WHITEWATER-Kris Fantetti has been moonlighting for the past week at various homes in the Whitewater School District.
Her job starts about 5 a.m., before most people are even out of bed.
Working by moonlight, Fantetti gets in and out before homeowners even know she's been there.
It's a sneaky job, but Fantetti sees it as a mission.
She visited the Jim Caldwell family at 235 S. Ardmore Drive and left the usual greeting in their front yard. It would be hours before the family saw the flock of flamingos standing bright outside their door.
"They made me very happy," said 10-year-old Jacquelyn. "I almost started laughing. It made my day. I'm going to bring my friends home to see them."
The Caldwell family was flocked.
The plastic flamingos that graced their lawn are part of Pete's Tire Service Relay for Life Team's fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.
The birds can't migrate unless the host homeowner makes a donation to the society.
The donation also directs the birds to a yard of choice and buys the family "flamingo insurance," which guards against another flocking.
"Our kids got a charge out of it," said Jim Caldwell. "We hadn't see this before. It's an interesting marketing approach. We have sent in our contribution. Now, we're waiting for the pickup service to arrive. We need to mow our lawn now."
Fantetti, who is a member of the relay team, hopes that the flock can continue to migrate.
Last year, her team raised $4,230 for the relay.
"We want to go to the next level this year and raise $5,000," she said.
For Fantetti, moonlighting with the flamingos is a heart-felt mission. She is a cancer survivor.
And for the Caldwell family, being a host to the flock was a joyful encounter.
Although 8-year-old Jonathan isn't sure he wants the flock to start roosting on the lawn, the visit also made him smile.
