Without further ado, I present you with my attempt at writing Casper and Asra meeting for the first time. I’m really rusty at this lol
“Casper!” Her voice is stern, but motherly as she shouts after me. “Casper, put your shoes on before you go outside!”
“Yes, auntie,” I call back before I slip out the back door. I don’t like shoes, even the nice sandals she bought me. I feel trapped whenever I wear them.
I’m surprised to find someone has set up a booth right outside our door, but I can hardly blame them. It’s a nice spot to do so. Better than some places, anyway.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask, peering in at the owner of the stall.
“Telling fortunes,” he answers honestly, and my attention falls to the deck of cards sitting in front of him. “Would you like me to tell yours?"
His smile is like being blinded by the sun, but it’s impossible to look away. I didn’t expect the owner to be so handsome and I can feel my cheeks flushing. He looks young, probably not much older than me, and I grip the strap of my bag tightly as I shake my head.
"Not really,” I answer with a shrug, quickly managing to recover. “I was just curious who decided to set up a booth behind my aunt’s shop. Glad to know it’s not someone selling the same things.”
“I wasn’t trying to be bad for business,” he says, flashing me another smile. “I can move somewhere else if you want.”
“No!” I practically shout it out and scold myself inwardly that I said it so quickly. “People usually come in through the front, anyway.” I give a small shrug and look down at my feet for a moment. Maybe I should have worn shoes. “My name is Casper. What’s yours?”
I can see his mouth open to answer, but his words are drowned out by the sound of flutes and marching. I thought I heard my aunt saying something about a visitor from Prakra, one of the princesses. There are too many people on the streets suddenly and I find myself herded out of the way and into the fortune teller’s booth.
“Wait,” I say, squinting up at the main attraction of this makeshift parade. I only catch a glimpse of her, but I know who she is immediately. I’m so excited that I feel like I might burst. “That’s Princess Nadia!”
“Do you know her?” His lips curl up in amusement when I realize he’s moved to stand directly beside me.
“I mean, not personally or anything,” I answer, curling my toes into the dirt under my feet. He’s a lot taller than I thought he was. Or maybe I’m just too short. “I just know of her. From back home.”
It’s like he can sense the tension suddenly radiating off of me now that the words have slipped from my mouth. He doesn’t ask questions and the two of us stand there silently until the commotion comes to an end.
“It’s Asra,” he says suddenly, drawing my gaze back up to his face. He clarifies immediately. “My name, I mean. You couldn’t hear me before.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Asra,” I say, grinning wide. I can hear my aunt calling for me inside. No doubt she’s found all my shoes and realized I’m barefoot by now. “I gotta go, now, but maybe you can read my fortune sometime!”
With a smile and a wave, I’m off into the crowd as fast as I can.
jacobvanloon
areudirty
andulkaphoto
origamiaround
