Small Little Stories

Autumn Extraveganza

   The autumn air... Can you feel it? Cold and warm at the same time. Flowing through old trees and the sounds of rustling leaves. All accompanied by the smell of pastries from bakeries in the distance; all of the owners setting up for their harvest delights.
   I can tell you right now there are things seemingly low-class compared to that of a fall day. Well, almost so... It began in late August of freshman year...

   I was Sarah Baker a ninth grader ready to already become a tenth grader. I wore the "rich kid" look well; hair was done in a knot with a neat skirt and a warm polo shirt. Why I wore that look so well people could smell the money coming from my pockets.
   But then, there was Amy Sullivan. She was different from me, completely! Curly frazzled hair let loose with striped sweaters and long pants reaching to her toes! Seemed as though she was a tabby cat around top dogs.
   Yet, there was always something about her that drew my attention from the other guys and gals at school. A feeling that passed me. But, I could never shake it.

   The day was coming to a close when it happened. The school day was over and I was ready to head home. Until Amy caught me just before. "Hey, Sarah! I haven't seen you around town lately!" she hollered.

   "...And you are?"

   "Amy Sullivan! We have Algebra and Science together!"

   "Oh, sorry, I just never noticed you..."

   "No big deal! Hey! What are you doing now that school is over?"

   "Just... Heading home..."

   "Cool! What street are you on?"

   "...Martyr Way- Should you be going somewhere?"

   "Oh! I was heading to the park with some of my friends!"

   "Park?"

   "Yeah! You should come by some time!"

   "I never knew there was a-"

   "Woah that's a cool car!" Amy intruded as she looked over me. On the driveway of the school was a red Camaro dazzling in the autumn light. My father's car...
   "I should be going now..." I mumbled rushing to the car's door. I waved away Amy and got inside. My father questioned if she was a friend before returning to silence. I didn't answer for the encounter was something I couldn't make sense of.

   See here's the thing. Kids like her and kids like me never really interacted. And not in such optimistic ways like that! Coming up to me all of a sudden was somewhat unprecedented. Yet that's what drove me to figure out where this "park" was.

   The next day I arrived at the park. It was large like the ones in New York! Grandly filled with trails, trees, and benches for lovers to sit in the fall feeling.
   I looked around and saw Amy huddled with a group of other kids in jackets and fall coats. They weren't like the two hundred dollar coat my father gave me as a gift. And they weren't as well kept. It interested me...
   I walked up to the group and went up to Amy. To my surprise, she wasn't wearing a jacket. Just a long sleeve sweater.
   "Hello, Amy? Was it? We met yesterday-" I began before suddenly being gripped by Amy's tight arms. She hugged me almost hard enough to squeeze the air out of me. She let go and smiled, placing her hands on my shoulders. She turned me around to face the other kids.

   "Guys! I want you to meet Sarah Baker! She's from my Science class!"

   "And Alge-"

   "Today she'll be joining us on our quest!"

   "Q-quest?!"

   "Yes! The 'AUTUMN EXTRAVAGANZA'!"

   "Wh-what-" But before I could even finish that statement, I was pulled along Amy's little journey. Amy and her friends all smiled as I was pulled by the master of the plan in tension. What was this extravaganza? What was this quest?