Waking up the morning of the Goddess Festival was not a problem for Ann, she was so excited and that's when things took a turn for the worse. The clothes she had been planning on wearing were nowhere to be found. Opening her bedroom door, she called down to her father, Doug, he is the owner of the Inn, he came upstairs not really sure why Ann had called for him to come up here. "What is it sweetie?" He asked in a calm voice trying not to disturb the other guests at the Inn. "Dad, did you move my clothes that I had on my chair last night?" Ann was beginning to get a little bit frantic; her perfect day was not starting off the way she wanted it to. Pondering about her question Doug remembered putting some clothes in the wash, and they did happen to be blue like the only dress Ann wore. "I am so sorry honey, I came in last night and I thought it was just a jacket and not your dress for the festival today. Can't you just wear something nice with a skirt or something?" He said then turned around going back downstairs feeling terrible that he had ruined Ann's perfect day.
Rushing around to find a new outfit, she figured it was nice day by the look of the sky outside. She quickly opened her closet and found her only skirt; it was white with ruffles that landed right at her knee. Now the only thing she need was a top, she quickly found her dressiest top to match her skirt, except it was a light green dress shirt with a fine white pinstripe. Pulling her clothes on, she made sure she had the right shoes for the occasion, white flats, not wanting to wear flip-flops or heels due to the fact that she was clumsy and would fall in the heels and you can't dance in flip-flops. Ann quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail not bothering to braid it; she let a few pieces dangle on her face. Now she was to go have the day of her dreams. Walking out of the Inn towards the farm that Jack owned, she started to skip with enthusiasm for the day ahead of her.
Walking down the path to the farm, Ann began to think about if Jack had changed his mind, she would be crushed. Knowing there was no harm in trying, she continued on her way to the farm. Approaching the door to the house, she was about to knock when Jack came out wearing a blue dress shirt and a pair of khakis. "Good morning Jack, I was hoping you wouldn't have forgot or decided not to come with me." Ann smiled at the young man who stood beautiful before her. Jack smiled, "Of course I would not forget, I get to go to the festival with such a cute looking girl, and I am happy to escort you there." He stated then taking her arm around his; they walked to the town square. Upon entering the square they both could hear music and the chatter of the rest of the villagers, they got more excited and raced in. Everyone was coupled up, even the small kids, May was with Stu, but Ann noticed that someone was missing. Ann walked around to talk to people asking if they had seen Cliff. He was not one for social get-togethers but everyone in the whole village was here besides him. He had left his family, well just his mom and sister back in his home town. He wants to stay here in Mineral Town that is if he can get a job and afford to stay at the Inn. He has taken an interest in going to the church and talking to Carter, the local priest.
Saddened because no one had seen him Ann turned towards Jack. "I will be right back, there is someone who is not here and he doesn't get out much so I am going to go convince him to come down here for a while." She began to leave when Jack grabbed a hold of her arm. "Wait, I'll go too, I think this is kind of a guy thing as well, so I might be of some use." And together they walked to the Inn and to the room that was Cliff's. He also shared this room with Kai when he came to town for the summer.
Knocking on the door to be polite, a faint "Come on in" was said by someone sitting on the bed staring at the wall. Ann raced over to him. "Why aren't you are the festival?" she asked as she sat down next him, she truly felt bad for him. "Because I don't know anyone." He replied in a monotone and soft voice. "But silly, this is the perfect way to meet people." Ann replied pulling on his arm. Jack came up next to Ann and put his hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you let me take care of this." He said pushing Ann towards the door. Reluctantly she went out and closed the door behind her. Jack slowly sat down on the bed next to Cliff. "So tell me what the real problem is." He told Cliff, guys can see through the cloud of lies. "Okay, I wanted to go with Ann, but she is going with you." Cliff sighed, he didn't really want to say how he felt but he thought it necessary. "Oh, well then how about I hook you up with a cute girl then." Jack suggested and Cliff's eyes perked up and nodded. Standing up, Jack went to the door to let Ann come back in, as normal she had her head against the door trying to listen through a wood door, which really didn't work.
Ann slowly walked in, and Jack took her hand. "Ann I would like you to meet your new escort to the festival." Jack said placing her hand in Cliff's. "Besides I really have a lot of farm work to do!" he chuckled. Ann stood in shock but flashed a smile at Cliff. "Alright, time to go now!" Ann suggested heading for the door, maybe Jack would show up anyway, she hoped. Walking back into the square was awkward for Ann because everyone had just seen her with Jack now she was with Cliff. But thankfully as soon as they arrived the festivities began, and first off was the talent show. Karen went first; she sang a beautiful ballad, of course. Elli played the flute, Mary played the organ. Next was Ann, she was starting to get nervous backstage. The Mayor then came on stage, "Our last and final contestant will be Ann, and she will be well, singing a song." Leaving the stage as Ann entered, she took a deep breath and the put the microphone to her mouth, and the music began to play. "I would like to dedicate this song to a special someone who I don't think is here but he knows who he is, and I am sorry to Cliff for being like I am and for this song, but it is truly how I feel." Her heart raced but this was what she wanted, her mouth opened and sang.
Turn
down the lights, turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside
my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close,
don't patronize - don't patronize me
Cause I can't make you
love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it
won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my
heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't
'Cause
I can't make you love me, if you don't
I'll close my eyes,
then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding
me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till
then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
Cause
I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart
feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I
will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no
you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
And with that the music ended. The audience seemed to like it, Ann's face beamed in the stage light. She quickly ran off the stage so the judges could have time to debate on who was the best. Meanwhile, Ann found Cliff waiting just beside the stage. He took her in his arms and hugged her, whispering in her ear "You were fantastic!" With that compliment Ann smiled so hard then she saw the judges coming back and it went to frown. She worried that she would not win, and that Karen would because she was so beautiful. Holding an envelope, the mayor jumped on stage and took a microphone. "Alright, that was some great talent, but there can only be one winner. And that winner is……"