Summary: 12 years ago after her father's death, 16 years old Annie and her family moved to the city to start over their life. Following the rule of her mother's request, Annie's life becomes complicated and very boring as a grade 11 high school student applying to university for her business degree. But then her life starts to change when she receive a flyer and application form to start over her life as a farmer in a far away town.
Sequel to These Things I will Never Say
Chapter 1
Ever since we came to the city, my life was more...well let's just say complicated. We moved here when I was little, 4...5 years old maybe. I was born on this island called "Waffle Island". It was a happy family of 5. My mother was a farmer of the Island who, as I was told, bought life back to the Island. My father was the mayor of the Island but when they first met, he was only an "apprentice" who helped his father out with the errands. They fell in love, some people told me they hated each other at first but mother told me that it was love at first sight. They got married. But just before my brothers were born, father was ill. He was going back and forth between getting better and getting worse for the past few years. And when I was 4 years old...he passed away. Mother made a speech to the remaining people on the island; telling them all to leave the island and to start a new life in another world. It was time to end that chapter and start a fresh new chapter in our lives. That's what father wanted for everyone..including us.
So at the age of 4 years old, one season after his pass, we packed our bags and left for the city to start a new life.
Like I said, it was complicated for me. I had some difficulties making new friends because of different backgrounds. No one knew where my home island was...like as if it didn't exist in this world. I dislike everyone, they all treated me different.
And my family...let's not forget about them. Rachel was born when we first arrived..it was a complete nightmare because she looks exactly like father. I have older twin brothers too; Mark was in his own little world while Johnny started his new life here without a problem. He was popular; everyone loves him. It's all about sports, good grades and girls for him.
When I was 10 years old, Mark ran away from home to go to a place called "Sunshine Island" where he can start his life as a farmer. Farming; a dream that mother wanted us all to demolish out of our memory. But I understand Mark's pain, it was something that he really wanted to do. Father told us to follow our dreams. Mother wants us to demolish them. Whose side should we pick?
And my mother..well she ill too now. But she isn't as sick...unless you assume her strapped in a wheelchair a bad thing.
Years have gone by, I am 16 years old..and I guess you can say my very complicated life suddenly got very..very...very boring. I just followed the same routine as everyone else.
Wake up
Eat breakfast
Get ready for school
Go to school
Learn
Socialize
More Learning
Come home
Do homework
Eat dinner
Do more homework
Get ready for bed
Go to bed
Sleep
And repeat
And yes I did make some new friends at school as well...well I made a lot of new friends over the years. Pete, Sara, Claire, Toy, Jill, Adam, Amanda, Hansel, Cory, Connie, Phillip, Lillian, Henry, Mike, and Sabrina. We all had the same thing in common...farming was our family background. Over the summer, they all left.
Jill went back to Forget Me Not after her mother passed away. Pete, Sara and Claire all went back to Mineral Town to help their grandparents' out on the farm. Cory and Connie's parents took off on a trip; sending them to their grandparents' place in Clover Town. Hansel moved in with his sister Gretel in Zephry Town. Sabrina and Mike went to the Lost Valley with their parents. Henry left two weeks ago for Echo Village. Lillian and Phillip left last week for Bluebell and Konohana.
"I'm home!" I shouted out as I opened the front door. I unzipped my boots and placed my coat on the bench as I made my way to the kitchen. Mother was sitting at the table reading through the papers while Johnny was in the kitchen getting food prep and ready for dinner.
"Hi Johnny! Hello mother." I said. I went to my mother and kissed her cheek. She just grunted as a response and continue to read without saying a word to me..I guess you can tell..since Mark left; my relationship with my mother wasn't so great...in fact it is more..oh what's that word...oh right...complicated. I frowned before going to Johnny who had his arms extended out ready for a hug. I went over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"Don't worry about mother. She's just a little grumpy..her back was hurting." He mumbled gently to which I assume she heard because she grunted some more. I heard her mumble something under her breath as she zoomed away in her electric wheelchair. Johnny let out a loud sigh before letting go of me. He washed his hands and he picked up the hand towel as he looked at me. "I better go check on her."
"She hates me doesn't she…" I asked. "Ever since I told her about Mark…"
"Now that's not true.." Johnny kissed my forehead. "Don't worry about helping with dinner tonight. Must be a busy day at school again. There's mail on the coffee table in the living room. If you would like to, you can sort it. But you don't have to if you don't want. There was something for you. And I believe your last exam marks came too."
Johnny disappeared out of the kitchen. I prepared myself a cup of water into my tumblr cup and walked into the living. Johnny was right, there was a giant pile of mail on the coffee table. I sat down on the couch, placed the cup on the table and then picked up the pile of mail.I began to go through the pile.
Johnny
Angela
Rachel
Rachel
Johnny
Angela.
I saw an envelope from my school..yup they must be my last exam marks that Johnny was talking about and then I saw something else come in the mail. At the front it has my mailing address and an unfamiliar looking stamp. I flipped the envelope and looked at the back in shock with wide eyes.
Mark Hamilton
Sunshine Farm
Sunshine Island
No one has spoken to him since he left us. Mother refuse to let us communicate to him. There was a parcel from him to me as well. Thoughts raced through my head. What's going on? Why is he trying to keep in touch with me? Did Johnny get a letter and a parcel too? Does mother know? Is that why she's extra grumpy at me? I quickly went through and picked up all my mail before neatly putting it in a nice pile on the table before I grabbed my mail and my cup and went to the table. I was right, Johnny was in the kitchen; back at it with the cooking. "Is mother in her room?" I asked.
"Mhmm. She's taking a nap. Did you grab all your mail? You can either open it here or in your room."
"First of all...can I ask you a question?"
"Sure.."
"Did you receive a letter and a parcel from Mark too?"
Johnny turned around and looked at me as I showed him the parcel and envelope as I placed it on the table. Johnny looked at me with wide eyes before coming closer to me. "No...I did not." He whispered. "But if I were you, I would open it in your room...mother would flip if she knew."
I went back to the front entrance and grabbed my bag and then went back into the kitchen to grab my mail and silently went into my room. I closed the door with my foot and placed everything, the mail and my book bag, on my bed.
First I should get my homework done before opening the mail…
...or should I break my rule and open the mail first.
It's only one time. It couldn't hurt if I open my mail first before homework. I sat on my bed and sorted my mail out by most important to least important. Mark's was set for last while I went through all the other mails.
Exam scores for Summer: all As
Entrance exam scores for university: all As
University application forms
University Acceptance Letters; should I accept or decline the acceptance?
Letters from friends
And an advertisement flyer.
After flipping through all the mails I then pick up Mark's letter and parcel. My heart began to race as I carefully open the envelope and slipped the piece of paper out.
Annie,
I hope you receive this...well okay if you're reading this now then most likely you have received it.
How have you been? Is life going well for you?
Life here as a farmer is so much different; it was something that I knew I wanted to do in my life for such a long time. And I felt so much happier here than in the city.
You are an auntie now..and you also got a sister in law too. I got married to a wonderful girl name Chelsea and we have a son whom I've named Kevin. The farm is so beautiful here. I wish you and Johnny can come see it!
I'm sorry for abandoning you and Johnny with mother. I'm sorry that you had to tell mother the news. I was scared that she wouldn't accept my path.
Father told us before he passed away that we should follow our dreams and our paths. Mother wasn't letting us doing what we wanted. I know father is happy with my choice of what I wanted.
I'm also very sorry for not contacting you sooner.
I'm writing to you so I can tell you this. Don't do what other people tell you to do. Don't be that person that everyone wants you to be. Do what you want. Follow your dreams. Walk down your path. No one can tell you which way to go. Don't be like Johnny who listened to mother. Listen to father before he passed away.
And you know what...sometimes you have to let go of the important things and people you love to accomplish what you want. You gotta leave the nest someday.
The parcel contains of everything from home..I went back to Waffle Island. I took Chelsea and Kevin to my home island. I put some of your stuff into a box and now I'm sending it to you. There are also some pictures, family pictures and also pictures of my life here. There's also a drawing from Kevin too.
We should keep in touch. I hope I get to hear from you soon!
All the best..Love you lots,
Mark.
I grabbed the box and open it immediately. Mark wasn't kidding. Inside was all my belongings. Everything I abandoned back home on Waffle Island. I rummage through everything and examined it. Everything was in perfect condition still. I picked up my stuff cow and I hugged tightly. Then I found a two picture frame..inside the picture frame was a picture of the Mark, Johnny and I when we were younger. And a family picture with us three with mother and father.
Flashback
"Did the dress fit?" Luna asked. "If so please step out of the dressing room so we can all see."
I stared at the outfit. In front of me was a light pink shirt, with a white collar and lace detail on the hem and a little red skirt underneath making the outfit look like a little dress. Overtop of it was pink short sleeve cardigan with white details on it.
I started gently removing the outfit out of the hanger and put it on. I looked at the mirror and stared at myself. Something missing. I thought. I pulled the ribbon bow out of my hair, letting my hair fall down to my back I wrapped the ribbon around the collar and tied a little knot together. Then I slipped on the white socks and matching red shoes before walking out of the change room.
Candace stopped me as she brushed my hair and added a red with pink ruffle headband on. I turned into the mirror and looked at myself with excitement. Mother wrapped her arms around me and kissed the top of my head before looking at our reflection. "You look beautiful Annie." She whispered. "My little girl is so grown up."
"But I will be your little girl. I promise." I whispered back, then I remembered about the new baby. I turned around and hugged mother's stomach. "And I will be a big girl and help my brothers take care of our new little siblings." The moment was ruined when Luna came running toward me and gave me a huge hug.
"You're soooo cute!" She squealed. "Pink suits you so well!"
I giggled nervously as I took mother's hand. Mother thank Luna as we both exited out the store and walked to meet up with the rest of the family for a family picture. Eli stood there with her camera and in front of her was Mark, Johnny and father. Father kissed mother on the lips before picking me up and kissing me on my cheek. "Why hello there my little princess"!" He said. I giggled as he placed me down and took my hand as we posed for the family picture.
Tears were streaming down my face and hit the photo. Mark was right...I live in such a cruel, boring, unhappy life while everyone out chasing their dreams of becoming a farmer. I picked up the last envelope...inside was a flyer. I began to read it as my eyes grew wider, with more tears streaming down. It was an advertisement for a far away place called Oak Tree Town. They are looking for a farmer to take over one of the town's old ranches. Inside the envelope was the application form. I got up from my bed and went to my desk, placing the flyer and the form on the desk as I began to search up the town.
The without hesitant, I dried my eyes and filled out the application form.
I miss my old life back home
I miss the family that I used to have
Everyone's leaving me; father, Mark, all my friends.
It was time to start a new life. A new chapter. It was time to change my fate, my dream, and walk wherever this path takes me.
And starting today, that change is going to happen.