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I'm just starting this out to see how things go and hopefully I can really make this look good, so this will change soon
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Home for May Day After two long years away at college in Lisbon, Javier missed the rhythms of home the way spring seemed to breathe magic into the volcanic hills of Furnas, the smell of mineral rich earth and blooming wildflowers, and most of all, the laughter of his mother and little sister. So when he realized that the university let out a day early before the weekend, he didn’t hesitate. He packed his bags, caught a flight to Sao Miguel, and made his way back through winding, misty roads to the village nestled among hot springs and green craters.
By the time he arrived early on the morning of May 1st, the lush meadow near the Terra Nostra Garden was already alive. Steam curled from nearby fumaroles, mingling with the scent of fresh bread and sulphur. Bright ribbons flapped in the breeze, children skipped with wildflower garlands in their hands, and the locals bustled around setting up tables of cozido stew and sweet malasadas.
His heart thudded with anticipation as he walked the familiar cobbled path toward his family's white washed cottage near the thermal springs.
His mother was in the kitchen, her back to the doorway, humming an old folk tune as she stirred a pot of herbs. His sister, Lila ten now, impossibly tall sat at the table weaving one of her signature flower crowns, her little fingers nimble with practice.
“Hope you’ve saved some of that for me,” Javier said, stepping into the room.
His mother gasped and spun around, the wooden spoon clattering onto the counter. “Javier!” she cried, rushing to wrap him in a hug. “You didn’t say you were coming!”
Lila dropped her crown and darted toward him, squealing. “Javi! I thought you had exams!”
“I did,” he said with a grin, hugging them both, “but I couldn’t miss another May Day here.”
That afternoon, with a crown of woven wildflowers resting on his head, courtesy of Lila, Javier joined the celebration by the meadow. In the shadow of lush green hills and the steaming earth, children and teens gathered around a tall wooden pole wrapped in colored ribbons. Lila, in her blue dress, took a red ribbon and joined the circle. The traditional maypole dance began, feet stomping in rhythm as ribbons twisted and wove like the stories passed down in this ancient place.
The celebration peaked when the May Queen was chosen. This year it was Sara, the baker’s daughter, crowned with a halo of roses and hydrangeas. Dressed in flowing white, she stood beside the old stone spring, the mist rising behind her like a blessing from the land itself.
At sunset, the villagers gathered on the lakeshore near Lago das Furnas, where a towering bonfire had been built. The flames roared to life, warming faces as night fell. Lila danced around it with other children, her laughter echoing across the crater lake. Javier and his mother sat on a blanket under a blooming Jacaranda, sharing malasadas, cozido, and sipping herbal tea.
“It’s good to have you home,” she said softly, her eyes reflecting the firelight.
“It’s good to be home,” Javier replied, breathing in the mineral rich air, thick with life.
And under the starlit sky of Furnas, where steam whispered from the earth and laughter floated through the trees, Javier felt the deep peace of being home once more.
Word Count: 594
Prompt: May 1 is May Day, also known as Beltane. Write a story or poem about a May Day celebration that includes the following, bolded:
maypole dance
flower crowns
May Queen
wildflowers
bonfire
Written for: "The Writer's Cramp"  |
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