A summer fête ! [Mingle]

[ourearth]

Date: 11-08-2018
Characters: Everyone!

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It's a way too hot day what did we do to deserve this beautiful hot summer's day. The very crispy brown Greens bustle with activity. Volunteers, artisans and some professionals are setting up the town's largest summer fête, nicknamed Triple-F ("Faith Full Fête") due to the organisers being all the local religious communities working together for this special occasion. More or less. Until we discuss which church, mosque, or other congregation is selling the best food. At that point things might become a bit more tense because obviously ours is better, laddie, but don't say that too loud because those poor sods two stalls down from us really think their samosas are better than our scones and we don't want to crush their dreams...

Even before things are fully set up, visitors are starting to trickle in, and there will be more and more over the day until it gets very busy around mid-afternoon, only starting to thin out again once the little ones have to go to bed.

And there's a lot to do besides buying and eating food (though that isn't to be scoffed at)! The official main attraction is obviously the cake judging and award ceremony for the best cake. Small visitors can enjoy a bouncy castle, a craft tent, a Punch and Judy show, face painting, and a storyteller.

Athletics start around mid-afternoon, are mostly split between age group and gender and come with a small reward. The only exception is the tug-o-war where in addition to the usual men-against-women tug there's also a congregation-against-congregation single-elimination tournament. There also used to be a tournament between the various towns/villages in the Mossgate Council, but that was banned a while ago because of the various incidents during the Folkton vs. Moss Manor matches. Other athletics include a three-legged-race, egg-and-spoon-race, sack race, various runs ("mums run", "dads run", "kids run", "grandpas run", "queens run", etc.) and a relay race.

After the athletics there is a pet show with the categories being "large dogs", "small dogs" and "various other pets". Awards go to the fluffiest pet, the one with the waggiest tail, and so on, but there also is an obstacle course and a prize for the best in show.

All throughout the afternoon and early evening, people can enjoy tombolas, raffles, coconut shies, a bat a rat stall and white elephant stalls along with the stalls of the local artisans and some local shops. In addition, there is a live band that seems to play more and more ABBA the later it gets. There is also a BBQ running the entire day, the proceeds of which all go to charity.

And of course there is cotton candy and donuts. And instead of just one ice cream van, this year the council has managed to engage a fleet of them. Make sure you eat your ice cream before it melts and the wasps eat YOU.

Comments

[brofistsforall]

Ben will find his teacher at one of the stalls, holding up what seems to be a piece of jewelry with a perplexed frown. It really shouldn't be that confusing - it looks like a shark-tooth necklace, a pair of the teeth strung simply on a string. He turns it over in his hands before seeming to notice the boy out of the corner of his eye, and looks up, forcing a smile.

"Ben! Found anything yet?"

[warped_replica]

Awaiting the return of his appetite, Benjiro steps around a small group of people at one of the white elephant stalls to approach the next when he notices his professor browsing there. He has not seen his teacher since break, and while things have not been as relaxing as planned so far, he instantly smiles hearing his name in that deep voice. The expression is one that is mindful to keep his lips from separating more than to show a hint of teeth, but genuine.

Sliding out of the walking path space and up to stand next to Professor Petty, he starts to answer, “A few possibilities, but nothing that-“ before his eyes lock onto the shark tooth necklace. It may only be coincidence, but that doesn’t keep Benjiro from cringing as he looks away from the necklace to strangle the grimace trying to show as he forces out the rest of the answer, “...uh, nothing that really fits the criteria.”

[brofistsforall]

The reaction is noticed, and Petty's hand closes over the necklace. Something tugs within him but he pushes it down, more concerned for his student's reaction. "I see," he says, keeping his voice casual. While he could ask if Ben's all right, maybe the indirect route is best here. "And how are you enjoying yourself? Have you tried some of the food yet?"

*since break began

[warped_replica]

In an attempt to redirect from the necklace, Benjiro keeps his eyes turned where they went naturally and picks up a rather odd looking teapot from that space on the table. Turning it over once before setting it back down, he peers cautiously back towards his teacher to find the necklace covered in his hand. The teen looks up from that hand to his teacher directly as his shoulders sink back down. Keying in with those subtle questions, he answers in a similar manner, “It’s a nice change of pace, busy but not overwhelming,” says the introvert. “The food I’ve tried so far has been delicious, but there’s a lot I haven’t tasted.”

[brofistsforall]

"I'm sure you can find someone to recommend you some. My favorite so far are the tarts," continues the teacher, lips quirking upwards. "But the good thing about there being so much, is that there's something for everyone."

Speaking of which. He turns and briefly speaks with the owner of the stall, then pulls out a few coins to pay for the piece. It may not be Ben's taste, but it speaks to him, in the oddest way.

"How's your break?"

[warped_replica]

“My great aunt Rosemary gave me some recommendations to get started, including some Chorley cakes. But I haven’t tried any tarts yet,” he recalls, and quirks a brow. The tarts his teacher praises would be worth checking out if he could get some indication of where to look.

As Professor Petty pays for the necklace, Benjiro shuffles his backpack’s position on his shoulders unnecessarily to sit it more evenly.

With a strained sort of smile, Benjiro answers simply, “In a word? Eventful.” Moving from the space of the stall, he’ll turn back to ask in turn, “How about for you?”

[brofistsforall]

"Try Beth Shalom's." The necklace is neatly tucked in a pocket, to be examined later. Maybe he'll be able to pinpoint of what it reminds him...

"Eventful, huh? Care to share?" He follows the young man for now, not reading any sign to give him some space. Whatever's bothering him, it doesn't seem to be enough to cause him discomfort. "Mine's about the same as it's always been. You kids may get a break, but a teacher's on year-round."

[warped_replica]

Name noted to seek before the conclusion of the Fête, the teen nods with an appreciative tilt in the motion.

“It’s going to take some explaining,” he answers with an uneasy twinge of a frown. He had already agreed to inform his professor of changes related to the numbers, however, disrupting the festivities with the stress he has been facing seems selfish. He could always explain another time should his professor prefer to focus on the present.

“You’ve still been working? I thought matching breaks were a perk of becoming a teacher.”

[brofistsforall]

...hm.

"Well, if it's that complicated, it can wait," Petty decides. "You know how to get a hold of me- my door's always open." Literally and metaphorical door, just in case this has to do with a certain network. As for the comment about working?

He chuckles.

"You'd think. But those worksheets have to get copied sometime, Ben."

[warped_replica]

Readily accepting the deference of an explanation, Benjiro shoves the mess of recent happenings aside in his head for later. “I’ll drop by when I take some books back to the library then,” he offers. Hopefully that would be a convenient time for Professor Petty.

Benjiro is strangely bothered by the new revelation, “How many do you need to copy? I thought after the first few years, most teachers had a curriculum pretty much set and ready. Other than making adjustments for new editions of textbooks...”

[brofistsforall]

Fair enough. The professor nods in agreement, mentally putting aside some time. When will Benjiro be there? He doesn't know. But it just means to have flexible room in the schedule.

"If you want to keep things current, then you keep updating. Plus, things that your peers of ten years ago found fun and interesting might not be the same today. Especially with your age, finding ways to hold students' attention is hard." This might be the most open he's been about the difficulties of his job, honestly. But he does love it, and it shows; he's clearly fond about the challenges. "I'm going to tell you a secret, alright, Ben?"

He leans in close.

"Teachers sometimes have to make it up as we go."

For the record, said future office visit is handwaved by both muns

[warped_replica]

He won’t wait more than a day or two to pay him a visit at his office. It would be rude to make him anticipate a possible disruption any longer than that, and he’ll be sure to come mid-morning when he does to avoid interfering with his lunch break or an early departure.

An avid learner from his earliest days as a student, Benjiro has never suffered the boredom and disinterest his peers have shown. Not ignorant of their casual attitudes to school however, his professor does raise an excellent point about changing trends and interests between the decades. His job is to impart knowledge, and the performance of his class reflects on him, so adapting his lessons seems reasonable.

Slowing at the mention of a secret, he looks quite curiously to Professor Petty to listen. His eyes narrow as he looks towards his teacher almost accusingly, “That’s blasphemy...!” only to snicker and cover his mouth with a hand as he does.