May Day Novels & Stories

Every damn time. Christmas mornings? He lives for them. Makes May and me wait until everyone else is done because our reactions are the best. I cry. May full-on combusts. Jumping, squealing, hugging the air. It’s chaos. But it’s beautiful chaos. Because May remembers the cave. She remembers birthdays that passed without gifts or cake, just shadows and silence and cold. She swore when she made it out, and understood the ways of the world, she’d celebrate everything. And she does.

Two years had passed in the blink of an eye. May had arrived, bringing with it a warm breeze and the laughter of children as the backyard of Adamo and Sade’s newly expanded home transformed into a carnival. The scent of buttery popcorn and cotton candy filled the air, mixing with the distant sound of a clown’s horn honking as kids ran between booths, playing ring toss and bobbing for apples. This was a celebration for Daisy and Dominic, who were officially turning two, and no expense had been spared.

I just prayed it wasn't an all-night party, or I was as stuck as anything. May's impatient voice pierced through the bathroom door, and my heart sank. "Wendy! Get the heck out! We don't have all night, you know?!" she screamed, and I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of her urgency pressing down on me like tons of bricks. This was typical May, always in a rush, always bursting with energy, but that was only when it had anything to do with parties or anything fun.

She had no doubt he had something for her, but thus far, he barely said anything about it. It was an enchanting evening. The whole country was having a May Day celebration and people had started to gather in the town square since the afternoon. A Maypole had been erected at dawn, brightly decorated with colorful ribbons, boughs and garlands. Soon after the sons and daughters of May proceeded the ritual, the festivities began. Men and women danced around the Maypole in loud music and merrymaking.

“I’m just upset right now and need someone to talk too. Are you busy?” He shook his head.”I was about to die from not getting any work to do”. Maya burst out into fits of laughter. “I wish I could say the same. I’ve just been busy with work all day and getting an ear full over the smallest things” Micheal tilted his head, thinking. “Could it be that day?” “What day?” “What’s today’s date?” Maya brought out her phone to check. “August 3rd, why?” “That’s right. It’s boss birthday “

MAY ANDREA BENJAMIN 14TH APRIL 1923 – 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND FRIEND. ‘We shall meet again, in the place where flowers never die.’ Aunt May’s ashes were carried quietly in a heart-shaped ceramic urn that bore a colorful polish on the surface, as colorful as the life she had lived. The ceremony was attended by the Manning family and also the Wilsons too who had flown from New York to support Lucas.

Grandma Ese brought out two wristbands from her purse. Handing one to May, Grandma said, "One is for you, the other is for Esther." Mr. and Mrs. Felix Ebi had given birth to their kids on the same day. May was born on the 8th of May, in the morning while Esther was born two years later but during the night. Sometimes May would wonder why she was called "May." She thought maybe it was because she was born in the month of May, but she shook the thought away. If it was because of that, Esther would have the same name.

May announced. "Cool, I'll be there." I said. "Count me in." Said Liam. "Great! And you lots better not forget my birthday next Saturday." She added. "We wouldn't dream about it." "I plan on losing my v card on my eighteenth birthday." May announced with such a giddy look on her face like she just won the lottery. Liam choked out a cough like his saliva went down the wrong pipe, my mouth simply hung loose. "You're not serious right?"

I point to Marcus and watch him walk away. Going into my room, I spend an hour with May. I watch as she sketches a few dresses, and we work together to plan one that looks perfect. I spend my time working on the next event. There are a lot of causes I want to help. May has explained it's real, so anyone who agrees to back it at the ball will do so. Yet, choosing one cause is tricky. One keeps coming back, Sunny Days. It's a charity for children, but it does a wide range of things. They help orphaned children, and they help ensure schools and such in poor neighbourhoods have the basics needed.

Then, without preamble, she said, "You know, the Moon Ball is coming up." I blinked, startled by the abrupt shift in topic. "Moon Ball?" Maya’s eyes sparkled as she turned to me, her excitement palpable. "Yeah! It’s this huge celebration we hold every year under the full moon. All the packs in the region gather together, and there’s dancing, feasting, and even a little matchmaking." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Matchmaking?" I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief.