The last flicker of light drained from the sky as night moved in to sweep away the day and blanket the world in her cooling twilight shadows. The hum of the day’s activities quieted as evening’s arrival ushered its calming hush over the land. Most of the children of Calico had retired to their homes and to their families to rest and prepare for the upcoming festivities. Yet, there were still some within the community who would not be stilled but by the day’s end. Though the sign on the Sweet Shoppe door read, “closed”, the restaurant was far from vacant.

Inside the shop, the girls were in the kitchen, steadily working hard to prepare the comestibles for the morrows’ fair. Some washed and sliced fruit while others mixed aromatic batters for baking and others, still, decorated savory pastries with the restaurant’s usual flourish and flare. Spirits were high and the girls were filled with energy as they worked…all except one.

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