Chapter 12

Charlie was right. One kiss really couldn't hurt, although Joey feared that if they allowed themselves to get carried away up there, the whole Ferris wheel could collapse on top of them. It looked very old and she felt it was desperately in need of some TLC – or some WD-40, preferably.

The wheel creaked to a stop and they squeezed out of their carriage with just as much difficulty as they had getting in. Joey suggested that they have a look around the rest of the funfair.

"Let's see who can spot the worst prize", Charlie said.

Joey was amused. "Well ... there's plenty of competition for that title."

They walked through the crowds. An old lady walked past them with a scowl on her face, as well as excessive, thick facial hair.

Charlie nudged Joey and in a low voice said "Joey look ... bearded lady ... I didn't think funfairs had sideshows anymore. I thought they weren't politically correct anymore ... or whatever."

Joey burst out laughing. "Err ... I don't think she's part of a sideshow, Charlie. She's the candy floss vendor. I bought it from her."

Charlie gasped and put her hand over her mouth - her eyes widened. She tried desperately not to laugh out loud.

"Oops," she said – a little embarrassed.

Joey couldn't stop laughing and it was infectious and they both had to fight to regain their composure.

"Well, hopefully the old dear's deaf and she didn't hear you", Joey added.

Charlie grinned and shook her head in disbelief that she had got it so wrong!

They continued their walk around the crowded park until they came back to the entrance again. Joey grabbed Charlie by the hand and dragged her over to the shooting game.

"Okay Senior Constable Annie Oakley ... let's see just how good you are with one of these things", Joey said as she picked up a handgun and offered it to Charlie.

Charlie blushed a little, then took the gun from her hand. Joey gave the attendant some coins and he handed Charlie the pellets to load up the gun. She loaded them into the chamber. The attendant was impressed. Usually he would have to give instructions to people, and most of the time the instructions still didn't help and he ended up having to load the gun for them - but this girl knew what she was doing!

Charlie and Joey looked across at the targets. There were neat stacks of tin cans, arranged in pyramids, sitting atop small tables - three on the bottom row, then two above, and lastly, a single can on top.

"So what do I have to do?" Charlie asked the attendant.

"All you have to do is knock all six cans off the table completely. You have ten shots. Good luck!" and he stepped out of the way.

"Yeah ... good luck!" Joey said.

Charlie adopted the correct stance that she had been taught as a student officer and took aim. She fired. The top can went flying off!

"Yay ... great start", said Joey, congratulating her.

Charlie glanced at her and winked. She took aim again and fired shot number two! The pellet ricocheted off a can on the second row, which went flying into the air, somersaulted and fell to the ground.

"Wooaah ... I must remember never to make you mad when you've a gun in your hand", said Joey.

Charlie tried not to laugh so she could keep her concentration, but trying not to laugh was difficult around Joey.

She shot again. Another can went flying. The attendant started to look worried – three cans killed with three shots. Was he going to have to part with one of his many crappy prizes today?

Only the bottom row remained – three cans. Charlie aimed and fired again. Miss!

"Damn", she said.

"Well ... there's one criminal who got away", joked Joey. "Don't worry ... you still have six shots left. You might still do it!"

"This gun isn't calibrated very well", complained Charlie, before remembering where she was. It was, after all, only a funfair. The attendant probably didn't even know what that word meant. He was just there to make money, and look after his large and small cuddly toys, hoping that nobody would win any of them.

"Y'know ... a bad carpenter always blames his tools", Joey teased. Charlie looked at her and gave her another 'Ha ha very funny' look. Joey winked at her.

She took aim for her fifth shot. There were still three cans standing. Charlie was beginning to suspect they might be superglued to the table. Maybe that's why he's got so many prizes left!

She fired – a can flew off the back of the table. Joey cheered. She aimed again and fired. This time a can fell over, and started rolling across the table. Both women held their breath. Would it roll all the way off?

It didn't. It stopped at the edge – mocking them!

"Hard luck!" said the attendant. She still had four shots left with one can standing and one can lying on its side. She aimed at the upright can and fired. It was history!

She had three shots remaining to try and knock the rogue can off. She fired. Miss. She fired another quickly. It hit the can, but only made it roll a little further. She now suspected that the can had probably been filled with sand or concrete. It should have been lying on the ground by now.

She had one shot left. She took aim, held her breath and squeezed the trigger. The can flinched and fell to the ground.

"You did it!" exclaimed Joey.

"Well done", said the attendant. Charlie gave the gun back to him and as soon as she did, Joey threw her arms around her and hugged her.

Charlie did her best to appear nonchalant about her success. "I guess I should say some kind of catchphrase right now, to make myself seem even cooler", she said.

"And what would that be?" enquired Joey, raising her eyebrow.

Charlie thought for a moment. "Hasta la vista ...", she said in her best Schwarzenegger accent, before softening her tone of voice and gazing into Joey's eyes, "baby!"

That last word was intended only for her. Joey blushed.

"So what'll it be?" interrupted the attendant. "You can choose any prize."

"Oh, you're too kind", said Charlie. The attendant didn't detect the hint of sarcasm in her voice.

She turned to Joey and said "I'd like you to choose for me."

Joey was chuffed. She looked at the selection of cuddly toys and other, less desirable prizes on the shelf at the side of the stall. She spotted the perfect one.

"That one", she said, pointing to a gorgeous cuddly lion cub.

Charlie's eyes lit up. She hadn't even noticed the cub on the shelf. And when she compared it to the rest of the prizes, it really stood out.

The attendant took it from the shelf and handed it to Charlie.

"Thank you", she said, "It's perfect."

"Congratulations", said Joey. "I suddenly feel a lot safer ... now that I know I have my very own terminator!"

Charlie laughed as they walked away from the game towards the exit. "You hungry?" she asked Joey.

"Yeah ... now that you mention it. Hey ... why don't I cook for us."

Charlie looked at her, touched at Joey's offer. "That'd be great!" she said. "What do you want to do this evening? After all, it's our last night here."

"I was thinking ... maybe ... a gigantic sofa, a DVD, some popcorn ... to start with!" Joey said, smiling devilishly.

"Now that ... sounds like the beginnings of a very interesting evening", said Charlie, as they made their way back to the beach house.

To be continued ...