Page 175 of Story of My Life
“I’m in!” he crowed.
“Can we have a petting zoo?” a toothless child with curly black puff tails asked from her dad’s shoulders.
“I like that idea,” I told her.
“A 5K with proceeds benefiting the sewage treatment project,” Ace suggested. Darius’s cross-country pals brightened at that.
“Wish it was a sexier cause,” Erleen said. “Run for Poop doesn’t really have a ring to it.”
“Trust me, if anyone can make sewage sexy, it’s Hazel Hart,” Pep yelled, pointing at me. A warm roll of laughter rolled through the room.
I felt my cheeks flush red. “Thank you for that vote of confidence.”
“Maybe we could set up vendors in the park on the square? Oh! And food trucks on Main Street.”
“The lodge is happy to host a bonfire and s’mores party,” Billie volunteered, looking at Hana.
An event for everyone. A place where everyone belonged. I thought of the readers on the terrace from different backgrounds and different seasons of life. It was like we were taking a story and making it real. Together.
Cam leaned back in his chair and quirked an eyebrow at me. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was impressed.
I noticed Emilie getting out her phone and typing furiously. A second later, her husband opened his phone and frowned. He stood up. “Concerned citizen here. How do you propose we make $200,000 off one poorly executed, half-assed day of lame community activities?” he read.
“We don’t have to make $200,000 by Labor Day, Amos,” I said. “But we have to start somewhere. This is a multipronged approach with the end goal of saving Story Lake. We start by requesting an extension again, applying for grants, and finding ways to bring more revenue into the town. But we need everyone’s help to do this. Otherwise we will be absorbed into Dominion, and I have it on good authority that they plan to turn part of Story Lake into a golf course.”
There was a general gasp from the attendees.
“I like where this is going,” Darius said. “But Labor Day is only a week away. Can we pull off something like this that quickly?”
“Why don’t you ask our parks and rec chair?” Cam suggested.
They all turned to me.
“Oh, boy.”
Garland popped up at my feet and fired off several shots from his phone with the flash still on.
Blinking away the bright blobs in front of my eyes, I felt the panic creep back in. This was a lot of work on top of the deadline I was scrambling to meet and the construction zone of a house I was living in. Who was I to spearhead a campaign to save an entire town? I ate deli meat straight out of the packet for lunch most days.
“We’ll be looking for a Summer Fest co-chair and volunteers to form a committee,” Darius said.
I blinked as several hands shot into the air.
“I’ll co-chair,” Cam said.
I very nearly fell out of my chair when I turned in my seat to stare at him.
“By the way,” he said, addressing the crowd. “Hazel and I are dating.”
38
PLOWY MCFUCK YOU
CAMPBELL
IntrepidReporterGuy:
Story Lake’s most eligible bachelor Campbell Bishop shocks entire town with profession of love for newest resident, Hazel Hart. A winter wedding is anticipated by all.
