"You'd think after being here a week I'd figure out how to move a horse. But, noooo! Stupid horse…"

Akari leaned against her black, Arabian horse, Frannie, whose previous name was Francesca. Akari didn't feel a pretty name like that should be wasted on this awful excuse for a horse.

"C'mon, move! I'm tired, it's late, and I just wanna go to beh-heh-heddd!" whined Akari, now pushing against her horse with what little energy she had left.

Frannie had had enough of Akari's constant and pathetic attempts to get her to budge, so she took a large step to the left causing Akari to fall face first into the somewhat muddy field. Frannie made her way over to the barn, not giving her owner a second glance.

Akari lay in the dirt, muttering somewhat audible profanities, when she heard a pair of footsteps approaching her.

"Well, well farm girl, I knew your type got down in the dirt, but this is on a whole new level."

Akari looked up, squinting mud out of her eyes, to see Bo's smiling face peering down at her.

"Psht, well…" Akari couldn't think of a good come back, so she gave up and let her head hit the mud with a small slapping sound. "Ahm nuh goo ah dis" Akari sighed, her voice muffled in the mud.

Bo smiled to himself and leaned down towards his farming compadre. "Hey, don't beat yourself up. It's your first week…and if it makes you feel better, you're the best farmer I've ever met."

Akari lifted her head from the mud, her eyes sporting bored annoyance. "I'm the only farmer you've ever met."

Bo smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, yeah…but still that has to count for something, right?" He gave her a reassuring smile as he held out his hand to her.

Akari huffed, but willingly accepted the literal pick-me-up. He handed her a small towel he had been carrying around his neck.

She quickly swiped the mud off her face and began ushering her chickens into the coop.

"You know", Bo began as he followed her around the farm, "You should really take a break from your farm work for a day and maybe start familiarizing yourself with the town…"

"Impossible" Akari huffed, "I have so much work to do around here there's no TIME for a break, not if I want to get everything done. The townspe-OOF!"

Akari tripped over a small rock, going head first into a pile of chicken feed. Bo couldn't stop himself from laughing as he helped poor Akari onto her feet…again. Akari spit a few stray kernels onto the ground while dusting herself off.

This constant tripping over everything had become routine for Akari.

"As I was SAYING" She started again, ignoring Bo's stifled laughter, "the townspeople can wait. I'm far too busy to give up any part of my day for a 'hello' or small talk."

Akari had finally finished tidying up the farm for the night and walked towards her house, Bo in tow. She began shedding parts of her clothing as they continued their conversation.

"But you know", Bo tried again, mechanically picking up each item she shed onto the floor, "it's no fun just having one friend…not saying that I don't enjoy being your friend or anything."

Akari ignored him and plopped down in her big puffy recliner, exasperatedly blowing a stray clump of hair from her face.

"Just think about it, ok?"

"…I don't know…and hey I have more than one friend! Nissy is also my friend…so I have TWO, thank you very much!"

"I still think you should expand your social horizons a bit farther than me and Anissa. So tomorrow I'm taking you away from this farm and out into society whether you like it or not."

"…No thanks. I'll pass."

Bo shook his head as he finished putting her things away. She really wasn't getting it. "Akari, like I said, I'm taking you whether you like it or not. You're coming with me. I know the town is wondering who the new farmer is…it would be polite to introduce yourself. I know you don't really want to live in isolation like this forever."

Akari kept her eyes shut, but Bo could see she was thinking it over.

"Fine…but it's just because I don't want to seem rude…"

Bo smiled and clapped his hands together. "Good! You won't regret it, Akari!"

He turned towards her pathetic little kitchen and started doing a few of the dishes in the sink.

"There are so many great people on this island that I'm sure you'll be friends with in no time! I'll take you through Town first, then through Maple Lake District, Brownie Ranch, and then through the Ganache Mine District where I work with my uncle and cousin. I'm sure my cousin will like to meet you, although I don't know if you'd like him. He's kind of loud, but nice, I guess. And I'm sure you…"

Bo turned around to find Akari fast asleep in her chair. He smiled to himself. She looked so peaceful…and quiet.

He sighed and grabbed a blanket from the closet, draping it over her. He then removed her shoes and put them by the door. As he opened the door and held his finger over the light switch, he looked back at her one last time.

"Goodnight, Akari"

And the house went dark.