One of the things he’d found delightful about Honeysuckle, besides the quirky title of Corn Hole Capital of the state, when it came to small-town friendliness, it pretty much took the prize. Everyone knew everyone, but more importantly, everyone seemed to look out for each other as well.
“But,” the kid waved an end of the crepe streamer at the woman, “I’m almost done.”
“Correction.” Alice pointed a finger at him. “You are done.”
With a heavy sigh, the kid made it back down the ladder, the other two over by the posters having watched the exchange with surprising interest.
“So.” Alice smiled at all the kids now looking at her with gripping attention. “What is the plan?”
The three heads turned to face each other and Clint got the distinct impression that not a single one had a clue what they were supposed to be doing. Though it shouldn’t have been funny, he found himself biting the inside of his cheeks not to chuckle.
“Well,” the only girl, probably Mary, spoke up, “we’re supposed to be coloring waves on the poster to put on the walls, but Callie is the artist and she’s home sick.”
“I think I can help.” Alice nodded her head.
Clint had to blink. So the woman could run a ranch, a family, train dogs, and draw? Maybe some day he would stop being surprised by this lady.
“Where are the paint supplies?” Alice scanned the floor area where the two kids had been working.
“We hadn’t gotten that far. We were told we could use whatever supplies were in the art room.”
“All right. Who’s going to show me the way?”
Mary grinned enthusiastically. “Follow me.”
Taking in the few supplies that were scattered around, Clint’s gaze landed on a box overflowing with papers, and streamers, and what looked like cut out fish. Thinking through the theme, he lifted his eyes heavenward and studied the ceiling.
“In the movie they had seahorses, fish, and other fun glittery stuff hanging from the ceiling.” The kid, Jimmy, was staring up as he spoke. “We thought we could put some up on the walls, that would be kind of close.”
Clint nodded. Then pointed to the container of decorations. “Let’s see what we have to work with.”
The two rummaged through the container he’d seen and another off to the side. Most of the items were scattered on the floor now so they could take inventory when Alice and Mary came back.
Pushing a rolling cart overloaded with what he assumed were art supplies. Alice grinned at him. “Everything we could possibly want to transform this place.”
The way Jimmy, Mary and Martin glanced at each other, Clint was pretty sure that they weren’t convinced.
Alice must have noticed their reaction as well, because she turned to him and raised a single brow. She didn’t say a word, and yet, he was pretty sure he knew what she wanted.
He nodded ever so slightly. Yeah, he was full in. “Is there any spare wood in this place? Like plywood?”
Jimmy shrugged. “Maybe in the shop. They teach kids woodworking.”
“Then we’re going to start with some decent waves. Show me where the shop classes are and we’ll cut some real waves, create depth to hide that stage up there.”
The kid looked to where he’d pointed then back.
“And Martin,” she tipped her head toward the doorway, “go ask the custodian if he has a better ladder than that old wobbly thing.”
Martin nodded and took off running.
“Walk,” Alice shouted. “You’re no good to me if you break a leg or wind up in detention.” The kid instantly slowed but still scurried along.
“What do you want me to do?” Mary Borden stood eagerly awaiting instructions.
“We,” Alice linked elbows with the new to town teen, “are going to start creating the enchantment.”
By the time Clint returned to the gym with the cut-out sheets of wave-shaped plywood, Alice and Mary had already created a slew of sea creatures. Jimmy was up on a sturdy ladder hanging balloons painted like fish in every color imaginable.
