Page 62 of Pocket Full Of Posies

We shove at each other in that way only brothers can, laughing and goading. I spend a few minutes speaking with him and Keiko, before making my way back to the tent where I find Daisy sitting at the low table nibbling on an apricot from the bowl of fruit, I set out for her. We didn’t need to bring any food, but I wanted to make sure she had something in the tent if she got hungry.

“How’s Endo?” She smiles up at me from her crossed legged position on the blue floor cushion, barefoot. Her lined rubber boots sitting neatly by the tent entrance.

“Great. I’m sure we’ll see him again later. But I’m warning you now, I’m going to be greedy and keep you all to myself as much as possible.”

“That’s fine with me. So, what is the plan?”

I sit next to Daisy and grab an apple from the bowl, biting into it and chewing.

“Whatever we want. There’ll be dancing and food, games and I think there are fairies offering fairy dusting to make you fly for a few minutes if you’re interested.”

The flowers in her hair curl and bloom with the shake of her head. “No, I’m plenty happy with my feet on the ground thank you very much.”

We hang out in the tent for a while longer, waiting for more to arrive and to hear the music begin. Once we do I have to practically drag Daisy outside.

For the entire day I pull Daisy around, forcing her to dance with me, then to play a game of hide and seek with a group of children, and to eat every single sweet treat I spot.

The day is filled with laughter and joy, lighthearted conversation and absolutely no mention of hybrids and half-breeds or my family. I may have steered us in the opposite direction if I spotted one of my siblings or parents. We did cross paths with a few of my cousins, they don’t care about my personal life choices as much as my immediate family and were even pleasant and cordial with Daisy.

Eventually Delphi finds us and mostly just rides around on my shoulder playing with my hair and holding one horn chattering away about all the fun things she’s done since arriving. There are a handful of other sprites running around and Delphi has been playing with them.

As the sun is beginning to set, we come upon the band area while one group is leaving and new people are setting up, this one including the mayor’s new mate. The not human, human Lottie, also known as Alexandria the famous pop star. I knew her as soon as I saw her because unlike the luddites of Snowberry I live out in the real world. I even saw her perform once in Paris. It appears I’m going to get to see her perform again.

Lottie is strapping on a very fancy acoustic guitar, while a young male shifter sits at the drum set and Becca flits over—for once not on roller skates, probably all the grass and dirt—carrying a pink tambourine and giddy as a kid on a candy high.

I pull Daisy to sit on one of the many communal blankets laid out in front of the band stand. She doesn’t argue and sits next to me, scooting close and resting her head on my shoulder. Instinctually, my tail reaches out in search of hers and doesn’t still until it's wrapped around it. I’m the most comfortable I’ve ever been, legs stretched out in front of me, leaning back on the heels of my hands with my girl tucked against my side. Perfection.

Lottie settles in and starts with a slow but sweet ballad, then a more upbeat tune. On her third song she picks up the tempo and a little girl, another earth nymph with moss green skin and sparkling gold eyes, maybe about eight years old, pulls Daisy up forcing her to dance.

I sit and watch reveling in the joy radiating from Daisy’s smile and laughter. Her chestnut brown hair fanning around her as she spins the flowers and vines like a crown on her head, the green markings on her skin perfectly still and content to remain so.

If I had to spend the rest of my life reliving one moment in time, it would be this one.

“Come make a necklace with me,” the little girl says tugging on Daisy’s hand. She’s pointing towards a table set up not too far from the band stand where non-humans of all ages sit and thread beads on string making necklaces and bracelets.

“Oh, um, okay sure.”

Daisy follows helplessly behind the girl as she’s pulled to the table and promptly told to sit. I join them watching over Daisy’s shoulder. The little girl pulls a bowl of beads in front Daisy and begins rambling about picking the best beads. I pick one up, inspecting the small item. They appear to be made from glass and stone. Probably made by an earth nymph or fairy.

“So, I’ll make you one and you make me one,” the little girl says.

“Alright,” Daisy agrees, her smile never wavering.

The little girl picks a variety of beads both in color, pattern and material having no obvious relevancy or design in the choice and strings together a long strand easy to slip over Daisy’s head.

“Okay, close your eyes, it’s a surprise. No, don't look. Lean down and I’ll put it on you.”

Daisy does as instructed and dutifully waits until the little girl instructs her to open her eyes.

“Oh, my goodness, it’s beautiful,” Daisy swoons as she inspects the necklace that makes no sense. “I love your choice in beads, very eclectic.”

“What’s calectic mean?”

“Eclectic. It means having a broad and diverse range of style. It’s a good thing. Non eclectic people are boring.”

The little girl giggles and almost falls out of her wooden chair holding her stomach.

“You’re funny.”

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