Richard's Arc

Chapter 5 of 7

Richard hung a second chalkboard beside the first one. This one listed three flavors now: Peach Cobbler, Cherry Lambic, and a new Raspberry Wheat. He stepped back and checked the lettering. The boards looked professional, like a real brewery menu. A couple walked past, stopped, and pointed at the raspberry option. Richard poured two glasses and watched them taste. They smiled, paid, and each bought a bottle to take home. Richard added the money to his growing collection in a wooden box behind the counter. The brewery was catching on. A note from the Edinburgh Local Inn sat by the till. It confirmed a slot for judges tonight. Richard rolled the old Brew Kettle for Beer into view and wiped its polished rim. He checked the taps, packed three kegs, and breathed slow. At the inn door, he met the warm hush of voices. He poured Peach Cobbler first, then Cherry Lambic. Heads nodded. Glasses emptied. When Raspberry Wheat drew a second round, Richard felt it click. Small wins stacked up. He walked out with an invite back and a calm grin. The next morning, Richard carried his old brew kettle outside the unit. He set it where people could see it from the street. The polished metal caught the light, showing the craft behind every batch. A man stopped to look, asked about the brewing process, then bought three bottles. By afternoon, a woman with a notebook arrived asking about wholesale orders for her restaurant. Richard poured samples and talked through his fermentation process. She ordered two cases of each flavor and said she'd be back for more. That evening, Richard walked past the Victorian lamppost near the library. Its warm glow lit the stone steps and cast long shadows across the entrance. He stood there, watching people pass under the light. His