"Let's have a big round of applause for
Skippy!" the gruff voice boomed out of the speakers overhead. The audience
started clapping for the seal onstage which had just did a balancing act.
Dawn Schafer sighed as her cell phone started ringing again. She sat down on the side of the stage and crossed her long, tan legs. "Hello?"
"Ms. Schafer?" a clipped voice snapped.
"Yes?" Dawn said wearily.
"This is Ms. Clement, the assistant public
relations manager of Dolphin Cove. I demand to know why the whales' meals have
been changed."
"Well, I just thought they weren't getting
enough vitamins and protein," Dawn explained. "So I wrote a letter suggesting
some more types of food which I think they should have in their everyday diet.
I never expected them to change it, though."
"Ms. Schafer, by allowing you to hold your
silly whales campaign in our marine park, does not automatically enable you to
change certain important rules here! You have absolutely no right to get
involved in our private matters."
Dawn was offended. "Silly?" she said
indignantly. "My campaign is not silly. In fact, if you think so little of it,
then I might as well take my business somewhere else." She snapped her phone
shut and stormed off to the office.
Ms. Alana Clement was not one to lose
business for her association over a little quarrel. She acted quickly,
apologizing to Dawn and insisting that it was all her own fault, being rash and
hot-tempered.
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Okay," she relented.
"But this is the second-last day of my campaign. Tomorrow are the final
performances and then we pack up."
"Right, right," Ms. Clement agreed
soothingly. "But no hard feelings, right? We still get the full price,
including tips for good service and advertising costs?"
"Yes," Dawn said impatiently. Her cell phone
rang, interrupting them. "Excuse me. I have a call." She left the office.
"Hi, Dawn." It was her fiancé, Chris
Bradley. "Yeah, what?" Dawn said, paying for a soda at a concession counter.
"Is something the matter?" Chris asked,
concerned. "No," Dawn replied, sighing. "It's just that my job is driving me
nuts."
"Aw, calm down," Chris told her. "I'm
calling about the wedding. I'm at the bridal shop now. The dress you asked for
isn't available until six months' time, so they asked you to choose another
design."
Dawn wanted to scream. "Fine. I'll come down
now." She hung up on Chris and strode to the parking lot.
As Dawn slid into her Toyota and turned the
key in the ignition, the engine sputtered and died down, and the phone rang at
that very moment. "AARRGGHH!" Dawn shrieked, grabbing her phone. She hit the
Talk button. "Hello!" she barked, smacking the steering wheel.
"Dawn? It's Mary Anne," she whispered,
sounding scared to death.
"Sorry, Mary Anne. I'm in a seriously bad
mood now." Dawn turned the car off and then tried again. The engine roared to
life. Dawn zoomed through downtown San Diego, to the bridal shop in the
outskirts.
Mary Anne gave her the report so far –
Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, Mallory, and herself all could attend the wedding. But
she couldn't reach Jessi, Abby or Shannon yet. "I'll keep trying," she
promised. "I'll keep you posted. Bye!"
Chris was waiting patiently on a couch.
"Dawn!" he exclaimed, getting up to hug her. "Sorry you had to rush down here.
But the wedding is only in two weeks, and I haven't even arranged for the
caterers, the flowers and the music yet."
"Music?" Dawn echoed, pausing from the book
of gown designs she was flipping through.
"Yes, music. We need some hymns at the church,
too, you know. And don't forget the dinner reception. Unless you intend to play
hard rock?" Chris kidded.
"Nahhh." Dawn stopped at a page and placed
her finger over one photo. "That's it! This is the gown I want." She studied it
carefully again. The gown was a light baby-pink, the color of blush. It had
spaghetti straps, and a beaded design on the front. The waist was small, but
suitable for Dawn's slim figure. The rest of the skirt dropped to the floor,
trimmed with a small layer of white lace.
"It's okay," Chris decided. "It certainly
would go with my black tux." He winked. "I suppose you want pink roses to match
the dress?"
"Yup!" Dawn gave him a quick hug. "You're so
great for helping me to arrange everything. And being so understanding when I'm
so busy with my job."
Chris smiled, planting a kiss on her
forehead. "It's okay. As long as you repay me with lots of kids."
Dawn groaned. "Do I have to? That would ruin
my figure!"
Chris sulked. "It's always been my dream to
have many children. Because I grew up as an only child, I never had anyone to
play with. I was lonely and bored all the time."
Dawn grinned and tousled his hair. "Okay,
Mr. Christopher Allen Bradley. You win." She thought for a moment, and added,
"Did you know your initials are C.A.B.?" She laughed.
Chris answered, "Maybe because I drove a
taxi in my past life. But come on, Dawn. It's time for me to be your
passenger." They handed Dawn's choice to the salesgirl, and went out to her
car. Then Dawn drove them to a local diner for dinner, even though it was only
five-thirty.