Founders' Firelight Festival - 2000

"I was almost crushed by a papier mache star. How's your day?" Lorelai announced to Luke with an exasperated sigh, while collapsing into an open stool at the counter.

"Well, it's looking pretty good now," Luke answered sarcastically.

"Coffee please, no shot of cynicism."

"So, why so cheery?"

"I don't know. I'm just in a mood. I don't know why." Lorelai suspected it had something to do with the Founders' Festival. And the fact that everyone except her had someone to celebrate with tonight. Ugh, even Michel has a date tonight, she suddenly remembered.

"But there's no particular reason for this mood?"

"No," Lorelai lied.

"Uh huh," Luke replied skeptically.

"You don't believe me?"

"No, I believe you. If you say there's no reason for the mood, then there's no reason for the mood. You're simply nuts."

"Or bipolar. That's very big nowadays."

Lorelai could hear Taylor and Miss Patty arguing in the corner about the Founders Festival."Ugh, can nobody talk about anything else but this stupid festival?" Lorelai suddenly realized that everyone in the diner got very quiet. Turning to Luke she asked "that came out a lot louder then it was supposed to, didn't it?"

"Yup," he nodded.

"This festival is commemorating the founding of our town, young lady," Taylor scolded from across the room.

"I know Taylor. I'm sorry."

"She's bipolar," Luke interjected.

"Really? But you're so young!" Patty exclaimed.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. This is a beautiful festival. People should be enjoying it," Lorelai said, turning again toward Luke. I used to enjoy it.

Luke leaned across the counter conspiratorially and dropped his voice. "It's a crazy festival based on a nutty myth about two lunatics, who in all probability did not even exist. And even if they did, probably dropped dead of diphtheria before age 24. The town of Stars Hollow probably got its name from the local dance hall prostitute. Two rich drunk guys who made up the story to make it look good on a poster." Luke tried to concentrate on cheering Lorelai up and tried not to think about how close he was to her right now.

"You are full of hate and loathing, and I gotta tell you, I love it!"

"Oh, it's so good to have somebody share this hate with."

"My pleasure," Lorelai responded, smiling for the first time that day.

Founders' Firelight Festival - 1997

"Coffee?" Luke barely looked up as Lorelai walked into the diner and took a seat at the counter.

"Got anything bigger than your normal mug?" Lorelai asked hopefully.

"What, like a super sized mug? This isn't McDonald's you know," Luke groaned.

"Mmm, fries. But, no I was thinking more like a barrel."

"A barrel of coffee?"

"Well, if it's good enough for wine..."

Luke grabbed the largest mug he could find and started to pour the coffee.

"Rory coming in to meet you?" He asked. I hope not, he thought, and then immediately felt guilty. He adored Rory. But Lorelai had been acting so differently this year when Rory was around. No stories. No jokes. Just polite requests for food or coffee. She even says "please," he thought. I can't believe I miss the "Duke" days.

"No, Rory is laying low today."

"She's not still embarrassed about last year's Festival is she?"

"Oh you know Rory. She hates to be the center of attention. She's mostly just afraid of all of the gossip."

"Poor kid."

"Yeah, we were hoping that everyone would forget about it, but no such luck. This morning Babette asked her how she was feeling ten times during a twenty minute conversation."

"Well, your first mistake was thinking the town would ever forget," Luke replied. "Miss Patty still tells the story about Taylor's pants catching fire every year."

"I know, I know."

"And of course, even if someone tried to forget about last year, it would be hard seeing as how you've been singing The Runaways greatest hits every time she meets you at the diner."

"Maybe I'm just a big Joan Jett fan," Lorelai grinned, impressed that Luke had understood the joke. And he didn't let on at all in front of Rory, she thought.

"Right, and I heard you 'love rock 'n roll,'" Luke twitched the corners of his mouth up in a half smile.

"So put another dime in the jukebox baby!" Lorelai sang in response.

"Uh huh. Plus, everything reminds you of a Houdini story all of a sudden."

"Oh well, I just finished his biography last week."

"Sure. And all of the recent Steve McQueen references..."

"Hey, Steve McQueen was in a lot of movies!"

"You always follow the reference by humming the theme for The Great Escape," he completed with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, stop. A little friendly mother-daughter teasing builds character."

"Well, with all of your character, I hope I never meet your mother."

"You don't know the half of it, Luke my friend." Lorelai paused and then continued. "You know what else teasing builds - an appetite! Two cheeseburgers to go please."

"Coming right up," Luke said while scribbling the order on his pad and passing it back to Caesar. "I'll send you home with some pie for Rory too."

"Thanks, she'd like that." Lorelai couldn't help but be touched every time Luke did something for Rory. But we mustn't get attached, she reminded herself quickly.

"So, are you going to stop by the Festival tonight?" Luke tried to keep any hope out of his voice but was afraid he still sounded more eager than he intended.

"Taylor strong-armed us into coming for the lighting ceremony, but after that we're going home for a movie night."

"Movie night, huh?"

"A triple feature."

"Anything I've heard of?"

"Well, Escape from Alcatraz, the Rock, and..."

"The Great Escape?" Luke finished with an eye brow raise and a laugh, as he handed Lorelai her burgers, pie, and a to go cup of coffee.

Lorelai grabbed the bag of food but hesitated before getting off the stool. "Hey Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"It's just that..." Lorelai took in a deep breath and finished, "it's just that it always takes so long for the bonfire to get lit every year..."

"And it would be nice if it didn't this year, huh?"

"Right."

"That can be arranged." I guess I will see them at the festival tonight.

"Only..."

"Yeah?"

"I don't want Rory to feel like she's the reason things are different."

"Okay."

"I mean, I wouldn't want it to seem too calculated," Lorelai continued, hoping he would understand. "Like, I wouldn't want a person who is say never at the Founders' Festival to suddenly be at the Founders' Festival. You know earlier than usual and holding a big box of matches above his head like a giant "I'm here for Rory" sign."

"Hmm, well then, maybe Kirk will remember to bring matches this year," Luke said with a nod and a soft smile. Now how am I going to pull this off?

. . . . . . .

Lorelai stood by the edge of the crowd near the gazebo with her arms wrapped tightly around Rory. Every time someone looked over at Rory with a concerned expression, Lorelai could feel Rory shrink back into her arms a little more. My poor little girl, Lorelai thought. "Just a little while longer sweets," she whispered to Rory.

"... And now my friends if you will join me in lighting the fire."

As Harry finished his speech, all eyes went immediately to Kirk. Who was now slowly backing away from Harry and Taylor, trying unsuccessfully to cover up the "Official Fire Starter" sash that he had been wearing proudly only moments earlier. Lorelai watched the scene unfold with a sinking feeling. So much for Luke saving the day.

"Ahem, Kirk?" Taylor asked, gesturing for Kirk to hand over a book of matches.

"Who me?" Kirk said, still backing away slowly, toward the side of the gazebo. "Why are you all staring at me..." The townsfolk started to groan, preparing themselves for the by now annual tradition of waiting for someone to find matches. "Stop reading the sash!" Kirk turned and cried out to the now restless crowd, while taking a large step backward.

And at that moment Kirk tripped, falling backward off of the gazebo, his arms wildly pinwheeling in the air trying to catch his balance, while about 20 books of matches went flying out of his pockets in every direction and onto the gazebo steps.

"Well aren't we theatrical," Taylor rolled his eyes while picking up a book of matches from the ground and handing it over to Harry, who was able to get the fire going on the first try.

"Wow," Rory said, in genuine shock. "Under 10 minutes. That must be a Stars Hollow record."

"Something like that," Lorelai replied. She spied a flannel shirt in the crowd and managed to catch Luke's eye, mouthing "thank you" to him over Rory's shoulder. He gave a quick nod then headed back to the diner. Guess I'll just refill the ketchup bottles, he sighed.

"Ready to go?" Lorelai leaned down and asked Rory.

"Definitely!" Rory said. It was the most upbeat Lorelai had heard Rory sound in a week. Still, she couldn't resist humming the Great Escape theme as they turned to walk home.