22

"No more questions?" Dina asks when everything seems to have quieted. "In that case, I'd like to thank Mr. Clarence for coming tonight. Oh—and please accept a small gift from us: some flowers sourced by our local florist Zoe Goldenseal, as a memento of your visit to Silvertree."

There is some scattered applause as Zoe's flowers are brought out and presented to him (you hear Zoe sigh as they're handed over)—but once it's done, Mr. Clarence doesn't go back to his seat.

"Do you mind if I say one last thing?" he asks, turning towards the stage.

"Um…" Dina glances briefly at the papers she has just started to rearrange. "No—of course not, Mr. Clarence."

"Thank you." He smiles, looking back out at the audience. "Well, you've all made me feel very welcome, in spite of your understandable concerns. But I don't think it would be fair to leave town altogether while this is being figured out. I want to get to know you, and I'm sure you folks would like to get to know me better—if you're not sick of the sound of my voice."

A couple of people chuckle, and Mr. Clarence grins a little wider as he continues:

"So I'm going to be staying in town until the deal's decided one way or another. If anyone does have questions, complaints, suggestions—I'll be here to answer them in person."

A few muffled whispers play among the crowd. For a moment, as Mr. Clarence falls silent, even Dina raises her eyebrows—as if not even she had anticipated this detail.

And as you watch the faces at the front of the hall, you find yourself suddenly struggling to take it all in. Mr. Clarence—the person whose voice prompted your grandma to send you away from the forest—has not only arrived in Silvertree on the same evening as you, but is going to be staying until at least the day of the vote, in over a week's time. This wasn't just a one-off meeting to promote the benefits his company could bring to the town; it was just the very beginning of his visit.

As this realization hits you, one thought comes to the front of your mind.