My Second Chance
I waved goodbye to family and friends in Forget-Me-Not Valley. I don't know what really came over me, but I just had to get away. I mean I had gone to high school, left for college, dropped out and came back home again.
I literally sat on my father's farm watching him work. There was nothing left for me to do here. So one night I sat on the beach, watching the waves lap against the sandy shore. I think it was the end of summer, because Muffy and Griffin's son Mark lay on a towel wrestling with his girlfriend. The dude was nice and all but he could have at least taken her back to the bar for that. Some people were trying to think here! Whatever.
Even though those two lovebirds were doing illegal things on the other side of the beach, my mind still drifted me off into dreamland. Mark had somehow picked up a liking of farming from my dad. Yeah sure he was my friend, but when ever I brought the guy over all he would want to do all day was watch my dad work. Boring!
I had had my peace and quiet and decided to go back home. Things were getting a little too noticeable with the other residents on the beach for me. So, I walked through the town. Even I had to admit this place was a sight to see at night. It looked like the perfect fairy tail town at night. With all the flower gardens just catching the moon light on the leaves and petals.
Absentmindedly I walked to the bar, it was old and needed repairs but it was still the town hang out. I walked in and slowly bee lined for the bar, Hiro was sitting there. He's always been a year or two older than me but somehow looked my age.
"Hey Phil. I didn't know you were back in town." I dug into my pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. I offered one to the kid, but as always he shook his head. I brought one to mouth but I didn't light it.
I ordered a beer and rested my head in my hands. "Ah, yeah I came back from Mineral Town last week."
"Oh. I guess I missed you." I'm a man for silence, and over the years Hiro has been able to learn to read me pretty easily. I lit the cigarette and stared at my beer, still full.
He's the son of my dad old girlfriend. When my dad found out that Celia was engaged he was slightly turned off. He went for my mom instead and they hit it off from there. Time happened and Celia was pregnant with Hiro before she got married with Marlin. Hiro was born and shortly after they were married.
"Phil? Philip? You there man?" He broke me out of my train of thought as I turned to look at him.
"What? Sorry. Can you repeat what you said."
"I was asking how college was."
"I… dropped out at the beginning of summer. I've been helping on the farm ever since."
He was silent. Everyone in town always had better thoughts for the son of the town farmer. I don't think any of them thought I would drop out. Mark had gone on to become a successful farmer on the Sunshine Island chain and Hiro was apprenticing to become the town doctor in the twin villages, Konohana and Bluebell. Looks like I'm the town failure.
"Hey Phil! Look try and listen to me sometimes."
"What?"
"I was telling you about the farm in Konohana." This was just another one of the town's residents trying to not make me a failure. "Mayor Ina is short on money and since the opening of the tunnel she's decided that we need someone to run the old ranch. I know you might not want to-"
"How much?"
"What?"
"I'll take it. How much does the lady want?" Hiro stared at me for a good minute then shook his head and chuckled.
" Free. She just wants lots of profits." I smirked and drowned my beer. I think this was my second chance.
…
I waved goodbye to my friends and family in Forget-Me-Not Valley. Hiro had gone ahead and said all I had to do was take the bus to the city then switch to a different one there. All I had on my back was a rucksack; I used to use it for college, filled with my clothes and some of my possessions. My Dad and I sent the rest over before hand.
It was a long ride to the city. Those rides always remind you of how lucky you are to have such a nice peaceful home.
I switched at the station and immediately got on to the waiting bus. The bus was full except for one seat. I grabbed it and sighed. I closed my eyes for about and hour till someone tapped my shoulder. It was some dude. His hair was long and it looked like if he styled it right he could pass for a girl. Mostly his outfit was centered on the color purple. From plaid purple hat to his silk vest. Ok so those were the only two things that were purple, but it was still weird.
"Mind if I sit with you?" He voice was quiet, but he sounded pretty assertive. I stole a quick glance around and found that the bus was empty except for the driver and us.
"Sure, but there are so many other seats available." I lifted up my sack and moved to the window seat next to me.
"We go another three hours on our hands, an you looked pretty interesting."
I nodded and shifted into a comfortable position. About to close my eyes he spoke. "Where you headed?"
"Huh?" I couldn't believe how blind this guy was. "I headed to Konohana."
"Really? Are you a tourist?"
"No. I'm going to be the new farmer there."
"I see. Well my name is Cam. I live in Bluebell. I'm a flouriest, you can come to me for all of you flower related problems. If you feel the need to plant flowers just tell me." Queer.
" Um…thanks. The name's Philip. Philip Granger." There was a really long pause and as I was about to fall back into sleep he spoke again.
"You know in Bluebell we have a farm too."
"…"
"The farmer is a girl. You'll probably meet her when she goes into Konohana but her name is Lillian. She's dating the horse dude over there."
"Horse dude?"
"Yeah. He's like obsessed about horses. I don't know how she stands him, but whatever."
"Ok?"
"You know she used to own your farm."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He turned his head from the floor to me. His bright green eyes piercing into my very soul. "She originally started out there. That's how she met Kana. He's the horse dude. But she decided one day to just up and move to Bluebell. Mayor Rutger had no qualms about it, but Ina was fuming. Poor lady. But I bet she's really happy that you're coming. You know if you plant sunflowers now they'll be just about done when the season ends. They may even grow in the fall if the weather takes kindly to us."
"Oh."
"Yeah… Hey do you want to hear about the other residents?" He gave me no time to answer before he continued. " So I'll start in Bluebell. We have Howard, Laney, Ash, Jessica, Cheryl, Georgia, Grady, Eileen, Nathan, Rose, Rutger, Diego, Enrique, Alisa, Lillian, Mikhail, and me. Howard is Laney's dad and they both run the café that I live in. Jessica is Ash and Cheryl's mom and they run the animal shop. Grady is Georgia's dad and they run the horse farm in Bluebell. Rose is Rutgers's wife and they run the town hall. Mikhail is just some traveling musician. Nathan and Alisa live in the church near Lillian's farm. Nathan is the pastor."
He literally said all that in one breath. No joke. But as he finished he got a really distant look in his eye. Then turned back to the floor. But suddenly looked up back up me excited.
"Now to Konohana! … He began his monologue again as I toned him out and stared past him out the window. Vast fields of corn and small towns passed us. Nobody got on for more than three stops then got off. I was secretly praying that whenever this queer finished I could sleep. To tell you guys the truth I haven't been really sleeping since Hiro told me about the farming job. I mean I was excited and all, but it was something else. It was feeling that I might actually achieve something worthwhile for once. I don't know why but that scared me. I've always been behind, just passing you know. Never the top or average. Just below as my teachers liked to say. I guess that's why I dropped out of college. That stupid pressure of always giving your fullest energy for something stupid like for a test on a bunch of old dead guys that didn't really affect me in anyway.
All of sudden the florist was shacking my shoulder.
"Philip! Philip!"
"What?" This guy was starting to piss me off.
"We're here."
I looked out the window. We were parked in front of some Japanese town hall type building. Hiro was waving and smiling up at me. I smirked and grabbed my bag. The florist yelled a goodbye as I left the bus. I ignored him. I walked slowly to Hiro he was a good foot shorter than me. Normally we only see each other at the bar in the valley; I never really noticed his height before.
I patted his head and smirked. "Your short you know that?"
He swatted my hand away and smiled. "Shut up! At least I'm not the size of a door frame."
"Actually it's uh… a little taller. My head is starting to get black and blue from the height." I bent down and showed my friend the small bruise on the top of my forehead.
"You better put some ice on that and rest- Wait you're a farmer now! Your gonna have more like that where your going!" Hiro laughed and raised my eyebrows.
"Wada ya mean?" I pulled out a cigarette, man did I need one. I stuck it into my mouth. As I was about to light it Hiro grabbed it and threw it to the ground. He grinded it into the cobble stone road underneath his foot.
I stared at him disbelief.
"No smoking anymore. You are a farmer. It isn't good for you or your farm. Your animals and plants cane get sick for the smoke." Then he took the packet of have empty cigarettes out of my hand and threw them into the trashcan near a really big request board.
Slowly I left my trance and felt my blood begin to boil. No one messes with my cigarettes. Not even my dad has enough balls to take them away. And man does he have them.
"WHAT THE FUCK MAN?"
"Did you not hear me? Phil no more smoking." Hiro crossed his arm and stared at me like some little fifteen-year-old girl.
"NO MAN I HEARD YOU. BUT NO ONE MESSES WITH MY STASH. OK? DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO."
"Look Phil, your gonna have to change your habits and attitude some time soon so why not now. Starting with your cigarettes." I hated this guy, but he was right. He must have learned a lot from his master. Plus he can totally keep his cool in front of me when I'm mad. That is not easy.
"Fine." I groveled as he turned and started talking about showing me my farm then we can meet the residents. I was about ten feet behind him. He may be right about stop smoking but I'm not gonna do it anytime soon. When he wasn't looking I snatched the packet out of the trash for later use.