18

You can hear that the band on the platform has started playing some folk tunes by the time you reach the stalls. Now that it's almost noon, more and more people are gathering everywhere you look. A few kids run by with their faces painted as you stand in the middle of it all, wondering where to go first. All around you, there are things being sold and food being cooked; the sound of soft, melodic music is drifting through the air; and beyond that is the rest of the park, fresh and green and so far unexplored. No matter where you look, there are people talking and laughing and seeing the sights.

You've got time to see it all before Tobias gets back. Since you're already right in the heart of things, you start by taking a deep breath and diving right into the busiest part of the fair.

Everywhere you turn, the place is packed with people and colors and sounds and smells. You walk past stands selling fresh lemonade in ten different flavors, handmade candles with dried fruit suspended in the wax, carved wooden boxes inlaid with intricate floral decorations, and all kinds of local produce. You see Zoe's flower stall and stop for a second to see her demonstrate a simple summer arrangement to a small crowd. She gives you a smile and a wave as you go by and points up at your banner being displayed proudly overhead, announcing "The Art of Flower Arranging" to the world in thick, clear letters. As you walk past, you even think you hear a couple of people in the little crowd pointing out the forest in your design, and you feel pretty hopeful that it's already working as planned.

Walking on, you pass by games giving out stuffed animals as prizes, a merry-go-round that makes you a little dizzy just watching it, and even a stand where a group of kids are staring up in awe at a masked magician in a long cape and a tall hat. You watch as the magician takes out a deck of cards, shuffles it in a great flourish of gloved hands, and holds it out towards the little crowd.

"Would you like to pick a card?"

A young girl, her eyes wide with wonder, takes a few shy steps forward (with encouragement from her dad), and plucks a card from the deck.

As she does so, you: