"I've only eaten three," Mike told her. "But you're right. You made them for the picnic."
This was the firefighter's annual picnic put on by the women's auxiliary. It was to benefit widow's and children of firemen killed in the line of duty. Michelle had been volunteered as this year's chairperson.
"Everything seems to be going on schedule." Paula McConnike reported. "Bart Hochrader and his brother are setting up the sound system. Is there anything else we need for the entertainment?"
"Just the entertainers," Michelle told her.
"I'd still like to know how you pulled it off," Paula commented.
"Pulled what off?"
"Getting those celebrities. This isn't exactly a rodeo."
"What I want to know is have you told Sherry who's going to be here?" JoAnne Desoto interrupted.
"Not yet. I want her to be able to set up her booth." Setting up for these events was difficult enough. She did not need Sherry Wilson falling all over herself.
Mike kissed his wife's cheek, "I'm going to see if John and Roy need any help at the first aid station. When my brother gets here tell him where I am." Tim and his wife Fran had just returned from their honeymoon. Mike was excited that they were back in time for the picnic.
"Get a load of my husband the sound man," Liz Hochrader joked as she approached. "At home he couldn't even hook up the stereo."
"I just need your bar cookies and my booth is ready," Sherry announced but then something made her stop dead in her tracks.
"This is the lady responsible for it all." Michelle heard Chief McConnike's voice from behind her. She turned to see him with the celebrity entertainment she had (pardon the expression) wrangled.
Peter Breck, Richard Long... Michelle Stoker." Chief McConnike continued.
She shook hands with Peter Breck then with Richard Long who said, "I believe we've spoken on the phone."
"Yes, that was me. I'm glad you came."
"She's done one heck of a job," McConnike boasted
"I couldn't have done it without my auxiliary." Michelle indicated the women standing near her. "That's Elizabeth Hochrader, Paula McConnike, the chief's wife, JoAnne Desoto... and that woman over there with her mouth hanging open, drooling on her shoes is Sherry Wilson."
"Okay, everybody, back to work," Michelle said trying to sound like someone in charge. "Chief, show the gentlemen where they can set up."
"Gentlemen," Richard Long joked to Peter Breck, "she obviously doesn't know you very well."
"Michelle, we have a problem." Chet's voice made her turn.
"What now?" Since the beginning of this whole thing Michelle had heard more sentences start out with 'we have a problem'.
"That band you hired is here and the guitar player's mother is complaining." Chet pointed to Marco who was engaged in a one sided conversation with a woman wearing a loud floral print blouse.
"I guess I'd better rescue him." She took a deep breath and walked over to where Marco was listening as politely as possible while the woman screeched.
Noticing Michelle Marco said, "This is the lady in charge. You need to speak with her." He rolled his eyes for Michelle's benefit before leaving.
Before Michelle could speak the woman started. "You should be down on your knees thanking God for the opportunity to have my son's band playing here. And you're giving them a lousy two-hundred-bucks."
As hard as it was Michelle stayed polite. "Ma'am, this is a charity event. We have famous television actors donating their time. Your son's band is the only one getting paid at all."
"He's a television star," she argued. "He was on the Rick Rock Show" (a very local show).
"Ma'am, our budget for this event does not allow for..."
"Well, then maybe we should just leave."
"Would an extra hundred dollars help?" a deep voice asked from behind.
"Mr. Long?" Michelle seemed stunned.
"Dick," he told her. "And would a hundred help?"
For probably the first and last time in her life Michelle was speechless so he turned to the lady with the dollar signs in her eyes. "Would one hundred more dollars be sufficient?"
"Yeaaah!" Her chest went out as if to say "You see?"
"Fine. Why don't you wait over by those tables and we'll discuss the details."
Watching her retreat Michelle found her voice. "You didn't have to do that."
"I've found that people like her complain for the mere sport of it. It's worth the money."
"How can I thank you?"
He patted her shoulder. "Give us a good introduction."
Michelle smiled. "Okay." She watched him walk away.
"Hey, Chet said some old biddy was giving you a hard way to go," Mike approached his wife.
"Yep. It seems she didn't know the meaning of the word 'benefit'." Michelle sighed. "But it's been handled."
"How?"
"Let's just say the next time you tease me about how much I like Richard Long I'll know I have a very good reason."
Mike was confused. "If you say so. Anyway, our siblings are here."
"Well, lead on."
Mike greeted Michelle's sister Bev with a hug and kiss, then shook her husband Jeff's hand. Tim leaned to Mike then said, "I already kissed you." He kissed Michelle.
Michelle hugged him. "How was Hawaii?"
Fran took her husband's hand. "Very romantic."
"Did you learn any Hawaiian?" Jeff asked them.
"Book 'em, Dano." Tim got the laugh he'd wanted. "So where do you want us?"
Michelle checked her clipboard. "You're doing spin art with JoAnne." She turned to her sister. "You two are helping me take tickets."
"People are starting to arrive," Mike said. He stroked Michelle's arm. "You did real good."
"Tell me that when it's over." And the festivities began.
********************************************************************
Michelle sat in the main tent rubbing her temples. It was hard to believe that the whole thing was over. She removed some folded bills which she handed to the guitar player standing in front of her.
"Thanks," he said. "By the way, I'm sorry about my mother."
Michelle resisted the urge to say, "You should be." and instead told him how much everyone enjoyed The Electric Jellyfish Band.
As he left the tent he passed Richard Long who was now clad in a spare fireman's uniform due to several "mishaps".
"Can I keep the uniform. You never know when I may get a part as a fire captain."
"I'm sorry about Sherry. She means well. She was just over excited." Michelle offered her hand. "Thanks again... to you and to Mr. Breck."
"We'd enjoyed ourselves." He shook her hand. "Call us next year."
"I will. It was nice meeting you." He exited the tent.
Soon Michelle was joined by firemen and auxiliary members.
"Cleanup is under way," Hank Stanley told her. "We just have to get the tents down and disassemble the booths."
Mike looked her in the eye. "Now can I tell you you did a fine job." She nodded.
"And the entertainment was great!" Johnny Gage added. "That Jellyfish band really rocked."
"I loved the other entertainment," Sherry gushed. "I still can't believe he was really here!"
"That may be," Michelle told her. "But he'll always believe you were here."
"What did I do?" she asked innocently.
"Well, first you spilled punch on him," Liz Hochrader said.
"Then you dumped cake in his lap," Paula added.
"And then you almost set the poor man on fire," Michelle said. "Other than that he hardly noticed you."
Everyone laughed. So ended another fireman's picnic.
THE END