Two days until the Willow Creek Summer Festival, and the town square had reached a breathtaking state of completion that made everyone pause and smile whenever they walked through it. The booths stood tall and vibrant with their fresh coats of paint catching the soft afternoon light. Strings of fairy lights formed perfect glowing canopies overhead, ready to transform the entire space into a magical wonderland the moment dusk arrived. The main stage was fully rigged with colorful banners fluttering gently in the breeze, the kids’ zone was a vibrant playground of games and colors, and the ring-toss poles stood perfectly aligned after countless careful measurements.
We arrived mid-afternoon as the usual trio. Amina was practically vibrating with excitement, her graphic design portfolio tucke
