Can't Love Christmas

Four

Ash always felt awkward in the days between Halloween and Remembrance day. As soon as Halloween was over, it was over. The decorations came down and everyone gorged themselves on the leftover candy. Advertisers and retailers ignored November 11th altogether and shifted right into Christmas mode.

It was nearly the end of her shift on November 5th, when her phone sang in her pocket.

Laura: 

Are you coming tonight?

Confused, she responds:

Ash: 

Coming to what?

The bonfire!

I wasn't invited

It's not an invite type of party. Come to the park at sundown.

Do I need to bring anything? Do you have any more information you can give me?

I mean, bring something to drink. It's just a bonfire, so there's nothing specific planned.

Alright. I'll see you there.

She put her phone down and called out to her coworkers. "Was no one going to tell me about the bonfire?"

Her coworker Margaret looked startled. "Oh, Ash! We figured you knew! Haven't you heard people talking about it?"

"No."

"Oh. Well then. Tonight at the park, there'll be a big bonfire. Guy Fawkes day and all that."

She scrunched her brow. "Wait, that's actually celebrated here?"

"Oh yeah. We take on lots of people's traditions here. So we have a bonfire, but no fireworks. No effigies. Just a fun night out in the park."

"Okay. So people just show up or something?"

"Yeah, people will bring some chairs and refreshments if they want them, mostly it's just a chance for people to hang out and relax around a fire. They have some volunteer firefighters there just in case anything happens, but it's just a good time all around. Are you going to join the festivities tonight?"

"I am. I just didn't know about it until five minutes ago."

"Good! I will see you there then." Margaret walked out the front door of the shop.

"Did she just leave without her stuff?" Ash looked to Sadiq. He nodded.

"Yes, she does that sometimes. She'll be back in about half an hour as if she never left."

Ash turned back to her task and continued closing out for the evening.

After a quick dinner, she began to dress for the evening. It was still pretty mild, and the bonfire would provide a lot of heat, so she wasn't worried about being warm enough. She made sure everything she took would be easy enough to wash to get the campfire smell out of it later, and knowing it was a night event outdoors, didn't worry too much about her hair and makeup. She hoped the glow from the bonfire would be forgiving lighting.

She donned a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt under a bulky cardigan, and a slouchy beanie, and returned to her kitchen to prepare her beverage. She had a small bottle of vanilla vodka in her freezer, so she poured some of that into her travel mug and topped it off with orange juice so it tasted just like an orange creamsicle.

She pulled on her boots and walked to the park. It was fully dark, but it made the bonfire more impressive. The park was very busy, and it looked like every other bonfire she'd seen.