Spencer Winston's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Spencer Winston stood in Sir Goosifer's studio, Gerald tucked under one arm, and looked at the pile of finished crochet pieces his brother had stacked by the door. Blankets, scarves, and small stuffed creatures filled three baskets. They were ready. The junction market opened in two hours, and Sir Goosifer couldn't carry them himself. Spencer set Gerald down on the workbench and picked up the checkered blanket with the small red mushrooms stitched across it. He held it up to the light. Every stitch was even. Every mushroom sat at exactly the right angle. This one would sell first, he was certain of it. He folded the blanket carefully and tucked it under his chin, then lifted the largest basket with his free paw. Gerald went back under his other arm. The walk to the junction would take forty minutes if he kept a steady pace. Spencer adjusted his grip and started for the door. But the basket tipped forward three steps later, spilling two scarves and a stuffed rabbit onto the floor. Spencer stopped. He tried again with the basket under his arm, Gerald in his paw, and the blanket across his shoulders. The basket slid. He tried the blanket folded inside the basket. Too heavy to lift. He set everything down and sat with the problem for four minutes. Then he went to the back shed and pulled out the wooden sled Sir Goosifer used for hauling firewood. He loaded the baskets onto it, tied them down with vine straps, and wrapped the mushroom blanket across the top where everyone would see it first. One paw held Gerald. One paw pulled the rope. Spencer tested the weight, nodded once, and headed for the junction. The path was longer than he remembered. His paw ached after twenty minutes, but he didn't stop. He passed two travelers who looked at the sled but didn't ask questions. When he reached the market, he found an empty spot near the center and began setting up the stall. He arranged the blankets on the wooden counter, hung the scarves along the sides, and placed the small creatures where the light would hit them. The mushroom blanket went in front, exactly as he'd planned. Sir Goosifer's work was ready. The world could see it now.