PART 1: WHINE AND DINE
"Renee! I'm right, ain't I?"
"Naw dude, you're dead wrong."
"Then... Candice," Owen took a moment to pause and recollect his thoughts over his coconut drink. His mouth curled up into a secretive smirk as he gave my back a huge shove. "Kasey! I had no idea you were that kind of a guy! A girl like Candice, eh?"
I gave my shoulder a rough jerk to shrug off Owen's hand. "No way. What kind of a guy is that, anyway?"
"You know," Owen took a grand swig of what was left in his glass, "the kind of guy that likes those shy, cute looking girls." He wiped at his mouth with his forearm, "You didn't seem like that kind of guy anyway."
"Hey," I said as seriously as I could, pointing a gloved finger in Owen's face—although it was hard to do after six strong drinks—"I'm not any kind of guy. I don't have some 'type.' I'm an equal opportunity man. If the right girl comes along, I'll grab her." I made a gesture, grabbing into the air with both arms.
"Right... so you're that kind of guy," said Owen, more to himself.
"Hey!—" But someone slammed a tray onto the table before I could show Owen what was what.
"Enough, you two. It's late." I looked up to see the barmaid, Kathy, her green eyes glittering in amusement, or maybe it was annoyance—I couldn't really tell.
"Aw, Kathy," Owen grabbed at her arm, "it's only 10! I was gonna order a couple more."
"Oh no," Kathy told him sternly as she jerked her arm away from his grasp, "you think I'm stupid enough to give either of you another drink? Sorry, we've closed up shop."
"But the place closes at 1!" I protested, to the best of my ability.
"Yeah, but the way you've both been chugging it all down, I'm afraid you'll put us out of business." Kathy quickly gathered our glasses before Owen could raise another protest. "Geez, Kasey! I know Owen's a tank, but what's up with you? I don't think I've ever seen you drink this much at one time before."
"It's a girl," Owen tried to whisper to her unsuccessfully. Kathy gave a puzzled look.
"No, Owen! For the last damn time, it doesn't have anything to do with any chick!"
"What is it then?" Kathy asked as she masterfully held the glasses in one hand, resting the other on her hip.
What was I supposed to say? That some creepy little sprite was following me around, ensuring that I fulfill errands for the "Harvest Goddess?" That, somehow, the things that were widely believed to be legend were actually true? That the fate of the whole village was in my hands, some newcomer? Yeah right. I already racked a couple of suspicions being the newbie in town; I didn't need people to think that I was crazy, too. "I can't say." I simply said.
"See?" Owen leaned back in the wooden chair now groaning in protest. "It's definitely a girl." Kathy simply nodded, partly convinced.
"So who is it?" She started, "Renee?"
Oh no, not again.
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"Kasey?"
It had only been a couple weeks since I arrived on the island, but already I felt completely overwhelmed.
"Kasey!"
How could she put this on me? From the moment I arrived on the island, that Harvest Goddess or whatever sprung that annoying little sprite on me to do her dirty work.
"Kasey, Kasey, KASEY!"
What did I even care about this town after all? Wouldn't she have been better off handing the task to someone like the Mayor who cared about this town more than anything? Wasn't entrusting a newcomer with so much a little risky?
"KASEYYYYYYYYYYY!"
"What?!" I roared, turning to the little orange ball of energy named Finn. He was called a sprite or something. Although his head was larger than his body, and he wore a silly hat, he was still cute in a certain way.
"You're finally listening to me! We have to think about how we're going to ring the red bell. The Goddess said it should be in the mines. When will we go?" I fell back into my bed, looking up into the ceiling and following the various cracks and crevices with my eyes. I sat up now, looking around the one-roomed home. The inside wasn't so bad, but the outside of the house was in shambles. And that was another thing! How was I going to pay off my loan to Mayor Hamilton or remodel the house with this thing over my head?
"Kasey!" Finn pressed again, flying right in front of my face. "Focus!"
"Whoa! Too close! Too close!" I exclaimed, pushing him away. He seemed peeved, which was actually kind of funny to see. "Look here, sprite—uh Finn—I think should put all that bell stuff out of your mind for now. I'll get to it... eventually... but not now."
"But—"
"I'm really busy at the moment, ya see. The house is a mess, the barn's falling apart, and those turnips aren't going to plant themselves! So maybe next week or next... month... I'll uh..."
Little Finn crossed his arms in annoyance, resting on the center room table. "Kasey! You said that last week! Don't you see the town is suffering?! Crops are failing! Oceans are void of fish! Fire is hardly burning! We have to ring the bells as soon as possible!"
Geez, this little one was really persistent. "Hey, little dude! Calm down. I said we'd get to it! Just not now." I got up and headed to my refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of gin. I got a glass from the kitchen and set it beside him, filling the very bottom with the gin. "You know what your problem is? You just need to relax. We'll get to it. In the meantime, enjoy yourself." I pushed the glass a little nearer to him.
Finn gave me a blank stare. "What?"
"You heard me—"
Just then his cheeks glowed bright red as he knocked the glass off the table. I jumped over and grabbed the glass just before it could hit the ground. Unfortunately, the gin that was once inside of it was now all over the place.
"Hey Finn!" I protested, "You need to be more caref—"
"YOU CRUMMY ALCOHOLIC!" Finn shouted as he grabbed both of my cheeks in his little hands, "The Goddess is out there... SUFFERING! And you want to party and have fun? What's wrong with you? Get it together, Kasey! Stop your lollygagging, and get to it!"
At this, I slammed the glass on the table and pointed a finger at Finn, "Look here! I never asked for this, so don't act like it's my goddamn duty or somethin! I came to this town to start a ranch and farm. Not meet some sprite fairy and ring bells! So that's what I'm going to do, get it? And when I'm good and ready, I'll go out and—"
"Stop your whining!" Little Finn put his hands on his ears and kicked around in midair, "Don't you get this thing is bigger than you or me? Without the bells you can't farm! This town is slowly decaying, but you're too caught up in yourself to notice something so obvious! As a farmer, whose duty is to sustain their village and help it grow, this is your duty! More than almost anyone!" He was huffing now, still hovering in midair.
We stood in silence for a minute. I collapsed into my bed, weary and out of energy. The little guy had a point. "You're really annoying, you know that?"
"That's my job." He said finally, "And the bells...?"
I sighed deeply before facing him again. "We'll head over to the mines tomorrow..."
His expression lit up immediately. "Great! We'll get there bright and early." I rolled my eyes, but he didn't seem to notice. I sighed again as I got up to put the glass back into the kitchen. Small droplets of gin still ran down the sides.
I turned to Finn suddenly. "Hey." Finn looked over at me, a silly smile plastered onto his face. "Sorry I tried to force that stuff on you." I pointed to the gin. "Would you like somethin' else to drink instead? I've got water. And... a little bit of carrot juice left." I said after poking around in my refrigerator.
Finn just shook his head. "It's okay. I can't really eat or drink."
Really?" I said as I walked over to pick up the bottle of gin to put away. "What... uh... happens if you do?"
Finn looked up at me, his eyes very wide. "...Pop!"
"I-I See," I told him stiffly as I put away the bottle of gin, making a mental note never to offer him anything to eat or drink ever again.
Thanks so much for reading and sticking it out! Hope you've enjoyed and don't think Kasey's too much of an alcoholic...
Please review! :D