to the starting line.”
“Muriel, how do you feel about eggnog?” I ask as we all take our positions. When the jingle bells jingle, the member of the team who will do the task at station one will stay, while the other runs on to station two, twenty feet down Main Street.
“I’ve had way worse things in my mouth,” Muriel tells me.
I laugh. “Then you’re up first.”
“Youhaven’thad worse things in your mouth?” she asks, getting into position at the starting line. She only has to go about five feet to the first table.
“Maybe kale,” I say. “But I can’t think of much else.”
“You’re young,” she says. “Promise me you’ll put more things in your mouth before you’re my age.”
I laugh. “I’m not sure that’s solid advice, Muriel.”
“Just don’t be the kind of guy who only sticks with what he knows or assumes that the things he likes are the epitome. I can assure you that you’ll taste more good things than bad if you take chances on new things. And I’m old. So, you have to listen to me.”
“What about poisonous things or things that might make me sick?” I tease.
Her eyes widen. “Well, don’t eat poisonous things, Josh. Lord, do us old people have to tell youeverything? I figured that was a given.”
I laugh even louder. “Got it. Put moreediblethings in my mouth.”
She gets a sly grin on her face. “Well, not necessarilyedible. But nothingdangerous.”
“What do you—” I catch on a second before completing the question. “Muriel!” I say, acting scandalized. I’m actually beyond amused.
“My first husband did not like…that…in his mouth. My second thought that he did, but he didn’t reallyappreciateit. My third…” She sighs. “I still miss that man.”
“Wide-shouldered Russel?” I ask.
“Yep. I only got seven years with him. But he hadyearsto figure things out before I came along. Most things in life just take practice, Josh. Being a good firefighter, being a good friend,being good in bed…you just have to want to be good, and then you have to do it. Over and over again until it’s second nature.”
I nod. “Got it.”
“Now let’s kick some ass at this relay race.”
