7 A.M. Sunday morning
“Are we forgetting anything? Hey! HEY!” Willi stood, hands on hips. “COO! Now is not the time for Dragon Ball! Are you ready to go?”
Coo looked up with a disoriented expression. “Huh? OH! Yeah, I’m ready.”
“Don’t make me put you in the sin bin!”
Farr A and Carol both appeared at the same time, looking ready to roll.
“Sweet!” But then Willi realized something. “Where’s Magoo?”
Carol looked concerned. “Maybe she got lost in the couch again. MAGOO?!?”
“Ooh! Remembering, Coo ran upstairs, reappearing a moment later, with Magoo in tow.
“I found her!”
Everyone looked tremendously relieved. Carol said, “That could have been a disaster! So we’re good to go now?”
With that, they all marched out the door, locking it up behind them.
“Ooooh, nooo!”
“What’s wrong Carol?” Willi asked as she was about to get behind the wheel.
“How is Magoo going to sit back there? Her knees don’t bend very well anymore.”
“Oooh,” was the unified chorus. They all turned to look at Magoo, who remained strangely silent.
“Well,” Carol continued thoughtfully, tapping her index finger against her chin, “Let’s try and make her stand, I think it’s possible.”
After a lot of pushing and shoving, they finally forced a reluctant Magoo into the car.
“About damn time, Magoo!” Farr A looked more than slightly pissed. “Why can’t you just be a little more cooperative??” Speaking to the front seat people, she said, “I don’t know if I can sit next to her all the way to Detroit.”
Carol, in the passenger seat, looked back and nodded. “Sorry Farr A and Coo. She’s just tired I think. I’m sure that in a few minutes she’ll be less solemn and bitchy. Right, Magoo?”
A smile was the only response Carol received.
“See what I mean? Oh, don’t forgot to pick up Becky.” Carol instructed. “Well there ya go! Just make her sit next to Magoo!”
3 hours later
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
“We remembered the tickets, right?” This being said by Coo as they were just about to the ticket taker.
Willi nodded. They had reached the woman taking the tickets.
“Hi. Ticket please. Thank you.” Becky, Willi, Coo, and Farr A all stepped inside the stadium and the woman looked expectantly and Carol and Magoo.
“Uhh…ticket?”
Carol looked towards Magoo, then spoke up. “Yeah, see, we find of forgot she might need a ticket. Is that okay? We can’t just leave her here.”
The girl, whose nametag read “Stevie,” said hesitantly, “Well…I think under these circumstances it would be alright.”
“Hey thanks. That’s cool of you. What’s that Magoo? Oh, okay.” To the girl, she said, “Magoo said she likes your name. Thanks again!”
As the group walked towards the seats, Stevie muttered under her breath. “Weirdos.”
Coo looked around at all the seats and asked, “So where do we want to sit?”
“Ooh!” The yelp escaped from Willi’s lips, “It’s Steve Duchesne! Come on, Magoo!”
Willi took off running, with Magoo right at her side. As they passed several people, Magoo collided with them and bounced away without so much as an apology. “Ouch!” Damn you!” “What the hell!” Were some of the comments made as they whizzed passed.
Willi looked over her shoulder and started cracking up, but kept on running nonetheless.
They were soon descending down a set of stairs, trying to dodge innocent bystanders, and sometimes not succeeding very well. As happened last year, many curse words were muttered, and many dirty stares given.
“Jeez, Magoo! This is so much more efficient than last year. We won’t break any chairs this time, since you’ve lost so much weight!”
Finally, the two reached Duke. “Hi Mr. Steve Duchesne! I’m Willi and this is my friend Magoo. We go to CMU, we’re Johnny’s friends. You might remember us from such softball games as Red Wings vs. Tigers 2001.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard all about you guys. Where are the others? Wait a --- what the…?” He turned to stare at Magoo in complete and utter bewilderment. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. “Uh…this is a cardboard cut out of a smiling girl wearing a Stevie jersey.”
“Heck yeah man!” Willi beamed proudly. “The real one is at band camp for Centrals marching band.”
Duchesne looked at Willi, trying to paste a sincere smile on his face. “Is that so.”
“Yep, see, she didn’t want to miss the road trip and the game, so we brought the next best thing! Actually,” she lowered her voice to share a deep dark secret, “This one is even better because she doesn’t say a word!”
Above the noise of the crowd came the voices of Carol and Amy screaming, “Sign her boob!!!!!!”
Duchesne pretended not to hear this and signed Magoo’s arm instead. When Willi made it back to the group carrying Magoo, they were disappointed to see this.
“Why didn’t he sign her boob?” Carol demanded to know. “This is unacceptable.”
Willi tried to reason with her. “I think it’s because he’s French-Canadian.”
“What does that have to do with anthing?”
Willi’s response was to make a noise that indicated, “I don’t know.”
Later, after the game
“Hey, Mac’s signing over there!” Coo yelled in excitement.
“Alright, let’s go.” Becky lifted Magoo to her upright and standing position. “He’ll be so happy to see us again!”
Willi glanced toward the crowd gathering around McCarty. “I gots an idea! Give me Magoo, and you guys follow close behind. Ready?”
The group stuck close behind, wondering what she was up to. As they neared the crowd of people, they soon found out.
“Outta the way! Heads up, coming through!” Willi was carrying Magoo horizontally head first, using her as a battering ram. Everyone scampered to the side, all the while shaking their fists as the girls hurried by.
Soon enough, they stood directly in front of Darren McCarty.
“Hey, I remember you girls! Nice to see you again!”
The usual conversation and autograph signing ensued.
Soon the girls were asking for a picture with him. After everyone had a turn, Farr A piped up, “Now it’s Magoo’s turn!” She picked Magoo up and stood her right next to Mac. “Go ahead, Darren! Put your arm around her. She won’t bite!”
Since no one had explained the cardboard figure now standing next to him, McCarty looked confused/frightened. Only after the picture was snapped, with that very expression on his face, was it explained to him where the real Magoo was.
“Oooh. I understand. One of these days I’ll have to make a cardboard cutout of Drapes! I’m surprised that guy even makes it to the hockey games! Haha. I’ll see ya next year girls. Tell Magoo I said hi!” With a smile he moved on.
And that kiddies, is exactly what will happen. Miss Cleo couldn’t make a better prediction.