As societies grow, so do their traditions, or, at least, that is what people think. Yet, old habits die hard, as people can discover once they visit one of such places. By traveling through rural areas, one can stumble into small towns, seemingly forgotten at some point in the history of humanity. This traditional community would blend perfectly with the atmosphere of the past century, as people kept their ways unchanged for generations. There were modern agricultural tools employed in their daily tasks, yet not many adults could be seen using other common appliances regularly.
It is no wonder that many older people were residing in the majority of remaining houses, although their well-maintained facades clearly showed that these townsfolk were hard-working individuals. There were a few younger adults left in this area since many preferred to pursue their luck in bigger settlements. After all, it is challenging not to fall for the alluring sights of bustling cities. Nonetheless, those who stayed were well-accustomed to the slow-paced life of a small community located among sunlit plains.
If one were to reside in the nearby motel, they would be asked to turn their phone off if they decide to resupply, as per local customs. Not many visitors were traveling past this location in the middle of nowhere, although there was no lousy reputation sticking to it. However, those staying in this town during the late spring would be forced to leave once the summer is about to arrive. As the traditional societies started to disintegrate, it was understandable that folks were wary of strangers who could influence their youth to leave the rural areas for promises of the outside world.
The reason behind this strange rule was the celebration in early June, which some may count as archaic if they were outsiders. However, for locals, it was the time they could remember their roots, honor their ancestors, and socialize with neighbors. Some townspeople even argued that those few communities who still follow this tradition are the true Americans who believe in the core values of society, while city dwellers have lost their culture by forgetting it. Some residents even considered contacting other towns that still share their lifestyle in hopes of finding a way to reignite people’s passion for their roots and spread this festive tradition across the country again.
At first glance, the celebration held no particular connotation. It was just a way for people to take their minds off of an otherwise dull, monotonous lifestyle. It was not grand by any modern standard, but it gave comfort to those who gathered, as through their memories and prayers, people remembered the days of old with warmth and melancholy. Younger community members who did not experience the days their grandparents described as majestic could receive more than enough knowledge of the past from secondary sources. These tales filled people with wonder and longing for a place they had never been.
As usual, no modern appliance was used during this celebratory occasion, as it distracted people from the real reasons for this meeting, which is to keep the traditions of their ancestors alive. On one of such celebratory occasions, people were drawn to the community center in hopes of finding a new inspiration that would help them to push past the challenging year ahead. Small chatter was typical among the crowd, as people spoke about their daily chores and relationships, and only a few ever mentioned the ongoing festivities. Many of those gathered at the community center were merely waiting for the annual lottery to begin, as skipping such an occurrence was considered disrespectful to others. Children, who were officially involved in its preparations, have already finished collecting rubble from the vicinity and followed their parents.
Once the main event was about to be performed, the noise of the crowd ceased almost instantaneously. Youth who were brought to the location in order to experience a true sense of community remained in front of the public, still murmuring among themselves. They seemed excited to be a part of their community, while their parents stood behind, nervously shuffling as they waited for the town council to bring the newly minted metal black box specifically for the occasion. It resembled a ballot box that was used before it got too damaged, with a hefty lock placed upon its top side, although no votes were going to be cast. As the case appeared on the stage of the main hall, officials began the monotonous speech that they wrote for the occasion a few years ago, thanking everyone for their time and participation in the annual lottery.
After the introduction, townsfolk began to come one by one and pull a ticket from the container once they were named. The process did not take long, as the winner was quickly decided among the first fifteen participants. Surprisingly, sighs of relief were heard among the crowd, with only a few protests regarding the fairness of the event. Yet, the people proceeded with the celebration, leading the winner to their supposed award just outside of the community center. A couple of neatly stacked piles of rubble were lying outside long enough, awaiting their turn. Locals just had to ensure that no strangers were ever involved in their lottery. Otherwise, those who do not share the sense of community would surely ruin everything.