It all started in the early June, right as summer was about to start. A child, or at least by heart, walked outside and eagerly waited for the announcement of the new mayor. That day, Mae Yur had come to rise as the leader of Plaise.
Mae was not always cut out to be a leader. An amnesiac travelling by train and with no place to call home, she met a cool cat named Rover. Being the lone wolf she was, she told the cat to scram, but Rover was persistent. Rover kept trying to make this wallflower bloom, firstly, by asking her name. This awkward situation eventually lead to small talk, which evolved into a once in a lifetime decision. She pondered on the question ?what is home to you??
The train had come to a stop and the conversation came to an end. ?Will I ever see you again?? Mae had thought aloud. Rover replied with a smile that somehow exceeded that of the Chesire Cat?s, ?perhaps in another life!? She wondered what he meant by that. Saying their farewells, they had both parted ways. Mae started off the train and was welcomed by a bright yellow dog that seemed to jingle at even the faintest of movements. ?Welcome mayor!? came in an enormous uproar.
Jumbled thoughts swirled around in the maze Mae called her head. Though lost and confused, Mae was never one to refuse a little dominance, especially when it was being thrusted upon her by Isabelle?s puppy dog eyes. ?I?ll do it? howled Mae as she burst open the doors to the town hall, taking up Isabelle?s offer, not knowing what she had in store for the future.
The days passed and Plaise became a bustling and booming town, but Mae still felt rather empty. She lived alone in a house atop a hill, secluded by a field of flowers. She got constant letters from her mom, but when she tried to remember what her parents looked like, her mind went blank as a slate. Rarely was there a frown on her face as she put up a strong front to satisfy the people of her town, but inside, she wondered if her parents were even alive and if this was some kind of a joke.
Father?s day rolled in Mae?s mailbox was a peculiar letter. ?Dear Mae, I?m just writing to make sure you haven?t forgotten what today is. Happy Father?s Day, dad.? was written neatly on the green colored parchment. Attached was a single red carnation. Mae thought to herself solemnly, ?of course I haven?t forgotten today, but how could I forget you??
Now it was the summer solstice, an entire day of relaxing in the sun, or so Mae had hoped. She had been running around town trying to plant roses when she tripped in the mud and fell on the brambles of thorns. Today had just not been her lucky day. With her favorite shirt soiled and small nicks all around her arms, she trudged home, not going unnoticed by Del. ?What?s up, buttercup?? he asked as he observed her sullen face. Del brought along Mae for some ice cream, his being a double scoop of strawberry and Mae?s a scoop of chocolate with sprinkles. He led her to the town plaza where they sat in the shade of the town tree. ?Okay Mae, deep breaths?Tell papa everything,? Del calmly spoke to her in his echoing voice. Mae found his presence comforting as words flowed out of her lips, recalling the details of her past days, the isolation, the depression. ?I can?t remember my family, but now, whenever I try to remember my dad, I see you,? Mae ended. ?Gahaha! You?re funny Mae!? Del replied embarrassed, but his heart felt like it was warmer than a thousand fires on the setting sun. Little did they know that a certain dog had heard everything.
Mae rushed out of her house and felt tingles as the blazing sun?s rays hit her skin. Pete had just left her doorstep, leaving her mailbox stuffed to the brim with letters and packages of all sizes. Hands full, she shuffled back into her house, having forgotten where she put her hat and not wanting to get sunburned while reading her messages. After reading over Joey?s snack adventures, Genji?s training regimen, and Diana?s choice of tea, Mae reached the most recent letter, dating July 19th. Mae read ?Hello daughter! A new store opened up and I saw the cutest outfits, so of course I had to buy some clothes for you. Hope you like polka dots, mom.? Stuck to it was a brown paper package. She untied the ribbon and tore open the package, revealing the shirt she had once lost to a battle against a field of roses. ?It?s an aqua polka tank!? Mae exclaimed with glee ?how did you know mom?? However, that wasn?t the only thing hidden amongst the paper. A star cap, similar to the one she had just misplaced, lay beneath the sky blue shirt. It was tagged ?Just a mother?s intuition! Don?t forget to wear sunscreen! <3?
A week later, Mae decided to take a visit to her favorite secretary. She strolled along wondering what to build next. The door to the town hall popped open and the cool air rushed towards Mae?s face. ?It?s quiet?Too quiet,? she said to herself. Isabelle had fallen asleep at her desk! Curious to see what Isabelle does when she?s not around, Mae peeked over the stack of papers next to Isabelle?s slumbering body. The words ?Dear daughter, your dad just fired up the grill for a barbeque. His eyebrows got a little singed in the process. It?s a first time for everything! Hope he likes takeout, mom,? were scribbled on the page. Mae scrolled through the rest of the letters, her smile growing each time Isabelle referred to her as her daughter. Isabelle let out a yawn followed by a few mumbles as Mae fumbled to put the letters back in their place. The yellow sunshine woke up in front of the mayor blushing ?I?m sorry mayor! What do you?Oh, what?s wrong?? Mae realized she let a few tears slip and rushed to wipe them off of her face. ?Just thinking,? acknowledging Isabelle?s words with a genuine smile ?could we build a picnic blanket?? When the deed was done, Isabelle returned to her post. ?How did these water drops get on the paper??
It was a cloudy day and the fresh summer breeze blew in from the sea. ?Isabelle! Isabelle!? Mae shouted. ?What do you need mayor?? was the response given. ?Could you go to a picnic with me?? asked Mae. Isabelle nodded her head, making a faint jingling sound ?I?d love to.? They reached the picnic blanket when Del was caught in their sights. ?Here we are,? said Mae and Isabelle and Del shared their greetings. Together they had a great time playing frisbee (Isabelle was a natural) and eating some of Del?s mac and cheese. The day ended with all three of them lying down on the blanket and watching the clouds. ?That one looks like Isabelle?s head,? hollered Del. Mae?s face puffed up as she tried to contain her giggles. ?Oh yeah? Well that cloud looks like Del after he?s eaten a tub of ice cream,? retorted Isabelle. Mae couldn?t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Soon they all were filled with laughter as the moon rose over the horizon.
It was August 31st and there was not a cloud in site, the perfect weather for fireworks. Mae waited eagerly for the fireworks to light the night sky, a night that she would spend with Del and Isabelle. She bought a sparkler for each of them to wish on when the show began. The sun was drifting lower and lower and the three met at the town plaza. A roar of crackles started the show as flare after flare burst towards the heavens. They each lit their sparkler, sharing their deepest desires. ?I wish that the mosquitos would stop biting! Gahaha!? wished Del. ?I wish the skies would be as amazing as this every day!? hoped Isabelle. Mae thought long and hard, ?I wish I knew if my birth parents were alive and what they think of me,? she whispered into the smoldering ember. ?But we?re right here,? said the voice of Del and Isabelle.
?Huh?? gasped Mae as the two figures before her turned human. ?We are alive sweetie,? said the man that sat in Del?s place. ?And we?ve always loved you from the bottom of our hearts,? finished the woman that now sat in Isabelle?s. ?It?s time you learned the truth,? they said. ?You were riding your bike to the store in early June to pick up your game, but?? Mae?s mother teared. Father continued ?you got in an accident. A drunk driver was leaving a party and came at you from behind, swerving towards your way. You?ve been in a coma ever since.? ?We?ve never left your side; Nothing will break us apart,? finished mother. Mae lunged towards her parents, giving them the tightest hug she could manage as the lights fell like autumn leaves.