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3
NELSON
We finally find our way out of the maze and head into the town square. Up on stage there are people setting up audio equipment, as well as a long table with four older folks sitting behind it. They people milling around in front of the stage are all talking among themselves, and a few of them look our way before pointing us out to their peers.
“I guess we didn’t miss the crowning of the king and queen,” Nicole says as we step forward together, hand in hand. It’d be sweet if we weren’t dressed as Mexican food.
“Oh, right. That,” I shake my head.
“You seem unimpressed. What’s the matter?”
“It’s a bunch of crap, really. They pick some pretty couple, one I’m pretty sure they already know is going to win. They say everyone attending the festival is eligible, but the winners are always related to one of the judges, or at least you can connect them to the judges without much effort. We’re in Burly, Nicole. Everyone knows everyone’s secrets, and this one? This one is a pretty open secret.”
She crosses her arms, becoming a pretty pouty-looking avocado. “I guess I just wanted to believe it was legitimate.”
“We’re now ready to announce the King and Queen of the Fall Ball,” preacher Carl Landon announces as he takes the stage. He’s a pretty big, important figure in the town. And I guess I have a connection to him now because my brother Carter just married his daughter.
“The panel of judges have conferred amongst themselves about the costumes we’ve seen today, and made an unbiased selection of the two best costumes here tonight. There was a lot of competition, as a lot of you have put great effort into your costumes this year and have shown a lot of spirit, and the people of Burly will always recognize that.”
I take a gander at the other judges. The botanist, the grocer, and the electronics store guy are all people I recognize. There’s also a newer guy on the panel, who I don’t think I’ve run into yet. I wonder if his opinion greatly changed how the voting went.
“And tonight, we’ve chosen two people with a unique set of costumes to be our king and queen. We’re announcing them together because it’s a couple’s costume, and it’s adorable when you figure out what it means,” the preacher continues.
A couple’s costume? What could he mean? I look around the crowd. There’s a Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf pair, a Frankenstein’s Monster and Bride of Frankenstein pair, as well as two people dressed like they’re at a Renaissance fair. I think they’re trying to be Romeo and Juliet.
“Would the man in the very professional taco costume and his girlfriend dressed as the avocado please come up to the stage?”
I cock an eyebrow and stare at the preacher in disbelief, although my expression is hidden from the world. “What?” My voice is low, and I’m sure only Nicole can hear me.
There’s some confusion in the crowd, murmurings about what’s adorable about tacos and avocados in the fall.
“I know, I know,” the preacher says, “but our newest judge made a good argument, and as I’ve said, it’s adorable when you realize the meaning.”
“Yeah, I’d like an explanation too,” I reply, as if the preacher can hear me.
“We’re all cultured enough to know avocado is the key ingredient in guacamole, and many of us understand that a good taco needs guacamole to... well, be a good taco. It’s an unusual but charming way of the man showing the woman that she completes him, and that they belong together.”
There’s more confusion.
“It’s an odd choice for a pairing. I would have gone with Peanut Butter and Jelly, but the sentiment remains. And as the weather turns colder, we need a reminder that together, we can brave the coming winter with the warmth of love, and that all of us need someone to complete us. Could the taco and avocado please come up to the stage?”
I’m still in shock, and I get the idea Nicole is too. She gets over it faster, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. We approach the stage, and all eyes are on us. The preacher is holding the king and queen sashes, looking at our costumes and seeing how unsuited they are for such accessories.
It’s weird as hell seeing the people of Burly looking up at us, and especially weird when I remember what Nicole and I just did in the seclusion of a corn maze dead end.
“Now, could our autumn royalty show the town their faces?” the preacher continues. “We should know who has humored us so.”
I gulp. The spat between the Rowdys and the McCormicks isn't exactly a secret. But what am I gonna do? Run off? Dad taught me to stand my ground in everything except certain death, and a little embarrassment isn’t that.
So I go with it. I unzip the head of the costume again, Nicole following my lead. I pull mine off and enjoy the cool night air tickling my flesh once more. Damn, this costume is stuffy.
Fresh royalty, Nicole and I look over our subjects, who are smiling and laughing. Some of them are confused, drawing the connection between us and realizing that our union is unexpected.
“Well, well,” the preacher says, a bit surprised himself. “Love brings us all together, and I do mean all of us, no matter who we are or what family we come from. Everyone, give it up for this year’s Burly County Fall Ball King and Queen, Nelson Rowdy and Nicole McCormick.”
Nicole and I exchange nervous glances. Our families aren’t here right now, but there is no way that our little fling is going to stay a secret now.
We receive our ovation. Most of the people who aren’t clapping are the ones in couple’s costumes that I mentioned earlier, jealous that they weren’t granted the crowns.
