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The Lantern Festival (7) : Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand the strange, glowing qualities of the luminescent caterpillars found in the caves by the reservoir. The caterpillars still shrivel up if they are taken out of the caves but their glowing secretions have been processed into an organic paste that can withstand the outside world. The city is selling paper lanterns infused with various seeds. The glow paste is full of minerals to support healthy plant growth without risking damage to the environment; all lantern purchases come with a small packet of activating power that will heat the paste up enough to mimic the effects of a candle without the concerns of flammability. When the glow paste loses its heat, the lantern will return to the Earth and upon the first rain (or any contact with water) the paper will dissolve and the seeds may begin to grow. All proceeds from the lanterns are put right back into the community to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts.
"Mommm~!" Takehiko said annoyed at her as he shoved his hands into his pocket. He'd been just wanting the newest trading card set, but he'd forgotten about the lantern festival part of the star festival.
He had a sapphire star charm tied to his arm as he followed her to the stand. "After this can we get the new trading cards?" He asked hoping she'd say yes. The pokemon cards were pretty awesome, so far he'd not pulled anything beyond a normal ogerpon v. He also wanted the Lorconca sets and well there was a lot of different trading cards, his mom didn't want him to collect so many different things.
Kiku laughed lightly. "How are your grades? I told you, I'd reward you for the grades you get."
Taki paused, "But mom, it's summer. I'm not in school!" He pouted as she grinned at him and winked. There was a sigh as it came their turn to buy lanterns.
"So I have to do chores in order to earn them?" He asked vaguely disdained. Rubbing the back of his neck. This wasn't his idea of fun. He'd rather earn them some other way.
"I did clean my room." He finally said, ". . . sorta."
Kiku looked at him, and chuckled. "Oh, sort of?"
She knew what he meant by sort of, he took his snack dishes to the sink and that was it, "I suppose that deserves one pack of cards. If you want more the whole room needs to be cleaned."
Taki hung his head, "I know."
He paused, "Ohhh can we go see the fireflies too?? They're all rainbow colors." He said as he looked up to his mom. "I hear they can be seen on the hill over there." He said pointing towards the hill where there weren't many lights beyond a small twinkling like little stars.
Kiku paused as she looked up towards the hill that Taki had mentioned, "Lets do the lanterns tonight, we can do the fireflies tomorrow!"
She smiled, "Besides I have pastry's at home themed for the star festival."
Taki paused as his mother suggested they do the lanterns tonight and see the fireflies later, "Oh. Okay." He paused as they walked past stalls, "Can I have a caramel apple?" He asked as they walked by a stall with apples that were candy and caramel.
"Look at the one with the blue sprinkles and yellow M&M's." He said pointing them.
His mom glanced over towards the apple stand, "Sure! Then we should light these in that field so we can release them. Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll land somewhere we can see them!"
Taki practically pranced over towards the caramel apple stand, his mom had given and offered to the stall keeper in exchange for the one of the starry night themed apples.
After he got the apple in a bag he ran over towards his mom who had the lanterns. "Okay! Ready!" He said smiling brightly. It wasn't trading cards but caramel apples and one of his mom's treats at home was at least consolation prizes.
He followed her to the field where he took the lantern he'd picked out and was looking at the instructions, wrinkling his nose as he read them. "This looks, complicated."
He said wondering if this was really something he should've wanted to do.
Kiku nodded as she read the instructions as well, "Ah, it's not that difficult. There's just a lot of . . . information." She was showing him how to put the paste into the lantern, "See like this! They give you a lot of information on how it's made. That's what makes it difficult."
Taki was watching his mother and nodded studiously as he followed her lead, placing the paste into the holder inside the lantern. Followed by the activating powder when she added hers.
"OH, they should've added that information before or after the instructions and made those easier to find." He said as he watched the lantern glow. He held his hands out for it to take off when it was ready as his mom did the same.
"Do. . . we make a wish?" He asked curiously as the lanterns took flight after a few moments and the heat had built up in them.
He thought it looked rather pretty.
Kiku looked interested in her son's question, "I suppose you can if you want."
Takekiho closed his eyes and quietly made a wish, before turning to his mom and smiling, "Okay lets go! What kind of pastry do you have at home?"
"It's a surprise!" Kiku said with a smile and started walking back home, "I'm sure you'll love it though!"
"Buuutt Mommm~" He whined as he followed after her trying to get her to tell him what the treat was on the way back.
[WC: 585]
