"This is so awesome" Caroline whispered to herself again for the umpteenth time; She just couldn't stop herself. She may not have wanted to do this at first but now that it had begun, it was so exhilarating! How many nine year old girls could say they had snuck out when it was almost midnight, with their two older sisters, to carry out an evil diabolical plan against three horrible conniving boys. Well maybe it wasn't evil exactly... but it was brilliant! When Peter had arrived at the girls' doorstep with a very vague note telling the girls to meet them at the park, they knew it was a trap. At first they didn't know what to do about it except not show up and then on Monday fallow through with Eddie's original plan, but then Beth had an magnificent thought; This surprised Caroline because she didn't know her quiet mouse of a sister had that kind of treachery in her, but regardless she was delighted with it. Beth had pointed out that if the boys wanted the girls to meet them, surely that meant the boys would be at the park waiting to do something horrible to them, and if they were at the park that meant their rooms would be empty...
" Okay, Caroline you're going to do Wally's first. The ladder creaks loudly on the third step so be careful and me and Beth will hold it steady. Just be quick once you get in" The youngest Malloy girl fallowed Eddie's instructions carefully and soon was boosting herself in through Wally's bedroom window. Less than a month ago the girls had lived with the Hatford's for awhile so they knew all the boys kept their windows unlocked during the summer and they also knew the positioning of the boy's bedroom furniture. Jackpot! Caroline thought giddily as her eyes fell on Wally's dresser. She stealthily maneuvered across the room and began to shovel all his clothes into a hefty duty bag; She couldn't help but think that if she ever needed to play a role as a ninja she could use this as experience. With her super ninja skills, Caroline was down the ladder again in minutes, this time with a bag full of clothes over her shoulder. She had taken everything but the underwear; When all the girls had pulled this prank on their friends at an Ohio girl scout camp, they had thrown underwear in the river, but that was other girls underwear which was far less awkward. But then again Caroline had actually worn Wally's underwear before...
Time seemed to fly by at lightning speed after Caroline's turn was over; Eddie and Beth were done with their shifts within 15 minutes. " Now to the river..." Eddie snickered as the girls made their way back to the bank. When the got to the bridge they had to force themselves not to fall into hysterical laughter as, one by one, the bags of boys' clothing was bumped strait into the water. The river had been very mild lately so none of the clothes were going anywhere. They would just float in the shallow water until morning when the boys would have to make up some lame excuse to their parents to go retrieve them. The sister's were going back to the Hatford lawn to get their father's ladder, stashed in the bushes, and Caroline was thinking about what Mrs and Mr. Hatford faces were gonna look like. They'd probably be tomato red with anger or- SMACK! SLAM! CLANG! Caroline felt a sharp pain in her arm as she crashed to the ground.
Immediately Eddie shone her flashlight on the three figures they had rammed into. Surprise, surprise it was none other than the Hatfords. The Hartfords carrying empty duty bags and flashlights of their own...
As usual Eddie was the first to respond " Hah! We knew you boys were up to something! Whats in those bags? Something disgusting you were gonna pour on our heads if we had actually been dumb enough to meet you at the park?" Caroline knew the last question was irrelevant as it was clear the bags were just as empty as the ones in the girls' hands.
" HAH! That letter was merely a setup Eddie. If your wondering to what you'll just have to wait and see. Tomorrow it will be very clear... " Jake quickly retorted.
" Maybe we have a setup of our own going on that will become very clear for you in the morning Jake."
" Bet it's not nearly as good as ours; You'll be crying in the morning"
" You'll be rolled up in a ball on the floor crying like the little girl you are"
" HAH! We were gonna make you wait till morning but I can't resist telling you now. This way I get to see your reaction up close. Why don't you and your sisters take a peek in the water."
" Why don't you and your brothers!"
Six flashlight beams shone on the water and shortly after six gasps fallowed.
