The locals were in their glory today as they paraded up and down the Alley in their Easter best. There was a festive spirit right from the start. Jelly beans were shared on both sides of the alley. The boxes and crates had been decorated in pastels and there were large decorated baskets scattered about. The restaurant had prepared an Easter egg hunt for the youngsters to enjoy while the weekly battle took place. The squeals of joy could be heard blocks away. The sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was truly a wonderful day in the alley. The Big Dog climbed down from the loading dock and strolled to the center of the alley. The Alley stood still as he announced he would play for the Cat team today. Was the cunning canine planning to overtrump his partners tricks? Was he planning to cleverly overbid? There must be a plan. Then the plot thickened. Superspies Pob and Orla would be Dogs today. Yikes and double yikes, Incognito was playing as a Dog. Golly gee whiz Batman, there was something afoot. I would have to keep my eyes open to see when one of them would lay their cards on the table. There was no early indication as they all held their cards close to their chest. When would someone drop the trump card? As the day wore on I wondered if trickery was even in the cards, or had the festive season dealt some strange hands of camaraderie? I guessed I would have to let the cards fall where they may.

The Dogs took the early lead today but the contest remained a see-saw battle throughout. There were more ties in the alley today than at the last Pee Wee Herman convention. The sides seemed even throughout the day. The match-ups reflected the evenness by pairing winners against winners in every round. In the last round we saw 3 tables of unbeaten pairs. What a battle that turned into.

It was a wonderful day for a parade, and a wonderful day for a bridge tournament and we had them both. Round 1 ended with the Dogs leading 9-7 but the tables were reversed in the second ending in another tie 16-16. The Cats jumped to the lead, then the Dogs tied it up. The Dogs would win, then the Cats tied it again. It came down to the wire and we were all biting our nails. Finally, a report rang out, "The Big Dog had won". Hooray! yelled the Dogs - but wait - he was a Cat today. The Cats had clinched at least a tie. The Dogs needed to win the rest just to gain a tie. The score was 32-28 Cats leading with 2 tables still playing. Any Cat win would do the Dogs in. Three of the younger Cats scampered up the drainpipe at the end of the Alley with their banner in hand. The youngsters stopped eating their jelly beans. The fire escape fell silent as the spectators strained to see the final hands played out. A puppy ran from the super sub lounge and yelled "I found an egg!!!". The Alley gave a collective "SHHHHHHHHH!!!" which startled the puppy and made him drop the egg. The mighty Cats sealed their second consecutive win by capturing both the outstanding tables. Final score was Cats 36, Dogs 28.

As the Alley started to clear and the cheering died down, the little puppy sat holding his once whole egg. He looked at the many cracks through his tear filled eyes. A passing shadow made the pup look up. He shuddered as his eyes met the stare of Errikos, one of the most feared of the Cats. He wanted to cry out for help but his heart was in his throat and he couldn't make a sound. He closed his eyes as the giant warrior bent to crush him in his massive hand. He gulped as he felt his little paw engulfed by monster enemy. As he slowly opened his eyes to see if his paw was still there, he focused on the most beautiful Easter egg he had ever seen. He looked up to see the giant Cat who smiled and said "Happy Easter little friend".

Next week Iain is back. The following week will be OldYank. If anyone is interested in directing, please let me know. I will put the director's schedule on the club calendar so you know which open dates you can volunteer for.

News from Max's Alley Club - We will be having our first alley conference in our chat room next Saturday before the Ryder. At 2:00 p.m. New York time (EDST). The discussion will be to determine the best starting time for the Saturday Ryder. If you have an opinion, please either be there to discuss it or be sure someone who shares your views is there to make your point. "Either speak now ............".

Please use the Club features: Photos - I have set up an "Our Gang" album where we can post pictures of what we really look like, and an "Alley Personas" album where we post our alter egos. This is also a great spot to post our pictures of what we think others look like in the alley. "Alley Fun" is for whatever doesn't fit the other two. Keep it clean though because it always shows who made the post LOL. Links - Please post either your URL or other interesting links. Calendar - Post your birthday or other important date (I already posted next year's PS SLAM). Chat Room - Feel free to set up a chat time for getting together on a special topic and post it on the calendar (or keep it private). Either way, if you schedule a chat you will be expected to be there to host it. Invite - Please invite your friends to join. This is not a closed club and as in the Alley, anyone willing to abide by Max's Code is welcome.

Happy Birthday to our friend: Floyd - (feel free to post birthdays on the calendar at Max's Club.)

Seen on the fire escape: Julie, Jimkat, Rainlan, Roo, Anna, Ermy, Mrykath, hbear, Saluki, Barbara, Debb

Big welcome to our latest newcomers: Elhofi, Jpreyes, Tuffypar, Styles_rick

Supersubs were:- Rainlan, JimKat, Mrykath, Clear_Blue

Slams were bid and made by: Kenny/Catwitch - 6S; Jawall/Annaskitchenfr - 6H; Hippodamania/Silver_wind - 6S; Jimkat/Im_Rod - 6NT; Nonny/Jamesgreywolf - 6D

The trophy for purrrrfect 3-0 tournament goes to:

ppp_p3/Star; Squatrine/Leglifter; Pob/Orla

The dogs were: Fourpaws/Sanpur; Squatrine/Leglifter; Pob/Orla; Jbeach/Obie; Jean/Xbrorsen; Jimkat/Im_Rod; Morrisbud/Psspill; Nonny/Jamesgreywolf; Glossit/Suegloss; Rsquirril/Col; C_Newbury/DeltaGayl; Incognito/Lorainew; Harrietcocker/Happyeasterdog; Puppycottontail/Eggeatingdog; Cooper/Papabud; Seeweed/Felden

The cats were: ppp_p3/Star; Sugarmt/Dpman; Smilodon/Cat_lady_daladrim; Lynh/AlanMitchell; Dittny/Errikos; Elhofi/Jpreyes; Kenny/Catwitch; Slam/Bobsgirlanne; Jawall/Annaskitchenfr; Scorpiokirsten/Midnight; Irish/Pom_Two; Hippodamania/Silver_wind; Lacatsmeow/Scaterbrain; Tuffypar/Styles_rick; Acastofmany/aimejoue; Francylou/Galeb