July Apple Pies

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

AS IT TURNED OUT, PALLOW’S normal side of town was big on community celebrations. Getting together as the tight community they were was something the middle classed Pallowians enjoyed very much. So they took advantage of every single opportunity they had to get together, eat some food, and have some fun in a big celebration that everyone was invited to.

Pallow’s Annual Watermelon Eating Contest was one of those many celebrations. As its name gave away, every year, middle classed Pallowians got together to watch–basically the same–friends eating as much watermelon as they could. And while at it, every attending family brought food or dessert to share with their community during the Forth of July firework show that came after the contest.

Every single year, Mrs. Jensen, one of Pallow’s finest, was in charge of making lists with what the different families were supposed to bring, and receive the food and then arrange it on the tables the day of the celebration.

Mrs. Jensen was not a married woman. But she was a scary one, and she demanded respect. So instead of being Ms. Jensen like she should have, everyone called her Mrs. Jensen. Because everyone who didn’t would immediately be send to her black list. And she was scary enough when you were on her ‘favorite people’ list for you not to want to fall the lowest you could.

Which is why Ryder, Jack, and Nora needed to think their plan through so thoughtfully before carrying it out.

“Okay,” Jack said as they hid behind his mother’s gigantic BMW, watching people laughing and talking in the park in front of them. “This is what we do. Ryder will go and distract Mrs. Jensen acting all seductive and stuff...”

Ryder didn’t seem too happy with the idea, and his grimace turned into a horrified face when Jack pointed at whom his target would be. Mrs. Jensen wasn’t pretty. And her permanent scowl didn’t help to make her sixty-something-year-old face look any better.

“Not that I am chickening out, or anything,” he said, “but I don’t think she’ll be interested in a kid like me.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “A little creativity, please? Don’t seduce her seduce her. Just, you know, charm her.”

Ryder made a face again, but nodded. “I think I can do that.”

“Good,” Jack said and then he turned to Nora. “While he does that, you are going to be our extractioner.”

Nora rolled her eyes. “That meaning?”

“That meaning you are going to be the one who is going to run, take all the apple pies you find, and run back here.”

“And what will you do while we do that?” Nora asked.

Jack looked pointedly at one specific point among the crowded park. “While you do that, I’m going to distract The Organizer.”

Nora didn’t like the idea of stealing. She could imagine the face her parents would have if they ever found out what she was about to do. Actually, maybe she didn’t. There was a slight possibility her parents would actually throw a party or something like that if they discovered she did something wild and adventurous. But as she stood behind the car, waiting for Jack’s signal, she wanted to believe they would be horrified in the eventuality of discovering what she was about to do. Even if it was highly probable that wouldn’t be what would actually happen.

From her position, she could see Ryder walking towards a very busy Mrs. Jensen. She was arraigning plastic plates and cups and other things on one of the furthest tables from where the Kremlin’s BMW stood.