Where you stand

"Listen, listen, listen." The jingle of a bell drew attention of everyone listening.

"It's Ethelbert, the town crier." A murmur could be heard among the crowd.

"Let us listen to what he has to say." Another whispered.

"I hope this isn't bad news? My heavens!" A lady placed her hands on her chest, internally praying.

"Hey!" A girl screamed as she was forcefully pushed aside.

"Mommy! That bad man in a black shirt pushed me!" The little girl pointed at the perpetrator, pulling on her mother's dress, forcing her attention down on her child.

Blending into the crowd, the perpetrator could not be spotted any longer, leaving the mother of the little girl confused who had just brought her attention upwards. "I don't see anyone with a black shirt."

"But- But he was right there!" She stuttered, pointing ahead of them.

"Hey! Watch it." A man yelled, raising his fist in the air in protest to being shoved aside.

"Please excuse me," the perpetrator squeezed through the crowd, "Pardon me." He shoved another aside.

"Finally!" He heaved a sigh of relief, holding onto his letter, he smiled, finally getting a better view and angle to listen to Ethelbert.

"You made it!" Camille's eyes brightened up on seeing him. In her arms where Lin's, his cheeks decorated with cake particles.

"You were right big sis!" Lin looked up to Camile in admiration.

"Big sis?" Allen cocked a brow in confusion, "How did that happen?" He gestured between Camille and Lin.

"I took him in, mother and father are fine with my decision." Camille replied, raising her nose to the sky, proud of her accomplishment.

"I have a big sister and you don't!" Using his left hand to pull his infraorbital crease, Lin blew a raspberry.

"How lovely!" Allen gave a big smile, before rolling his eyes, looking the other way.

°Sounds more like trouble, big trouble plus smaller trouble, equals a bigger trouble° He calculated, observing Camille and Lin who were chattering away.

"Oh! Allen, what brings you here? Where is your father?" A fat man with chubby cheeks asked with an eye shut smile, observed.

°Uhhhh! Why did he have to be here of all places?° Allen put on a big smile, hiding his disappointment.

"My father's fine, you know how he is, if he's not resting or writing, taking walks, he's trying up a new recipe for our bakery." Allen gave a nervous chuckle, looking away, avoiding the initial question.

"True, true!" The man placed his hand on his mental crease in thought, "So why are you-"

"Oh look, Ethelbert is about to make an announcement, let's hear what he has to say." Allen quickly interposed.

"Citizens of Glacier, the names of those chosen for a special task were given a letter of approval. But note! All were given a letter, only a selected few were approved, if you are with yours, kindly open it, if you read yours earlier, do step forward to signify where you stand.

"Mine was rejected." Allen turned to his side, listening in on the conversation of a young man whose head hung low in despair.

"Mine too!" Another replied.

°Probably mine wasn't approved after all° The prevailing bad reports from all others discouraged Allen from opening his.

"Oh I was accepted!" A guy jumped in delight, his red hair bouncing. "I got accepted!" He said in a singsong voice, clearing his throat, composing his actions, he stepped forward presenting his letter to Ethelbert.

Taking the letter, Ethelbert ticked his notepad, looking around, eagerly anticipating another favorable response.

°How the heck did that goofball; Kaden get approved?° Allen's hand balled in a fist, if he opens his, what would be his fate if most of the eligible candidates weren't approved.

"Anymore approvals? It clearly states here there are only 4 slots left." Ethelbert tapped his notepad with his pen, his gaze falling on Allen, he raised a brow looking down at the unopened letter in his hand.

"Young lad!" He pointed ahead.

All eyes lined in the direction towards where Ethelbert had pointed.

"Allen, I think he's referring to you!" The fat man whispered.

"That can't be true!" Allen protested, looking back just in case the person in question was behind him, immediately looking forward, he did a double take.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Allen accused, taking a step back. Their gaze on him too overwhelming.

"You haven't opened your letter, care to show us where you stand?" Ethelbert locked his gaze on Allen.

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