Chickens and chicken eggs were all Popuri knew. She knew a simple way of life. A good life but there was always that little voice that cried out inside of her.
A soft reminder that reminded her that there was more to life than living in a tiny town and taking care of chickens. Putting on her usual dress she made her way downstairs. The usual smell of scrambled eggs filled her senses. Her mother, although in her own weak state smiled at her. Her thick curled pink hair was pinned neatly behind her head as she plated the servings.
Sitting down on their table Popuri sighed. Placing her hands on her face she could only think of her usual day to day.
Everyday the same routine. Her mother cooking eggs, her brother talking about whatever he could think of, usually Karen and that left her attempting to drown him out by listening to the soft cracklings of the fire.
Around seven in the morning she made it a habit to head out to the Goddess's waterfall where she would pick at the weeds and pretend they were flowers. After talking to Ann for a few hours she would make her way back home.
Once she arrived would help clean the house and hand wipe the floors to stop any accumulation of dust or any dirt that might have dragged in from outside.
Around two in the evening she would hang out in the square for an hour before heading to the church to listen to whatever Carter wanted to teach that day.
Then she would go home where she would help cook a dinner that would included some type of egg.
"If you don't eat now,your eggs will get cold." Her mother chided. Lilia stood in front of her with her arms crossed.
Popuri blinked looking down at the usual golden yellow scrambled eggs in front of her. Looking up at her mother she frowned. Although the illness was unknown, her mother continued with what Popuri liked to call stubborn health. Lilia lived most of her days inside the house, leaving only when she had a doctors appointment with Dr. Trent and to spend a few hours at church.
"Mother.. Aren't you ever bored?" She hesitated in her question.
Lilia sighed as she looked at her. "Why would I have a need to be bored? I cook, I read, I do small things around the house. I run the store for a few hours, not that we get- "
A cough raked her mothers body. Wheezing, Lilia turned from her daughter towards their sink. Drinking a cup of water the wheeze subsided. "I'm not bored," she replied pointedly.
Popuri almost hated herself for making her mother speak. She had lost so much weight over the years. The hoop of her dress was so out of proportion with the top of her dress she was almost swallowed by the large amount of fabric.
Forcing a smile towards her mother Popuri took her fork and started to eat. Her brother had left earlier than usual to head over to see Karen and to pick up the newest health tonic Dr. Trent had made.
At sixteen, Popuri was the second youngest girl in town. Although she was young, she felt very mature as she had to take on the house hold chores at an early age.
Taking a quick glance the clock she knew Ann would be waiting for her at the spring. Placing her empty dish in the sink she kissed her standing mothers cheek.
"Thank you mother! I'll be back soon~!" She said in her best voice. Quickly she rushed her way past Gotz house.
Although the lumberjack was friendly, Popuri felt an awkward air around the tragic man. She didn't know how to react around him after his family passed away. His only child, Claire had died in a snowstorm along with his wife. Both were usual faces around town and his wife was the teacher to most of the children growing up around town. After their deaths Gotz threw himself into his job, and was hardly seen in town.
"Morning!" Ann half yelled once she saw Popuri. The loud waterfall made it a bit hard to make out voices. "Did you sleep well?!" Her voice grew louder.
Popuri smiled before yelling as well. "I did! How about you?!"
"Duke?! He was crying over Aja again!" Ann complained, "You'd think she just left town the way he cries when he's drunk." Popuri felt her eyebrows raise, Ann misunderstood the question.
"What about my brother? Did he drink much?"
"He was trying to out drink Karen as usual!" Ann said with a hearty laugh.
A sigh escaped her mouth. She didn't understand why her brother drank so much to impress Karen, when he knew they were to marry eventually. The two continued to chat before Ann looked around.
She made a hand movement that made Popuri move closer to her. Cupping her hands around the pinkettes ear she whispered loudly. "We're getting a new neighbor!!"
Popuri gasped. "Who?! What do you know about them?! Young? Old? Retired? Family?"
Ann smiled, "Remember old man Cecil? Who owned Earl Farm? After he passed away he left his farm to his family. Turns out his grandson will move into it!"
Popuri thought back to the old man with his giant smile. The old ranchers house had been reduced in size in his older age to help him move around easier. Most of his animals had been given to either Yodel Ranch and Lil's chicken while he still lived. Most of the children would go around and play in his large grass fields. She was too young to go along with her brother to the farmers so she usually stayed in her room watching from a window they had in the second floor.
Many years have passed since then and unfortunately the farm was now in shambles. Weeds and rocks littered every bit of the old successful farm. Some of the buildings inside the ranch had been too old to stand and crumbled. Gotz had taken it upon himself to keep some structures standing and invested some time every few months to make sure the buildings were well maintained.
"From what I hear from Duke, he's a successful man! With tons of money."
Popuri raised an eyebrow, "If he's so rich, why is he coming here!?"
Ann started laughing and the pinkette didn't know how to react. Crossing her arms the young girl huffed. "Even if he's poor, I think it'll be a good change! I wonder if he's flashy like Kai?"
"Hey! Kai is a good man! He always tells me about his adventures!!" She defended angrily. "He always gets picked on by Duke and Rick.. He doesn't even think badly of them, if anything he really likes them!"
"Hey.. no need to get so riled up, I'm just wondering about our new neighbor.."
Three loud bell sounds came from the town square indicating it was noon. Decided to cut their talk short, Popuri took her basket, "I'm going to head home now."
Without waiting for an answer, the pinkette marched her way down the pathway towards her house. Pouting all the way she couldn't help but think about her newly found crush, Kai. The dark skinned handsome man was amazing to look at and entertaining to hear. Every summer she would spend as much time she could with the foreigner.
A small smile grew on her face as she saw her brother being chased by her favorite chicken, Hansel. A laugh escaped her as she marched her way towards their farm. "D'you need help?" she asked with a smile.
Rick frowned before staring at her with narrowed eyes, "You wouldn't know how to deal with this anyways."
An angered blush appeared on her face, "Shut it! You deal with it then!!"
The young girl bristled into the house slamming the doors closed. "Heavens Poe! Whose riled you?" Her mother chided.
Taking a deep breath she attempted to calm down. She hastily picked up her broom and started cleaning routine.
A deep chuckle escaped his mouth as he looked at the scene in front of him. A smoky haze filled his condo as beautiful women filled his gaze as he took out the hookah pipe from his mouth. A sly grin grew on his face while he observed the scene in front of him. He had soft music playing in the background and had invited his closest friends. Taking a swing of the alcoholic mixture inside his glass he allowed the buzz to take him over. With his mind hazed, he was unsure of when all his guests had showed up.
"This is the life man," One of his friends murmured as he took a puff of the addicting inhalant. He could see one of the men standing in front of his well stocked bar handing out shots and drinks to all the women. Jack felt his pants tighten as he saw all the women do their best to get his attention. Even in his current state he knew his money drew them in.
Taking out his wallet, Jack produced a large amount of money clipped together by a gold clip. "Whoever gives us a good show will get some of this."
Immediately the girls moved towards them, dancing seductively. Jacks smirk grew as he grabbed the nearest girl plopping her onto his lap. Taking a few bills from clip he shoved them into her low cut top. The random girl grinned as she leaned towards him for a kiss.
Backing away in time to miss her lips touching him, he put the pipe again in his mouth. Shaking his head he murmured, "I don't kiss."
Standing up he unclipped the bills before tossing them into the air. He could see his friends and the women rush around to collect the money. Dropping the pipe he moved towards the bar. Taking a few more shots of aged tequila he turned to see some of his men dancing with the women.
He felt arms circle around him, looking down he saw a blonde with a flirtatious pout. Her blue eyes captivated him as he descended for a kiss. Allowing his reason to fade, he quickly let his lust take over.
A scream filled his ears. His eyes snapped open as the pain hit. His head ached and most of his muscles felt sore.
"I'm so sorry! I'll leave right aw-"
"You shrewd whore! Get out!! All of you get out!!"
Jack quickly stood from his bed after hearing the shrill voice. Looking around for a pair of pants he saw remnants of the previous night. Cups littered his bedroom and he could see a pair of panties laying on the floor. Shaking his head he rushed to his living room. His mother stood, her usual scowl was on her face as she looked around the state of his living room. Her freshly pressed clothes looked out of sort in the mess.
"Jackson, how dare you!" She hissed as she moved towards him. Her perfume churned his stomach the more she closed in. "Your father is in such a delicate state and here you are-"
"You mean to tell me he's still alive?"
He could hear his mothers leather gloves crack as she clench her hand into a fist. A smirk lifted his lips as he turned away from her. Making his way towards his kitchen he took out aspirin from a drawer. His mother stood in the same place taking a deep breaths.
"That man is your father Jackson. He has raised you and your sister, he has given us everything."
A scoff left him as he threw the pills in his mouth. Forgoing water he answered, "He isn't-"
"He is. Now.. he was released from the hospital this morning. I dropped by to ask you to come home and visit him.. please."
Jack raised an eyebrow at his prideful mother. Knowing she must have bitten her tongue by saying please. "I'll think about it."
A sigh escaped her, "You could change your life Jack.. It's not too late, please come home."
Turning away from his mother he walked towards his room, "Make sure to lock up after you leave."
A deep sigh escaped him as he stood in front of the large house in front of him. The grandness showed off the wealth his father had accumulated. The gray exterior made him wonder why he even bothered coming home. "Young Master!!"
He turned his gaze to see his old nanny turned maid standing in front of the the door into the house. Her elderly frame made him frown. Time had not been forgiving. "Nan, how's the old man?"
"He's not doing well.." She replied with a downcast gaze. "Your mother and sister are- "
Inhaling a deep breath he shoved his hands into his blazer jacket. Leaving the old woman, he marched into the house. The dark interior made him feel cold. Walking towards the study he could hear his sisters hushed voice.
"Did you get him to actually agree mother? What if he doesn't come?"
"He will. He has to." His mother murmured back.
Slowly making his way by the door he peeked inside, careful not to let his mother see him. There he saw his father sitting by their overly large fireplace. The old man looked like a pillar of health as he sat there. Anger filled the young man, feeling lied too, he marched into the room.
"How dare all of you. Lie to me? Tell me he's dying when he obviously isn't?"
His sister was the first to react to his outburst. "You don't know wh-"
"Lucy, you're a bigger idiot than I thought you were."
"Jack dammit, we don't know what else to do with you!" His mother cried angrily. "We've tried rehab, we've tried your stupid programmé in France! You're killing your own body with this stupid addiction!"
The young man felt his eyes roll from his mothers dramatics. 'Like they're honestly going to cut me off.'
"This stupid life of yours needs to end before you end up killing yourself Jack, how can you live knowing you're doing such stupid decisions?!" She continued to rant.
"Please, I'm not going to kill myself. I can stop whenever I want."
"And the women? The crazy spending?"
A laugh escaped him. "They-"
His father remained sitting on his overly large ottoman with his hands resting on his lap. "I'm cutting you off." He silenced them with no added information. His deep voice echoed slightly in the large spaced room.
"Thats right! No more help from us." His mother smirked.
"So, no more allowance?"
"No more allowance, no more cards, no more cars.. I've asked your sister to change the passwords on all your accounts, you'll find you have no more house, no more anything."
Jack felt the air escape him. "What do you mean no house? No car? How do you expect me to survive?"
His father glared at him with a frown on his face. "You know your mother came from humble beginnings. Your grandfather just passed away and left us a small farm. Consider it your new life."
"Your joking right," A small laugh escaped the young man. "How can you expect me to live there? There is no future for me there. Even mother left."
"You will kill yourself with your current life style. You have no job, you've dropped out of college more times than I can count, now you're taking all my money and spending it on drugs and women. Your mother and I can't keep enabling you Jack. I won't allow your death to fall back on us. I suggest you pack your clothes and head towards Mineral town soon, or go find a new life elsewhere."
Jack could feel his body clam up. The sweat grew on his brow before realization hit. Shaking his head he rushed out of the room. Taking his cellphone he noticed there was no service line. Continuing outside of the lavish house he dug in his pocket for his automated key. Standing by his European car he pressed on the open button frantically. The car wouldn't start. Frustrated he threw the remote to the ground.
Taking a deep breath he ran a hand through his hair. His frown grew as he exhaled. The elder woman hobbled her way towards him. "Young Master, please you must-"
"Nan, how could you lie to me.." Jack murmured quietly as he turned to look at the woman he considered a grandmother.
Shame lit her eyes while she shifted her gaze away from him.
"Sir, you must know. I am loyal to the Black family."
Scoffing the young man turned away from the elder woman. "I'm leaving." Quickly picking his pace he walked as far as his legs would lead him. His pace quickened into a run as he attempted to run towards his apartment miles away from his parents secluded place. Desperation filled him as he collapsed on the concrete. His fists pounded the stone beneath him as anger filled him.
A large car pulled up besides him. His sister, Lucy appeared as the window rolled down. "Get in. Stop shaming the family. I'll take you to pack your shit."
"Forget it. I'll go on my own."
"I have the key to your apartment. The new key."
Rage filled the young man. "How dare you all. Take everything of mine." Jack stood from the floor attempting to regain some dignity.
"Brother, it is not yours, it is all his. Father has been generous to both of us."
"He's made us into puppets Lucy, listen, Mother might have brainwashed you, but I know, that man isn't our father."
"And even if he wasn't, he raised us brother. The least we can do is comply with what he wants. Now, get in the car." Her last words came out in a hiss. Inhaling, the young man shook his head.