Quote(Louise A. Schmidt) "Listen. It was a dark and stormy night. A band of robbers were gathered around a....."
" No, no, no. That's not right. Tell it the way it really happened. It was before sunset at the beach. Girls from a beach volleyball team were waiting for their parents to give them a ride home."
"Let me tell it my way. Where was I? Oh, yes, they were gathered around a campfire."
"No, they were leaning against the rocks warmed by the setting sun. Fires are not allowed on the beach"
"hmmp! One of the robbers...."
"Girls! One of the girls from the beach volleyball team!"
"...said, 'Captain, tell us a story.' The Captain...."
"The captain of the beach volleyball team."
"...said, 'I believe I will. It was a dark and stormy night.'"
"Well, that part is accurate anyway. But then their parents came and picked them up and took them home. You really need to be accurate and stick to the facts!"


"It was a daring daytime robbery by a dangerous gang of robbers all dressed as ninjas. The bank has yet to release to the public how much was stolen, though it is believed to be in the millions. We hope to have an update for you on the 10 o'clock news."
"Mom, can we change the channel to some good music. News is boring."
"Sure. They have been repeating that story since the noon news. It;s the biggest robbery in this area ever."
"Mom!"
"Okay, okay. How about some country western?"
"Mother!"
"Okay, I will stop teasing you. You pick the music. Are your friends comfortable in the back, with all your beach bags?"
"We're doing fine, Mrs. R. "
"I hope you did not get cold, waiting for me. I did not realize it was not just a fog bank rolling in, or I would have come sooner. Did you get wet?"
" Not very. Besides some surfers had built a fire earlier near the big rock. It shielded us from the worst of the rain while keeping us warm. Though it did get dark early when the storm hit."


"Ow. Why'd you poke me?"
"Shh. Keep quiet. Your bag is open!"
"So?"
"There's some black showing!"
"Oh! There. Better?"
"Yes."


"Mrs. R, you can drop all three of us off at my house. We can store all the volleyball bags there in the garage until our next practice. They are too heavy to lug around."
"Are your parents home?"
"Mo-om! You're embarrassing me!"
"Okay. You are all old enough to be there alone, I guess."
"I am getting out here, too!"
"Sure you don't want a ride home?"
"No!"
"Okay. Be home by 11. Bye."


"Mothers!"

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