Campfire celebration

When I attended the Kings Daughter Writing Camp in March this year I went to the motivational meadow and found photo prompts to create a story from, I choose two of these and decided to created a short story about the Autumn Court and their celebration.  

[Start of image description: the words "Campfire celebration short story" and the words “story cove” with a photo of an open camp fire. End of image description.]

A Campfire Celebration Short Story

Barry stood outside chopping wood ready for the evening camp fire to keep everyone warm for the community celebration. He had gone a bought  big bags of mallows at the store earlier on in the day for all of the children and someone would probably make some homemade ones too. He’d long ago earned the nickname of Grandpa and it had stuck now all of the children called him Grandpa including those of the Spring Court. The Spring and Autumn Court are quite close since the Autumn Queen once belonged to the Spring Court. Barry looked out for the Spring Court children too, well here everyone looked out for each other but he especially looked out for the children and Bella’s family. Little Emmy her daughter had been spending a lot of time lately at the Autumn Queens cottage, he hoped everything was okay at home with Bella. He made a mental note to ask Emmy how she was doing and how her family was later on. She looked cheerful and happy, but one knew that didn’t always mean everything was okay. He knew she missed her father terribly too. He had been gone a few years now. Bell hadn’t found any one to date, though he knew Emmy often asked her for another Daddy.  He suspected that Bell was still mourning the loss of her husband after his heart attack. Emmy well maybe she missed the fatherly things he did with her, he’d tried to help as much as he could. Eli was quite a cheerful man and his loss was felt by the whole community. Everyone was shocked when he had a sudden heart attack! 

Barry finished chopping the wood and looked around, he’d need to cart the wood to the campfire site soon but first he needed a rest. He put the jug on and made a cup of tea and sat on his front porch enjoying it in time to see children wiz past him on their bikes laughing. He smiled, he enjoyed seeing the children outside having fun playing. A little while behind them was a group of children walking slowly, clearly not in a rush. “Hello, any of you want to help cart this wood to the campsite ready for tonight?” Barry called out to them.
They looked at each other smiled and replied “well we were going to go to the pond and skip stones but sure we will help”.
“I’m looking forward to the campfire tonight” Emmy said as she walked closer to him. The other children had started to put the firewood in the wheelbarrows and were chatting amongst themselves. He hadn’t noticed Emmy amongst the other children but then she was quite tiny but it was the perfect opportunity to talk to her. “Hi Emmy, I wanted to talk to you. Is everything okay at home, it’s just I noticed your at the Autumn Queens cottage a bit lately”. He said concerned about her and her family. 
“Yes everything is ok thanks. Mum and my brothers are doing well the boys are getting big now, they’ll be at school soon with the rest of us. I’ve been going there for morning and afternoon teas after I help her with the baking. I love spending time there with Fern and her children, we’ve become quite close” she replied smiling. 
He looked puzzled for a moment and then he replied “morning and afternoon teas well that sounds special no one usually attends those at her cottage. Remember to call her Autumn Queen to show respect”. 
“Yes Mammy and I were surprised that I’d been having morning tea with her so often. Once I’ve helped bake the cookies with her, she gives me some to take back home with me for my family. Yes I was calling her that, but she asked Mammy and I to call her Fern. She gave me this necklace isn’t it pretty? Emmy replied showing him the pink necklace of a leaf. 
He looked at the necklace it sure was a beautiful piece that was no doubt quite special. It looked like the orange one Autumn Queen wore herself. 
“Wow that sure is pretty and special too, keep it safe. That sounds really nice I’m sure she enjoys your company and your help with the baking too”. He replied back to her while pondering the meaning of the necklace too, no one usually called her Fern even though she often preferred it but that was usually amongst the adults and usually those at court. He’d never heard the children call her Fern. So hearing Emmy call her Fern was very unusual, but perhaps Fern had a soft spot for Emmy and her family. He knew she often knitted for Emmy and her twin brothers more so than the other children. 
“I’ll make sure I do Mammy said it’s special too and different than her necklace too. I think so I enjoy playing with her children too. I’d better go help the others with the wood as it looks like they’ve already done half of it” she replied. 
“I enjoyed our chat Emmy, remember if you need anyone I’m here to talk to”. He would ask Fern well Autumn Queen about  it later on. He had a soft spot for little Emmy her father had died when her brothers were 6months old. Her mother did her best with the children but he knew it mustn’t be easy for her with four active boys and little Emmy the only girl. For now he finished the rest of his cup of tea and went to help the children. It was then he noticed the Autumn Queens children amongst them too, the children had just about filled all of the wheelbarrows with wood. They put the last of the remaining wood into the wheelbarrows and started wheeling them to the campsite, taking turns between them to push the wheelbarrow. The journey always seemed longer with full wheelbarrows. They placed the wood in a pile and placed a tarp over the wood pile. 

 

[Start of image description: a photo of Grandpa outside chopping wood. He is wearing a plaid shirt and brown trousers with an off white cap. End of image description.]

Half of the children hopped into the wheel barrow with the other half pushing them and they’d take turns back to his cabin also known as Grandpas Cabin. The older children had made him a sign and placed it out front for everyone to see. He felt a gentle tug at his pants and looked down to see Emmy.
“I um I was wondering if I could please have a drink when we get back?” She asked nervously. 
“Yes sure I have big jugs of orange juice and berry tea you can all have some of which ever you’d like. I’m not surprised your thirsty after all of your hard work everyone else probably is too” he replied. 
“That sounds yummy, did you make it for tonight’s campfire?” She asked curiously 
“Sure did but there’s plenty of it and I’m thankful for everyone’s help”. He replied gratefully. 
The children’s laughter filled the air as they rode along and pushed one another.  It was then he realized there was an odd number of children and wheelbarrows so Emmy had no one to push her or to push before he could say anything. Ferns children had picked up Emmy and put her in the wheelbarrow so she could have a turn too. It was then he noticed the closeness of them, if he didn’t know better he’d have assumed they were siblings. It was nice to see though and warmed his heart.  

Back at Grandpa's cabin

He walked in the door grabbed and out ten glasses from the wooden cupboards for the children and one for him. Daniel grabbed the orange juice and the berry tea out of the fridge and placed them on the bench. The children knew they could help themselves in his cabin and make themselves at home though it was tiny since there was just him. Barry poured equal amounts in each glass for the children, after asking who wanted what. It was best that way to avoid arguments of who got more and who got less. He rummaged through the cupboards looking for the chocolate slice to serve for an early afternoon tea. He looked outside the children had all decided to sit on the grass under the big tree except for Autumn Queens children and Emmy where were they? He looked around outside and would have assumed they’d gone but they would have told him saying at least goodbye first. “Need any help?” the children asked him starling him as he hadn’t heard them come inside though he should be used to being snuck up on by them. “Yes thank you, I was just wondering where you were” he replied. The children grabbed the jugs of orange juice and berry tea and he grabbed the slice and they walked out. Emmy ran back to the porch she must have dropped something. He made sure everyone had grabbed something to eat and then heard a grunt and “ah I’m done” said Emmy puffed. He turned around and realized Emmy hadn’t forgotten something, she had gone and grabbed him a chair from the deck. 

[Start of image description: a photo of a freshly baked homemade chocolate slice cut into rectangles. End of image description.]

 
Well this was nice “thanks Emmy for the chair” Barry said thankful she had thought of it, she was always quite a thoughtful child. The children sat and shared stories with one another so full of imagination he thought as he listened to them. Barry enjoyed being around them it made him feel alive to have them around and brightened his day. 
 
They sure were such a blessing to be around. Later there would be toastie Mallows over the fire along with sausages too with long sticks of course so no one was too close. Though Barry would be making sure, he quite liked watching over them though their parents also kept a close eye on them too. Barry was enjoying the stories but knew he had to go get pinecones, not that he wanted to he was a bit tired after this morning. “Children I have to go gather the pinecones do you all want to help? He asked loudly so they’d hear him above the chatter. “Yes”! They all yelled back and they’d quickly all stood up. “We will be back soon wait for us”, they yelled before running off before Barry could answer. 
 
The children one by one except for siblings who all came together, were running not wanting to be left behind. They’d all gone and grabbed their explorer backpacks. Barry smiled when he realized what they’d done, he decided he should also get his just in case anyone needed the first aid kit or an emergency happened. Though he knew the children had a little first aid kit, water, drink bottles, magnifying glasses, binoculars, a finders pouch for any treasures, snacks, whistles, warm clothes, a bag for anything – this time for pinecones, a flint, rope, a heated blanket, a compass, flares and a small fishing kit with a hand line. He supposed they might have added a few things themselves but it’s mostly what they all traveled with. It reminded Barry of his adventure explorer leader days – where he’d take the children and teach them things he still did from time to time but had retired from being a leader. It was something all of the children went to so they could all learn about the great outdoors. They came away with a lot of practical life skills that are needed for life here. 
Once the children all came back it was time to head off on their adventure! 

Off on adventure 

They set off and roamed through Ferns backyard also known as the forest and started to gather the pinecones up that would be used both for celebrations and for starting the camp fire later on. While there they saw their friends Harriet and Henry Hedgehog, Rita, Ray, Rosie, Rachel, Rochelle Rabbit and lastly Olivia and Caprie Owl up in the trees. It was nice to see them from time to time, going about their days. They were used to seeing the owls flying around; those two belonged to Autumn Queens family. All of the families had owls or falcons and it’s how the mail got delivered to each other. The children sang songs they’d picked up during forest classes, they were all quite good at keeping in tune which surprised him. He wasn’t used to hearing boys sing too, it wasn’t done when he was younger but times were changing of which he was glad. Come to think of it a lot had changed since the Autumn Court had been revived again from the ruins and lack of community it once was. He’d never expected it to happen in his lifetime but was thankful it had and that he could be around for it all. He was blessed to be apart of it too. 
 

Back at Barry's cabin

They made the trek back to Barry’s cabin  grabbing sticks so they could toastie mallows, making sure to grab sticks for everyone else too. They knew by now how many they each needed to grab for everyone and those who forgot just asked a friend or sibling. They sung songs loudly on the way back. Finally they reached Barry’s Cabin and laid the sticks into the wheelbarrows. Barry was glad everything was coming together nicely, almost everything was ready for this evening. The children and Barry made their way to the campsite and sat the wheelbarrows down leaving spaces between them so that everyone could grab sticks. “Grandpa, do you have any ice-blocks left over at your cabin?” asked Emmy.
“Sure do there’s enough for all of you, they are cranberry ones made with the juice of the ones we collected”, replied Barry smiling remembering the fun they had that day and Emmys red face from eating them as she picked the berries. “Yummy my favourite!” She  replied enthusiastically. Emmy ran to tell the others and Barry could hear their excitement too, it bought him so much joy. Barry had no family of his own after a terrible fire took their lives. He loved that the community had given him a different kind of family, though he still felt their loss and related to Bella’s loss of her husband. Bella over the years had become like a daughter to him. 

[Start of image description: a photo of a large tree on Barry's front lawn. End of image description.]

The children all ran back to the house and Barry knew it was useless to try and keep up with them all. By the time Barry got there they were all outside happily eating ice-blocks. “Thanks for all of your help it was so nice to spend the afternoon with you all. Once your done, head back home so you can do your chores and get ready for the campfire” Barry said, sad that the afternoon had come to an end. Yes they all nodded their heads, for they were busy enjoying their ice-blocks. The children soon finished and put their sticks inside to be used again. Each made sure to say thanks Grandpa and to give him a hug before leaving in different directions for home. “Grandpa can you toast mallows with me later on?” Emmy asked.
“Sure Emmy I’d love to, see you there! You’d better head home and help your mum tell her I won’t be long I just have a few things to do then I’ll be there”. He replied knowing how hard it was to get the little ones all ready. 
“I’ll tell her and see you again soon” Emmy replied hugging him. As Emmy left Barry started getting ready for the evening and shutting up the house making sure to leave the washroom light on before he left. It was one of those things he usually forgot and remembered once he started walking home. He grabbed his coat after making sure his garden was watered and the animals were fed. While it was cool it wasn’t that cold yet that he needed his coat. 

Bella's Cabin 

He walked to Bella's house and could hear the children running around inside as Bella tried her best to get them ready. He walked in just as Reece was running away from Bella and caught him. Barry helped get the children ready to go, grabbing their coats and helping them put them on. Emmy as usual was cold and was wearing her favourite beanie and scarf, she felt the cold more than most. Barry grabbed the twin boys hands, Reece and Derek looked up at him smiling. During the walk there Bella said “thanks for all of your help in getting this lot ready for the campfire…I um have a question I want to ask you later on”.
Barry looked at her curiously unsure what she wanted to ask him yet aware she didn’t want to ask him with the children around. “Um sure it’s no trouble at all to come and help it’s what family is for”, replied Barry pondering what she wanted to ask him. It didn’t take too long to get to the campfire though he suspected it was due to the endless chatter of the children on the way there that made it seem shorter than it was. The children ran off to see their friends and Bella knew the twins would be ok with the older children Emmy had run off to see. Bella waved to them as they sat around talking. 
“Bella what did you want to ask me, is everything ok?” Barry asked cautiously. 
“Yes everything is ok aside from it being lonely and I feel bad asking you to come over all the time.  I wondered if you’d like to move into the cabin behind our cottage? Bella asked hoping he didn’t decline the cabin sat empty and had no purpose.
“Well I am there a lot and it would certainly make things easier though I’d never thought of it. Sure why not that’s a great idea, I’d love to be closer to you all.” Barry replied, surprised that she’d asked and relieved that everything was ok. 
“We are going to all be so happy to have you close by” Bella said smiling from ear to ear. 
Barry was happy too, it was lonely on your own and neither of them had neighbor's that close by either. He also knew it meant Bella wanted to take care of him like she would have her own parents if they were still alive. Barry knew that had been the point of the cabin he was glad he’d be enjoying more of Bella’s cooking now that he’d be having evening meals with them and he’d enjoy her baking. Most of all he was happy to have a family. Since they had reached the campfire now Bella had walked over to the women and had begun chatting to them about sewing. Barry wondered over to the men and began talking to them about fishing. 

Community campfire

While they were talking other adults in the community had started handing out sausages to cook over the fire. It wasn’t long before adults and children were cooking their sausages over the fire together for dinner. Barry helped Bella with the children and toasted the sausages for the twins. Once they were done around the campfire everything was silent as the evening prayer was said before eating. Once the prayer was said everyone began eating. 
 

[Start of image description: a photo of sausages placed on sticks and cooked over the campfire. End of image description.]

Soon  the children sang campfire songs around the fire. Some went and toasted their mallows over the fire, while others hung back a little from the crowd. Some of the children toasted three at a time others toasted them one by one. Barry saw Emmy go and get mallows from the table with her brothers and a few other children so he decided to follow them and join in helping them toast theirs while also roasting his own too. Barry wasn’t sure who had more fun toasting mallows, him or the children. He was filled with so much joy, he tried to cherish every day and moment.
 
In the background the music softly played listening to recorders, guitars and flutes playing in the background. Autumn Queen would play her flute at the end of the evening if she was feeling up to it. The past few years were a bit hit and miss with her playing at celebrations, however her children played if she wasn’t feeling up to it. You could tell if she played because it was softer than anyone else played reflecting that part of her soft nature that combined with her bright personality. She always made sure there was something fun for everyone at the celebrations. 
 
The children danced around some with sticks of  toastie mallows which they’d caught on fire. Instead of being eaten they were used as a sparkler. Though many of the children had torches too and would check to see if their toastie mallows needed to be toastied more, were perfect or overdone. Hot toastie mallow time was the part of the evening the children looked forward to, with teenagers chatting around the campfire and adults keeping a close eye on them. The children toastied the mallows some of them liked theirs lightly toasted while others liked theirs dark and the ones that got too black…were kindly given to the Autumn Queen. No one else would eat them though she thought they were the best too.

[Start of image description: a photo of toastie mellows on a wooden stick being toasted over the campfire. End of image description.]

 The smell of the smoke and that of toastie mellows was in the air signified the start of the Autumn Celebration as was their tradition. It was a time they all came together as a community and spent time together before the winter time. 

The last Autumn Celebration and a surprising announcement

Winter was when most snuggled up inside working on their hobbies. At the last of the Autumn Celebrations the woman gathered for afternoon tea. They decided what kind of blanket they’d knit over the Winter with  each of them knitting squares. Then the squares would be exchanged at the end of Winter so that they each had a piece of love from others in the community. The blankets were stitched up during the first of the Spring celebrations. They were cherished within homes.  At the end of the evening the bell chimed and Fern stood next to her husband. Whatever was coming next no one knew, usually she played after the bell chimed but she was about to make an announcement. “We wanted to thank you all for coming to the start of Autumn celebration, we hope you’ve all had a lovely evening. Fern would like to announce that Emmy is an honorary princess. While this is something usually done in the Spring Court Fern wanted to continue this tradition too. Emmy will join in on Morning teas with the court and will attend court once she is old enough to. Emmy come up here please” said Fern's husband. Emmy walked up to the front still surprised and shocked, she didn’t know anything about this but had been enjoying the morning teas. “Thanks Emmy, Emmy has been appointed as the children’s advisor and will help with planning and setting up events for the children. Before we give Emmy a round of applause there’s one more announcement to make” he said. Everyone’s smiles faded and they all looked shocked and wondered what was coming next. “Our next announcement is that we’ve decided to appoint a court guardian now that our community has been growing over the years. This person has made such a positive impact in the lives of many of you and will now have an official role at court as Guardian. 

[Start of image description: a photo of a campfire roaring. End of image description.]

Barry please come up to the front” he called. Barry hadn’t been expecting this at all, he enjoyed looking out for the children but hadn’t been doing so for recognition. Barry stood at the front and spoke “I don’t know what to say, I enjoy looking out for all of the children and everyone’s families but I wasn’t expecting anything in return. This is I just don’t know but it feels too much as appreciative as I am”. “Oh Barry it’s an appreciation of all that you do, if you feel being apart of court would be too much that’s ok if you’d rather not attend or attend as often as you’d like to”, Fern replied to him her voice so soft hardly anyone heard her which was why she didn’t make the announcement herself. “After talking to Fern I’ve decided I’ll accept..” Barry said and before he could finish everyone was clapping for him and Emmy, he decided to pick her up and hold her so that she could wave back at everyone. Barry decided he’d talk to Fern later about court and his new role, he thought maybe she both needed and wanted a bit more help than there currently was or maybe it was just because it’s what he already did so made sense to appoint him. After the applause died down, Emmy and Barry made their way back to Bella and her brothers in the crowd. As Fern picked up her owl flute and began to play signaling the end of the celebration. Everyone picked up their belongings and went to say goodbye to each other before heading home. Barry decided to stay back since he wanted to talk to Fern he waited until she’d stopped playing and realized that only Bella and Ferns families were still there. “Hi Fern I just wanted to thank you so much, that’s so kind of you to let Emmy be apart of your court, you’ve become like family to us over these past few years” said Bella with gratitude. 
“Awh your welcome”, she said smiling glad that she had chosen to add this spring court tradition to their autumn court tradition too. “Bye everyone”, Bella said smiling. “Bye bye”, said the children.
“See you soon” replied Fern. 
“Bye see you soon” Ferns children replied.
“Hi Barry, is everything ok?” Fern asked.
“Yes, Fern it is but I was wondering why you chose me. Are you needing more help?” Barry asked concerned. 
“I chose you because your always looking out for everyone but you already do help out a lot whether you realize it or not. Like today you chopped the wood for the fire, went and got sticks with the children and grabbed the mallows too” replied Fern.
“Yes your right I did do all of that because I wanted to but I hadn’t really thought about it beyond helping and being apart of the community” replied Barry.
“It’s a blessing to have you as part of this community and a blessing to have you apart of court too”, replied Fern smiling. 
“Thank you, I look forward to the next court meeting though I have no idea what to expect. I should let you get going home, it is getting rather late” Barry replied.
“Your welcome Barry, court is rather informal and more of a morning tea kind of feel to it. I’ll see you soon and thanks for all you do too” replied Fern. 
“Bye Grandpa” called the children. 
“Bye everyone” Barry called, turning on his flashlight to see the way home. 
Fern and her family walked home too, the children chatted about how much fun they had. They’d have a special hot cocoa and calm down after the excitement of the evening and then they’d all head off to bed. 

[Start of image description: a photo of a mug of special cocoa on the white bench top. End of image description.]

Thank you for visiting Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits!

Hope you had fun and enjoyed reading my story story from the Autumn Court. Don't forget to check out Story cove for more short stories. If you’d like to make special cocoa the recipe is coming soon or you can find it on your Facebook and Instagram page in the meantime.

[Start of image description: Arjaye's signature with a blue feather floating in the air. Below is a meadow with yellow flowers with a a basket of pastel yarn and a hedgehog next to it. In the middle is two toadstools and a black cat running through the grass. End of image description.]