Page 113

WELCOME KINGS & QUEENS

Gladys: Are you sure you’ve got it covered?

Shelia: Why are you being secretive?

Harvey: Leave the boy alone. We trust him.

Walter: I hope he got carnies!

Laurel: I smell a grand reveal.

Gladys: Remember, our reputation is at stake.

I hadn’t slept a wink. If not for Patty putting out a coffee Kraft for volunteers, I’d be a rambling zombie.

Mabel had been waiting for me at the committee table.

I could only describe her outfit as clown couture.

The multicolored jumpsuit, red spot over her eye, and fire engine red wig were visible from space.

For a few days, we talked about the vendors, layouts, and volunteer opportunities.

When she sent me a spreadsheet with locations, shifts, and tasks, I was impressed.

Seeing every slot filled with the name of a drag queen filled my heart.

The Glitterati Guild called in every favor, and now Firefly was filled with queens and kings sporting their best carnival outfits.

As I took a seat, Mabel had a clipboard, reviewing notes while a drag queen with a full beard awaited instructions. “The cotton candy station is in zone three. Remember, one ticket per serving. The supplier said the machine is temperamental. Feel free to kick it.”

“And scuff my boots?” The queen scoffed. “I’ve got this. We had a cotton candy machine as my nephew’s birthday.”

Mabel handed her a lanyard, and as she skipped down the path, I noticed the pink, fluffy hair. Not only had she come to support Mabel and Firefly, but she had turned herself into a giant cone of pink cotton candy. She did it fashionably as well!

“I’m glad to see you dragged yourself out of bed.

” Mabel handed me the clipboard. “Amanda Go is running late. She has a flat and refuses to ruin a perfectly good manicure. Can’t blame her, really.

So we have Sister Mary covering the face painting, and Anita Cocktail is pulling double duty at the petting zoo and pony rides. ”

My mouth gaped as I scanned the clipboard. I assumed it’d be a haphazard attempt to cover everything. It’d be fun but chaotic, and later, the whole town would talk about it. Mabel ran a tight ship.

“How did you pull this off?”

Mabel laughed, at first breathy, and then almost buckled over.

“Oh, you’re serious.” She pulled a multi-colored handkerchief from her pocket, dabbing the corners of her eyes.

“You know how hard it is to get a room full of queens to memorize the choreographing for Madonna’s “Vogue”?

Oh, and don’t even get me started on Queen Bey’s “All the Single Ladies” ? ”

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.

Tyler: Getting ready to head over. Got my swim trunks ready.

Tyler: Need anything?

Jon: Just your hunky self.

“Oh!” Mabel clapped her hands. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

I shook my head. “A wise woman once told me it’s all in the reveal.”

Mabel grabbed me, squeezing my head against her bosom. “He’s all grown up. If I wasn’t wearing mascara, I’d cry.”

My worlds had collided. I should be nervous. Would Firefly continue proving itself a progressive small town nestled in the backwoods of Maine? It hadn’t let me down so far. If I could win over the committee?—

“Auntie M, Auntie M!”

A young queen came running, her black-and-white striped dress billowing in the wind.

Yet another of Mabel’s coven had sported white face paint, complete with a red dot on the tip of her nose.

The red ruffle around her neck completed the look.

Most impressive were the high heels and her ability to run through the green without breaking an ankle.

“The committee is here!”

It was time to face the powers that be.

“Thank you, Hella,” Mabel said. “By the way, your lashes are absolutely divine.” Hella curtsied. “You’re on dunk tank duty. When a sexy man shows up, let us know.”

“Sexy men?” Hella smirked. “Mabel wasn’t lying.

This town is filled with delicious studs.

” She winked at me before heading toward the library.

I didn’t recognize any of Mabel’s volunteers.

Had she rallied every drag performer on the East Coast?

I couldn’t express my gratitude. I’d be writing thank-you notes well into next year.

“Jon?” I stiffened at the sound of Gladys’s voice. “What is going on?”

I couldn’t tell by her tone if she was relieved or angry.

“You’ve got this,” Mabel whispered. “Fairy godmother knows best.”

“Jon, how did you pull this off?” At least Laurel was on my side. I hoped this didn’t turn into an age situation. The older folks of Firefly were slow to change. Drag Reading Hour had been a leap, and I had been pleasantly surprised. I crossed my fingers, sliding them into my pockets.

I spun around to see the four members of the committee. “We needed man… people power. I found people!”

“Who are…” Her words trailed off as Mabel waved.

“This is Mabel Syrup. She’s the one helping Tyler at the library. I figured since Drag Reading Hour went so well, we’d have her back.”

“Fibber,” Mabel whispered.

The foursome wore our bright orange t-shirts. Harvey and Walter were all grins. Both pulled off their caps and bowed in front of Mabel. When she offered them each a hand, they gave her a quick kiss. They jumped on board without prompting. That left Gladys and Sheila.

“Mabel,” Sheila squealed. “It’s been a hot minute. Are you cheating on me with another stylist? Is this because I convinced you to get a bob?” When they hugged, I breathed a sigh of relief. That left the matriarch of our committee.

“I promised a carnival.”

Mabel pushed me to the side and leaned down, inspecting Gladys’s face. Were they about to exchange words? Gladys took a step back. Mabel tended to be forward, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her cussing out a sweet lady.

“What shade is your lipstick? It’s positively radiant.”

Gladys paused before the edges of her lip curled. My fairy godmother had a way about her. Abrasive and delightful shouldn’t be a winning combination, and yet, Gladys’s red cheeks said otherwise.

“Summer rose.”

“Gorgeous,” Mabel said. “We’re going to need to talk beauty routines.”

Gladys couldn’t hide the smile. Mabel had done it. When Gladys gave me a slight nod, I knew I had won her approval. If we could charm her, then the rest of Firefly didn’t stand a chance.

“Auntie M! Auntie M!” Hella charged up the sidewalk, hands flailing in the air. “There’s an emergency.”

Oh, no. Not now! If anything went wrong, Gladys’s newfound approval would go south. Hella reached the table, huffing and puffing. When she caught her breath, she straightened her back, striking a pose.

“The slushie station can’t find the flavored syrups.”

Oh. I should have guessed. With a queen, no inconvenience would be minor.

“Well,” Mabel said, pushing me toward Laurel. “Go find a solution.”

“But—”

“Me and my entourage will hold down the fort.” She leaned toward Gladys. “Good help is so hard to find.” When Gladys giggled, I knew today would be a series of over-the-top disasters with more than enough laughter.

“Hella.” I took Laurel by the hand. “Lead the way!”

“That’s Hella Good Time to you, good sir.”

Laurel snickered. “Today is going down in the history books.”

As we walked away, I heard Mabel asking Harvey if he could get her a cocktail. It was Shelia who pulled a bottle of wine out of her purse, which surprised me. Oh yes, today would go down in the history books, alright. The most fabulous carnival Firefly had ever seen.

“Mimi would be proud of you,” Laurel said. She linked arms with me while we followed Hella past the vendors on the green. When we spotted a group of queens helping Marigold and Peter set up their tent, they all stopped long enough to wave. “She’d have loved every moment of this.”

First, I needed to deal with this “emergency,” and then I could find Tyler. Everything was falling into place.