“Val, listen to your words. ‘Those’ people?” another woman said, shaking her head. This woman wore a bohemian-style dress with a head wrap. “Look, ladies, we’re getting off track. Our new committee members here are merely reminding us we are all human beings, and as such, we should extend grace whenever possible. Madam President Marsalea, I vote we send an email to the owner of Midway Attractions addressing our concerns regarding the appropriated space for the carnival operators and their required behaviors. We should also make a sign and post it in the area outlining our stance on illegal activities, noise, and other expectations and whatnot. The authorities can be contacted if those are violated. That seems fair and hospitable to our guests, who are doing an important service for us.” She eyed Val as she delivered the last statement.

Several people nodded, others turned away, all withdrawing their attention from Chase and readdressing the president, who called for a motion. Fifteen minutes later, after the successful vote on the carnival workers, Chase and Olivia gathered up their notepads. Chase had written a few sentences about the sale of tickets so it looked like she’d actually done some thoughtful consideration of how to tear a ticket in half. As she stood, a few women came by to say hello and tell her they were happy she’d joined their group. A few looked starstruck, others warm and welcoming. Val gave her a frigid look and went to talk to the president, no doubt about her opposition to the motion and vote about the letter and sign.

An older lady named Carol, who had a tornado of silver hair surrounding her lined face, patted Chase on the back, drawing her attention away from the scowling Val. “Dear, I hope you might be able to help me since you’re of that world. I’m Carol Steadman, the chairperson for our celebrity dunking booth. We’re really struggling to find celebrities. The booth raises money for the Northern California Children’s Hospital, and so it’s an important part of our philanthropic goals for the year. So far we have Eddie Spaghetti, a children’s author, and Sofia Rendon, an anchor at KTJL. Oh, and a rodeo clown. We had one of the actors from Modern Problems, but she had a schedule change. Since you’re a celebrity, I thought you . . . you know.”

“You want me to get inside a dunking booth?” Chase asked, with visions of her plummeting into icy water as people laughed and jeered. Sounded scary.

“Well, yes. It’s for the children, after all, but I also thought you might recruit a few more celebrities. I’m sure you know a lot of them, right?” Carol clasped her hands together and used some trick to make her eyes look beseeching. Like Puss in Boots in Shrek. Chase felt her reservations melt.