“Who is that?” Emily points at him. “How does he know my name?”
I blink. “You haven’t met Will?” I ask. “He seems to know everyone in town.”
She shakes her head. “Never saw him before.” She pauses, thinking, and then brightens. “I guess you used my name, so maybe he picked it up. I have another load in the truck. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Thank you.” I open the box to find paint, brushes, and drop clothes. They’re the perfect colors to go with the grocery store’s float and I deliver them to that area.
As Will and I help Emily unload the supplies, I’m struck once again by the spirit of the community that’s filled this space. People from all walks of life, coming together to create something beautiful for the town they love.
The day continues in a whirlwind of activity. I flit from float to float, offering suggestions here, lending a hand there. The constant hum of conversation and laughter fills the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of Christmas music from the small radio in the corner.
As the afternoon wears on, the aroma of freshly baked cookies wafts through the air. I look up to see Mrs. Thompson, my old third-grade teacher, making her way through the crowd with a large platter.
“Snickerdoodles, anyone?” she calls out, her kind face beaming. “Can’t have all you hardworking volunteers going hungry.”
There’s a rush toward Mrs. Thompson, and I chuckle at the sight of grown adults eagerly reaching for cookies like they’re children.
“Here, Noah,” Mrs. Thompson says, offering me the platter. “You look like you could use a break and a sweet treat.”
I accept a cookie gratefully, the warmth of it seeping into my fingers. I don't know how she managed to keep them warm, but I’m not going to complain. “Thanks, Mrs. Thompson. These smell amazing.”
She pats my arm affectionately. “It’s the least I can do. And I must say, Noah, I’m so impressed with what you’ve done here. You’ve really brought the community together with this parade.”
Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a lump forming in my throat. “I... thank you. But it’s not just me. Everyone here has worked so hard. Paige especially. She has a way with people that makes them feel like they’re worth a million bucks.” I’m not lying. I’ve experienced that feeling myself.
Mrs. Thompson nods, her eyes twinkling. “Of course they have. But it takes a special kind of person to inspire others to create so many beautiful floats. You should be proud of yourself.”
As she moves on to distribute more cookies, I’m left pondering her words. Have I really made that much of a difference? My gaze wanders across the room, taking in all the activity and suddenly it’s like my eyes are open and I can easily spot at least one thing on each float that was my idea or my work. I’ve probably painted or drawn something on at least a third of the floats. I helped make the cage that the bank paper mâchéd into a snowman, and there are other elements throughout the room that I engineered. I’ve touched on each float and made it better.
I did that.
I’m shocked at how much of myself is in this parade.
And it looks good. Not just good. This parade is a step up from past year.
I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
There’s a hand on my shoulder and Will leans over to tell me, “It’s been inside of you the whole time. Every bit.”
I shake my head in awe. “I didn’t know.”
“Now you do. What are you going to do about it?” He nods his head to the right and I turn to see what he’s looking at.
Paige is standing on a ladder, helping to hang a banner across the back of the city council’s float. Her hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail, a streak of glitter paint across one cheek, and she’s laughing at something someone below has said.
As if sensing my gaze, she turns and our eyes meet. Her smile softens, becoming something warm and private, just for me. In that moment, I feel a surge of love and desire so strong it nearly takes my breath away.
Will squeezes my shoulder again. “You can pick the life you want, Noah. It’s your choice. It’s always been your choice.”
His words echo in my head.My choice. My choice. My choice.
Paige climbs down from the ladder and makes her way over to me, navigating through the bustling crowd with ease.
“Hey you,” she says softly as she reaches me. “How’s it going over here?”
I gesture to the Winter Wonderland float behind me, now shimmering with iridescent snow and deep, shadowy blues. “See for yourself. What do you think?”
Paige’s eyes widen as she takes in the float. “Noah, it’s beautiful. You’ve really outdone yourself.”
