Free Pretend Mom by Rita Hestand Page A

line.
    Dixie took the clothespin from her
mouth and clipped it to the material of her shirt on the line.
"Sure, what's up? And don't look so glum. I haven't said no,
yet."
    Handing her another garment, Emily's
brows knitted. "It's about the bazaar, dear. We're still needing
volunteers to work some of the booths."
    Dixie paused only long enough to shoo
away a yellow jacket as it danced about the clothespin. "Is that
all? From the look on your face, I thought it was something
serious. Of course, I'd love to help. Sounds like fun. Which one
did you have in mind for me?"
    Emily bit her lower lip. "That's just
it, actually. It's absolutely the worst one. The baseball
throws."
    Dixie laughed. "What's so bad about
that? It sounds like a lot of fun. I can't imagine why you're so
hesitant to ask me. I love selling tickets!"
    "No, dear." Emily chewed on her bottom
lip again and covered her chest with one hand in frustration. "You
wouldn't be selling tickets, I'm afraid. That's why I was so
hesitant to ask you." She studied Dixie's expressionless face and
waited for some reaction. "You'd have to wear a bathing suit and
sit for hours—and get dunked."
    Dixie pinned the last piece of clothes
to the line and picked up the laundry basket. Looping an arm in her
mother's, she walked toward the back door with her. "Of course I'll
do it … for you."
    Emily's gray eyes sparkled, but she
still frowned. "Oh, I just knew you would. But I wouldn't have
blamed you if you'd refused. It's not exactly a joy to be dunked by
half the town. And I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing by asking
you, of all people." Dixie waved away her mother's fears. As they
entered the kitchen Emily added, "Bernie says you'd make a great
attraction to the booth, really draw them in. Everyone would want
to see you."
    Not for the world would Dixie let her
mother see how nervous she was. "You really over-rate me, Mom. And
I'm probably a very unpopular candidate at this particular time.
I'm sure I could draw a good crowd though."
    Emily fretted still. "I wouldn't say
you were unpopular."
    "I'm the outsider now since I've moved
away. It's the old story of the southerner and the northerner. I've
become a Yankee, I'm afraid."
    "If you don't want to do it
…"
    "It'll be fun. Now quit worrying so
much. I think you're taking this much too seriously."
    Later that evening though, Dixie began
to have a few doubts of her own—especially when Mrs. Butie paid a
social call on her mother, with several other lady-friends, all
with a curious eye on her.
    "Why, Dixie," Mrs. Butie said, smiling
curtly at her. "I didn't know you were still in town. We figured
you'd be too busy to stay long." She sipped her tea and bit into a
cookie.
    Emily was quick to step in. "Why, yes,
Dixie is here for a couple of weeks at least."
    Adjusting the beads at her thick neck,
Mrs. Butie attempted to cross her fat legs as she went on. "Been
seeing a lot of Mike Dalton, I've heard."
    "Strange you should mention him, Mrs.
Butie. Mike's been invited to dinner tonight. You know how fond he
is of frog legs."
    "Yes, well, I told my niece, Janet, it
was quite unseemly for a young lady to go hunting with a bunch of
men. She was quite surprised when she heard about it, Dixie. He's
been over nearly every day, hasn't he?"
    "Has he? I hadn't noticed. A bunch of
men? Oh, you mean my two brothers and Mike's cute little daughter,
Amanda? Well, I don't consider my brothers' men yet, Mrs. Butie.
Although, I wouldn't tell them that." She offered a slight smile.
"And Amanda certainly isn't a man either. My brothers are in the
habit of inviting Mike and Amanda along. They happen to be very
good friends. It really makes little difference; hunting isn't
exactly a romantic sport." She suddenly realizing that her cut-off
shorts and halter-top would be another topic of conversation
later.
    "Did you know Dixie is singing a solo
in church this Sunday?" Emily offered, trying to clear the
air.
    "In church?" Mrs. Butie burst out