G-Day. Cute. And yes.
Really, really ready?
Dillon turned as the crowd lining both sides of the street broke into a cheer. Section by section, the lights came on. He texted,Wow.
Wow good or wow bad? This is your unpaid assistant elf. I can be discreet. But it will cost you.
Elena, this looks incredible.
So I can tell Mayor Mom the generators are working?
At that very moment, the band on the town hall’s front porch began playing. Their first number was a powerful rendition of “Rock Around the Clock.”
The crowd clearly loved having another reason to cheer.
Dillon surveyed the illuminated street, the smiles, the laughter, the children going nuts, the families holding the littlest ones up high enough to see it all.
His phone pinged.HELLO???
He texted back,Wrong question.
Okay, I’m game. What should her royal majesty the grand high poohbah of Miramar be asking?
Dillon replied,Are we having fun yet? And the answer is a total unqualified yes.
A longish pause, then,This is me laughing.
A faint drumming lifted faces, up and down the street. As the approaching helicopter’s noise grew in volume, Elena texted,Here comes trouble.
We’re ready at this end,Dillon texted back.I think.
The drumming grew louder still, then went quiet.
Elena texted,Eagle has landed.
Dillon headed back to what had formerly been a vacant lot and was now a hive of last-minute preparations. Charlie greeted him with, “What had you working your phone?”
“I was busy flirting with a ten-year-old.” Dillon pointed toward the Pacific. “They’re here.”
Of all the smiles filling the scene, Charlie’s was by far the grandest. “Let’s hope they make it into town before all the fuses blow.”
