Birthday Dunk Tank Fantasy

Last Week:

"So, what do you want for your birthday?"

My boyfriend was looking at me with his eyebrows raised. I could get lost in those blue eyes and long blond hair. He can pretty much make me do whatever he wants. Not that I mind. But maybe something different for such a big day.

He tries again. "Earth to Johnny...come in Johnny!"

"Umm, what?"

"Your birthday! You turn a quarter of a century. What do you want?"

"Well."

I start unbuttoning David's shirt in my mind. But then, I can do that for real any day. Our roommates, however. Hmmmm....!

"I want my own private carnival."

David tilts his head down toward me. "But you only ever do one thing at any carnival."

"Yeah, so the four of us can do it in the back yard."

David tilts his head to the side and starts grinning.

"Okay, so I'll get it set up."

As he turns to go, I call out, "Wait, there's something else."

David turns around and lifts one eyebrow.

"I want ALL POWER!!!!" I add what I hope is an evil grin to that remark.

"Uh huh, and what does that mean?"

"I'll write it down for you. You can go over it tonight with the twins."

See, the reason that's funny is because George is a tall, skinny African-American male while Kay (I'm not really sure how to spell or pronounce his real name, but I know it has a "k" in it) is a short and stocky Samoan. We've been calling them the twins since they moved into the house with us.

"I wasn't planning on including them," whined my favorite Prussian.

I made an attempt at the power stare David uses on me. He smirked.

"'ALL POWER!!!,' I said." I ramped up the power stare. He ramped up the smirk.

"Okay, it's your turn, and your birthday."

Later that night:

George stops me as I walk through the kitchen and brandishes my instructions in my face. "Dude," he says, "you know, Dave would do this anyway without any pressure."

I put my finger on his forehead and run it slowly down his nose. "My birthday, my fantasy. He'd better act like he's mortified."

As my finger runs off the end of George's nose, he tries to bite it. I jerk it back instinctively, then wag it at him. "Uh uhh, not unless you want to be punished too!!!"

George thinks for a second. Then he grabs my fist and shoves my finger into his mouth.....

Today, my birthday, in the hottest part of the afternoon:

"Can I go out now? I'm supposed to have ALL POWER!!!!, after all."

David peeks out the window, and replies, "No, you should go get a drink of water."

"Isn't that a bit redundant Dave?" He smiles.

"Give them five minutes. I'd better go change too." He runs upstairs. I make my way slowly to the kitchen and get a drink of water, counting the seconds. I saunter back to the sliding back door and resist the urge to peek myself.

Finally, I hear a knock on it. "Count down from 10." That was Kay's voice. I hear him running away.

"10, 9, 8, 7, aw fuck it."

I open the door.

The height of the privacy fence all around has been extended by canvas banners. They were homemade -- solid white originally with graffiti and birthday wishes spray painted on. Streamers were running all over. There was a Spiderman bounce house -- not what I asked for but certainly within the decorating parameters. And in the center -- a dunk tank.

Taller than the run-of-the-mill easy-dunker. Flat clear plastic front so you can see into the water. Random Greek letters behind the target. George and Kay were in matching white t-shirts and athletic shorts, standing behind a table with softballs and a cash drawer. They both had hangdog expressions on their faces, occasionally stealing glances at the moon bounce.

I hold up my hands in a "T" sign to signal a timeout from the fantasy. "Wow, you guys outdid yourselves. What's the moon bounce for?"

"In case anyone wants some privacy." George winked as he said this, and Kay sniggered. I smiled in appreciation and undid the timeout. They went back to looking depressed.

"So, pledges, how come that seat is empty?"

Geo