I actually find your thought process behind the theme really interesting, a lot of people in this jam (me included) only took light inspiration from the theme and the picture before interpreting it in different ways, which has led to the creation of a lot of varied, different soundtracks. But you seem to have taken the time to really analyse what has been shown, to come up with something that really fits no matter how obtuse it might have seemed, and created a story and musical identity around it. I think this shows that everyone's thought process is different, and makes this submission stand out a lot for me.
The music itself is charming, although the plugins can feel a bit stock-y (the (the strings at the start of Gathering the Town are a stark example). I really liked it though, Gathering the Town has some really great stuff going for it, with the violin and brass seemingly dancing around each other, and the little Piano + Marimba combo makes me think of children playing around in the village. I think it's really impressive you managed to come up with this considering your background and this being your first time composing.
I also enjoyed where people used to be, I could never quiet tell which direction the song was going, and having to keep guessing is a lot of fun. I was really caught off-guard by the sudden change in melody for the piano around 2:46, with the rain sounds growing louder, it really felt like the place has now been deserted.
Anyway, this soundtrack, while short, is pretty good, and a really interesting listen. I hope you keep composing!