Sunday: Ema and Sofia make an autumn advert

01 — The contest

Once a month the market votes for the best stall advert with paper hearts, and once a month Ema and Sofia pretend not to care. This Sunday they stopped pretending. Ema had paid for the serious tool. Sofia had used the free one. Nova sat on a pumpkin crate between them and agreed to keep score, for a fee.

02 — Cinematic

Ema’s advert was cinematic: a slow flight over the market at golden hour, the stalls like a painting, and Ema’s coat in the final frame for no reason anyone could defend. Forty seconds. Sofia watched it to the end with her hands folded. “Beautiful,” she said. “Where are the strawberries?”

03 — Five seconds of steam

Sofia’s advert was five seconds long: steam rising from the pot, a wooden spoon, jam going into a jar, and the price, written by hand. Ema waited for the rest. There was no rest. “That’s it?” said Ema. “That’s the jam,” said Sofia. Nova, unpaid, did not comment.

04 — Paper hearts

By noon there were hearts under both. By two, there were more under the five seconds of steam than under forty seconds of golden light, and a queue at Sofia’s stall that had nothing to do with hearts. “Nova keeps the score,” said Ema. “Nova,” said Sofia, “is not impressed by invoices.” Nova was asleep on the pumpkins.

05 — Which one sold something

Sofia sold out by four. Ema sold nothing, because Ema was not selling anything, which she pointed out several times. She sent the Countess the five seconds of steam without comment. “Next month,” she told Sofia on the crates, “I’ll use the free one.” Sofia nodded kindly. Neither of them believed it.