The Last Bathing Beauty by Nathan Amy Sue

Author:Nathan, Amy Sue
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

BOOP

Boop, Georgia, and Doris stopped into Natalie’s salon the next day. Boop would prepare for this pageant the way she had prepared before—with an awareness of potential problems.

Natalie was standing behind the front desk.

“Smudges?” Natalie asked.

Boop glanced at her nails. “Oh no. I was thinking—” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “That you might like some help with the pageant. I could help with the registrations and even getting posters into local store windows.”

“No one says no to an old lady,” Georgia said. “And Doris and I will only be here a few more days.”

Boop scowled but acquiesced. “I’ve been looking for something to keep me busy—and I think we’d have fun working together.”

“I agree,” Natalie said. “It would be fun. You’re officially my cochairwoman!”

“Just like that?” Boop asked.

Natalie held out her hand and Boop shook it. “To be honest, I thought Piper might have fun helping me, but she’ll be at her dad’s most of the summer and she kind of rolled her eyes at me when I asked.” Natalie shrugged. “Oh! Since we’re partners, I should show you this. Remember I asked you if you remembered anything about the last Miss South Haven pageant?”

“Right,” Boop said.

“It was so long ago,” Georgia said.

“Well, I found a photo online.”

“You did?” Boop and Georgia said in unison.

Boop’s pulse sped up and her hands went clammy.

“Yes, but just one. It’s grainy and from the Benton Harbor newspaper. Nothing listed in the South Haven paper at all. Weird, right?” Natalie reached into her case and then handed Boop a piece of paper she’d never seen before. “The winner’s not even looking at the camera,” Natalie said. “There’s a short article to go with it. But this is it. Nothing else about her. I couldn’t find anything else online except her name.”

“Holy Toledo,” Georgia said.

“I know, it’s amazing, right? All you have to know is where to look and you can find anything online.” Natalie handed the paper to Boop.

Stern Granddaughter Wins Miss South Haven

SOUTH HAVEN, August 13—Mr. and Mrs. Ira Stern, owners of South Haven’s premier property, Stern’s Summer Resort, were as pleased as punch this year, as they had every right to be.

Their 18-year-old granddaughter, South Haven resident Betty Claire Stern, graduated with honors from South Haven High School in May and is planning to matriculate at Barnard College in New York, New York, in September.

Yesterday, brown-haired, blue-eyed Betty went on to win the crystal-encrusted crown and pink satin sash reserved for our Miss South Haven each year. Betty won the title over 19 other lovely girls representing local resorts.

The annual contest to pick South Haven’s summer sweetheart was sponsored by B’nai B’rith and held at the North Shore Pavilion.

Much to the crowd’s alarm, right after this photo was taken, our new beauty queen ran swiftly from the stage and fainted by the beach. At the time of this printing she is said to be resting comfortably at home, after suffering from exhaustion. Being a distinguished bathing beauty is hard work indeed.

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