Page 8 of A Fowl Match

“See you guys Friday,” Mason says and then turns towards someone looking for a drink.

The sounds from the song flicker through my ears. It soothes my agitation caused by my companion next to me. Until he speaks again.

“Mocktail? Are you a square?”

That’s it, I will be in jail tonight!

“Does it look like I’m a square?” I ask, bewildered someone could even possibly utter something so disrespectful and judgmental, andlackmanners. “Wait, don’t even answer that question,” I say huffing while taking a sip of the sweet goodness.

He chuckles. I’d love to swipe that smug grin off his face. “I mean that chicken sweatshirt screams it.”

“I hope the rooster leaves a surprise on him,”I mumble under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Oh I was saying how I’m the squarest square of all. Ninety-degree corners and all. So boring. You shouldn’t talk to me, you might fall asleep from all the fuddy-duddy emanating from me.”

Yep, that was the worst comeback I have ever thought of.

“Ha. Okay,fuddy-duddy,” he says while leaning back on the bar stool.

“Okay, Wade Walker.”

“Who’s Wade and what does he have to do with this?” He scruffs his short hair, looking perplexed.

“Wade Walker from the movieCry-Baby. Only the greatest 90s movie of all time.” I pause to contain my astonishment. “You called me a square like the drapes and squares in the movie; that's what he has to do with this.”

“Never heard of it.” He takes a sip of his drink.

Another red flag in my book.

The band plays a few more songs, “Fishin’ in the dark” by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “I fall to pieces” by Patsy Cline, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash. People dance, sing and sway to the soothing melodies. The band sounds amazing. And I am having a great time. Olive is dancing with Mason in front of the stage. He twirls her around to the thrumming sounds. Her hair swooshes in a cloud around them.

They have been good friends for years and I always wondered when they would become something more than friends. But at the moment I don’t think Olive notices how Mason looks at her.

I’m getting ready to leave as the last song plays when I see Constance at the microphone. I widen my eyes.

This has to be good.

Constance, Chuck’s wife, is Thornwood Valley’s gossip executive—yes, that’s what she refers to herself as. She feels it's her job (self-appointed), since no one else has any interest in keeping the town updated with things that go on. Every small town has someone that is in charge of spreading the word about all of the gossip and happenings. She was the one to fill the position. Constance runs the town’s events and is part of the gossip mill.

She also owns The Chop Shop, the town's only barber shop. The business was inherited from her parents when she graduated high school. Chelsea, her daughter, now runs the place and continues their legacy. Bobbie and Annie are the other two parts of her trio. They meet twice a week updating each other with the comings and goings of the town. They aren’t mean spirited, but they will find out all of your secrets and make them public knowledge. They like to involve themselves in matchmaking, events, and anything that happens.

Secrets are hard to keep in our small town.

“Hi everyone, I hope you had a good time tonight. I have an exciting announcement before you leave.” Constance brushes an imaginary piece of lint from her floral dress and continues, “As you all know, starting Monday the town's annual spring festival month starts. And it's a special one, the twentieth anniversary since the first one ever celebrated in our quaint town. That means it's time for everyone to be partnered up in groups of two. Each group will team together to participate in all of the events.”

How could I have forgotten? Every year this happens in the first week of March. The events commence. And every business owner is entered into a bucket that is drawn at random. We are all pulled in groups of two to compete with the other teams. It raises money for all of the small businesses. Tourists come to our town to watch the festivities and participate in games set up. They stay in the cabins and at the Cozy Cabin Inn. Some town folks also bet on who they think will win. The grand total profit is split between all of the businesses. So that’s why everyone tries to participate. If you don’t participate you don’t get a part of the cut. The grand winners—two small business owners—also get a plaque to display on their business for the year. It’s a whole thought-out event. It lasts the whole month, competitions commencing every Saturday.

“Quiet down everyone. It’s time to draw teams.” She reaches into the wooden barrel and starts pulling names. Annie and Bobbie are on the stage now assisting with the name drawing. Constance adjusts her reading glasses on her nose and reads the first few couplings into the microphone. “Mason and Chloe, you are the first team.” She pauses between each name while she is handed another slip from Annie. “Bobbie and Paula.” She adds an extra pause for dramatic suspense. “Annie—and Olive.” You are now paired together.”

I hear Olive grunt from the dance floor. I try to stifle a laugh but fail miserably. The pair ended up together last year too, and they argued the whole time. Not that they don’t get along. They’re both self-assured. It was hilarious to watch.

“Violet and—”Drumroll. Please be someone I get along with. Please. Please. Please!

“—Dustin,” she says, smiling in my direction.

Who’s Dustin?

---