I’m sorry. We’ll make sure you get your flying time soon. Just as soon as I’ve sorted out this mess.
We could fly up the mountain to the next town,the wyvern suggested, its eyes gleaming, and Calvin laughed, relaxing a little.
He knew the wyvern knew that flying to the town was not an option – especially on such a gloriously warm, blue-skied summer’s day as today, where the air was so clear that you could see forever. One glint of sunlight on the wyvern’s iridescent emerald scales, and every person in a five-mile radius would be basking in its dubious glory.
Flying around the uninhabited side of the mountain and keeping a low profile like Calvin had originally planned was one thing, but flapping majestically into a populated area was another.
No, they couldn’t shift at this point without it being a massive risk. Calvin had no choice but to walk.
And really, it wasn’t that bad of a choice. Though the day was hot, the lush green leaves of the forest canopy provided a cool, dark umbrella over his head that kept things bearable, rustling almost imperceptibly in the gentle breeze.
He found himself making good time as he made his way back to the main road, the distant sound of cars reassuring him that he was heading in the right direction.
Emerging onto the road, Calvin looked first one way up its hot, black, winding expanse, and then the other.
Where to?
His wyvern sniffed the air, and then, with a confidence that Calvin found he completely believed in, it said,West.
West it is.
The wyvern’s instincts had never steered him wrong when it came to finding his way. If he followed its lead, he’d find civilization soon enough.
And sure enough, after only about fifteen minutes of following the road, he was passing a sign:Girdwood Springs: 3 miles.
Girdwood Springs. Sure, sounds good,Calvin thought to himself.
Maybe there’d be someone there who could fix his car.
Chapter 2
“Lemonade on a hot day! Cool and refreshing, and you’ll be supporting a good cause! Who wants to come get some nice, fresh lemonade?”
Diana Ramos paused to wipe some sweat from her forehead, her throat parched. She’d be the one who needed some cool, refreshing lemonade soon enough – as if she hadn’t already been sampling her own merchandise, after spending all morning standing in the hot sun, calling out to passers-by about her fundraising efforts for the local pre-school.
At least I’ve raised a bit of money,she thought, glancing down at the small cash box that sat on the table next to the free samples.
People here in Girdwood Springs were pretty generous, after all, and they all knew the pre-school had been in need of a new playground for quite some time. But it was also a small town, and there weren’t many funds available for things like that.
It was true that Girdwood Springs was thriving from the tourists that came through to experience the enchanting beauty of the mountains that surrounded it and the charm of the town itself, but the number of people who actuallylivedhere waspretty small, and the number of kids who attended the pre-school Diana taught at was smaller still.
But despite that, I know people are donating what they can,Diana thought, as a car full of visitors pulled up. As soon as the kids hopped out, she saw them excitedly pointing over at her lemonade stand – and, thankfully, the parents allowed themselves to be pulled over to where she was standing behind her sales table and its red-and-white checkered tablecloth, which was weighed down with jugs of ice-cold lemonade, the condensation on their smooth glass sides twinkling in the sunlight.
Despite how hot and sticky she felt, Diana did her best to plaster a wide smile on her face.
“You must be thirsty after a long drive – how about some lemonade? All proceeds go toward rebuilding the Girdwood Springs Pre-School playground. You can read about it here if you like.”
Diana held up the small pamphlet she’d written up about why the pre-school she taught at was in such dire need of a glow-up, but the slightly harried-looking father of the family waved it away.
“No, that’s fine – but we’ll take some lemonade. Four cups.”
“Coming right up!”
Four cups, that’s another eight dollars,Diana thought as she reached into the ice box for some freshly chilled lemonade, sitting beneath the table.Every little bit is a step closer to a new playground. Gotta remember that.
She’d taught at the pre-school for six years now – and it was both her job and her passion. She loved it. Sure, it was a little tiring, and funding was always a little short. And it wasn’t like she got paid a ton. But knowing her students always arrived and left with huge smiles on their faces made it worthwhile –morethan worthwhile. It made her heart sing with joy.
“Here you are – four cups.”
