Coming-of-Age

Smoke rose from the massive bonfire. The whole town always showed for the last event of the summer, to usher in the harvest season. They wore their best, dancing and eating together until the last pair of feet were tired.
This year was special for Maureen. She was finally old enough to help with the fertilize the fields. It was different up close. You could see their faces and smell the blood when you cut them open. Her sacrifice gasped for air and clutched at his throat a whole minute. She smiled. A sign of a good harvest this year.