Read Online Town in a Blueberrry Jam by B. B. Haywood - Free Book Online

You’re the poet, right?”
    His smile genuinely widened. He bowed slightly. “The very same. I’m honored you’ve heard of me.”
    “Well, just about everybody in town has heard of you, haven’t they? You’re here for the pageant, right? One of the judges?”
    “Actually, I’m vacationing in the area. I must admit, I’m quite taken with your lovely little town. I’ve rented a cottage on the coast for a month. Acting as a judge for the pageant is a last-minute arrangement.”
    “So I’ve heard.” It had been front-page news in the local paper. The organizers of the Blueberry Queen Pageant liked to have at least one celebrity judge every year, in addition to the regulars. The frenetic search for this year’s celebrity judge had been widely reported by Sapphire Vine in her column. According to her reports, Stephen King, who lived up in Bangor, had been asked (for the fifth year in a row) to be a judge but had graciously declined. Other offers had gone out, but none had been accepted. For a while the search had seemed destined to failure. Then, when someone found out Sebastian J. Quinn was vacationing in the area, he had been asked and had ultimately agreed to become this year’s celebrity judge.
    “It’s quite an honor for us to have a poet of your stature as a judge,” Candy continued.
    “Oh, well, that’s a very nice thing to say. Tell me, are you a fan of poetry?” Sebastian asked.
    “I guess you could say that. I’ve read Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, that sort of thing.”
    “Any of my works?”
    Candy hesitated. She knew he was fishing for a compliment. “Of course.”
    “Oh? Which ones?”
    “One of the early ones.” She thought a moment, trying to recall the title. “Something about chaos,” was all she could remember.
    “Mm. Yes, that one. The Bell of Chaos , it’s called.”
    “That’s right! The Bell of Chaos . I enjoyed it a lot.”
    “Yes, you and many others.” Sebastian looked quite unimpressed. “I won the Pulitzer for that, although I think my later works are much better.” He held out one of the burgundy-colored books he was carrying. “Here’s my latest. A Drop of Peace .”
    “Oh.” Candy gingerly took the book that had been thrust at her and flipped through the pages. “It looks wonderful,” she said, closing the cover and handing it back. But Sebastian waved it away. “Keep it. My gift to you. Here, I’ll sign it for you, though I’m afraid I don’t know your first name.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I neglected to introduce myself. It’s Candy. Candy Holliday.”
    He looked at her curiously, glanced up at the sign over the booth, then back at her. “Of course. Holliday’s Blueberry Acres. Candy, though? That name is quite . . . unique.”
    “It’s sort of an inside joke. I was born on Halloween.” After a moment she added, “My parents had a warped sense of humor, I guess.”
    That tight smile returned. He seemed to have practiced it a lot. “Hmm, yes, I see.” He scribbled something hastily on the book’s front page, signed his name, starting with a large swooping S , then slapped the cover closed and shoved the book toward her. “There you go. Do enjoy. Now, I must confess, I’ve heard you make the best blueberry pies in town. That’s why I came over, to check out your wares. . . .”
    What could she do? The man had just given her a free book. Fortunately, she had sold out of her larger pies, but he still walked away with a mini pie, a couple of cookies, and four blueberry scones, plus an extra-large T-shirt, all free of charge.
    “You know, sweetie, I think you’ve just been taken.”
    “Huh?” Candy twisted around. Standing behind her, arms crossed and wearing a suspicious smile, was her best friend Maggie Tremont, Amanda’s mother.
    “Oh, hi, Mags. What was that you said?”
    Maggie tilted her head toward the huge bulk of Sebastian J. Quinn as he made his way down the street, stopping at various booths along the way. “I think he