Page 14 of Sweet Summertide

Standing away from the main crowd that had gathered by the fountain. Holly’s hips swayed to the rhythm of the bluegrass music. “Reminds me of my mother.” She smiled thinking about how easy things were before her mother’s horses started winning big races. Holly had spent her childhood in the stables, that’s how she had met Millie. “Do you remember all the trouble we use to get into when we were little?”

Millie laughed before answering. “I remember doing things weshouldhave been in trouble for, but we almost always got away with it.”

“Come on, you think they didn’t know that two little girls were sneaking around, switching equipment, or letting the horses into the wrong pasture? They had to have known it was us, and they let us have our fun anyway,” Holly said and giggled.

“Do you remember when we fed your mom’s favorite horse the edible glitter?”

Holly covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “I will never get that sight out of my mind. There was sparkly poo everywhere.”

“Your poor mom, she cleaned out the stable that day because she was embarrassed for anyone else to have to do it. And she never said a word to us about it.”

“When she used to be nice.” Holly lamented. “But that’s what I’m saying. They had to know who was causing mischief. And I’m not sad for a second that we had a childhood as good as that.” Reminiscing about the fun they used to have, gave her an idea that she hoped she wouldn’t regret. “You want to get into some trouble tonight? Like old times.”

“No, but also, yes!” Millie whispered with excitement all over her face.

Holly turned to go back to the shop, the music fading behind her.

Millie scurried to keep up. “I know that look. What are we about to do?”

Holly turned at the entrance into her shop. “Close that door behind you, will ya?” She headed for the table where all the fresh supplies were arranged and retrieved two painter’s suits. She tossed an unopened package to Millie and unpacked one for herself. The white jumpsuit was huge. She held up the material that easily could accommodate someone twice her size, but it was all she had.

As Millie put her suit on, without question, Holly searched through a box of spray paint, and caulking. “It’s in here somewhere,” she said, and Millie appeared beside her.

“What are we getting?”

“I’m looking for the chalk spray. For windows. It looks like this,” she held up a can of bright blue spray chalk that she had used a few days ago to lay out the floor plan. “I want the gold one or yellow, or white.”

“Why do you have these?”

“I got them for my front windows. It’s like paint, but it’s easier to wash off. So, I can change the display in the windows. But right now …”

“We’re spraying Teddy’s windows, aren’t we?”

Holly nodded and captured her lower lip between her teeth. “Keep looking. I want to get this done while everyone is down at the fountain.”

Millie began taking the contents out of the box and lined up the cans and tubes on the table making it easier to see what they were. “Isn’t this vandalism? I don’t want you to get in real trouble.”

“It’s only chalk. Harmless.” Holly followed Millie’s example and set aside any of the cans of spray chalk. The only light in the space came from the streetlamp outside and the twinkle-lights that hung between both sides of the road.

Once they separated the products, Holly took her phone from her pocket and shone the torch on the display. “Look for the gold one,” she whispered though they were alone. “Wait, here’s one, but you need one too.”

“Oh, no. I’m not going to jail for you,” Millie said and backed off. “I’m only staying to make sure you don’t get arrested.”

“Fine,” Holly said and started shaking the container. “You can be my lookout.”

“You’re gonna shine like a spotlight in that,” Millie said. “Here.” She handed a can of dark paint to Holly. “Spray me.”

Holly began shaking the can but handed it back to Millie. “I have a better idea.” Holly walked to the long wall and peeled plastic wrap off a large can of paint. She took the roller in her hands and proceeded to paint her front side. Unable to reach her back, she passed the roller to Millie.

“This is quicker,” Millie said and pressed the roller up and down Holly’s backside. “Now do me.”

Holly repeated the process on her friend until she was certain enough that they no longer appeared like bright rays in the dark. While unsuccessfully holding in giggles, the two headed out across the street as though they were taking part in a spy caper. Hunched over and bent low, they made their way to Teddy’sstorefront unseen, though possibly heard as their nonstop snickering and shushing reverberated off the brick façades and cobblestone street.

“I can’t believe you’re going to ruin his window.”

“Hush up, Millie. I’m not ruining anything. I’m just fixing it.” She felt impulsive and light like she had indulged in one too many glasses of champagne, but she was totally sober. Holly supposed the feeling was from the exhilaration and danger of possibly being caught doing something questionably legal. She looked at Teddy’s window display that read,Coming Soon, Up State Chocolaterie.

“Coming never, more like it,” Millie said with a snort.

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