#fallwriting

I’m not sure I like this one, but I missed one day, so I decided to mix the two together. Not a strong story... this is definitely not my genre! Ah, well, practice makes perfect and all that.

It’d been awhile since Dara walked down this road. It’d been a while since she’d been here at all. She was always trying her best to be far away from crowds, but tonight was the festival they’d all been planning, and it was starting to liven up.

Coffee shops sat on corners, booths lined the sidewalks, and the people walked around, happy, talking, taking in the scenery of a crisp autumn night.

Leaves littered the ground and the soft glistening of rain glinted on the concrete. The cold was biting but comforting underneath her pale green jacket. The black boots on her feet kept her snug, and the gloves on her hands kept the heat of her coffee from burning her.

She inhaled the sweet scent of just rained-on earth, and smelled her drink, warm and cozy cinnamon. The bright orange burning of the lights in the shops were starting to come on as the sun was setting; the wind getting colder by the second. The smell of baked goods wafted at her, and she smiled at everyone that passed her.

Couples walked by, and people with dogs and children; all enjoying the scenery of the little Autumn Festival. The leaves fell like glitter around them.

As the clouds cleared, the moon started to come out, brightly across the night sky. If magic were real, she thought, it would feel just like tonight.

The people were showing up in droves now that the rain had finally died down.

“Hey Dara,” Thomas said from his gourd booth. He was an older man, wearing a messenger hat and brown overalls over an orange shirt. He sold different gourds and squash, some were whole, and some were carved by him into beautiful art that people loved to buy. Dara waved at him as he spoke, “Big turn out tonight, eh?”

She smiled, “Yes, this was a great idea. People love to fawn over all of these autumnal things.”

“Sammy always comes up with good ideas!” He gave her a thumbs up as a couple walked up to his booth. He winked at her and turned up the charm.

Betsy sat at her booth, selling perfumes and candles of all kinds.

“Hello Betsy, are you having a good turnout?” Dara grinned at her as someone bought one of her homemade apple spice candles.

“Oh yeah, I’m actually about to show Mrs. Jennings some of my stock in the back.” She smiled at the portly woman standing in front of her eagerly.

Mrs. Jennings looked over at Dara, “I don’t usually come into this area, but I found some information on this place online and just knew I had to visit. I love coming to festivals. The only thing is no one wanted to come with me!”

“Oh no. Well, we’re glad you’ve come!” Dara exclaimed. “So unfortunate no one wanted to join you, but please enjoy the festival as much as you can.” She looked over to Betsy, who was holding open a curtain behind her booth that led to a supply room.

“I’m just excited to see this secret stock!”

As Betsy and Mrs. Jennings went behind the curtain, Dara kept walking, giving an encouraging nod to the other vendors, and taking in the scenery.

She saw Sammy coming up to her, a mischievous grin on his face. His black hair was shining in the moonlight, and he was wearing dark jeans and a black t-shirt under a black leather jacket.

“We’re getting a good amount of supplies.” He held out his hand to Dara, “Plenty of stockpile for the upcoming months. I told you this would be a good idea!”

Dara folded her arms across her chest, “Yes, sometimes you do have a good idea rumbling around in there.”

“What is it?” He asked, still holding out his hand, a puzzled expression across his fair and chiseled face.

“I just worry there’s too many people.” She looked behind him at everyone enjoying the booths. “What if it backfires?”