Maple Star's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Maple Star kicked her legs against the wooden bench, her pink shoes tapping a rhythm only she could hear. She hummed a tune from her favorite comedy show, the one where everyone clapped and cheered. Someday she would stand on a stage just like that. People would smile at her jokes and laugh at her silly faces. She practiced her biggest grin right now, stretching her cheeks wide. A woman walking past glanced down and smiled back. Maple's heart jumped. That was one person. Soon it would be hundreds, maybe thousands. She would be famous, and everyone in Fenif would know her name. She hopped off the bench and spotted something colorful down the street. A booth made entirely of flowers stood between two shops, petals covering every surface. The sign read "Flora's Enchanted Blossom Booth" in curling letters. Maple walked closer. A perfect place to practice. She stepped behind the counter and cleared her throat. "Come see your future," she called out in her deepest voice. A man stopped and raised an eyebrow. Maple pointed at him dramatically. "You will find a copper coin in your left pocket today." The man checked his pocket and pulled out a copper coin. His eyes went wide. Maple grinned. Pure luck, but he didn't need to know that. More people gathered around the flower booth. Maple told wild predictions, waving her arms and making serious faces. "You will sneeze three times before sunset." "A bird will land on your hat." "You will think about cheese." Some people laughed. Others shook their heads but smiled anyway. This was working. She was making strangers happy, one silly guess at a time. Later, Maple walked through the main square and saw two stages ahead. One glowed with neon lights and pulsing music. The other rose up in pink and gold, grand and beautiful like a palace. Her chest tightened. Those were real performance stages. Someday she would stand on one of them, not hiding behind a flower booth. The crowds would be bigger. The cheers would be louder. She would make them all laugh until their sides hurt. Maple touched the pink petals still stuck to her cardigan and smiled. Today was just the beginning.