Three weeks went by and no luck. At least not the gold she was hoping for. She had some luck of being flirted with by a couple of cheesy guys, but those didn't count. Two of them even used that same pick up line! A bunch of cookie cut outs. I guess that's what you get for working at a shop named "Sprinkles".
When it wasn't raining or anything super random, Ashley enjoyed going to the nearby park to rest up and get away from obnoxious people. As it was Thursday, the park wasn't very busy, which was a relief. A little creek flowed through the center of it. It was her favorite place. She climbed up a boulder and took out her pocket knife to decorate a wrist thick stick.
From her vantage point she could quietly observe people from a distance. There were a few dog walkers, obnoxiously romantic couples who didn't understand what a public area was, and a few dreamers sprawled out on blankets. She was slightly hidden from all and quietly continue her woodworking.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a stock of red hair. It was a boy who seemed about her age or a year or two older. He didn't see her as he made his way to a boulder only a few yards away. She held her breath as he absentmindedly pulled out a pocket knife to decorate his own stick. Someone like her. She subtly watched his gentle but calculated movements.