Chapter 14
The absurd game of Richard Boarson
Goldie O'Gilt is sitting at an outdoor cafe, eating a steak. As she swallows she looks up to find two familiar figures. She finds herself face to face with Louie and June smiling.
" Goldie O'Gilt " Louie says
" Just the woman we were looking for " June finishes
" Well if it isn't Sharpie and Sharpette. What brings you two in front of me today " Goldie asks
" Well as you may know Richard Boarson is having a gala tonight " Louie explains
" Yeah " Goldie says following the conversation
" And as you may know he loves subjecting his guests to elaborate games in which gives away big cash prizes " Louie further explains
" Yes. He's my kind of guy " Goldie says
" What a coincidence. Ours too " June says playfully
" Okay so what do you need my help for " Goldie asks
" We considered all the angle but there's one thing we overlooked " June says " You need an adult to enter these parties and we're just kids "
" And that's what you come in for " Louie says
" Okay now what's stopping me from just going into this party on my own " Goldie says
" Because his games are notoriously "tricky" to say the least " Louie elaborates
" Okay that's true " Goldie agrees " But what makes you think can you two can win said games "
" Well Louie here analized some of the more ridiculous games and found a pattern to exploit " June says confidently
" And that would be " Goldie asks curiously
" Okay I noticed that there's no way to just three step to follow " Louie says
" Okay " Goldie says
" First we scan the room for the players most likely to win " Louie says
" Okay " Goldie
" Then we butter them up a little flattery " Louie
" Alright " Goldie says
" And lastly we plant just a little insecurity in them toward the end, just enough to shake their confidence, so that taking victory from them will be a piece of cake " Louie explains " So basically you want us to set the other players up for failure " Goldie says figuring out his plan
" Precisely " Louie says with a finger point
" Llewellyn that is so underhanded; I love it " June says playfully
" Llyewellyn " Goldie asks
" Why did you have to use my real name in front of her " Louie asks a bit of irritated
" Because it's funny to see you upset " June says whimsically as Louie stares daggers at her
" Okay Llewellyn, Sharpette you got yourselves a deal." Goldie says as she holds out her hand to shake
" Deal " Louie says as he shakes
" I'll meet you there tonight around eightish " Goldie says as she gets up to leave
Goldie arrives in her gold evening gown, diamond necklace, and triangle earrings as she waits for Louie and June. She is soon met by June in a purple spaghetti strap dress
" You're here early " June said
" I said eightish " Goldie said
Soon Louie arrives in his green suit jacket, aqua tie and white undershirt. June looks him up and down while smiling.
" Looking good, Louie; looking real good " June says breathfully
" Thanks. Alright you guys ready " Louie asks confidently
" Yeah. Lets go " June says
Goldie holds June by her arm hold on
" We're going to hang back a bit for some girl talk " Goldie says
Louie shrugs as he walks into the gala
" What " June asks flatly
" You got a crush on Louie don't you " Goldie asks with a grin
" Absolutely " June says back with a grin
" Come on don't… Wait did you say you do? " Goldie asks confused
" Yeah. I'm going to make him my boyfriend one of these days " June says out right
" Wow that's so honest, I can respect that " Goldie says with surprise in her voice
" Come on let's go find Louie " June says as she walks away
The two of them walk into the gala that is littered with people. They spot Louie by the punch drinking a cup. He waves them over where the stand for a moment before a pig with tusks come out of a doorway
" Good evening everybody. How you doing tonight " Richard Boarson says loudly
" And the man of the hour just arrived " Louie says slighly
" You people ready for the main event " Richard Boarson asks boisterousily
" Yeah " The crowd screams
" Good because tonight we're playing Jacks " Richard Boarson says
" Jacks; sounds easy enough " Goldie says confidently
" Wait for it " Louie says holding up his finger
" Played with a giant rubber ball and giant jacks " Boarson says
" Of course " June says flatly
" We're playing Jacks a little differently. Basically you gotta grab the jack and avoid being hit by the ball. If you get hit by the ball you have to go back and try again. If you are playing as only one member is allowed to go get a jack at one time. The player or team with most jacks by the end of the thirty minutes wins the cash prize. You can work on your own but I suggest forming team " Boarson says
" Alright we got this. Remember the plan " Louie says
The three scan the room and their eyes land on a falcon in a suit
" Uh oh " Louie says worried
" What's wrong " June asks corned
" That's Falcon Graves. He's going to be a problem " Louie explains
" Nothing a little charm can't solve " Goldie says confidently
" Goldie don't " Louie says worried
Graves looks around scowling as Goldie walks up behind him
" Can I help you with something " Graves says
" Just admiring how muscular you are " Goldie says flirtyly
" Hmmm " Graves breathes
" I mean you're just so buff " Goldie adds
" Hmmm " Graves breathes
" How much do you work out a week big boy " Goldie asks seductively
" Look Mam. Please leave me be. I'm not into old ladies " Graves says as he walks away from Goldie
" OLD LADY " Goldie says angrily
Louie and June walk up next to her as she looks at Graves with
" Okay that didn't work " June says flatly
" Right on to the next target " Louie says
" I'll show you who's old " Goldie grumbles
The three of them scan the room for more potential targets when they come face to face with Glomgold looking around smiling
" Uh " Louie breathes
" Is that Flinthart Glomgold " June asks curiously
" Well if it isn't the green triplets? Is yo Uncle with ya " Glomgold asks
" No, so whatever nefarious plan you have to try and kill him with you can save it for next time " Louie says flatly
" Aww but I had a plan with scorpions and nitroglycerin " Glomgold says dejected
" Let's move on " Louie says a little irritated
" Aren't we going to try the plan on him " June asks
" He already thinks too highly of himself, so buttering him up wouldn't work" Goldie explains to June
The three continue to comb the room when they come face to face with a familiar gray parrot.
" Hashtag party time " Mark says as he types away on his phone
" Oh come on " Louie says loudly
" You know Mark Beaks too " June asks surprised
" Unfortunately " Louie responds
" Mr Beaks, I have to say I love Waddle and their products " June says
" Yeah that's nice purple girl, Now out of the way " Mark says as he pushes her to the side as he walks past the two of them
" Hey. What the heck? Ok Mark Beaks is kind of a jerk " June says
" Yup " Louie says plainly
" I'm going to enjoy manipulating him " June says deviously'
" Don't bother " Louie says plainly
" Why not " June asks
" Yeah why not " Goldie also asks
Louie walks over to Mark who is still texting on his phone.
" Hey Mark Beaks have I ever told you how cool you are " Louie says with enthusiasm
" Yeah " Mark Beaks responds
" You have such an impeccable sense of style too " Louie adds
" Yeah" Mark Beaks says
" I bet you'll have no problem in tonight's game " Louie finishes
Mark finally looks up from his phone to find Louie in his face and asks: " Were you saying something "
" Nope " Louie says before he walks away from Marks Beaks and back to June & Goldie
" Well maybe we still got time to…" June starts before being interrupted
" Alright time to please make your way to the courtyard " Boarson says over a loudspeaker
" Never mind " June says plainly
A huge crowd has gathered around a large field with multiple giant jacks shattered about. Boarson can be seen standing in the center.
" Alright who wants to try their hands at tonight's games " Boarson asks
The crowd is full of people looking at Boarson apprehensively before Graves raises his hand
" I'd like to play " he says menacingly
" I'm game " Mark Beaks says as he walks onto the field
" You again? Why do I always find myself in your presence " Graves growls
" Com on Gravesy I'm just here to play the game like you " Mark Beaks responds
" I also want to participant " Glomgold says as he walks up to the arena
" Flinty " Mark Beaks says
" Beaks " Glomgold responds
" Okay anybody else " Boarson asks
Louie, June and Goldie are in the crowd onward as he does
" Well I guess there is always next time " Louie says dejectedly
" Too bad. It was a solid plan, you just didn't have the pieces " June says putting her hand on his shoulder as Goldie steps forward
" The three of us will be playing as a team " Goldie announcing
" What " Both Louie and June shout
Louie pulls her towards him
" The plan failed remember " Louie whispers
" It'll be fine we're playing as a team and one of the other contestant is Glomgold " Goldie says adsurrantly
" Alright then if you are already we can begin " Boarson starts
The six of them go to the starting line
" I almost forgot one last rule: absolutely no fighting. If you fight you're disqualified. Alright. Five…. four….. three…..two…. one Go " Boarson announces
Goldie races off. One of the giant red balls falls directly in front of her before she runs around it. Glomgold is immediately hit by one, he then proceeds to turn and head back to the starting line. Marks Beaks is taking his time, somehow not getting hit by balls. Falcon Graves has already grabbed a Jack as he runs back to the start and sets it down. He then proceeds to dodge multiple balls in a rapid succession before picking upm another and running back just as Goldie grabs one. Goldie gets back to Louie and June with shocked looks on their faces as they look over at Graves going to grab another jack. Glomgold is about halfway to the jacks when he is hit by another ball before he grumbles and goes back to the start. While Mark Beaks can be seen carrying one ball under his arm while he checks his phone. Goldie tags in Louie as he runs and just narrowly avoids balls. He makes it to the jacks, grabs one and runs back to the start where June and Goldie are staring at the pile of jacks Graves has amassed.
" Okay this is harder than i thought " Goldie says troubled
" We've only got two and he's already at eight. How are we going to win " June asks frantically
" Maybe there's a weakness of he's we can exploit " Louie says
" But what do we know about this guy " June asks
" We know he's tall " Louie says
" We know he's athletic " June adds
" We know he's a blind idiot, " Goldie adds angrily. Louie and June turn and look at Goldie with slight surprise " I still mad about the old lady comment "
" Okay what else do we know " Louie asks
" We know he hates Mark Beaks " June says
" Yeah but how can we use that " Louie asks
Mark Beaks is behind the line holding up his phone
" Selfie break " Mark shouts as his camera flashes
" I have an idea " Goldie says with a mischievous smile
Mark Beaks is about to go collect another ball when Goldie approaches him
" Mark Beaks. I couldn't help but notice that you were talking pictures. You know what you should do. You should get a group picture with all of us " Goldie says
" Excellent idea green boy, purple girl com over here " Mark says as Louie and June make their way over
Glomgold (who still hasn't collected a jack) is hit by another red ball and is returning to the starting line as he is grabbed by Mark " Flint get in here you old soso" . Grave returns to the starting line jack in tow when we is grabbed by Mark " Gravesy you too. Alright everybody say cheese"
" Ccccchhhhheeeeesssssseeeee" Goldie, June and Louie all simultaneously says
" Let go of me you idiot " Graves says as he breaks from Mark's grip
" Not until we get a better picture than this. You had your eyes closed " Marks says as he takes another picture. He looks at it and grimaces. " Let me turn the flash on so it looks better " He takes another photo that hurts Graves eyes. Graves face turns red as he punches Beaks in the face before tackling him to the ground and punches him
repeatedly. Glomgold who is still dizzy from the flash runs head first into a wall and is knocked out he is then hit by another ball somehow. Boarson walks on up to all of them
" Okay Graves is disqualified and I think neither Glomgold nor Mark Beaks is going to be able to continue so you three win " Boarson says as he hand them a pot full of chest full of bill and jewelry
The three of them leave the gala with Goldie holding the chest as Louie who stuffed his suit jacket full of money with it sticking out of his pockets and June whose purse is filled with money and is also wearing a crown trail behind her.
" I can't believe we managed to pull it off in the end " June says
" Yep now comes the part where Goldie double crosses us " Louie says despondently
" Actually no. This haul will be more than enough this time around " Goldie says adsurridly
" You'll going to let us keep our winnings " June says
" No kidding " Louie says surprised
" Yeah " Goldie says
" Why though " Louie asks
" Because I like you two. Later Sharpie, Sharpette " Goldie says as she walks away
" Huh alright then. Night June " Louie says as he turns to leave
" Wait there's one more thing " June says before Louie walks away
" Yeah what " Louie asks, turning back to look at June as she kisses his right cheek. She pulls away smiling
" Night Llewellyn " She says with a wave
" Okay now I believe you " Louie says still looking stunned as he just stands there