CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR – THE SMALL TOWN CHARMER

For the next few questions, Tiffany buzzed through each one with maddening ease, almost robotically reeling off the correct answers the instant the prompts finished. By the time they hit the mid-round break, her "team" was solidly in the lead. "Well isn't this just a rip-roaring delight?" Tiffany simpered as she penned her tally on the dry-erase scoreboard. "Who knew these rubes had such rich cultural traditions?" "Don't look so glum, Kayla-honey!" Mildred chimed in, eternally optimistic. "You're still just gettin' warmed up!" Kayla managed a tight smile, willing herself not to rise to Tiffany's taunts. This was exactly the kind of petty high school behavior she'd sworn off long ago. She would not allow Tiffany Moore to diminish her sense of self-worth and accomplishments. "You're right, Gram. It's still early." She fixed Tiffany with a serene look. "Why don't we make this a bit more interesting?" Tiffany arched one impeccably groomed brow. "Do tell." "Loser has to...I don't know