Noel Flair: leadership
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“So, what exactly are we looking for?” Thomas asked Elizabeth as he dodged around a pile of boxes that cluttered the floor.
The teens cramped themselves into the small attic, knocking cobwebs out of the way as they spread out, searching for the Pendant. The dust was seen in streaks caused by the light that snuck through the cracks in the floor.
“It should be in a black box about this big.” Elizabeth demonstrated with her hand the size of the small box.
The teens broke off into groups and began sorting through boxes and shelves.
I joined Elizabeth who was down on her knees in the far corner, reaching down into a box.
Picking up a crate, I sat down and began sorting through its contents.
A soccer trophy. An old coat. A shoebox full of someone’s rock collection. My hand caught the hard edge of a picture frame.
Pulling it out of the wooden crate, I gripped the fragile edges, blowing off the dust.
It revealed an adult male lying on his back in the grass, holding up a little baby girl using his feet. I could almost hear the child’s laughter as she froze mid-smile, her short brown hair plastered around her face.
“Elizabeth,” I shifted to show her the photo. “Is this you?” I pointed at the young girl.
She froze and then looked away. “Please put that back,” she said quickly.
I hesitated, confused, then obligated and replaced the picture back into the crate.
Laughter from the other end of the attic cut into our awkward silence.
The junior highers had discovered a bin of costumes and were excitedly dressing each other in mixed outfits.
Josiah, one of the junior high boys, stepped forward in an oversized brown suit and took Carmen’s hand.
“May I have this dance?” He bowed dramatically.
She hesitated, looking over him skeptically, then promptly ripped her hand away from his. “Absolutely not! I have better plans than to spend my time with the likes of yourself,” she said, playing along with his act.
The group “Oh!”ed, taunting Josiah.
“You mustn’t worry over her,” Levi stepped up, joining the impromptu play. “Just look your best and she’ll come to.” He placed a top hat on top of Josiah’s head, pretending to straighten Josiah’s suit.
The teens tried to stifle their laughter.
Byrant went around Josiah and started to rub his shoulders as if to prepare him for a challenging task. “You got this, my man.”
Glenn stepped forward. “Place this ring in your pocket and when the time is right, pop the ‘question’.” Glenn handed Josiah a plastic ring that looked as if it was big enough to be a bracelet.
The teen erupted in uncontrollable laughter, rolling on the wood floorboards.
Josiah nodded, pretending to take in all of their advice. He slipped the ring into the suit’s side pocket, then froze.
He started shuffling his hand around inside the large pocket. Josiah withdrew a small box about the size of both of his fists.
He gripped the lid with his fingers and pulled it off; multiple loose mothballs fell to the floor.
The light reflected off a round metal, shining a golden glow around the room.
Inside the box, lying on rotting foam, rested a Pendant.
An exact replica of mine and Thomas’s.
ns 18.68.41.148da2
