Angela Ruth Strong - The Water Fight Professional

A fun romp throughchildhood.

~BILL MYERS,

Creator of McGee and Me , Best-sellingAuthor, Award-winning Filmmaker

I love it. My kidsthink The Water Fight Professional should be made into a movie!

~JILL WILLIAMSON,

Award-winning Childrens Author

Reading The Water Fight Professional is morefun than licking a slug.

~JUDY COX, Childrens Author

The protagonists offbeatprofession and Angela Strongs vibrant voice make The Water Fight Professional a book that young teens will eat up. Want to keep energeticboys and girls entertained for a few hours? Hand them thisbook.

~JEANNIE ST. JOHN TAYLOR,

Radio Host and Author/Illustrator of morethan thirty books

Other Titles in theFun4Hire Series

________________________________________

TheSnowball Fight Professional ,Book 2

TheFood Fight Professional , Book3

ThePillow Fight Professional , Book4

The Water FightProfessional

Written by

Angela RuthStrong

Illustrated by

Jim Strong

Ashberry Lane

2014

Smashwords Edition

Ashberry Lane

P.O. Box 665, Gaston, OR 97119

www.ashberrylane.com

This book is available in print at mostonline retailers.

All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means without the prior writtenpermission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotationsin printed reviews.

Published in association with the literaryagency of Wordserve Literary Group, www.wordserveliterary.com

ISBN 978-0-9893967-9-0

Cover design by Miller Media Solutions

Illustrations by Jim Strong

Title font by Kimberly Geswein

Scriptures taken from theHoly Bible, New International Version, NIV. 1973, 1978, 1984,2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rightsreserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

The NIV and New International Versionare trademarks registered in the United States Patent and TrademarkOffice by Biblica, Inc.

FICTION / Middle Grade

Table ofContents

Splish, Splash,Water Fight and a Bath

A Delicious Bet

Barf-O-Bits

Pedal Power

Free as a Birdie

Slip Slidin on Waves

Two for Tuesday

King of the Wheelie

Hit Me with Your Best Slingshot

Weekend Warrior

Raising the Bar

Starlight, Star Bright,

Stars Shine on the Stage Tonight

Man Overboard

Top Secret

Fun with a Water Gun

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

To Jordan

The Real Water FightProfessional

I have fought the goodfight

2 Timothy 4:7

Chapter One:

Splish, Splash, Water Fight and aBath

Crouching behind a scratchy bush, I balanceda squishy water balloon in each hand.

Austin Clairmonts family slowly walked downthe brick path of the nature trail. Very slowly. Was his mom reallyreading all the little signs that described each plant? People onlyread those on field trips.

My right foot tingled like it was startingto fall asleep.

The family turned left to go over thefootbridge. I awaited my victim on the wrong path. This wasnt partof the business plan.

The Clairmonts strolled out of my line ofvisioneven Austins super-tall dad who hired me to soak Austin inthe first place. Hed paid me to use two water balloons and my MegaDrench 200, the water gun tucked in my belt behind my back. It wasmy only sale on that cloudy, early summer day.

Lucky for me, unlike my owndad, Mr. Clairmont liked to spend money. Hed come right up to mybooth in the park and arranged for my services. Of course, sinceAustin was a whole year older than me and going into8 th grade at Cole Valley Christian School, I would have to besneaky in my attack or he would certainly get me back.

Half crawling, half running, I started afterthe family. My sneakers kept my bridge crossing silent. I sloweddown as I came to the bend and peeked around the corner.

Perfect. Austin had gone down the hill nextto the fish-viewing windows.

I crept backward two steps to the railroadtie stairs which led up to an overlook of the pond, waterfall, andwindows. I couldnt have planned it better.

Mr. Clairmont caught my eye through the treebranches and winked.

My pulse picked up.

I angled my body so there was a clear shotthrough the tree branches. Lifting the red balloon in my righthand, I focused on my target and counted down in my head. Three two one FIRE!

Splat . Direct hit.

What? Austin leaped offthe bench he was standing on and examined his royal blue T-shirt,now a navy color where the water had hit him.

Austins two brothers laughed and lookedaround, but they didnt spot my second balloon before it arrived.Yikes. I hit Austins little brother. That meant trouble, but I hadto finish the job.

I pulled the Mega Drench out from under mybelt and charged down the steps with a war cry. My position hadbeen perfect for launching water balloons, but if I stayed there,the brothers would find me for sure, and I would have no escape.Wah! I yelled, gun pointed in front of me as I turned thecorner.

One run-by soaking coming up.

Austin saw me. Its Joey, he yelled.

Whos Joey? asked thelittle brother.

I aimed the nozzle slightly to the left ofAustinthe Mega Drench never shot straightand pulled thetrigger.

Hes the professionalwater fighter. Austin jumped behind his big brother, Grant, toavoid my attack.

I doused the fifteen-year-old. Crud.

Hey, yelled Grant.Youre gonna regret this.

I was already starting to, but that was thehazard of my chosen career. Mr. Clairmont high-fived me as I keptmoving down the path, heart pounding in my ears.

He was the only one still laughing.

I glanced over my shoulder.

Austin had his moms water bottle in handand was in hot pursuit.

I faced forward and ran faster.

Heavier footsteps scuffed past Austins.Grant was gaining on me.

Glancing back, I extended my gun and shot asI ran.

Water dripped from Grants chin, but thatdidnt stop him.

How was I going to escape?

Get him, shouted Austin.His voice faded behind me. I must have worn him out.

Sliding on gravel, I tried to leap toward asecond bridge, but Grant grabbed my shirt. My collar held me backlike a dog on a leash. I twisted side to side, whipping him backand forth, and jerked him off balance.

Grant tumbled to the ground but wrapped anarm around my ankle on the way down.

I lost my footing and joined him on the hardwooden planks.

Austin reappeared. I hadnt worn him out.Hed just ducked down to the creek to fill up the water bottle withslimy green stuff. Sick. That was so much worse than the drinkingfountain water I used in my balloons.

I kicked at Grant and clawed at the bridge.No use.

Austin stepped forward with a huge grin onhis face.

I shielded my head with my arms as algae andduck poop greased my body. My water gun bumped against myshoulder.

Oh, yeah. I was still armed.

Rolling onto my back, I aimed the weapon tothe side of my assailants and fired. Woohoo!

No way. Austin reacheddown for my right arm and Grant grabbed my left.

I tried to pull the brothers together sothey would hit heads, but that must only work in kung fumovies.

Austin hauled me toward the side of thebridge. He wouldnt

Let me go, Ihollered.

Id rather lick a slug.Austin didnt even break stride.

Grant paused, but didnt relax his grip onmy arm. Didnt you lick a slug on our camping trip last year? heasked Austin.

Oh, yeah.

Ready? askedGrant.

Set, answeredAustin.