Chapter 3: Moonlit Celebration

Enora stepped into the bustling office of the company and was greeted by the familiar sight of desks cluttered with papers and catalogues, and the sound of phones ringing off the hook. Despite the chaos, there was an air of excitement that permeated the atmosphere, a sense of anticipation for the next big event on the horizon.

Natalie, her boss and the owner of the firm, greeted her with a warm smile as she entered the room.

“Enora, so glad you could make it.”, she said, motioning for her to take a seat. “I have something exciting to discuss with you. But first, I want to talk to you about the fundraiser.”

Enora took a seat nervously and waited for her boss to say something.

“You did amazingly on the fundraiser, and our client was extremely happy with how the event turned out. Though there still were some little details that could have been better, you managed to get some wealthy guests to attend and to contribute to the cause.”, Natalie said. It was very typical for Natalie to always add something that had not gone by her standards, for the simple reason that no one’s event could beat the ones that she planned herself.

“The hospital was content with the amount of funds that was raised, and they have already committed to my company for next year’s event.”, Natalie added as a side comment, but Enora knew better. The ‘my company’ was added as a reminder for her.

“Anyway, this gives me the confidence that you will be up for the task with this new assignment. We’ve been approached by a client from the Moonlit community.”, Natalie said with an expression filled with fake enthusiasm.

Enora laughed to herself. The Moonlit community was one of the communities that existed in the rural area and that was known for its close-knit communities and traditional values. Basically, everything that Natalie despised, so no wonder why she would assign this event to Enora.

Enora’s interest was piqued, though. She had heard of those rural communities before but had never been able to visit them. It also wasn’t easy to get there because the enclaves were extremely tight-knit and a stranger from the city would not be embraced easily. Those communities were formed of families that had lived there for generations and were bound together by shared traditions and values. It was a world away from the bustling city life she was accustomed to, both literally and metaphorically. Enora was intrigued by the prospect of working on an event in such a unique and close-knit community.

“What’s the event?”, Enora asked eagerly, leaning slightly forward in her seat. Natalie looked relieved at the prospect of not having to leave the city.

“It’s a celebration of a new generation.”, Natalie explained. “A coming-of-age ceremony, if you will, for a group of young adults that will take the reign over the community. It’s a big deal for them, because it is the chance to celebrate the transition of power and to honor the traditions of their ancestors.”

Enora’s mind raced with possibilities as she listened to Natalie’s description of the event. She imagined the rustic charm of the Moonlit community, the rolling hills and lush greenery, the sense of camaraderie and tradition that permeated the air. It was a far cry from the glitz and glamour of the events that she was used to planning, but she was excited by the challenge of bringing the unique traditions of the Moonlit community to life.

“I love it.”, Enora said eagerly, a smile spreading across her face. “I can’t wait to get started. Do you have any details about the event?”

Natalie nodded, reaching for a file on her desk.

“I do indeed. The event will take place in the heart of the Moonlit community, in a rustic barn that has been transformed into a charming event space. The ceremony itself will be held under the light of the full moon, a nod to the community’s reverence for nature and the cycles of the moon.”

Enora’s excitement grew as she listened to Natalie’s description of the event. She imagined the rustic charm of the barn, the warm glow of lanterns casting a soft light over the festivities, the sense of magic and wonder that would fill the air. Enora doubted that there would be champagne towers and burlesque dancers, but she loved the thrill of doing something completely different.

“Sounds amazing.”, Enora said enthusiastically, her mind already buzzing with ideas. “I can’t wait to start planning. When do we leave for the Moonlit community?”

Natalie glanced at her watch. “You are on your own for this one. I think if you do this well, you might be up for a promotion.”, Natalie said in a sing-song voice. The promise made Enora’s veins fill with adrenaline, ready to absolutely kill this event and make her boss proud.

“Here is the contact person. You work it all out with him.”, Natalie said, handing Enora the file and ushering her out of the office suddenly. “I am on to the next appointment. Good luck!”

Adam Terrell it said on the document with a land line phone number. Enora couldn’t help but wonder what the Moonlit community would be like and how she would navigate planning such a significant event in a setting so different from what she was accustomed to.

She wasted no time in reaching out to Adam Terrell, eager to start planning. Taking a deep breath, she dialed the landline listed in the file and waited anxiously for someone to pick up.

After a few rings, a voice finally answered on the other end of the line.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Adam Terrell?”, Enora asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite her nerves.

“Yes, speaking.”, came the reply.

“Hi Adam, my name is Enora and I’m calling from for the event planning. We’ve been tasked with organizing the Moonlit generation celebrations and I wanted to touch base with you to discuss the details.”, Enora explained, feeling a surge of adrenaline as she spoke.

Adam’s voice was warm and friendly as he responded.

“Ah, yes, I’ve been expecting your call. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Enora. I’m the liaison for the community and I’ll be one of the people working with you to make sure the event goes smoothly.”

Enora felt a sense of relief at Adam’s friendly demeanor. She knew that building a good rapport with him would be crucial in planning an event of this magnitude in a community as close-knit as Moonlit.

“Likewise, Adam. I’m really excited to be working on this project with you.”, Enora said earnestly. “I was hoping we could schedule a meeting to discuss the event in more detail. I’d love to get a sense of the community’s vision for the celebration and how we can bring that to life.”

However smoothly the conversation was going up till then, it changed abruptly with that question and Enora couldn’t figure out way for the life of her.

“Yeah, well. That isn’t possible right now. We… We need still some time to work out some details amongst ourselves.”, Adam replied, his voice becoming a bit more hostile.

Enora’s enthusiasm waned slightly at Adam’s unexpected response. She wasn’t used to encountering resistance so early in the planning process, especially from someone who was supposed to be her liaison over scheduling an appointment. Nonetheless, she remained composed and professional, determined to navigate the situation with grace.

“I understand.”, Enora replied, masking her disappointment. “We can take things one step at a time. Perhaps we could start by discussion the general outline of the event and any specific traditions or customs that are important to the Moonlit community?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Adam responded, his tone more guarded now.

“I’m afraid I can’t provide too many details at the moment. The nature of the celebration is… sensitive, and we need to ensure that everything is handled with the utmost care and respect.”

Enora furrowed her brow, puzzled by Adam’s cryptic response. She couldn’t help but wonder what could be so sensitive about a generation celebration that she couldn’t know as the one needing to plan it! However, she knew better than to push for answers. Instead, she shifted gears, trying to steer the conversation in a more productive direction.

“Of course, I completely understand.”, Enora said diplomatically, even though she didn’t understand it at all. “In that case, perhaps we could focus on logistical details for now. Are there any specific requirements or preferences you have in terms of venue, décor, or entertainment?”

Adam seemed to relax slightly at the change in topic, his voice becoming more cooperative.

“We have a few guidelines in mind, but I’ll need to consult with the elders and my superiors in the community to finalized the details. I can provide you with a list of our initial requirements, and we can go from there.”

Enora breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful that Adam was willing to at least provide some guidance.

“That would be great, Adam. I appreciate your help with this. Whenever you’re ready, feel free to send over the details, and we can start putting together a plan. And once you have cleared it with everyone, I would still like to come and see the place myself.”

“Will do.”, Adam replied, sounding more at ease now. “I’ll be in touch soon with the information you need. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

“Thank you, Adam. Please email me the initial requirements when you can. I look forward to working with you on this.”, Enora said sincerely, feeling a sense of optimism despite the rocky start to their conversation.

“I will send it by post. Thanks, Enora.”, Adam replied. Enora was confused at the comment, but Adam had already ended the call. Why would he send a simple document by post? She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. There was something about Adam’s demeanor that didn’t sit right with her. But, Enora was determined not to let that dampen her spirits. She had a job to do, and she was ready to tackle it head-on, no matter what obstacles stood in her way. With a renewed sense of determination, she set to work, eager to dive into the planning process and bring the Moonlit celebration to life.