The sun was warm overhead " a nice change from several days of rain " while Johnny called across the ordered chaos that currently filled the Southern Glen. It was Friday the 30th of April, at just past noon, and volunteers were moving this way and that, putting the last touch on the decorations for the Beltane Festival. One of those volunteers sported a mop of bright red hair and two inches of extra height from a recent growth spurt, and that was the target of Johnny's holler.
"Val! C"mon over here." He waved his arm over his head in a summoning sweep, and then laughed as he felt a small fist rap into the back of his head when Meg mimicked the gesture. She'd been happily riding in a backpack-style carrier all morning, burbling almost-words that were imitations of Johnny's shouts, interspersed with the occasional and very defiant "NO!" for no reason at all.
Val finished tugging the bench beneath the May Queen's wicker half-tent into place before he ran across the field " dodging a woman carrying a tray of oatmeal-raisin cookies toward the children's craft tent. "Queen's platform is all set, just gotta add some flowers an' such-like to it later. Wha'd"ya want, Mister Johnny?" "Folks'll be showin" up with th' kids any minute, an' I haven" seen Si with Caitir an' Ian ye". Think ya can run on back an' see if she's needin" a han?" Migh' have lef" her a little bi" too much ta juggle while we were over here setttin" up." Johnny grinned at Val while he waved to another volunteer who was setting out piles of flowers for the kids to make wreaths and chains with.
"Sure thing!" Val replied and then bolted off down the path back toward the City. Johnny put his hands on his hips while he watched the boy run, with the classic Smith grin spread over his face. Val had rapidly become much more than "just' an apprentice, and Johnny was proud of how well he was doing. After another moment, he turned and looked back over the Glen.
Tea lights were hanging from the trees along the path approaching the Glen, and colorful paper lanterns hung all around the main gathering area, just waiting to be lit at dusk. Until then, the sun was shining down on rustic wooden tables and benches and small potted herb plants that were intended for guest-gifts. Val had just finished arranging the May Queen's dais, and across the clearing from that, the craft tent for the children's events was set up and waiting. There was the station for the flower wreaths and crowns, another set up for May Pole decorating, and a third set up for painting small terra-cotta flower pots.
Just to one side, a face-painting table was set up, and next to that was a small barrel ring racing course was laid out with all its supplies. Everything looked like it was ready, so Johnny headed over to find someone who could help him free Meggie from her backpack carrier.
"Val! C"mon over here." He waved his arm over his head in a summoning sweep, and then laughed as he felt a small fist rap into the back of his head when Meg mimicked the gesture. She'd been happily riding in a backpack-style carrier all morning, burbling almost-words that were imitations of Johnny's shouts, interspersed with the occasional and very defiant "NO!" for no reason at all.
Val finished tugging the bench beneath the May Queen's wicker half-tent into place before he ran across the field " dodging a woman carrying a tray of oatmeal-raisin cookies toward the children's craft tent. "Queen's platform is all set, just gotta add some flowers an' such-like to it later. Wha'd"ya want, Mister Johnny?" "Folks'll be showin" up with th' kids any minute, an' I haven" seen Si with Caitir an' Ian ye". Think ya can run on back an' see if she's needin" a han?" Migh' have lef" her a little bi" too much ta juggle while we were over here setttin" up." Johnny grinned at Val while he waved to another volunteer who was setting out piles of flowers for the kids to make wreaths and chains with.
"Sure thing!" Val replied and then bolted off down the path back toward the City. Johnny put his hands on his hips while he watched the boy run, with the classic Smith grin spread over his face. Val had rapidly become much more than "just' an apprentice, and Johnny was proud of how well he was doing. After another moment, he turned and looked back over the Glen.
Tea lights were hanging from the trees along the path approaching the Glen, and colorful paper lanterns hung all around the main gathering area, just waiting to be lit at dusk. Until then, the sun was shining down on rustic wooden tables and benches and small potted herb plants that were intended for guest-gifts. Val had just finished arranging the May Queen's dais, and across the clearing from that, the craft tent for the children's events was set up and waiting. There was the station for the flower wreaths and crowns, another set up for May Pole decorating, and a third set up for painting small terra-cotta flower pots.
Just to one side, a face-painting table was set up, and next to that was a small barrel ring racing course was laid out with all its supplies. Everything looked like it was ready, so Johnny headed over to find someone who could help him free Meggie from her backpack carrier.