Page 22 of A Fowl Match

“You never showed up to practice for the rest of the week,” he says, setting his elbow on the table and pressing his chin into his palm.

“I was busy this week. Sorry I didn’t show.”Lies. I was busy, but with my emotions.

He just stares at me, eyebrows shooting upward. Definitely not buying what I said.

“The way you’re looking at me is unsettling,” I say while inching my fingers closer to the puzzle.

“Good, that was my intention.”

Then a loud voice booms over the speakers set up around the room. “It’s time for the second competition. Before I start with the rules, please do not touch the puzzle on your table until I tell you to start.”

I inch my fingers away from the puzzle and place my hand on my lap.

“Looks like someone upgraded to a microphone,” he whispers, leaning in.

My lips curl into a smile. Then I get a whiff of his scent. Pine and evergreen fill my senses. It’s reminiscent of walking among the tall trees in a forest. It’s invigorating but not overpowering. It lingers for a moment and dissipates as he leans back.

“Everyone please, listen carefully.” I jump in my seat when Constance’s voice gets louder. The microphone is really working, someone should turn it down a touch. “It’s time for your favorite part, the rules. Rule number one, do not use any phones to help you at all. No exceptions. Rule number two, keep your hands off the table until I say go. Rule number three, absolutely no outside help from anyone. I’m looking at you all.” She points at the tourists and people from the town grouping around the sides. “And there are six of us going around keeping an eye to make sure everyone is following the rules. We are all wearing white shirts. Once you are finished, raise your hands and we willcome to your table and check to make sure it is finished. We will announce the winners as we find out. The top five will move on to next week's challenge.”

Dustin cracks his fingers and does a quick stretch, putting on a show. Then he takes a sip of his water. We were all given a couple of bottles of water, because this event normally takes three hours.

“Okay, get ready to start your puzzles. In three—two—one. Go!” Constance announces.

Dustin doesn’t waste any time as he rips open the purple paper from the puzzle. It flies in the air, and he throws it haphazardly behind him.

“Hey! Sabotage!” Jane shouts.

Dustin pays no mind to her and continues to dump the pieces on the tablecloth.

“Sorry Jane, he didn’t mean to hit you!” I yell back over the chaos.

Then I notice the puzzle they chose for this year and I sink in my seat and cover my eyes. “We are screwed,” I say, shaking my head. They chose the worst puzzle out of the bunch. The front of the box is a picture of the finished puzzle. Cats. Covered in a bunch of the same colored cats, black and white ones to be exact. They are in all different kinds of poses. Sitting, laying, jumping, and with big, pleading eyes. And of course, because of my week spent sulking, we didn’t even practice this one. Even though it was one of the ones I purchased.

“Calm down and concentrate,” Dustin says while grouping the pieces in sections.

“How can you be so focused? We didn’t even practice this one.”

“There is nowe.Ipracticed it.” He starts moving the corners into place and the edges in a section together. I grab a few to help sort, following his method.

I can’t believe he practiced. This shocks me. I realize now I may have judged a book by its cover. There’s more to the man sitting in front of me. I don’t truly know who he is. I thought I did, but I do know he is dedicated to helping me. Whether it's to benefit the farm, or to help my shop. Maybe both.

“We have a first place winner! Congrats to Laura and Chelsea! Everyone else needs to keep solving, don’t be discouraged. Try to place within the top five so that you can stay on the leaderboard.” Constance is now walking around the tables with a headset and a mini microphone. I don’t know where all the upgrades came from, but this year she means business.

Our puzzle only has ten or so pieces left, thanks to Dustin. I have not contributed to even half of the progress that was made.

“Second place goes to Annie and Olive!”

“Third place goes to Mason and Chloe!”

My hands are starting to sweat from the pressure. We need to get at least fifth to keep a spot at a chance to win.

“Fourth place goes to Bobbie and Paula!”

Dustin is laser focused, placing the final piece and we shoot our arms in the air. Constance rushes to our table and shouts “We have a fifth-place winner, Violet and Dustin!”

She taps me on the shoulder. “Good work you two. Just enough to stay on the leaderboard.” She's gone in a flash to announce the sixth-place winners and so on. Once everyone is announced she updates us with what the first-place winners receive for finishing the puzzle first. I guess they get to choose two free puzzles from Cat’s & Novels. Not that I’m complaining.I don’t think I want to look at another puzzle after today. I have every puzzle anyway, but I left them at Dustin’s place. Hopefully he keeps them.

“Thank you,” I say, looking at Dustin while picking the corners of my fingernail.

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