Chester Bucksworth's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Chester Bucksworth adjusted his purple coat and stared at the summer sun beating down on Chickenwing. Sweat dripped from his whiskers. He clutched a thick winter coat in his paws. Most salesmen sold ice cream in July. Chester wanted something different. He dreamed of becoming the world's greatest off-season coat seller. The town park stretched before him, packed with families enjoying the heat. Chester spotted a group setting up a beach volleyball kit near the fountain. He grabbed his sample bag and pulled out a Winter Breeze Jacket. The light fabric shimmered in cool blues and silvers. He took a deep breath and walked toward the players. "Excuse me," Chester said, holding up the jacket. "Would you like to stay comfortable all year round?" A tall woman wiped sweat from her forehead and laughed. Chester didn't flinch. He explained how the jacket's breathable design worked in any season. Two people stopped to listen. His heart pounded, but he kept talking. Tomorrow he would set up at the Man's Not Hot Pavilion downtown. That gleaming metal building would be his real testing ground. But today, standing in the park with curious faces around him, Chester felt something shift. One person reached out to touch the jacket's fabric. It was a start.