The Mushroom-Picking Girl

Helen Parker hid in the bushes, her eyes glued to Lily Evans.

Helen Parker had also snuck up the mountain late last night to catch wild game. Like Mrs. Thompson, she ended up covered in bug bites, looking utterly miserable and coming back empty-handed.

She was just about to head down the mountain when she spotted Lily Evans and Lucky coming up. Helen quietly trailed after them, hoping to secretly pick up their wild game hunting skills.

But to her surprise, Lily Evans and Lucky weren’t hunting for game today—they were picking mushrooms instead.

Mushrooms were a delicacy only the wealthy could afford—pricier than meat! The trouble was, unless you were a mushroom picker, you couldn’t tell which ones were edible and which ones would send you to the afterlife.

A few years back, some villagers from Clearwater Village got bold and picked mushrooms in the mountains, but ended up poisoned and dead. Ever since then, no one in the village dared risk it again.

Helen Parker muttered to herself, 'Is Lily Evans really that fearless, picking mushrooms like she doesn’t care about dying? Isn’t she good at catching wild game? She can’t be that desperate for food!'

But after seeing Lily Evans’s wild game skills, Helen Parker couldn’t underestimate her. Maybe that simple Lucky could hunt and pick mushrooms too?

So Helen Parker kept her distance, secretly following Lily Evans, too nervous about being caught to get any closer.

“Lucky, see these two mushrooms? They look almost the same—one’s poisonous, one’s safe. You’ve got to be careful and not mix them up. The poisonous ones won’t kill you, but they’ll make you see things, and that’s no good for anyone. Those squat little mushrooms over there—never eat them, they’re deadly. But look at that one, shaped like a chicken drumstick? Those are delicious….”

Lucky listened with rapt attention, nodding earnestly as Lily Evans explained the difference between edible and poisonous mushrooms.

Helen Parker’s eyes widened. Was Lily Evans actually a mushroom expert?

She crept closer, eager to overhear more, but her foot slipped and snapped a twig. Lily Evans immediately turned around, her eyes sharp as ever.

Lily Evans narrowed her eyes, scanning the bushes. "Who's there? Come out!"

Helen Parker froze, clutching her basket, not daring to breathe.

Lucky stepped protectively in front of Lily Evans, his posture serious but his eyes wide with curiosity.

Seeing no one respond, Lily Evans shrugged. "Must've been a squirrel. Anyway, Lucky, let's keep picking—just remember what I taught you, okay?"

Lucky nodded, his face beaming with pride. "Lily, you’re amazing!"

Helen Parker let out a silent sigh of relief, her heart still pounding. She watched Lily Evans and Lucky from afar, envy bubbling up inside her.

She gritted her teeth. If Lily Evans could pick mushrooms and catch wild game, why couldn't she? Helen Parker decided to try her luck, sneaking further into the woods.

But as soon as she bent down to pick a mushroom, she hesitated, recalling the villagers who’d died from eating the wrong kind. Her hand shook as she hovered over the patch.

Meanwhile, Lily Evans was teaching Lucky how to spot the best mushrooms, her tone light and teasing. "See? You’ve got sharp eyes, Lucky. Next time, maybe you’ll teach me!"

Lucky blushed, scratching his head. "I’ll do my best, Lily!"

Helen Parker, still crouched in the underbrush, scowled. "Hmph, show-off," she muttered under her breath.

Just then, a squirrel darted out and startled Helen Parker, making her yelp. Lily Evans and Lucky turned to look, concern flickering in their eyes.

Lily Evans called out, "Helen Parker, is that you? If you want to learn mushroom picking, just ask! No need for all this sneaking around."

Helen Parker flushed, embarrassed to be caught. She stammered, "I—I wasn’t following you, I was just… picking mushrooms."

Lucky grinned, waving at Helen Parker. "We’re all neighbors in Clearwater Village! The more, the merrier."