This year she was helping her friends at a pecan booth, really just sitting and visiting with them, peeling the shells of her own pecans. She was going to catch up with me later during the movie and sit with me.
Emma was supposed to show up but she also was helping at a booth. Granted, in Emma style, she would be wearing a dress and her heels, dressed for anything but a fall festival. I was fairly confident she would find a guy to hang out with. That was her MO.
I had helped face paint on some kids’ faces, which I did horribly. It was the thought that counted, right? They had recruited the wrong person to do that, because it was an ultimate fail. Year after year, in fact.
“Miss Breigh, so good to see you.” It was Mrs. Bryant coming to hopefully relieve me of my duties. The movie would be starting soon, and I wanted to get a good set of hay bales to sit on. The cooler evening was starting to blow in and the clouds in the sky were scarce, causing the effects of a winter night. I turned around as I was finishing on my last victim. Poor kid.
“Good to see you as well.” I gave her a hug, although I could tell she hadn't intended for that.
“Okay, sweetie, you are good to go.” The little girl ran to her parents to show her the work I had done. I had sympathy for her having to wear my pathetic art on her face. At least she seemed happy.
“That was an interesting looking butterfly,” Ms. Bryant commented with a look of confusion on her face.
“Oh no, that was a unicorn.” I laughed a spell, waiting to hear what she was going to say. I was fully aware of how pathetic the art was. I would have fired myself. “Oh dear, maybe you need some more practice,” she laughed sweetly. She wasn't the least bit offensive but just a truly honest person. I doubted a lie had ever left her tongue.
“Practice wouldn't help, I need a miracle! This wasn't my idea. For some reason they always put me at this booth, and every year my art gets worse.”
“Probably because how sweet you are to the kids.”
“Possibly.” I tapped my chin being a smart aleck.
“Now go on and get ready for the movie.”
“That is what I planned, after making a pit stop at the restrooms for my hands and the snack bar.”
“Good to see you again, Mrs. Bryant.”
“Breigh, if you get a chance look out for Wyatt. He is here tonight.”
“He is?”
“First time, but I got him here.” She winked at me and smiled.
“I’ll look out for him.”
And I would. I hadn’t seen Wyatt lately, but I would be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about him.
WYATT
At my aunt’s insistence, I came to the town fall festival night. I hadn't attended last year because I was working. I like kids okay but didn't particularly want to be around a bunch of them at any given time. It was about time I came anyway, to be more involved in the community. But the most important reason was Rhonda. And possibly the mention that Breigh was going to be attending. She apparently volunteered every year.
I had walked around taking in the scene, watching the smiling faces and the joy. Of course there were the few kids throwing a fit, but all in all, everyone was enjoying themselves. I still had on my uniform from the day and wished I had removed my work boots and put on my Nikes.
Damn, it was a cold night tonight. I had brought just my hoodie but probably should have brought something else. It could be a little warmer, for sure. The cold weather had never bothered me when I was younger. I was the kid always wearing shorts to school, fighting with my mother, but now, I felt it.
I stood in front of the movie screen and all the square hay bales that were scattered in a pattern throughout the largest part of the town square. They were set up like movie theater rows.
I started to walk through them and look at what their angle was to the screen before bumping into Breigh, accidently knocking her drink and candy out of her hands and sending them flying.
If looks could kill I would have dropped dead in my tracks.
“I’m so sorry…” I said, as I bent down to try to help her.
Her dirty look turned into a sweet smile, the smile I had thought of often.
“We just keep running into each other, don't we?” she asked in a sweet voice. I expected something far uglier out of her lips after me knocking over her stuff.
“Quite literally, apparently. I am sorry, do I need to go buy you anything I ruined?”
“Nah, it’s fine…I’ll drink it still. Might be shaken a bit but I’ll survive. Now…for my Skittles, you will for sure have to buy me another.”
“And how about a coffee?”
“Oh, M&Ms then. I love coffee and M&Ms.”
“Okay then…after the movie starts okay? Have you picked your spot yet?” I asked her.
“Yep.” She sat on the hay bale and wiggled her butt on it. A perfect butt, mind you, in her jeans. Of course I had noticed it when she turned around to pick up the rest of her candy. She had on a Texas sweatshirt and a scarf around her neck. She wasn't an amateur and knew what she would need as the night darkened.
“Meeting anyone?” I asked curiously. Right after I said it I wanted to kick myself. It was none of my business.
“Yes.” She began unfolding her blanket.
“Okay, well I’ll see you later then…” I started to back away and she looked confused.
“My grammy. She is working the pecan booth and then will come join me shortly. If she shows up at all,” she said with a smile. I could get used to seeing
