The art showcase happened and it was the best one yet in years, the kids were so fun filled and the floral decorations all over were such a sight together with many showcases that had been organised. Everything was different for Muriel but perhaps it was time to try something new, seeing her dad filled with laughter throughout most the event was actually her most satisfying feeling, he was seated with father Patrick and the other holy fathers on the bridge across the stream, watching the whole event from up, Muriel was with Julie on the ground level together with other community members, seated on the grass, Julie had managed to convince her to match style with her so she was in brown shorts and a ..... and also tied her hair with a yellow scarf, she looked tropical in warm colours. Everyone had dressed for the event in island style, some were in crop tops or vests and shorts, dancing in circles to the beat of the drums while Muriel was by the fire, watching them. 'its super easy' julie said as they pulled her off to join their circle, she was too shy that she felt her cheeks turn red with every move she tried to imitate, she hadn't danced all her life but now here she was trying to blend in with the island girls who were desperate be on her good side, as for the boys, she was like a fantasy, undeniably exotic yet effortlessly beautiful, this had to be easy, she thought as she began picking up with the beats, she had seen Daphney and the other models during their dance workouts and she was going to try immitate them in her mind, the drummers were good and she began twisting her waist slowly as she twirled in small circles with julie as they laughed and with no time, everyone was cheering on them and placed flower crowns on their heads but they didn't get close to her, Charles was watching, they couldn't even if he wasn't, Muriel looked up at charles in the process of twirling and laughter and he was matching her mood as he was cheering on her too, father Patrick was in laughter mode too, everyone on the island was in the best mood.
The party ended late while everyone was tired and filled with lots of local wine, coconut juice and fruits, the island had plenty.
Father Patrick and other holy fathers were extra impressed with the event in general and the visiting fathers and brothers were going to stay for the night and leave the next morning so lance and other seminarians urshered them to the guest quaters of the priestly chambers, it was the place with the highest sanity on the island. Lance had to finish up some responsibilities before he could actually take a rest, he had to first join the other holy fathers in daily evening prayers. Everyone couldn't stop congratulating him upon the success of the event, even if they hadn't paticipated in the dancing as they were watching from above in their black gowns while maintaining their discipline, they had had fun and couldn't stop talking about the event throughout the corridors to their personal chambers.
Lance finally entered his room and took a deep breath after closing the door behind him, his face actually was exhausted from alot of smiling and laughter with whoever was showering praises on him, it had been a long day but he was relieved all had turned out well, flashes of all the excitement were running through his head, he sighed when he remembered the faces of everyone who had enjoyed the event, especially the elderly priests who kept turning towards him to express their appreciation during the event, they were his biggest challenge to impress, but his clearest memory of the party had been fr. Patrick's never-ending laughter with Charles Adams, he hadn't heard such laughter from him in a long time and if he could remember, its Muriel who had actually made them this happy, she hadn't been as funny to him but she had managed to catch attention of either those watching from up or down just cause no one expected her to actually dance but what mainly most had loved about her was her laughter, it was genuine yet super contagious, he actually grimmaced while recalling it.
He had been watching her, maybe more than he watched others, cause she was new to this whole thing and he wanted to make sure she enjoyed the whole event till the end, he noticed she had actually taken alot of wine though luckily she didn't get too drunk. And above everything else, the kids had had the most memorable day though they left to go sleep earlier.
The next day, lance woke up late but managed to catch up with the others in the morning mass then they sent off the happy visitors, they actually supported his intentions of an early deaconship status and praised father Patrick for training him well, so he was in high spirits that morning and as he was still sloping from the church hill, Bruce caught up with him, he was holding somee stuff 'i woke up to these at my door' Bruce said while indicating to what he was holding
'what's that'
'It's tones of flowers, big tuna and sea pearls, the boys said i make sure it reaches you' Bruce smiled and lance replied his smile
'That's generous of them, guess I'll take that to the kids as am passing by the orphanage.' Lance received the packages
'Actually it's not urs, its for Muriel' Bruce replied
'and why am i getting this ?'
'Your the one who gets to meet her everyday for bible study, everyone knows that'
'Wasn't planning to go to the Adams this morning but perhaps I'll also get to thank Charles for yesterday'
'I'll meet you later at the orphanage... and I'll tell the boys she was grateful' lance continued before he moved on.
He readched the Adams cottage and heard Charles voice asking him to come in as soon as he knocked at the door, he was in the kitchen cooking 'you cook?' Lance asked while placing the packages on the kitchen table after they had exchanged greetings 'i try, my wife was a good chef, i don't know if you recall her, you were so little.'
'Not much, i met her once' he had escorted father Patrick for his priestly duties in dakota and Ms.Adams had invited them for dinner a year before she passed away.
They talked shortly about the event before Charles noticed the packages
'These were actually adressed to Muriel by different people, i guess she's still asleep so I'll meet her in the afternoon for Bible study'
'I hope she'll be better by then'
'She's sick?'
'Not necessarily, she just took alot of local brew, it was the first time she drank that much, island can be full of suprises' Charles paused abit and looked at lance as though waiting for him to agree with him, he just noded his head, Charles like other elders admired his integrity and smartness, he often had to remind himself lance was not yet even 25.
Lance was going to leave before Charles convinced him to stay and help him with the tuna recipe of the island, it was a delicacy, so they were cooking together while chatting and laughing about several island escapades before Muriel came downstairs,
'Sugar bear how do you feel?'
'I can't sleep, the aroma is killing me.... goodmorning daddy' she kissed him on the side and her eyes met with the packages on the kitchen table 'what's this?'
'Some stuff Lance came with ...from different boys on the island'
'Ohhh..k' she was holding the pearls as though comparing them with all the real ones she owned
She didn't go out the whole day as she was somewhat exhausted from the day before so she spent all day in the library reading her books and found some Bible verse small notes, every novel lance captured, he always left a note when she slept off, she didn't read them, she just put them together in another book and later during the day she got to try a local face mask with Julie, she hadn't expected to love its refreshing effect.
The few following days, she spent them with Julie, swimming or horse riding... and the cherry to all this fun, lance came rarely for Bible studies as most time left the orphanage late and tired cause he had different farms he was involved in with the kids and the remaining energy, he used it for violin practice in the evenings or play it during mass services.