Photo credit: MaximaFlores.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/infoflores/3886176447/sizes/o/

Statice Swirl is a twelve-year old gymnast who trains at Niche National Gymnastics, which is owned by her mother Trili Swirl.  She is training for Junior Elite and placed 3rd out of 30 at Nationals in the next lowest level.  

Sundays were always Statice’s free days.  She usually slept past eight o’clock, ate breakfast with her family, helped out with housework and making lunch, played with her siblings, cousins, and neighbors all afternoon, and then enjoyed a family dinner with her cousins.  Today was different, however, because yesterday had been Freedom Day.  Statice woke up to the smell of pancakes cooking.

“Four years, four years!” Patriotic ten-year-old Qualn exclaimed as he generously poured maple syrup on his pancakes.

“Lari, will you sing the National Anthem for us?”  Trili asked her younger daughter.  Statice had been teaching her little sister how to sing it.

The little girl, who looked like a miniature version of Statice with very dark hair and sharp, pretty features, squirmed.  In a quiet voice, Lari sung the anthem to the best of her ability.  Statice clapped at the end, anyways.

Next, the three children piled into the backseat of their parents’ only car.  “I hope we get candy,” Lari said.

“Me too,” Qualn agreed.  “Remember how all those parade-people threw candy at us last year?”

“Yeah,” Statice said.  “And you liked the chocolate best, but I liked the gummy fruit things.”

“Fruit?”  Trili teased.  “You mean you got actual fruit last year?”

“Oh, Mom, you know what I mean,” Statice said with a sigh.

The drive to the Lilseae Main Street was not a long one.  “Oh, look, here’s the gym,” Trili said.

“Let’s park here,” Statice’s dad, who was also named Qualn, said.  “We’re ‘authorized’, aren’t we?”

“What does ‘authorized’ mean?”  Lari wondered.

“It means that people can’t just come and park in the gym parking lot.  People who have kids in classes or on the team are welcome to park here, though.”  Trili explained as her husband parked the car crosswise.

The Swirl family piled out of the car and walked a little ways to a large, grassy space.  Once there, they sat down and waited for the parade.

Statice enjoyed watching the floats, dancing groups, Sraesel groups (traditional sport), and bands.  Many of them were wearing traditional clothing, or were wearing green and white outfits.  The music was a bit loud, so Lari and Qualn covered their ears.  Statice was awed by some of the dancing groups, especially since the road just had gravel on it. The three children were thrown so much candy by the parade marchers that Trili had to tell them to eat no more than four pieces each.

“Four!”  Lari exclaimed.  “Why not five?”

“Well, for one thing, that would be a lot of sugar.  You already ate a very sweet breakfast.  For another thing, we are eating lunch with your cousins, and I don’t want your appetites spoiled.”

The children groaned.  “You’re so mom-like,” Statice complained.

Trili chuckled.  “Well, duh.  You can save a few pieces for later, though.”

The mayor and other members of city government walked by with a float in the shape of Lilia Island.  The mayor was wearing traditional Rhetian dress and stood on the float where the City of Rirae would be.  The local representative in the national government stood where Lilseae would be.  She was also wearing traditional Rhetian dress.  Statice didn’t recognize the other government members.

After the parade, Statice’s family got a quick lunch at the parade stands before heading home to start preparations for the special holiday dinner at Statice’s aunt’s house.  Statice kept looking around at all that was going on.  Several bands and dancing groups were performing in the square.  Statice recognized several of the dancers from her school.  Dozens of vendors were selling Rhetian-themed goods.  Local politicians were eagerly talking to families about their goals for office, even though the election had just happened.  Erena Nato, a former gymnast who had gone to the Olympics, spoke about Rhetian pride to close out the festivities.