In Parched Gardens: Book 2

Chapter 1: It Carried Its Firstfruits

Fin walked through the wrought iron gate of his yard, pushing away the ivy that hung there. He breathed deeply, inhaling the crisp air of the morning. I was a little cooler this morning than he expected, so he was glad he'd grabbed a light jacket on his way out of the door. It'd be warm by midday, but the slight wind was chilly now.

Walking down Maple Street, Fin admired the neighborhood. Though the lawns were still green, the trees were just beginning to change. Within the deep green of the leaves, Fin could see spots of yellow, orange, and red now. And he could smell the change, subtly in the air. The smell, like a signal fire for the changing of the guard.

Fall decorations were starting to go up in houses now. This neighborhood, all of Allbrook really, had had a festive spirit for as long as Fin could remember. Beside mailboxes, the very first pumpkins and gourds stood their watch. A few flags bearing colorful trees and scarecrows and hay bales were sprinkled in with the banners of summer.

Walking through Allbook Park, Fin pushed up the sleeves on his thin jacket. He'd begun to sweat slightly, and the wind against his arms felt nice. Looking around the park, Fin noticed the relative quiet of it for the first time since moving back home. Since he'd been back this summer, the park was almost always full of life and motion. It wasn't empty now. There were several mothers pushing strollers, a few joggers winding their way through the park, an older man walking with his cane beside the flowers. But now, the children were in school. Fin liked the calm and the quiet, but he also liked the summer excitement of the park. He knew that by this afternoon, it'd be full of life again.

At work now, Fin put his jacket in his locker and checked the board to see where he was working today. Register 3, bagging the groceries that Evan scanned. This had become one of his favorite shifts, but it didn't happen often. As he walked to the register, he saw several of his coworkers putting up the first fall displays. Already, they were setting up a table near the front door for autumn treats. Pumpkin and apple pies, freshly cooked in the bakery there, along with gingersnap cookies, cinnamon rolls, and pecan cobbler. Near the table, half gallon containers of apple cider were already lined up with their Milner's Farmers Market label. And at the front of the store, beyond the registers, two of his coworkers were on ladders hanging a fall banner that had flags of red, orange, brown, and yellow.

"Morning," Evan said to Fin as he walked up to his position at the end of the register.

"How are you?" Fin asked him.

"Pretty good," Evan answered. "You?"

"Good," Fin started. "Do we always put new stuff out this early?" Fin asked.

Evan chuckled. "Wait 'till Christmas," he answered. "We start putting Christmas and Thanksgiving stuff up the day after Halloween."

"I guess I kinda forgot how much we do around here," Fin said, thinking. "It isn't really like this everywhere, especially the city."

Fin and Evan worked their shift for several hours. It was a relatively light day at the grocery store, so they talked a lot. Nearing late afternoon, Evan looked down at this watch. "I'm about done for the day," he said. "You?"

"I told Mr. Hinden I'd stay late today and help stock when we close," Fin replied. "I could use some extra money."

"I know what you mean," Evan answered. "I'd probably stay too, but I told my parents I'd help them clean up their shed. It's always a mess at the end of summer."

"You're kind of a family man, you know that?" Fin said. And in saying it, he thought briefly of his own family. What kind of family man was he, he wondered. What did other people think? But he pushed those thoughts from his mind. He had enough thoughts on the matter himself.