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| Presents Hawaiian Cruise Part 5 |
| HOMEWARD BOUND! So many passengers were down in the dumps to be leaving Hawaii, so Jimmy was quick to get a notice up, announcing forthcoming events. This generated quite some interest and enthusiasm, and gave everyone something exciting to look forward to. FORTHCOMING EVENTS! Gather around everyone! Come and join in the fun! ANNOUNCING: A TALENT QUEST, to be held in the Grande Ballroom on Thursday Night. Come and show us what you can do! Entries to be in by 8pm on Tuesday Night. Please give your names, and details of your act to me, Jimmy, at the Purser’s Office. Costumes are available for hire at the Novelty Shoppe on the Promenade Deck. Prizes will be awarded for the three best acts. 1st Prize - $200 cash and a year’s vouchers for free grooming services. 2nd Prize - $100 cash and 6 months vouchers for free grooming services. 3rd Prize - $50 cash and 3 months vouchers for free grooming services. _________________________ Also for your enjoyment: AN ‘ETHNIC’ NIGHT The Novelty Shoppe has a large collection of National costumes, so ~ Get into the mood and come to the ‘Ethnic Ball’ dressed in your favourite National Dress. This event is to take place on Saturday Night, before our arrival in Los Angeles. It will be held in the Grande Ballroom, so get in early, and don’t miss out! ENJOY THE VOYAGE HOME! Your friendly Entertainment Officer, JIMMY. ________________________ TOBEY was fortunate enough to get a cabin close to the girls and boys who had helped him to get rid of the witch's curse. That night they met up in the dining room. Tobey was amazed at the wonderful variety of yummy food on the menu. Tess was running late and Snickerdoodle was telling her to look at the menu. There was SO MUCH to choose from, and some of it was very exotic. Snickerdoodle was going to begin with the ‘Bird’s Nest Soup’, – that was, until Tess warned her that it might have ‘bugs’ in it! The Chef had recommended the ‘Mongolian Lamb’, but Tess couldn’t help thinking about that poor little lamb having to travel all the way from Mongolia, to end up on a plate! She was assured that the lamb didn’t have to make that long trip, but Tess was then doubtful about the freshness of the meat. SURELY it would be rotten by now, if it was killed in Mongolia and then shipped all the way to the USA!!!!! She finally decided on a good old Texas Steak! They ate heartily, and decided that they would go to the lounge after coffee, and listen to the band playing there. In the Tropical Lounge, the Band was playing romantic music, and Mia was singing “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” from ‘Showboat’. While everyone was relaxing and enjoying the music, Sydney and Griffin had sought out the company of Snickerdoodle and Tess, and were explaining about the box of toys. The girls listened attentively, and were astounded to learn the truth. They asked the girls if they had kept a pink and blue bunny. Tess confirmed this, and was shocked to think that she had been carrying around a fortune in diamonds! “So that’s the honest truth,” Griffin confessed. “We didn’t want you to get into trouble.” “You can report us if you like,” exclaimed Sydney. “We wouldn’t blame you, but we honestly don’t want the diamonds. We were only delivering them because we needed the money.” They waited with wide eyes to see what the girls would do. Tess looked at Snickedoodle questioningly. “What should we do?” she asked in a shaky voice. (If the diamonds were handed in to the Captain, there would be too many questions that they could not answer without incriminating Sydney and Griffin, and the two blondes had decided that Sydney and Griffin were ‘kinda cute’!) Snickerdoodle shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t want these two boys to go to jail.” “Well,” said Tess, “I reckon we should open up the toy, and throw the diamonds overboard. Then we can keep our favourites, and still give the others to those little children that we planned to give them to!” They all agreed that this would be the best idea, so Griffin and Sydney went with them to their cabin, and they carefully opened up Thumper, the pink and blue bunny. Hidden inside with the stuffing, were a dozen sparkling diamonds! They all gasped in wonder, and gazed at the precious gems. They had never seen anything like this before and, for a moment, they were tempted to share them between the four of them. But that would have been wrong. The diamonds did not belong to them and were probably stolen from someone. Also, they’d be discovered by customs. No. There was only one thing to do, and that was to dispose of them where they would never be found. They went together to the promenade deck, and let the diamonds fall like stars into the ship’s swirling white wake, to be swallowed up in the depths of the ocean. They stood silently for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Griffin said: “We did the right thing. Let’s go inside and have a few drinks to celebrate a new beginning to our lives.” “I second that!” said Tess with a sigh. _______________________ CAPTAIN DILLON had just received a wire from LAPD informing him that the puppy, (Lucky) had arrived safely and was now back with his rightful owners. His Mom and Dad were so grateful that they wished everyone who was responsible for him being found, should share in the generous reward of $5,000 which had been offered for his safe return. Captain Dillon discussed it with Kodi, Clancy, Cassie and Bristol, and it was decided that it should be divided between Killian, Lexi, Tess and Snickerdoodle, who were really the ones who found him. The girls were in for a wonderful surprise! The very next morning, Killian, Lexi, Tess and Snickerdoodle were approached by Captain Dillon, and informed about the decision regarding the reward money. The grateful owners of little Lucky had wired the money to him, and he had divided it into four checks, payable to each of the girls. It meant that they would receive $1250 each! The girls couldn’t believe their good fortune. Tess and Snickerdoodle couldn’t help but think about Griffin and Sydney. It was almost as if they were being rewarded for being honest, and not keeping the diamonds. Also, they could help these poor boys to pay off their bills, and they wouldn’t need to get involved in anything dishonest again. They decided they would at least offer to help. ________________________ Killian and Lexi couldn’t decide which of the two shy boys they liked the most. Killian had danced with Brody, but as she got to know Ryle better, she rather fancied him. On the other hand, Lexi was being more and more attracted to Brody! (Wasn’t it just as well they didn’t BOTH like the same boy!) Brody and Ryle were finding the same thing happening to them. The attraction was mutual. They thought of Tobey, who was responsible for bringing them all together. They hoped he might find a nice girlfriend too on the way home. _________________________ THE NIGHT OF THE TALENT QUEST Jimmy had been taking all the entries for the Talent Quest, and he had been amazed at the variety of talent among the passengers. They had a very exciting programme ahead. The night’s entertainment opened with Jimmy introducing the first of the competitors. THE FABULOUS FIVE turned out to be Bella Beachbunny; Stella; Tipper; Felix and Fenway, putting on a very good ‘song and dance’ act. The stage setting was completely changed for their act, and their outfits were stunning! They were followed by Max, doing a great juggling act on a ‘trick cycle’. This boy was full of surprises! No Talent Quest would be complete without someone doing a ‘Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers’ tap dance in ‘Top Hat and Tails’ – and our winners of the ballroom Dancing competition showed that Ballroom Dancing was not their only area of expertise. Our ‘ghost boy’, Tobey, made his debut as a ‘One Man Band’ and the audience thoroughly enjoyed his brilliant performance as he sang and played ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’. The next act was something quite different. The four playboys Cooper, Finnegan P, Kenyon and Nicky had got together with Ryle and Griffin to give a gymnastic display. They called themselves the TERRIERIFIC TUMBLERS! The audience was hushed as they did the most spectacular balancing acts, finishing with a ‘pyramid’ where Cooper and Finnegan P balanced a large red ball on their noses. Next, came Buster, performing some amazing magic tricks. Here was a lad with promise! (Though everyone hoped that the chicken he produced from his hat was not going to be on the menu the next day!) Next came Dasher and Dakota, who were very convincing as Ventriloquists, and they added some humour to their act too. The act was called BIRDIE and BUD, and they had everyone in fits of laughter. The final act was hilarious. Flynn, Rudy, Kramer and Bailey sang a medley of Irish songs, and they called themselves the LECHEROUS LEPRECHAUNS!! They really looked the part! The judges were four members of the crew: Madame Kansas; Doctor Cassie; Guinness and Tucker. They had a tough task ahead of them in choosing the winners of the competition. After a coffee break, Jimmy returned to the stage with the judges’ decision. “Well folks, it was a very difficult decision to reach, and the four judges finally agreed on the winner, and the places for second and third.” He opened the envelope, and read the results with a firm, deep voice. “A special consolation prize has been awarded to BUSTER, our brilliant Magician. Buster, will you come up to the stage please?” Buster was surprised, and delighted. He hurried forward and Jimmy shook him by the paw as everyone applauded. Then Jimmy began to read again from the piece of paper he was holding. “Third place goes to – TOBEY – the ‘One Man Band’ – would you come forward Tobey?” Tobey ran forward excitedly. It was the first time he had ever won anything! He stood with Jimmy, as the audience clapped enthusiastically. Jimmy continued: “Second place is awarded to – DASHER AND DAKOTA – our clever Ventriloquists who entertained us with BIRDIE & BUD!” Dasher and Dakota jumped from their seats and took their places beside Tobey and Buster. “Now,” said Jimmy, “to our winner.” (All eyes were on the piece of paper Jimmy was holding.) “Actually,” Jimmy coughed, “I should say ‘winners’ – because first place has been awarded to those four ‘Lecherous Leprechauns’, FLYNN, RUDY, KRAMER and BAILEY!” There was wild applause and a standing ovation from the audience as the four boys rose from their seats and joined Jimmy and the other winners on the stage. The Band struck up with the selection of Irish tunes that the group had sung so well. Jimmy presented them with their prizes, and then cleared his voice to make a further announcement: “The judges were so impressed with the talents of all our contestants, that they have requested that all other competitors come forward to receive prizes of twenty dollars each. So please, lets have all our competitors up here on stage?” There was a murmur from the audience, and further excited applause as the FABULOUS FIVE, the TERRIERIFIC TUMBLERS, MAX THE JUGGLER and the TOP HAT TAPPERS headed for the stage. Everyone had received recognition of their talents, and no one was disappointed. What a remarkable Talent Quest it had been. END OF PART FIVE |
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| Dedicated to TIPPER, in loving memory of a wonderful lady who has accompanied us on two Cruises, and who now made her last voyage to the Rainbow Bridge. Tipper will be forever in our hearts. |
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