Violet aimed her second balloon (feathers) at Kinsay, so she didn't see the incoming balloon shot at her by Claudine and it hit her squarely on her right thigh. Itching powder! Just her luck. The itching seemed very intense for a game, and Violet tried to avoid scratching it, though she couldn't resist reaching down to rub it once or twice. And while bent over, she caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of Claudine, who appeared to be smirking just a little. Okay, that was challenge enough.

Violet rose, the itching subsiding, and aimed her third balloon (itching powder) at Claudine. Then, with only one balloon left, she heaved it (itching powder balloon] at the nearest person she saw Apollo. It was just too hard to concentrate today to drag this game on any longer, and Violet didn't much care who she did or didn't hit.