Spring was coming to an end at Calypso Bay as summer began to take over. The weather had improved, introducing longer days full of clear skies. The air was warmer and the crisp smell of the sea was taking over. Summer was when Calypso Bay truly thrived, basking in the sun and fun the long days brought.
Juniper was leaning against one of the counters in her kitchen, her father was already in the garden. Morning was the best time for him to tend to his flowers, before the afternoon heat would hit. It wasn’t unbearable but working persistently in it did become difficult to withstand. The sun was crawling its way up the sky, beaming down on the small town.
Scooping the last spoonfuls of cereal into her mouth, Juniper placed her bowl into the sink before grabbing her satchel and waving farewell to her father. She had a morning shift at the bookstore today, meaning she could spend the afternoon by the beach. With a brief glance in at a mirror, Juniper opened the door to the house and stepped outdoors. She hopped down the stairs, excited for the day.
Days at Calypso Bay were almost always the same, but the familiarity of them was comforting. One may say it was boring to live in Calypso Bay, but Juniper loved it.
She carefully wheeled her bicycle from where it leaned on the side of the house through the gate and onto the street. Sherry, the elderly lady who occupied the house opposite to Juniper’s, was sat on her porch. She perked up at the sight of Juniper and called out a ‘good morning’ which Juniper kindly returned.
Hopping onto her bike, Juniper began to peddle her way to the bookstore. The town was small enough for everything to be either a leisurely walk or bike ride away. Juniper passed the house neighbouring hers as she began her path to work. The sold sign had been up for a month now, and the new neighbours had yet to arrive. Juniper assumed they’d be arriving soon, and she wondered what they would be like. Her previous neighbours were a sweet couple who had to move away for work purposes, it was sad to see them go after knowing them for a while.
After a couple minutes, Juniper arrived at her destination. She slid off her bike and leaned it against the side of the bookstore. She had to lift up her skirt as she clambered off the bike. It was a light and airy skirt of a cream colour that brushed just past her knees. She wore a simple pale green shirt which had embroidered flowers that she had sewed herself.
The sweet ring of a bell announced Juniper’s entry into the bookstore. Betsy, the owner of the bookstore, peeked around the side of a shelf and hobbled forward when she saw it was Juniper.
“Hello dear, could you sort out a couple of the shelves? We’ve had some books come in.” Betsy asked, her voice frail yet kind. Juniper nodded, pulling her satchel off and laying it on the desk at the front of the store. Betsy wheeled out a trolley with a couple books stacked on it, patting Juniper’s arm as she took the trolley.
It took Juniper a little while to sort the books into their correct sections, having to figure out exactly what genre they were. The bookstore was not massive, a cosy shop, but it was packed with books. They had some customers, mostly regulars, and the occasional tourist, who would come in. By the time Juniper had sorted the books, only one person had come in to buy a cookery book before leaving. Betsy had gone out to do grocery shopping while Juniper kept the store in order.
Juniper settled into the chair by the desk at the front, shuffling around to get comfortable. Everything creaked in the bookstore, groaning at the slightest shift in weight. The store was extremely old, though Juniper had never asked precisely how old.
She flicked through a garden book that was laying nearby, more interested in the pretty illustrations that filled it.
The morning flew by in a blur, and Juniper was released for the afternoon. She cycled down to the beach, finding an empty spot on the sand near a cluster of rocks. The beach was dotted with most the town’s citizens bathing in the sun and swimming in the water. Juniper laid out her towel on the sand and sat down to read her current book. She loved the soft breeze that came from the sea and brushed through her hair, she loved the warmth of the sun, she loved the faint sound of the waves crashing and she loved the atmosphere of the beach. It was one of her favourite places to immerse herself in a book.
Once the sun started to dip in the sky, Juniper glanced at the old watch on her wrist and deemed it time she return home to assist her father with dinner. Juniper gathered her items and brushed her body down to rid any sand. She then climbed onto her bike and cycled home.
Juniper was leaning against one of the counters in her kitchen, her father was already in the garden. Morning was the best time for him to tend to his flowers, before the afternoon heat would hit. It wasn’t unbearable but working persistently in it did become difficult to withstand. The sun was crawling its way up the sky, beaming down on the small town.
Scooping the last spoonfuls of cereal into her mouth, Juniper placed her bowl into the sink before grabbing her satchel and waving farewell to her father. She had a morning shift at the bookstore today, meaning she could spend the afternoon by the beach. With a brief glance in at a mirror, Juniper opened the door to the house and stepped outdoors. She hopped down the stairs, excited for the day.
Days at Calypso Bay were almost always the same, but the familiarity of them was comforting. One may say it was boring to live in Calypso Bay, but Juniper loved it.
She carefully wheeled her bicycle from where it leaned on the side of the house through the gate and onto the street. Sherry, the elderly lady who occupied the house opposite to Juniper’s, was sat on her porch. She perked up at the sight of Juniper and called out a ‘good morning’ which Juniper kindly returned.
Hopping onto her bike, Juniper began to peddle her way to the bookstore. The town was small enough for everything to be either a leisurely walk or bike ride away. Juniper passed the house neighbouring hers as she began her path to work. The sold sign had been up for a month now, and the new neighbours had yet to arrive. Juniper assumed they’d be arriving soon, and she wondered what they would be like. Her previous neighbours were a sweet couple who had to move away for work purposes, it was sad to see them go after knowing them for a while.
After a couple minutes, Juniper arrived at her destination. She slid off her bike and leaned it against the side of the bookstore. She had to lift up her skirt as she clambered off the bike. It was a light and airy skirt of a cream colour that brushed just past her knees. She wore a simple pale green shirt which had embroidered flowers that she had sewed herself.
The sweet ring of a bell announced Juniper’s entry into the bookstore. Betsy, the owner of the bookstore, peeked around the side of a shelf and hobbled forward when she saw it was Juniper.
“Hello dear, could you sort out a couple of the shelves? We’ve had some books come in.” Betsy asked, her voice frail yet kind. Juniper nodded, pulling her satchel off and laying it on the desk at the front of the store. Betsy wheeled out a trolley with a couple books stacked on it, patting Juniper’s arm as she took the trolley.
It took Juniper a little while to sort the books into their correct sections, having to figure out exactly what genre they were. The bookstore was not massive, a cosy shop, but it was packed with books. They had some customers, mostly regulars, and the occasional tourist, who would come in. By the time Juniper had sorted the books, only one person had come in to buy a cookery book before leaving. Betsy had gone out to do grocery shopping while Juniper kept the store in order.
Juniper settled into the chair by the desk at the front, shuffling around to get comfortable. Everything creaked in the bookstore, groaning at the slightest shift in weight. The store was extremely old, though Juniper had never asked precisely how old.
She flicked through a garden book that was laying nearby, more interested in the pretty illustrations that filled it.
The morning flew by in a blur, and Juniper was released for the afternoon. She cycled down to the beach, finding an empty spot on the sand near a cluster of rocks. The beach was dotted with most the town’s citizens bathing in the sun and swimming in the water. Juniper laid out her towel on the sand and sat down to read her current book. She loved the soft breeze that came from the sea and brushed through her hair, she loved the warmth of the sun, she loved the faint sound of the waves crashing and she loved the atmosphere of the beach. It was one of her favourite places to immerse herself in a book.
Once the sun started to dip in the sky, Juniper glanced at the old watch on her wrist and deemed it time she return home to assist her father with dinner. Juniper gathered her items and brushed her body down to rid any sand. She then climbed onto her bike and cycled home.
As Juniper’s house came into view, so did the neighbouring one. Instead of it being the same as it had been when Juniper had set off in the morning, a U-Haul was parked. It appeared the neighbours had arrived and were settling in. Juniper was certain her father would force her to bring them a house warming gift and introduce herself.
Although she could not remember it, apparently her and her father had been bombarded by gifts from the locals upon their arrival at Calypso Bay. That resulted in her father’s vow to give any newcomers a similar warm welcome.
Putting her bike to the side, Juniper kept a curious eye on the neighbours house, attempting to catch a glimpse at who her possible neighbours could be. She slowly made her way up the stairs to the porch of her house and then diverted her gaze forward as she unlocked the front door.
“Juniper?” Her father called through the house. A small chuckle escaped her lips as she kicked off her sandals. It was only them two who lived in this house, who else would it be? Juniper made her way to where her father’s voice had come from and found him in the kitchen. He was staring out of the windows to the garden, admiring the abundance of flowers.
“The new neighbours have arrived.” Juniper quipped, serving herself a cold glass of lemonade. Her father turned to look at her with mild shock.
“How did I not notice them arrive? Silly me, we’ll have to bake them cookies at the very least. A welcome gift!” Her father moved into action, setting down the glass he was drinking from before rifling through the cupboards for ingredients. Juniper knew if she tried to tell him it was best they offer a welcoming gift the following day, he would simply ignore her.
As her father busied himself with a recipe, Juniper ran up to her room. She felt salt sticking to her skin from being at the beach and decided it was best she clean herself up before meeting the new neighbours. After a cold shower and a change of clothes, Juniper felt much more refreshed and headed down to find her father.
The warm smell of baked goods had taken over the house. Juniper joined her father who was checking on the cookies in the oven. The pair then had a conversation about their days as they waited for the cookies to be golden brown and perfect. At the shrill ding of the kitchen timer, Juniper took out the cookies and allowed her father to approve them before setting them down to cool.
Once the cookies had cooled to a reasonable temperature, Juniper neatly plated them up and then showed her father who acted dramatically amazed by them. The two slipped on their shoes before heading out to visit the neighbours and offer them the freshly baked cookies as a welcoming gift.
Juniper felt mildly nervous as she walked over to the neighbour’s house with her father, having not managed to catch a small glimpse of what they were like yet made her uneasy. She hoped they were kind and additionally she doubted anyone malicious would ever move to Calypso Bay anyways.
Although she could not remember it, apparently her and her father had been bombarded by gifts from the locals upon their arrival at Calypso Bay. That resulted in her father’s vow to give any newcomers a similar warm welcome.
Putting her bike to the side, Juniper kept a curious eye on the neighbours house, attempting to catch a glimpse at who her possible neighbours could be. She slowly made her way up the stairs to the porch of her house and then diverted her gaze forward as she unlocked the front door.
“Juniper?” Her father called through the house. A small chuckle escaped her lips as she kicked off her sandals. It was only them two who lived in this house, who else would it be? Juniper made her way to where her father’s voice had come from and found him in the kitchen. He was staring out of the windows to the garden, admiring the abundance of flowers.
“The new neighbours have arrived.” Juniper quipped, serving herself a cold glass of lemonade. Her father turned to look at her with mild shock.
“How did I not notice them arrive? Silly me, we’ll have to bake them cookies at the very least. A welcome gift!” Her father moved into action, setting down the glass he was drinking from before rifling through the cupboards for ingredients. Juniper knew if she tried to tell him it was best they offer a welcoming gift the following day, he would simply ignore her.
As her father busied himself with a recipe, Juniper ran up to her room. She felt salt sticking to her skin from being at the beach and decided it was best she clean herself up before meeting the new neighbours. After a cold shower and a change of clothes, Juniper felt much more refreshed and headed down to find her father.
The warm smell of baked goods had taken over the house. Juniper joined her father who was checking on the cookies in the oven. The pair then had a conversation about their days as they waited for the cookies to be golden brown and perfect. At the shrill ding of the kitchen timer, Juniper took out the cookies and allowed her father to approve them before setting them down to cool.
Once the cookies had cooled to a reasonable temperature, Juniper neatly plated them up and then showed her father who acted dramatically amazed by them. The two slipped on their shoes before heading out to visit the neighbours and offer them the freshly baked cookies as a welcoming gift.
Juniper felt mildly nervous as she walked over to the neighbour’s house with her father, having not managed to catch a small glimpse of what they were like yet made her uneasy. She hoped they were kind and additionally she doubted anyone malicious would ever move to Calypso Bay anyways.
As Juniper and her father approached the neighbours house, they noticed the door was open. Juniper assumed the newcomers were still in the midst of settling in and hoped they wouldn’t mind the brief welcome.
A dog ran up to the pair, letting out a bark as he closed in. Juniper couldn’t help but smile at the furry animal, she had a natural love for animals. She had begged her father for pet for as long as she could remember but he maintained his stubborn view that they were too much work. Juniper had pleaded that she would be the one to take care of the animal and her father wouldn’t have to, but that hadn’t worked.
Juniper’s attention was diverted from the dog to a man drawing near to her and her father who hovered by the entrance. The man made a stop when he spotted them, throwing a cautious glance at the two. It seemed the man had be unprepared for a welcome from anyone.
“Hello! We’re your new neighbours. I’m Elliot and this is my daughter Juniper.” Juniper’s father beamed brightly at the man, extending his hand forward to be shook. Juniper gave the man a similar grin and held up the cookies.
“We brought you some baked goods as a welcome gift.” She explained, allowing the man to take the cookies if he wished to.
A dog ran up to the pair, letting out a bark as he closed in. Juniper couldn’t help but smile at the furry animal, she had a natural love for animals. She had begged her father for pet for as long as she could remember but he maintained his stubborn view that they were too much work. Juniper had pleaded that she would be the one to take care of the animal and her father wouldn’t have to, but that hadn’t worked.
Juniper’s attention was diverted from the dog to a man drawing near to her and her father who hovered by the entrance. The man made a stop when he spotted them, throwing a cautious glance at the two. It seemed the man had be unprepared for a welcome from anyone.
“Hello! We’re your new neighbours. I’m Elliot and this is my daughter Juniper.” Juniper’s father beamed brightly at the man, extending his hand forward to be shook. Juniper gave the man a similar grin and held up the cookies.
“We brought you some baked goods as a welcome gift.” She explained, allowing the man to take the cookies if he wished to.
The man, Micheal, accepted Juniper’s father’s handshake and the cookies. He stared at the cookies for a moment, as if contemplating what to continue with. There was a beat as silence began to awkwardly hover over the three before Micheal broke it. Juniper slightly raised her eyebrows at what he said, surprised by the fact. There was a good amount of young people in Calypso Bay around Juniper’s age, yet she had never thought about her new neighbour being one.
Micheal turned to shout for his son, whose name appeared to be Jordan, the sudden jump in volume making Juniper jolt. Jordan shouted back with an annoyed tone, he clearly did not want to be bothered. Juniper and her father exchanged a side glance with one another.
After more yelling, Jordan finally joined them. Juniper was peering over Micheal’s shoulder as he approached to gauge his person. Given his expression he did not seem very approachable, not that he seemed to want to be approached anyways. When he addressed Juniper and his father his tone was flat.
“Hello, I’m Elliot.” Juniper’s father introduced himself again however did not offer his hand in handshake to Jordan.
“I’m Juniper.” Juniper added on with a chirpy tone, glancing down at the dog who was nuzzling against Jordan’s hand. She smiled at the dog once more and then returned her attention to the new neighbours.
“Well, we don’t want to intrude and you are probably busy unpacking, so we’ll get going. If you ever need help, we’re just next door.” Juniper’s father smiled brightly at Micheal and Jordan before moving back and beginning to walk back home. Juniper followed in suit.
Micheal turned to shout for his son, whose name appeared to be Jordan, the sudden jump in volume making Juniper jolt. Jordan shouted back with an annoyed tone, he clearly did not want to be bothered. Juniper and her father exchanged a side glance with one another.
After more yelling, Jordan finally joined them. Juniper was peering over Micheal’s shoulder as he approached to gauge his person. Given his expression he did not seem very approachable, not that he seemed to want to be approached anyways. When he addressed Juniper and his father his tone was flat.
“Hello, I’m Elliot.” Juniper’s father introduced himself again however did not offer his hand in handshake to Jordan.
“I’m Juniper.” Juniper added on with a chirpy tone, glancing down at the dog who was nuzzling against Jordan’s hand. She smiled at the dog once more and then returned her attention to the new neighbours.
“Well, we don’t want to intrude and you are probably busy unpacking, so we’ll get going. If you ever need help, we’re just next door.” Juniper’s father smiled brightly at Micheal and Jordan before moving back and beginning to walk back home. Juniper followed in suit.
Once Juniper and her father returned indoors, Juniper headed up to her room. She was desperate to finish the book she was currently reading and wanted the quiet of her room to.
The summer heat of the day had dwindled into a comfortable temperature that carried a cooler breeze. Juniper pushed open her windows so to let out the stuffy air of her room escape before settling into her arm chair to read. Eventually she was torn away from her book to help her father prepare dinner, a daily tradition of theirs. That’s when they took the time to discuss certain things, such as their new neighbours. Juniper’s father had deemed Jordan as trouble and told Juniper is was best she didn’t interact with him much. Juniper didn’t disagree. Jordan seemed to be less friendly than the usual and someone to be at least mildly wary of. On the other hand, his father did not seem as much of a problem despite his hesitancy and awkwardness earlier.
By the time Juniper and her father finished eating their dinner out in the garden, the sky had grown dark and the sun had dropped low by the horizon. The sound of crickets and distant waves could be heard in the peace of the evening and Juniper leaned back in her chair to enjoy it. She made herself some tea to slowly sip at as the stars began to appear and twinkle in the dark black of the growing night. Juniper loved to star gaze during summer, when the nights were warm enough to remain outside.
Juniper returned to her room after finishing her tea and helping with the dishes. Going to close her windows and curtains, Juniper noticed the neighbours house. The wall of their house opposite hers also had a similar window. The previous neighbours had used the room with the window that faced hers as a storage room, so there was rarely anyone in there when Juniper would be by her window. She wondered what the neighbours were planning on using the room for.
The summer heat of the day had dwindled into a comfortable temperature that carried a cooler breeze. Juniper pushed open her windows so to let out the stuffy air of her room escape before settling into her arm chair to read. Eventually she was torn away from her book to help her father prepare dinner, a daily tradition of theirs. That’s when they took the time to discuss certain things, such as their new neighbours. Juniper’s father had deemed Jordan as trouble and told Juniper is was best she didn’t interact with him much. Juniper didn’t disagree. Jordan seemed to be less friendly than the usual and someone to be at least mildly wary of. On the other hand, his father did not seem as much of a problem despite his hesitancy and awkwardness earlier.
By the time Juniper and her father finished eating their dinner out in the garden, the sky had grown dark and the sun had dropped low by the horizon. The sound of crickets and distant waves could be heard in the peace of the evening and Juniper leaned back in her chair to enjoy it. She made herself some tea to slowly sip at as the stars began to appear and twinkle in the dark black of the growing night. Juniper loved to star gaze during summer, when the nights were warm enough to remain outside.
Juniper returned to her room after finishing her tea and helping with the dishes. Going to close her windows and curtains, Juniper noticed the neighbours house. The wall of their house opposite hers also had a similar window. The previous neighbours had used the room with the window that faced hers as a storage room, so there was rarely anyone in there when Juniper would be by her window. She wondered what the neighbours were planning on using the room for.
Juniper had been in a deep slumber when she was awoken by the roar of a motor. The noise startled her awake and she blinked at the dark of her room trying to make sense of where it came from. Most of the town’s citizens walked or cycled around, and none of the cars had motors as loud as that.
The sound was fading and Juniper went to return to sleep. Yet, her curiosity stopped her from being able to sleep. After turning over in her bed for a handful of minutes, she slipped out and wandered to her window.
Pushing the window open and peering out, she saw nothing. The air was cool but did not chill her as she leaned forward to glance out at the street. Whatever had caused the noise was gone. Juniper turned her head to stare at the neighbours house. Perhaps it was one of her new neighbours.
Juniper closed her window again and crept back to her bed. She knew she should sleep but she was intrigued. Additionally, Juniper struggled to fall asleep once she was awake.
She decided to seize the opportunity to go star gazing by the beach. She thought maybe on her way she’d discover the source of the noise.
Juniper threw on a thin cardigan to warm her arms before creeping down the stairs and slipping out the door. She had gone out star gazing on several occasions before. Her father was aware, knowing it usually occurred if she could not sleep. Given the naturally safe town they lived in, he rarely made a fuss about her night trips to the beach.
Hopping onto her bicycle, Juniper began to cycle down to the beach. The town was silent and only the noise of Juniper cycling and the waves crashing on the beach could be heard. There was a comforting peace in the silence of the night.
Juniper arrived by the beach and propped her bike against a shop wall before heading down onto the sand. Finding a good spot, Juniper settled down and laid back to stare up at the night sky.
The sound was fading and Juniper went to return to sleep. Yet, her curiosity stopped her from being able to sleep. After turning over in her bed for a handful of minutes, she slipped out and wandered to her window.
Pushing the window open and peering out, she saw nothing. The air was cool but did not chill her as she leaned forward to glance out at the street. Whatever had caused the noise was gone. Juniper turned her head to stare at the neighbours house. Perhaps it was one of her new neighbours.
Juniper closed her window again and crept back to her bed. She knew she should sleep but she was intrigued. Additionally, Juniper struggled to fall asleep once she was awake.
She decided to seize the opportunity to go star gazing by the beach. She thought maybe on her way she’d discover the source of the noise.
Juniper threw on a thin cardigan to warm her arms before creeping down the stairs and slipping out the door. She had gone out star gazing on several occasions before. Her father was aware, knowing it usually occurred if she could not sleep. Given the naturally safe town they lived in, he rarely made a fuss about her night trips to the beach.
Hopping onto her bicycle, Juniper began to cycle down to the beach. The town was silent and only the noise of Juniper cycling and the waves crashing on the beach could be heard. There was a comforting peace in the silence of the night.
Juniper arrived by the beach and propped her bike against a shop wall before heading down onto the sand. Finding a good spot, Juniper settled down and laid back to stare up at the night sky.
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