Autumn comes with a wash of golden days, where leaves float to the ground, old hurt is washed away and new memories are formed. A cold chill begins to set in the air, as the tourists leave and are replaced with ushering mothers, hurrying workers and reluctant students. A steam seeps out of dry mouths, floating outwards in a puff, with children across the town transforming into dragons. The winding pathways are covered in a thick blanket of reds and browns, a crispy crunch begging to be destroyed by eager stamps and jumps. Above, a flurry of oranges and amber twist and turn in an energetic dance, their movements like a flame, emanating its heat for all to feel. All around, the town is preparing for Halloween, with orange pumpkins and black bats, with silver streamers and white ghosts. Autumn has come with fear and fun.
Six boys gather around a bonfire, their faces painted white and black as they huddle with blankets and hot chocolate. One boy stands up, a torch shining beneath his face, casting stark shadows across his skin, making his blond hair burn bright. He proclaims in a loud whisper that tonight they are to tell each other creepy ghost stories, the scarier the better, and the first to chicken out will have to swim in the cold sea in the morning. Some of the boys laugh, pointed teeth and glasses relishing in the task. Some of the boys shudder, two faces paling in fear. But as the night goes on, stars twinkling above them, fears and tasks are forgotten as stories of memories are told and songs of laughter spring from their mouths.
Morning comes all too early, a harsh bright sun hard on the eyes of sleep deprivation. They roll out of sleeping bags and into breakfast, warm pizza all round to heat their bones. A game of truth or dare is proposed, met with groans and cheers, as each are made to reveal their greatest dreams and greatest fears. One boy is going to swim in competitions and then become an instructor, another is going to be a vet, one wants to do science and the rest are unsure or simply don't care. The six boys lay back into the green grass, sinking down with smiles and light words as they enjoy the simplicity of the other's company and they breathe in the pleasure of endless days.
That was the autumn where they all found their own dreams, that was the autumn when they were all truly happy