Sparkling Spice

As the New Year’s celebrations erupted all over the burrows and the familiar shouts of happy buns filled her ears, Spice couldn’t help but look forward to the upcoming year. She could already picture the imp cafe having better sales and if she was lucky, Sugar would let her contribute to the menu more often. She had so many ideas for new coffee flavors and maybe some new desserts that Sugar could try his hand at making. Besides as much as he complains, she knew her boss appreciated her input and ideas.

But! That wasn’t what she was concerned with right now, as she gently shook the colorful box in her hands, smiling as she heard what was inside move. It sounded exactly as she thought it would, the shaking of small sticks.

She laughed in excitement as she carefully opened the box in her hands, her fingers twitching from delight as she rushed to look inside. There, under bright tissue bright, was a decent amount of sparklers, each promising a different color.

“So pretty, oh I have to thank Sugar for getting me a box of these. Who knows how difficult that was for him to get?” She picked up a blue sparkler and smiled to herself, patting her pockets for her lighter. It was mochi themed one, with little patterns of the treat, and perfect for a celebration that dealt with those delicious confections.

“There you are!”

She grinned in triumph, the lighter was nestled under her phone as she picked it up, making sure nothing else fell out from her pockets. Her mini skirt could only hold so much before it all came tumbling out and she didn’t particular want to have to pick up everything as she was trying to enjoy her sparklers.

She bit her lip as she focused on lighting the blue sparkler’s fuse, her eyes bright as she waited for the familiar sizzle.

With the fizzing of a small firework, the sparkler showered Spice in that familiar light. She laughed, twirling the sparkler through the air as she spun around.

No matter how many years passed or how old she felt, Spice wouldn’t imagine she couldn’t feel the same thrill as watching the patterns she drew in the night.

She was quick to grab another sparkler, orange this time, and lit it with her blue sparkler. As the pair of small fireworks shone, Spice once again began to twirl around.

She draw hearts and zigzags to stars and swirling lines. She didn’t mind if some buns looked at her funny as they walked past, instead she just wanted to enjoy herself and not worry about anyone else. She spent every day catering to the needs of others and now she could just play around.

She tossed one of the sparklers up into the air, catching it just as easily as it came back down. She wondered halfheartedly if she should try to juggle them, but Sugar did warn her that he wouldn’t gift her anymore fireworks if she burned herself.

So instead she began to race down the sidewalk, laughing loudly as she did and watched the sparks that raced from her hands. Maybe it was a little silly, but she felt so much faster when she ran with the sparklers. Like she had her own version of magic that glittered with each quick footstep.

She couldn’t wait for the rest of the holiday, the way she could enjoy as much of it as she could. To the mochis and maybe even more sparklers, she couldn’t wait to enjoy herself. She couldn’t wait to show the world how much she loved being herself.