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As the music started Anna, Captain Drake and Robert started around the crate and stool, which were left. Anna counted to beats of the music as she had for each and every time so she could figure out when the song would stop and make sure she was in front of a seat to sit on. Once again as the song stopped, she plopped down onto the stool, while Captain Drake and Robert had a shoving match and finally Robert won the honor of sitting on the crate. The music started again as the stool was removed. Anna and Robert started moving around as the music played and the tension on the deck was visible everywhere.

The music stopped. Robert rushed the crate at the same time Anna did, they shoved and pushed, first both on the crate, then one then the other. Then the crowd watched as one big crack sounded and the crate broke into pieces against the deck floor. Anna tumbled to the deck floor along with Robert, with a hard thump. There were sounds of gasps, over the deck, as they both lay in a heap on the deck floor. Anna complained as she rose to her elbows. “This is your fault you pushy overbearing insect. Shoving is not part of the game, that’s called cheating.”

“And what is it called when you do it, Miss Pemberton, just sport?” Robert argued back, pulling himself to a sitting up position. “You shoved the lady who was my dance partner earlier out of her chair a few minutes ago. Now, what do you have to say about that, Miss Proper?”