Poe invites Rey to a festival on his native world of Yavin IV, but the merrymaking doesn’t go as planned.
Damerey Challenge
Pentadrabble
Prompt: Festival/Fair
“I am so sorry,” Poe Dameron said softly, his dark eyes focused on her. “This is not how I thought this trip would go.”
Rey smiled at him, leaning slightly so that her shoulder pressed against his. “It’s okay,” she whispered back. They were seated among a group of people in a clearing on the outskirts of Wetyin’s Colony, waiting for the memorial service for one Gertie Bankenshield to begin. “I’m here in your home with you,” she told him.
They had not come to Yavin IV for this. They had come initially so Poe could introduce Rey to the Koyo Festival, a relatively new annual event that was already getting quite the reputation as a noteworthy galactic celebration. However, upon their arrival to the Dameron homestead, they had learned of the recent passing of Gertie, who had been a long-time neighbor and friend of Kes’. Poe had known the woman since he was a small child, and hearing about her death had hit him hard.
He had immediately told his father that they would come to the memorial the next day, postponing the festival until the day after. When Kes raised his eyebrows and looked at Rey, Poe had turned to her, stuttering an apology. “I’m sorry! I should have asked you before I agreed.”
Rey promptly shook her head. “No, no! She was your friend. You need to go!” She reached over and squeezed his arm comfortingly. “I really don’t mind.” And she didn’t. She wanted to know as much about the people in Poe’s life as she could while she was here. She was also aware of the relief she saw in Kes’ eyes as she agreed; while Poe’s father had plenty of friends here on Yavin IV, he was still alone, and Rey knew how much easier it was to mourn a friend with those you loved at your side.
So here she sat, with the man she had chosen as her life partner and his father, hearing stories about a woman she had never met but wished she had.
Gertie had been an amazing woman. She had raised a passel of children, mostly on her own as her husband worked as a pilot for shipping transports and was often off-world. She had also worked the small farm she and her husband owned, teaching her children how to cultivate the land with patience and respect. Though soft-spoken, she was strong willed and smart. When Poe got up to talk about her, Rey learned that after Shara Bey had died, it had been Gertie who had stepped in to help Kes with his griefstricken son.
After the memorial was over, the group of people converged on a table full of hearty foodstuffs and homemade sweets. They chatted, sharing more stories, and laughed, remembering only the good times. Finally, she and Poe headed back to Kes’ house.
“Tomorrow, you’ll get to see the real Yavin,” Poe told her.
“I think I already have,” she responded with a smile.
******
This story is dedicated to the most amazing woman I have ever known. My best friend and mother, Wanda Stapelberg. December 10, 1933 – February 2, 2022
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