Chapter 12
The Hearthglen Harvest Festival
It was finally autumn. Finally, my favorite season. Today was the Harvest Festival, marking the start of fall. My first festival in my new home. I had to admit, despite what was sure to be a small crowd, I was excited. I had been asked by Neptune to work at the painting booth for the children! Normally, I wouldn’t even entertain the idea. But it was for kids. Kids weren’t intimidating… usually.
I packed up almost all of my art supplies to make my own painting while I was there. I couldn’t resist. I didn’t know what I would paint yet, but I was sure inspiration would strike.
I folded up my old paint covered easel, the last thing I needed to grab, and headed out the door. I glanced backwards once. My cottage was coming along nicely, with Mai and Cobalt’s help. And Urchin. Mai helped me paint, Cobalt helped me transport and get new furniture inside, and Urchin helped with the outside. The rickety fencing had been replaced, the old porch reinforced, and the garden plots weeded. Urchin was almost never around at the same time as Mai and Cobalt, I just realized. Odd. Coincidence, surely.
I started towards town, humming softly as I carried my supplies. I could hear the commotion before I could see it. People talking, yelling out instructions, the band’s sound check. The festival would be going on all day, with contests galore, live music, and hayrides towards the end of the day and into the evening.
As I walked past the other vendors setting up, I waved to Kiwi and Sage. Kiwi smiled back warmly, while Sage rolled her eyes and grumbled something I couldn’t make out.
“Good morning, Pearl! Gonna be a great day!” Kiwi was always so kind and warm. She reminded me of what my mother could have been, had our family name and status not cast a shadow over her. There were moments where a loving mother had peaked out, before she retreated back into safety.
“I’m excited!” I called back, slowing my gait, but not stopping completely. I held my bag of art supplies up, so full I couldn’t get it all the way zipped.
Kiwi smiled knowingly. “I’m sure it’ll turn out great!”
Sage grumbled. “Kiwi, a little help here.” She was holding a bushel of hay, or trying to. She had tried to pick up too much at once.
I chuckled to myself, as Kiwi took part of Sage's load from her. “Thanks.” She growled out.
I arrived at my booth, the canopy already set up. Someone must have put it up for me earlier, though I wasn’t sure who. Probably Neptune. Or Blaze. I set my easel and bag down in the corner for now, before starting to set up the kids’ spots. They could paint at an easel like I did or a small table. They could finger paint, paint with a brush or sponges, and I could also do face painting if they wanted me to. I smiled, my face starting to hurt a bit from how much I had already smiled today. This was going to be so fun.
“Pearl.” I jumped at the smooth, deep voice that I was beginning to grow very accustomed to. “How did I know you were going to be doing a painting booth?” Urchin’s grin was so big.
“What can I say? I’m predictable.” I giggled. “Neptune actually asked me to run it. “
“Oh.” Urchin went unnaturally still for just a split second, so quick I wondered if I had imagined it.
“Yep. Are you staying for the festival?” He hadn’t mentioned being here.
“No. I have a job to get to in Willowmere. I might make it back in time for the hayride. I just wanted to stop by and say hi. And that you’re gonna kill it today. Most popular booth, easily.”
I blushed. He sure was good at making me do that. “I don’t know about all that.”
“I do.”
I blushed slightly. “Thank you.”
“Just callin’ it like I see it. See ya later.”
“Bye.” I turned around after he started walking away, busying my hands with the paints I had already straightened, just to have something to do. My mind couldn’t stop racing. Urchin was quickly becoming one of my favorite people, despite only having lived here for three months.
“Pearl!” A voice yelled. Another voice I would recognize anywhere. Mai came catapulting toward me, Cobalt trailing after her.
“Hi, Mai.”
“Hi! This is gonna be so fun!” She was so excited she was practically vibrating. “The Harvest Festival is my favorite, other than the Winterfest Market in Maplewick.”
“Autumn is my favorite season.” I agreed with her. “You two going to be entering any contests?”
“I’m gonna make the best scarecrow ever!” Mai declared loudly.
“Oh, is that why Sage and Kiwi were hauling hay?”
“Yep.” Cobalt confirmed. “Scarecrow making contest. You get like two hours to make one. It usually has some interesting results.”
“I’ve never won yet, but this is my year! I have Pearl for opinions, there’s no way I can lose!”
I bit back a laugh. “Don’t bet everything on me, now.”
“Psh.” She waved a hand at me. “We got this.”
Cobalt and I traded a look before laughing. Cobalt and I hadn’t spoken much, or spent much time together just us, but we both loved Mai. That made a kinship of sorts between us, and we got on fine.
“You’ll see.” Mai turned her nose up playfully. “Come on, babe! Let’s go see what sweets Kiwi has this year.”
“See ya later, Pearl.” Cobalt said quietly as he and Mai walked off across the clearing toward Kiwi’s normal stall spot. I waved goodbye, and before I knew it I had my first booth visitors.
Between children showing up to paint and doing the occasional face painting, I worked on my own piece. It was the band that was playing in the back of the clearing on the pop-up stage that had been erected for the festival. I was close enough from my booth to make out some details, but not everything. I had Cobalt watch my booth for me as I got a little closer to study the details I couldn’t quite make out.
“Thanks for watching them, Cobalt.” I told him he could go back to Mai, who was working on her scarecrow across the clearing. It was coming along nicely. She would pop over every now and then and ask what I thought, before going back and implementing some of my ideas.
“Why don’t you go explore a bit, Pearl?” I jumped at Neptune showing up without me noticing. I had been bent over helping a kid mix a shade of pink they wanted. “I can take over here.”
“Oh my Maker, you scared me!”
“My apologies.” He chuckled good naturedly. “I think Mai is almost done with her scarecrow, and I’m sure she’s dying to drag you around the festival.”
“I’m sure she is.” I agreed. My painting was almost finished. I could take a break. “Thank you, Neptune, I think I will take you up on that offer.”
I ambled over to where Mai and Cobalt were putting the finishing touches on her scarecrow, looking around as I went. Sage and Kiwi were running their normal stalls, but also had some harvest themed items as well. Pumpkins, gourds, pies, fall themed cross-stitching, and knitted sweaters.
Kids of all colors ran around everywhere, flower crowns adorning their heads. Cypress was running a food truck. The only food truck. I could see Blaze helping her. A dark navy-blue Mixed Berry with dark green hair and eyes was grilling burgers and hot dogs beside Cypress. His colors were the exact reverse of hers. That must be her brother. His name escaped me at the moment. I didn’t know how I hadn’t met him yet.
“Your scarecrow looks great, Mai!” I tried to scare her by yelling before she saw me, but it didn’t work.
Mai beamed.. “I know! I’m a shoo-in, for sure!”
“Neptune relieved me of painting booth duty. You can drag me around as much as you like.”
“Yes!” Mai immediately grabbed my arm and steered me back towards Cypress’ food truck. “I’m starving, and Blaze makes the best strawberry lemonade!”
Cobalt followed after us, laughing. “She really does.”
“Blaze! Three of your famous strawberry lemonades, please! That ok with you, Pearl?” Mai added as an afterthought. I nodded. “Three!” Mai repeated. “And fries!”
“Comin’ right up!” Blaze said cheerfully.
While Blaze made our lemonades, Cypress dropped our fries and then came to the front of the truck. “Pearl, you probably haven’t met my brother.” Before I could answer, she was calling him over. “Yo, bro!”
The Berry I had already assumed was her brother walked over a few feet to stand with us. “You don’t have to yell, I’m right here.”
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway. Pearl, this is my twin brother, Lazuli.”
“Nice to meet you.” I smiled awkwardly. They didn’t look like twins. Fraternal, clearly.
“You, too. Cypress talks about you all the time. Your art, mostly. She’s excited to see what else you make.”
I felt the familiar heat rise to my cheeks. “Oh. Gosh.”
“Way to put her on the spot, bro! That was told to you in confidence.” Cypress didn’t sound angry though. She just sounded like a slightly annoyed sister. I knew all too well what that sounded like. I may have been the oldest of my siblings, but my family never treated me like it.
Lazuli just shrugged and went back to manning the grill. Blaze handed us our lemonades and fries and Mai paid for them.
“You didn’t have to pay for mine, Mai.” I started, taking a sip. “Oh my Maker, that’s good!” Perfectly tart, but also just sweet enough. Just the right amount of strawberry flavor that didn’t overpower the lemon, but rather complemented it. “Wow.”
Mai smirked and took a drink as well. “Told ya. The best.”
“You weren’t exaggerating.”
“For once.” Cobalt added playfully. Mai smacked his arm gently. We all cracked up at their antics. Those two were adorable together. The perfect match.
I had just finished my painting after we ate lunch when they started to announce the winners of the contests. Neptune stood at the front of the pop-up stage they had set up for the band, holding a microphone. I wasn’t entirely sure what Neptune’s official position in Hearthglen was. He seemed to have a hand in just about everything.
“The winner of the biggest pumpkin is…. Sage, as usual.” Everyone clapped as Sage hobbled her way to the stage. Rather than climb the stairs, Neptune crouched down and met her at the edge to hand her the blue ribbon. Blaze snapped a quick photo of the two of them: Neptune beaming like the public figure he was, and Sage grimacing.
“Moving on! The winner of the pumpkin pie contest is… Kiwi! It was delicious, congratulations.
“Same as last year.” Mai whispered conspiratorially.
Another photo was taken, Kiwi holding up the ribbon and grinning proudly.
“And for the final award, Best Scarecrow goes to… Cypress! Congratulations, sweetie.”
I turned to look at Mai. She was looking down at her feet, trying to hide her disappointment. Cobalt put a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Mai.” I felt like I had let her down.
Mai blinked a few times before raising her head. Her eyes were a little misty, but no tears had fallen. She shook her head, causing her long orange hair to sway, bangs falling into her eyes. Brushing them back into place, she smiled. “It’s fine. There’s always next year.”
Cobalt squeezed her shoulder. “It’s okay to be upset, honey.”
“Honestly.” She smiled at him, love in her eyes. “I’m okay.”
“And we actually have one last award to give out.”
We all looked back at the stage. “I didn’t think there were any more contests.” I stated, confused.
Neptune continued. “The Community’s Choice award. This was a new category. It could be anything, chosen by our very own community. Our community of Hearthglen has chosen a painting, done this evening by our newest resident artist.”
Mai and Cobalt both looked at me, smiling conspiratorially. My mouth fell open slightly. What?
“Pearl, come on up here!” Neptune called me up to the stage, clapping along with everyone else.
My eyes widened, my palms started sweating, and it felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. With everyone staring at me, I slowly made my way to stand beside Neptune. On the way, I passed by Detective Valentine. She gave me a small encouraging smile. I did my best to return it.
“I’m sorry. I know how you hate the spotlight. I’ll make this quick.” He whispered, hand over the mic. “Most of you probably know of Pearl, though she’s only been here a few months. Partially thanks to our own whirlwind, Mai.” The crowd laughed. “Partially due to her paintings going on display in the gallery in a few days. She has made waves without even knowing it in our small town. I believe she will go far with her art.” He handed me a rainbow colored ribbon. “Congratulations, Pearl.”
“Thank you.” I took it and quietly left the stage, heart still pounding. I appreciated it, but… Ugh. Public attention.
As I reunited with my friends, the same little pink girl that had admired my art before ran up to our group. “Grad-u-lashins, Pearl!” I smiled at her mispronunciation. “This is for you!” She held out a flower crown she had made of pink and purple flowers. Pink roses and purple irises.
I lowered my head for her to put the flower crown on my head. “Thank you, little one.”
“My name’s Peony.” She informed me in her small voice, in the most matter of fact way that she could muster.
“Thank you, Peony.”
“You’re welcome!” She ran off, yelling. “Mama, she loved it!”
Everyone laughed quietly. Kids, man. So cute. I heard someone say as the laughter died down: “Looks like the gallery picked the right artist.”
I thought back to Frost Haven. If I’d painted at a festival there, people might have admired the technique. They might have complimented the composition. No one would have liked the painting itself. Here- They’d handed me flowers and a rainbow ribbon.
My heart swelled up and I felt my eyes sting with threatened tears. I looked down at the ribbon in my hands. It was just a ribbon, but I couldn’t stop smiling.