Team Play by Bonnie Bryant Page B

there’s already a line by the cash box,” Kate pointed out.
    Stevie grinned wickedly. “This is a dream come true.”
    And at that moment, the fair’s star attraction arrived.
    “Good morning, Stevie,” Veronica said. “Where are our foreign guests?” she asked, eagerly turning her head.
    “Over there, with the pony carts,” Stevie replied.
    “You have them working again?” Veronica asked.
    “Well, Veronica, they were so inspired by your devotion to the cause of the children and the school thatthey just insisted on helping out,” Stevie said smoothly.
    “Oh. Well, I guess I’m ready. Where’s Booth Thirteen?” Veronica wanted to know.
    “This way,” Stevie said. This was a tricky moment. She had to make it impossible for Veronica to back out and the only way she could do that was to make it more embarrassing for her to leave than to stay. “Hey, everybody!” Stevie announced. “Veronica’s here! She’s our star attraction and will definitely be our biggest money-maker.”
    The students gathered around. As if somebody had cued them, they cheered. Veronica smiled graciously.
    “You know, Veronica,” Stevie continued. “Last year the fair made almost a thousand dollars. This year, our goal is to make even more. We’re hoping for fifteen hundred dollars. With your help, I know we can do it.”
    “Me? I’m just trying to pitch in, Stevie,” Veronica said, doing a poor job of acting humble. It was done. Stevie had cornered her.
    “Well, here’s your booth,” Stevie said, taking Veronica by the elbow. “Lucky Number Thirteen!”
    And there it was. Stevie couldn’t keep her eyes off Veronica as she read the sign.
    SOGGY NERF BALL TOSS
Throw a soggy Nerf ball!
Hit Veronica diAngelo!
Win prizes!
Three Throws for One Ticket!
    There was a bucket of water and a case of Nerf balls at the front counter. At the back of the booth was a lone seat where Veronica would serve as a target.
    Behind them, Stevie and Veronica heard kids clamoring for their turn.
    “I’m first!”
    “No, me! I’ve been waiting longer!”
    “Let me have a try!”
    It seemed that everybody who knew Veronica wanted a shot at her.
    Veronica glared at Stevie. For the second time in as many days, she appeared to be speechless.
    “I’m telling you, Veronica. A long line formed for tickets the minute the sign went up. You, and you alone, are going to put us over fifteen hundred dollars,” Stevie said.
    “Stevie, they’ll hit me and get me wet,” Veronica hissed.
    “Don’t worry,” Stevie assured her. “Most of these kids don’t have good aim. And, after all, a lot of them are going to be, er—what did you call them?—the ‘little crippled children’ from the hospital. They probably won’t get anywhere near you.”
    “I’m going to do this, you know,” Veronica said. “And then I will never speak to you again.”
    That was exactly what Stevie had been hoping for.
    •    •    •
    S OON AFTER B OOTH Thirteen opened up for business, all the other booths opened as well. The fair began at eleven o’clock and by eleven-thirty, the entire fairground was bustling with activity. Stevie checked all the booths. They had found the wooden rings which had been missing earlier at the ring-toss. The Magic Wishing Tree had all its prize claims stapled on correctly. The fortune teller had polished her crystal ball and memorized her list of “fortunes.” The bowling alley had set up all ten pins, instead of the six somebody had put up by mistake. The red and white decorations looked bright and cheerful. Everywhere Stevie went, her schoolmates, riding friends, and the children from the hospital were having a wonderful time. The loudest cheering noises came from Booth Thirteen and from the pony cart track.
    Stevie found herself standing under a tree in the middle of the fairground, soaking it all in. She closed her eyes and listened. Everywhere, there were sounds of success. People were having fun. The fair was making