How May I Help You?

Friday night football wasn’t the town-encompassing event it might be in other parts of the country. In a city with a population of 75,000, people had plenty of other entertainment options. Still, the stands of Peerson Field could often be found full and lively during successful times for the local team.

Located across the street, directly east of the Honey Hollow High, Pearson Field featured a home-side grandstand and a smaller set of bleachers for the visiting team on the opposite side. The grandstand bleachers featured an announcers' booth for regular radio broadcasts and an infrequent number of locally televised games. Surrounded by a chain-link fence, a small ticket booth sat just outside the northside of the grandstand. A small folding table was often located next to it on gamedays to sell Honey Hollow High branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and baseball caps.

Across from the ticket booth and at the rear of the home bleachers, a small building held the field's concession stand. The simple rectangular building featured a propped-up wooden opening serving as the sales countertop. A small grill, deep fryer, refrigerator, sink, and popcorn machine lay inside. At best, five people could move around inside the building. Volunteers from the school booster club operated the ticket booth, merchandise table, and concession stand.

The entrance to the concession stand was located on the building’s southside. That’s where the cheer squad set up their bake sale tables. With the setup farthest from the entrance area to the stands, the cheerleaders had to be creative to attract potential customers.

Give me a P! Give me an I!
Give me an E!
What's that spell? Pie! Pie! Pie!
We got Mrs. Day’s pie squares!
Buy apple! Buy pecan!
Buy the rest!
Put them to rest in your tummy!

“Gawd, this so embarrassing that I almost feel bad for them,” Tinny commented, watching the Babybees cheer by the front gate.

“You could go relieve them if you feel guilty,” Bridget suggested.

“I said almost, okay. I don’t feel bad enough to do that. I paid my dues already.”

“I bet they wish Beakburg had a JV team a whole lot more right now,” Shayla commented.

Without a JV football opponent, the Babybees didn't have the usual Friday afternoon or Saturday morning game to perform their cheer duties. Deciding not to give the younger girls a break, Bridget put them in charge of promoting sales of their final batch of treats. Sales throughout the day had gone well, but the squads still needed to move a solid number before, during, and after the game.

Who’s got cookies? We do! We do!
Who wants them? You do! You do!

“Are you sure you don’t want to join them? Your adorable uniform does match,” Marcia Underwood asked the super junior varsity cheerleader helping with the bake sale.

“Do I look like a lamebrain?” Brandy responded to Miranda’s mother.

“Brandy,” Pepper growled without turning around as she served another customer.

“What? I’m not a gullible sucker,” the eight-year-old responded.

“Cheerleaders do have to pay their dues when they’re younger,” Marcia pointed out.

“Not me.”

“It’s the way things are done,” dear,” Lucille McCracken noted, leaning out of the concession stand where she currently volunteered.

“And I know ways to hurt people,” Brandy boasted proudly.

“She does!” Wrenn whined, rubbing her arm.

“Thank you, Fawn. At least one of you knows how to be helpful and behave,” Pepper commented as her little helper handed her a napkin.

"Brownnoser," Brandy muttered as a handsome teenager approached the table.

“Hello, Mrs. Fallon,” Rick Trask greeted with a charming grin. He repeated the gesture to the other two mothers. “I must say that I’m surprised to find such a short line for such delicious treats being sold by three lovely ladies.”

“Thank you, Rick,” Virginia responded, successfully fighting the urge to roll her eyes. However, Marcia seemed to appreciate the comment.

“Your volunteerism sets a needed example for many of my fellow class–” Rick continued until cut off.

“What would you like?” Pepper queried, getting straight to business.

“I’m leaning toward some more of your daughter’s delicious cookies. They sure were tasty earlier today. And I just know she gained that skill through your instruction, Mrs. Fallon. Dad says you’re one of the best trainers down at the hospital,” Rick continued his compliments.

“Tell your father thanks for the praise,” Pepper continued, joining Ginny in masking her true feelings over Dr. Trask and his son’s Eddie Haskell routine.

"Yes, I think that Bridget will appreciate the support. I also understand that she's still undecided about her date next weekend. Perhaps a mother's good word might help a young man–"

“Shows what you know, buddy,” Brandy interrupted with a hearty laugh. Then, she moved forward with an impish smirk. “First off, Bee doesn’t care who Mom wants her to date. If anything, she’ll pick the opposite. And second, me and my girls made those cookies. Bev’s the decent cook in the family, not Bee. She’s terrible. So if you want to buy your way into my sister’s panties, you better buy some of those Rice–”

“Brandy!”

“Come here, honey,” Virginia motioned as the girl threw her hands up to say what-did-I-do to her mother. “Let’s not ruin a sale.”

"I'm sorry for my youngest. We've been meaning to have her tested for Tourette syndrome. However, she is correct, Rick. My middle daughter mostly made the Rice Krispie Treats," Pepper said, gesturing to the plate in front of the young man.

"Then I shall take two," Rick announced, his expression returning to a pleasant one after briefly showing his anger at Brandy.

All the women and girls watched as the school’s lothario wandered jovially past Bridget and her friends while praising the tasty treats.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Bee’s not going to fall for his shit. Well, probably not. I hope not. Can you imagine him as a son-in-law if he knocked Bee up? Crap, their kids might be worse than Bev.”

“Brandy, I...I don’t know what to do with you.”

“Geez, you’re not going to start saying that again, are you? I let the crack about Tourette’s slide without saying anything. Hey, Kirk!” Brandy brightened up as she saw a familiar face.

“Keeping guys on their toes still?” Kirk Langley questioned as he walked up with Keegan Randle.

"You know it," the grade school girl replied. Then, looking over Kirk's shoulder, she asked about his best friend's whereabouts. "Elliot plotting something for Tinny?"

“No, no,” Kirk denied, looking more at Mrs. Day. “He’s just over there talking to his mom.”

“Oh,” Brandy responded, sounding disappointed. Still, she glanced over at the concession stand where Eleanor Ridge joined Lucille McCracken and Cecelia Bank, along with a couple of other parents she didn’t know well, to volunteer. “We need some action around here. It’s already boring.”

“Perhaps you should go see what Teddy’s up to,” Virginia suggested, sensing more trouble brewing between Pepper and her youngest.

“What an excellent idea!” Brandy’s mother agreed.

“I can recognize a brush-off when I see one. But I’ll allow it,” Brandy stated. “I better go make sure that Teddy’s not spitting wack pickup lines like that wannabe player was a minute ago.”

“I saw Teddy, Dean, and Rhett over in the parking lot talking to a few girls, actually,” Kirk revealed.

“What?!” Fawn screeched before acting as if she didn’t.

“C’mon, we better go put your crush in check,” Brandy told her co-BFF.

“Crush? I don’t have any crush,” Fawn denied terribly.

“I think I better stay here and help,” Wrenn declared.

"That's okay, sweetie. Go have fun with your friends. We'll be fine," Pepper reassured while Virginia and Marcia gathered several items the two guys purchased for their friends.

“Yeah, come on, Wrennie. My mom doesn’t want you loitering around here.”

“I didn’t say that!” Pepper yelled after her daughter.

“Looking good, Bridget.”

“Great idea about the bake sale, Bridget.”

“Mmh! Mmmhhh! These treats are incredible, Bridget. Just like you,” Rick flattered as he walked past slowly.

“Am I a fucking wall?” Tinny questioned angrily. She’d been ignored repeatedly as classmates and older men strolled in through the gates to greet her best friend.

"Now, don't be upset, Tin. You know the effect that Bee has on horny guys," Shayla comforted while placing a hand on the co-captain's arm. "She just has that it factor."

“I believe they’re called big tits,” the petite brunette corrected, scowling down at her smaller bust.

“I think it’s her blonde hair and cheer uniform,” a new voice said, joining them.

“What the hell, Cass?” Tinny exclaimed, waving her hand in front of her heart after being startled.

“And where have you been, young lady?” Bridget questioned.

“Um, just over there,” the bookish redhead responded, gesturing over her shoulder at the merchandise table. “I’ve been lending Janet a hand until the Higbys arrived. Nobody noticed me?”

“Sorry, Cass. We’ve been scouting for Bee’s homecoming date,” Shayla said.

“We have not!” Bridget protested.

“You might not be, but we have,” Haley added, joining the group.

“Yeah, Hales is getting worried that our captain might steal her date,” Zita teased, elbowing her friend.

“I never said that!” Haley denied.

“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in Graham. Our families have way too much history of late,” Bridget reassured her cheermate.

“Is it intervention time yet?” Tinny asked.

“Inter–What?!”

“Not quite yet,” Cassandra said, ignoring their co-BFF’s outburst.

“Well, she can’t wait forever on Coy,” Shayla declared, getting nods from Haley and Zita.

“You three are still young enough for me to send over as replacements,” Bridget threatened the three juniors while motioning over at the Babybees.

“And you can’t wait much longer before ditching our indecisive QB,” Tinny stated. “It’s going to be humiliating when you take a sophomore to senior homecoming.”

“Coy’s not indecisive. It’s his dad–”

“Yeah, yeah, we know. It’s Dictator Quarry’s order about not dating during the football season,” Cassie interrupted.

“Ooh, good one, Cass!” Zita commended.

“Don’t you pile on me too,” Bridget hissed at her non-cheerleader best friend.

“Look, we get not wanting to lose Coy to Gemma, but Tin has a point,” Shayla remarked. “You really can’t wait any longer, or you’ll end up with the leftovers.”

"I know that!" Bridget snapped before recomposing herself. "I'm not an idiot. Mrs. Quarry isn't going to let her son not go to homecoming. I heard that Gemma thinks Coy will decide after tonight's game. So tomorrow by the latest."

“You better hope so. Or we’re holding that intervention,” Shayla warned.

“Yeah, Gabby has the girls up at Zurbrugg on standby,” Tinny revealed.

“You gotta be shitting me? Seriously, go worry about finding Annette a date,” Bridget suggested about the other dateless cheerleader.

“Why bother? She's gonna end up with a scuzzy guy like Rick or Hoyt,” Tinny replied, shaking her head at the candidates.

“So says the girl going with Steve Gorman,” Cassie criticized.

“Oh, don’t start that crap again!”

“Enough! We need to get ready for the game,” Bridget realized, cutting off her two BFFs and their bickering.

“I didn’t send for you to work the table,” Virginia responded to her sulking son.

“Dammit, Dee!”

“Don’t Dee me. Get your lazy ass back there and get to work,” Brandy ordered Teddy. “If not, I’ll tell your mother what you and Rhett were saying to those girls.”

Virginia watched her son's expression turn to fright and how Fawn stomped over to slump on a chair while folding her arms. Wrenn appeared unsure where to look, which also hurt the twelve-year-old's case. Nor did a newly arrived Darla, who seemed sick to her stomach at all the arguing.

“Theodore, get over here and start helping now!” Virginia bellowed.

“Tattletale!” Teddy hissed, causing Brandy to stick her tongue out at her next-door neighbor.

“Pay her no attention,” Pepper told her surrogate son. She directed him to replace the pouting Fawn as her helper. “And if you keep sticking that tongue out to gloat, you might lose it.”

Brandy's comeback never came, as she did a double-take. Then, after confirming the identity of the new arrival, she raced behind the table and used her body to replace her mom. Snapping her fingers caused Fawn, Wrenn, and Darla to all stand at attention. The timing worked out precisely as a blonde with long, slightly curled hair, gray eyes, and large breasts bypassed the line to approach the table.

“Royalty in the house,” Brandy called out, bending a knee while bowing her head.

Fawn, Wrenn, and Darla curtsied similarly, with Teddy merely bowing his head. Pepper palmed her face while Virginia appeared apologetic. Only Marica seemed confused by what was happening.

“Your Royal Highness,” Brandy proclaimed before rising to her feet. “How may your subjects serve you?”

The initial frown on the coed’s face morphed into a glower as she saw the younger kids perform another half-bow before holding their hands out.

“I am so sorry, Sela,” Pepper apologized. “I don’t know where Brandy came up–actually, I’ll speak to Bridget about this.”

“Don’t blame Bridget, Mrs. Fallon. I strongly suspect this performance came from Tinsley's mind,” Sela Wynwick stated.

Virginia immediately shot a questioning look at her son. Then, realizing this production definitely had the fingerprints of her daughter all over it, Ginny began to issue her standard apology.

"Tinsley will hear about this, Sela. I don't know where she gets this behavior or the ideas. I can certainly say it's not from my husband or myself. But, I can deal with my wayward son right–"

A boisterous chuckle cut Virginia off as two people joined Sela. The dashingly handsome, brown-haired young man with a tan didn't appear familiar to the women or the children. However, the older man who'd laughed held a very familiar face.

“There is no need to apologize, Ginny. My eldest daughter’s attitude can often come across as imperial. So a humorous jest won’t kill her.”

“Father!” Sela hissed, turning around to glare at him as well.

“And I also think this little mischief-maker had just as much a co-creation role as Tinsley,” Fenton Wynwick speculated with a wink. “Hello, Brandy.”

“Hello, Mr. Wynwick,” the usual brat greeted respectfully. “Are you alone or is–Hiya, Fi!”

Thirteen-year-old Fiona Wynwick shuffled her feet sulkily as she joined her family. She acknowledged Brandy's excited handwaving with a slight smile.

“Now, let’s drop the attitude, Fi. You have no one but yourself to blame,” Fenton told his youngest child. Then, he turned back to address the women at the table. “We stopped by for three reasons. First, we’d like to purchase several treats, but as Sela cut in line, we’ll wait to do that. Please, step forward, young man.”

“Whoa! Who’s that?” a sophomore asked his friend as they stepped forward. “She’s hot!”

“Dude, that’s Sela Wynwick. The Bumble queen or princess or whatever,” his friend whispered before catching Sela’s stern gaze and looking away hastily. "She graduated last year."

“Yeah, you better avoid Medusa’s gaze, or you’ll get turned to stone,” Brandy threatened before exclaiming at her mom. “Hey, don’t kick me!”

Fiona cackled at Brandy's joke, causing her sister to hiss something about a delinquent in response.

"Second, I understand that the cheer squad's funds are low. As Bridget is preoccupied with the game about to start, I'll let you hold this, Pepper," Fenton said, pulling out a check and handing it over.

“This is very generous of you, Fenton,” Pepper responded, checking the amount. Virginia leaned over to get a glance before holding in a whistle. Brandy attempted to jump up to see it but didn’t even get close. “You didn’t need to do so.”

"Nonsense. Cheerleading has been good for my family. It helped provide a distraction and purpose for Sela after Serena's passing. And I hope it will do the same for Fiona in the future," Fenton said, giving his youngest a side-eye. "And that brings us to our third reason for stopping by. Unfortunately, Fiona found herself in trouble again. So, if you don't mind, I think part of her punishment should be helping at the bake sale for the whole game."

“We’ll gladly take Fiona’s help,” Virginia replied.

“And I’d use the bake sale as punishment for my youngest, too. However, Brandy likes to lord over the table too much to see it as punishment,” Pepper added, causing Fenton to chuckle again.

“Whatever, Mom,” Brandy said, hopping over to hug the young teenager as she came behind the table. “What did you do? Is it a good story? Did the cops show up at your house, too? They’ve been tailing me lately. Yes, they are, Wrenn!”

Distracted by her string of questions and arguing with one of her friends, Brandy missed the part where Fenton introduced the handsome young man. Yet, she noticed the following bit of conversation.

“It’s the least we can do to grab a few treats for Woody and the boys. They’re saving us seats, and we’d better get a move on it,” Fenton said, noticing the time.

“Wait; what? He’s here? Wyatt’s here?” Brandy questioned as her voice steadily raised.

“Yes, Wyatt and Whit are here with their father,” Fenton confirmed while Fiona smirked at the young blonde’s reaction.

“Ohmigawd. Ohmigawd!” Brandy began to panic as Fawn squealed, with Darla already preparing for what came next. Only Wrenn shook her head in annoyance. “How’s my hair? What about my ribbons? How do I look?!”

“Gee, excited much?” Teddy teased.

“Shut up, or I’ll punch you in the nuts,” Brandy snapped.

“Brandy!” Pepper also snapped.

“Let’s go find him,” Fawn said.

“Find him? Fuck that! I need to make a splash,” Brandy responded, straightening her cheer uniform as an idea popped into her head.

“Language!”

“I got no time for bullshit rules, Mom. I have to find the squad!” the little hellion started to race off before skidding to a halt. She hurried back to whisper into Fawn’s ear and then rushed off.