What Comes After | ✔️

Chapter 6

June 27

We went to the fair today. Mom and Dad gave us about seventy dollars in cash and a pouch of coins along with some small candies and cough drops in case they wanted goods in exchange.

"That's a lot of money," I said to Mom as she handed us the money. "Are you sure that you don't want to spend it on gas or something?"

"Everything's been so stressful lately," she said. "And I just want you guys to have a normal day, for once."

The place was bustling with more people than Mira than I had ever seen all summer. I guess everyone in town wanted to come. There was a large poster fluttering in the wind, painted in bright shades of turquoise and blue. Someone must have put a lot of time into making it.

A series of bells tolled, clanging loudly nine times, probably to signal the time. There were lots of small shacks set up in the plaza. Some people were selling canned food or jars of pickled vegetables. Others were selling medicines or essential supplies like batteries and mechanical parts. Armed guards patrolled the area to prevent people from stealing stuff.

But there were many other stalls selling non-survival gear: floral dresses, straw hats, shoes, jewelry, paints, antiquities, and many more things. Mira came with May and I as we walked through the crowds of people.

"Now's your chance," I said.

"What?" Mira said.

"To bond with May."

"Well, how am I supposed to do that?"

"Just impress her or do something cool. I don't know. Here's some good one-on-one time with her."

We reached a small stall and Mira picked up a couple of items.

"How do I look?" Mira said, turning around.

She had a floppy hat on her head with ridiculous pink framed sunglasses. "Awful," I said. "You look like Mom on the beach."

"You're a guy," she said. "Your opinion doesn't matter. This is a girl problem."

"May?" she asked, facing May.

"For the first time in my life, I think I actually agree with Neal. You look terrible," she said.

May picked up a pair of gold rimmed sunglasses. "You'll look much better in these."

Mira put them on, faux posing in front of a small mirror in front of the stall. I think she looked less bad, but she seriously needed to drop the hat.

"These are such cute sunglasses," she said and turned towards the lady manning the stall. "How much for these?"

"Twenty bucks," the woman said. "Unless you've got something better to offer."

Mira mouthed back to us, "Twenty bucks? So expensive" much to the annoyance of that woman.

It actually isn't. Sunglasses probably cost around a hundred to two hundred bucks, but since we don't have much cash, I guess it is expensive. Mira turned back to the stall and put on her I'm-getting-serious-with-you face. I can tell when she does that. She has that twinkle in her eye that shows that she's up to something. "Listen, Ms.... What's your name?"

"Scott. Linda Scott."

"Okay, listen Ms. Scott. Twenty bucks seems a tad too expensive for these sunglasses. I'll give you ten bucks for these."

"Fifteen bucks."

"Twelve."

"Fifteen."

"Fifteen and a couple of candies," Mira said. "For that shirt and the glasses."