The next morning, the village buzzed with excitement.After the wild festival and the chaos of chickens, someone—no one quite remembered who—had suggested a grand picnic by the river to celebrate a week of peace.
"Just one day without trouble," Rama said hopefully as she packed a basket.
Rick puffed out his chest. "I'll handle everything. What could go wrong?"
Rama gave him a look. "You said the same thing before the pumpkin attacked you."
He waved his hand. "That was a tactical misunderstanding."
A Feast by the River
By midmorning, families spread out on blankets along Shokma's gentle bank. Children chased dragonflies, women laughed as they laid out fruits and rice, and someone strummed a soft tune on a bamboo flute.
Nancy arrived last, proudly carrying a giant basket."Behold!" she declared. "My masterpiece. Coconut cakes, mango pudding, and something I invented called Sweet River Delight!"
Rama leaned over to Yuna and whispered, "That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."
James grinned. "I'll volunteer as the taste tester."
Big mistake.
When Nancy served the "Sweet River Delight," James took a brave spoonful—then immediately started coughing.
"It's… uh… powerful," he managed.
Rick, suspicious, tried a bit too. His face twisted. "Nancy, did you put salt in this?"
"I thought it was sugar!" she wailed.
The entire group burst into laughter so loud even the herons flew away. Nancy threw up her hands. "Fine! Next time, you all cook!"
Rick's Heroic Disaster
Determined to redeem himself after the "Pumpkin Incident," Rick decided to show off his fishing skills.He marched to the water, tossed in his net with a grand swing—and slipped straight into the river.
The splash drenched everyone in a ten-foot radius.
Yuna gasped. "Papa!"
Rick resurfaced, holding not a fish, but someone's missing sandal."See?" he said, dripping and proud. "I caught something!"
Rama doubled over laughing. "A sandal fisherman! The pride of Shokma!"
James whispered to Yuna, "Now I know where you get your bravery from."Yuna giggled. "And my bad luck."
The Picnic Games
After lunch, the children started a race—three-legged pairs tied together with ribbons.Nancy insisted on joining and paired with Rick, declaring, "I'll prove I'm the fastest in the village!"
It lasted five seconds.
They tripped on the first step, rolled down the small slope, and landed in the picnic blanket. The blanket flew up, launching fruit into the air like fireworks. One mango hit Rick on the head; another splattered into Rama's lap.
Nancy groaned. "Why does gravity hate me?"
Rama wiped mango from her skirt, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "Because it knows you're too proud!"
The Quiet Moment
Later, as the noise faded, Yuna and James slipped away toward a patch of reeds by the water. The river glittered gold in the late sun.
"You've survived my family," Yuna teased. "That's something."
James smiled. "I'm not sure survived is the right word. Maybe endured with style."
She laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"I don't know… someone who'd leave after the festival."
He looked at her, gentle and certain. "I think I found too much to stay for."
Her heart fluttered. She looked away quickly, pretending to watch the river—but her cheeks glowed brighter than the sunset.
Promises
As evening fell, the villagers packed their baskets, still chuckling about the day's disasters.
Rick, finally dry, raised his voice. "Let's make a promise—no more drama, no more falling into rivers!"
Nancy crossed her arms. "Speak for yourself. I'm a walking adventure."
Everyone laughed again.
Yuna glanced at James. "Do you make promises too?"
He smiled. "Only ones I intend to keep."
"And what promise is that?" she asked, her voice barely above the sound of the water.
He looked at her, eyes warm. "To always make you laugh—especially when life gets serious."
For a moment, everything was quiet. The river shimmered, the air smelled of mango and sunlight, and laughter drifted like music.