When Marissa pulled into the fairground parking lot, she felt good about their decision. There had to be at least a couple hundred cars already gathered.
Good. So we’re not alone.
Then, in the same breath, she realized that meant some of their competitors might already have a head start.
Damn, time to kick it in high gear.
She jumped out of her car and read the signs directing people inside for float prep.
“This has to be it,” she said to William, who had parked beside her.
“Agreed.” He read one of the candy-cane-striped signs. “Looks like we should head that way.” He pointed to the large outbuilding to their left.
“I wonder if we’ll get to help decorate a float. I’ve always wanted to do that since I was little.”
“Me too.”
“Really?” Marissa scrunched her nose.
“What? Let me guess: You think that’s beneath a Graff?”
“Maybe.” She grinned, in spite of herself. “Float decorating is for thelittlepeople, isn’t it?”
William rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, Snow Princess.”
“Hey, speaking of Snow Princess, you’re sure you haven’t gotten any notifications for individual challenges?”
“No. This is like the third time you’ve asked me. Do you think I’m holding out on you?”
She shook her head. “It’s just weird that neither of us has gotten a side task yet.”
“We’re only on our third clue.”
“True,” Marissa agreed. “It feels like we’ve been at this for weeks, not days.”
“Glad you’re finding the time with me so tolerable.” He made a face and held the door open for her with a flourish as if she were royalty.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Marissa winked and strolled inside. William brought out her flirty side. Despite her many promises to herself, she kept getting sucked into playful banter with him. She needed to knock it off.
Volunteers were fast at work inside the sizeable warehouse-like space, transforming tractors and trucks into holiday floats. Christmas music played overhead. Floats were in various stages of completion. Some looked ready to roll down Riverside Boulevard, while others needed a lot more work.
There was a float that resembled a ski jump, complete with a ramp and a lift chair. A flatbed truck had been outfitted with a massive red sled. One float had snowflakes the size of Marissa’s car, and another had a gingerbread house made entirely from edible material. Bend’s outdoor culture was evident in a whitewater-rafting float, a rock-climbing float, and two more mountain-themed designs.
Marissa had always enjoyed bundling up in layers and blankets with a thermos of hot chocolate and watching the floatslight up the winter night, but she had never realized how much work went into making them come to life.
“This is amazing,” she said aloud without intending to share her internal thoughts with William.
“Very impressive,” he agreed with an earnest smile.
“Where are you assigned?” A volunteer greeted them at the check-in table.
“Huh?”
“Your assignment. What’s your station?” The volunteer motioned in multiple directions. “Flowers? Construction? Inflatables?”
“Uh, is lights a category?” Marissa asked.
“Oh, you’re scavenger hunters.” The volunteer pointed toward the snowflake float. “Back that way. Good luck.”
