This story is based on the first Harvest Moon game, the Super Nintendo Harvest Moon.
Characters:
Tony (based on the main character of the game)
Birthday: Spring 1st, 1955
Parents (unnamed mother and father, no siblings)
Bachelorettes:
Ann
Birthday: Summer 18th, 1957
Parents: (Father: Michael, unknown mother, no siblings)
Ellen
Birthday: Fall 8th, 1956
Parents: (Mother: the café owner, Father: Hank, Uncle: Dale, no siblings)
Eve
Birthday: Winter 16th, 1952
Parents: (Unknown mother and father, Grandfather: Terry, no siblings)
Maria
Birthday: Winter 5th, 1955
Parents: (Mother: Stan's wife, Father: Mayor Stan, no siblings)
Nina
Birthday: Spring 20th, 1954
Parents: (Unknown father, Mother: Liz, no siblings)
Villagers:
Tony's Father
Birthday: Fall 13th, 1927
Tony's Mother
Birthday: Summer 3rd, 1929
Hank
Birthday: Summer 14th, 1926
Family: (unnamed wife, Daughter: Ellen, Brother: Dale)
Ellen's Mother
Birthday: Summer 2nd, 1927
Family: (Husband: Hank, Brother-in-law: Dale)
Liz
Birthday: Fall 21st, 1930
Family: (Daughter: Nina)
Michael
Birthday: Fall 2nd, 1933
Family: (Daughter: Ann)
Terry
Birthday: Winter 21st, 1910
Family: (Granddaughter: Eve)
Derek
Birthday: Summer 18th, 1940
Dale
Birthday: Summer 10th, 1919
Family: (Brother: Hank, Sister-in-law: Ellen's mother, Niece: Ellen)
Mayor Stan
Birthday: Spring 4th, 1923
Family: (Wife, Daughter: Maria)
Maria's Mother
Birthday: Spring 19th, 1934
Mike
Birthday: Fall 28th, 1949
Episode 1: Welcome To The Farm
Hello, everyone. My name is Tony. I'm just a simple 21 year old boy who has lived with my parents in their farm pretty much all my life... But today, all that is going to change. Now I am going to have a ranch of my own whether I like it or not. See, my grandfather passed away several months ago, not because of cancer or a heart attack. It was his time to go, he lived a long, wonderful life, and my dad, seeing this as a great opportunity, decides to pass down my grandfather's farm to me. I am really sad that my grandfather has passed away, especially after his funeral, but my Dad was even more devastated, because my grandfather was my Dad's dad, if that makes any sense. I never met my mother's parents, both of them passed away when I was three years old. Anyway, the idea of me being a farmer surprised me, this is not the direction I planned on having my life take. Even my Mom was surprised... And sad, too. This all started in the year 1976. It is the new year, the spring season, and the day my parents send me off to my grandfather's farm has finally arrived. My parents are old school folks, they never lived in a city before, all they know is the rural countrysides of southern Louisiana, living in a farm many miles away from Mineral Town, a small town located somewhere near Mallard Bay or Umbrella Bay of the Grand Lake, and they never owned a car before, because my mother and father's parents never raised them in a city before. Sure, they went to school in the city, and so have I, but they never lived there.
Early in the morning on the day my parents sent me off to grandpa's old farm, Dad gave me his old blue overalls that he hasn't worn since before I was born, a blue cap, old brown farming boots and white gloves. I put them on and they seem to be a perfect fit for me. Dad told he wore it when his father sent him to raise his grandpa's farm. In a way, it's like a family heirloom, or tradition. He then wished me luck and I left the house, on my way to Grandpa's farm. The good thing about me having to walk all the way to Grandpa's farm is that it isn't very far from my parents' home, it is only twenty miles away, so I should be able to get there close to midday or evening if I don't take any detours. And so I took off, never looking back at my parents or their home. I wanted to, I didn't want to go off on my own this way, this is not the direction I expected my life to take, but I had no choice, my Dad kept telling me that it is important to learn the responsibilities of adulthood. Down the road, 20 feet away from the house, mom caught up to me. She was crying uncontrollably, with a handkerchief in her hand, calling out to me. I then remembered that I never gave her a goodbye hug.
I stopped running and turned around to see what's wrong, but I knew. Like some mothers, my Mom is sad to see her baby finally leaving the bird nest. Dad caught up, too. Mom charged at me, apparently desperate to give me a goodbye hug, but Dad stepped in front of her, standing between me and her, shaking his head and telling her that it's time for me to be a man. That only made my mom cry even more. It pains me that I can't at least give my mom a hug before I go. But I had to respect my father's wishes and go out on my own. It is time for this young bird to spread his wings and fly away. I ran off down the road without saying a word.
I walked many miles for many hours. When I felt my stomach churn, which happened when I was nine miles away from my parents' home, I ate a rice ball I carried with me in my pocket all that time to satisfy my hunger temporarily. Walking down the road was tiring, and very few vehicles traveled up and down the road. I considered hitchhiking, but the people who passed by me did not even pause to see what I wanted. A guy driving a gray Cadillac passed me, then 30 minutes later an elderly man driving a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro with his wife in the passenger seat drove past me. They didn't even slow down to check if I need a ride somewhere, but it didn't matter, I wasn't in desperate need for a ride. A few miles later, I passed by a chicken and a chick, and a 47 year old man who appears to be a livestock owner, considering that he's towing a full adult cow behind him by rope. I asked him how far away am I to Neighbor Town, the town closest to my Grandpa's farm, and he told me I have a long way to walk, like 18 or 17 miles northeast. I managed to hitch a ride there, at least. Nearly three hours later, I reached Grandpa's farm. It was a mess. At least the wooden fences looked fine. And the entrance gate had a sign next to it that said "Welcome". I took a deep breath, rubbed my hands together, and entered the farm. The place looked messy, weeds and overgrown grass all over the place. Oh well, everybody has to start somewhere. So this is it. My own farm. Guess I better get started. I entered the ranch, feeling a slight numbness rising up and down my arms and legs.
Grandpa's house isn't far from the entrance into his old ranch. As soon as you come in the ranch, it is directly in front of you about fourteen feet away. It is very short, made out of wood with a red roof. Not a very spacious place to live in, but I'm not complaining. I walked towards the house, and reached my right hand at the doorknob. Just before I could open the door, I heard the rumbling sound of a large diesel coming down the dirt road the same direction I walked from before I entered the ranch. I lowered my right hand away from the doorknob ad turned around to see the diesel park in the middle of the dirt road outside my my ranch. The idling engine turned off, then I heard the sound of a door opening and then closing. And from the driver's side of the truck, I saw a man appear and he entered my ranch, walking towards me. He wore a brown bandanna on his head and a dark brown jacket that is open revealing a plain white shirt underneath.
"Hello. You're the one who is supposed to work at this ranch today, am I right?" He asked me as he approached.
"Uh, yeah, that's me." I replied in a slow, uneasy way, wondering what this guy wants.
"What's your name?" The guy asked.
"My name? My name is Tony." I replied, trying not to sound too shy.
The guy nodded. "Well, Mr. Tony, I'm Derek. I'm in charge of shipping here. I come here every evening to pick up stuff you put in the shipping box. Nice to meet you." Derek shook hands with me.
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Derek." I replied, feeling a little better now that I'm acquainted with him.
Derek suddenly snapped his fingers like he just had an idea. "Oh yeah, ask anything you want to people in town. It will help you, since you're a beginning farmer." He suggested. "Want a ride into town?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm a bit tired of walking,"
He then lead me out of the ranch towards his pickup truck parked on the road outside the ranch entrance. It is a semi long box truck, the type of truck that is designed to carry a huge load of objects He jumped into his truck on the driver's side, which is the left, and I jumped in from the passenger side. I had a bit of a difficult time climbing in, especially since the passenger side door was locked, I had to wait until Derek unlocked it.
Once I climbed inside, I put on my seat belt while Derek twisted his key in the ignition to start the truck, and I heard and felt the truck's engine rumble to life, sending vibrations running up and down my body. Soon we were rolling down the road. I was looking out at the countryside while Derek was focused on driving.
"Are you nervous about being a farmer?" Derek asked me.
I nodded, then said: "Yeah. It all happened so suddenly. My dad wants me to become a farmer for reasons I don't understand."
"What is it you don't look forward to?" Derek asked me.
"The hard work, I guess," I shrugged. "Working out in the hot sun for hours. I don't think it is something I can handle. I used to help my dad plow the fields of his farm when I was younger, and I didn't enjoy it much, especially with the sun's heat slowly cooking your skin," I added.
"Aw, it ain't all bad. It's all in your head. You're just afraid of the work because you haven't been accustomed to it yet."
"Maybe..." I shrugged indifferently, looking out at the open field passing by my eyes outside the truck's window.
Derek stayed silent for a few seconds, then asked: "Do you like music?"
"Yeah, but my parents are bluegrass fans, and I don't even like that kind of music," I admitted.
"Ah. Well, let's see what's playing on the radio," Derek smirked.
He reached over at the radio and turned it on. Then suddenly we heard the song "Hold On, I'm Coming" performed by Soul and R&B music artists Sam and Dave. Somehow, he just caught the beginning of the song playing, as if he knew his favorite radio station would be playing it soon. Derek started singling along during the first verse, but I didn't sing with him, not yet at least, I was still looking out at the window for the first five seconds, then I felt his right arm nudge me, and I looked over at him, and I noticed this look in his eyes as he was singing hinting that he expects me to sing with him. I couldn't help cracking a smile at him, then when the part when Sam and Dave shout "Just hold on! I'm coming!" twice came up, that was when I started signing with Derek, and I continued to follow him on the second verse. After the song ended less than a minute later, we talked for a while as he drove to this town not far from the ranch called Neighbor Town.
As soon as we reached Neighbor Town, Derek suggested that I get myself acquainted with the citizens, and he added that when I am ready to leave, his apprentice will drive me back to my ranch. So I jumped out the truck and looked around after his truck drove off down the road. Neighbor Town has more of a resemblance to a village than a town, but it seems very peaceful and lively. Up ahead, between the two trees with pink flowers on them, I saw an elderly woman standing next to a table. I cleared my throat as I approached.
"Hello. My name is Tony. I'm the new rancher. And you are...?"
"Hello. I'm a wandering peddler." She replied with a dry smile.
"Oh? A peddler? You got anything interesting?" I asked.
She shook her head, still keeping that dry smile. "I don't have anything to sell right now, though. But if you want to sell something, you can bring it to me so I can buy it."
"Oh. okay. Thank you." I left.
I walked down the brick road heading north, looking at the houses I passed by. One was surrounded by a lot, and I mean a LOT of flowers! I decided to check that house. I walked up to the door and opened it. Inside was a woman who appears to be older than me, probably 32 years old or more, and she had short pink hair, pink as the trees outside. She is standing behind a desk, checking the cash register machine on the desk. She didn't notice me until I walked up to her.
"Welcome," She said.
"Hi. What is this place?" I asked, looking at all the different kinds of flowers on display around the room and service desk. The woman looked at my clothes. Her eyes then widened a bit like she realized something. "You went to the ranch, didn't you? If you're going to raise crops there, I'll give this to you." She crouched down out of view and came back up with a watering can in her hands. "Its a watering can. Its for getting water from the ponds in your ranch. I'll bring it to your shed, free of charge." The woman said with a warm smile.
I smiled back. "Gee, thanks!"
I couldn't believe such a generous offer was given! Just then, a girl, about my age appeared from a nearby room next to the service desk to my left. Like the woman I was speaking to, she had long beautiful pink hair, green eyes, wore a casual white dress with red ballet flat shoes, and had a cheerful look on her expression. She was going to say something to the woman who I believe is her mother since they look alike, but she saw me and just choked for a second.
"Oh. Hi. how do you do? I'm Nina." She smiled a modest smile.
"I'm doing great, thank you. I'm Tony." I replied.
"You're in charge of the ranch outside of town, are you?" She asked.
"Yes, I am." I replied.
"You know, crops must be sowed during a certain season." Nina advised me.
"Why is that?" I asked clueless.
"Because they won't germinate unless you sow them in the proper season. For example, tomatoes and corn can only germinate in the summer. Corn take a long time to grow compared to tomatoes, but you can earn more money form them." Nina replied with a warm smile.
"Oh. Thanks for the advice." I looked an Nina then at the other pink haired woman.
"Well, I gotta go. Thanks for the advice, Nina. I really appreciate it." I said as I walked towards the door. When I opened the door, I paused and looked back at Nina and her mother. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Nina and..."
"My name is Liz," Nina's mother replied.
"Liz. Again, pleasure to meet you both," I said then walked out the door.
Nina nodded. I left the house and continued going down the brick road until I noticed a church to my right. I saw a man outside of the church. Most likely he's the priest, judging how he's dressed. I walked up to him.
"How do you do? I'm Daniel. I'm the priest of this church."
"I'm Tony. I'm the new rancher." I said as I shook hands with him.
"Well, being a farmer is hard work, but don't let that get to you, my boy, the Harvest Goddess always watches over honest, promising farmers like you." Daniel said.
"Thanks for telling me that. Wish me luck." I said as I began to leave.
"I will." Daniel called out.
I headed on over to the town Square. No one was around but this man with a bowl cut brown hair. I decided to introduce myself.
"Hi. I'm Tony." I extended out my right hand.
"Hello. I'm Matthew, but you can call me Matt. Where are you from?" He asked.
"I'm not from around here, but I've just recently taken ownership of the ranch outside of town." I replied adamantly.
"So... you're managing the ranch alone, separately from your parents? Great! There's nothing here in the ranch, is there?" Matthew asked.
I shook my head. "For practice. My Dad's orders." I said wryly.
"For practice? You have wonderful parents," Matthew said approvingly.
I don't know if he was being sarcastic with that remark, but I left him alone.
"Well, nice meeting you, Matt, see ya later," I said before leaving.
"Best of luck to you, Tony," Matt called as he waved goodbye.
I headed for the mayor's house which is in the northwestern corner of the town. Outside, the mayor was reading the latest newspaper. He is a short man, close to my height. He has a long brown mustache, too.
"Hello, sir." I said.
He looked up at me. "Hi. How do you do? I'm the mayor of this town. I'm mayor Stan. It's a pleasure to meet you." He shook my hand.
"The pleasure's all mine. I'm Tony. I'm the new farmer."
"Ah yes, I've heard you were coming. Your father told me. There are already some tools left in the shed that your grandfather used to use. And last but not least, a book on how to use them." Mayor Stan said.
"Thank you, sir." I nodded and walked into his house. As I expected, it is beautiful, very fitting for the mayor of a town. Portraits of different kinds of people I don't recognize here and there along the walls, beautiful flowers in vases of varying sizes almost everywhere I look. I met his wife in the living room, she was sitting on this navy blue colored couch, reading a novel, and judging by the smile on her face, it seems that she is reading a very interesting part. However, she wasn't fully distracted by her book, she eventually noticed me, put the book down on the couch and greeted me.
"How do you do?" She shook my hand.
"Fine, ma'am. I'm Tony. I'm the new farmer." I said.
"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Maria. Hard, isn't it? Being a farmer?" She asked.
I shrugged then said: "Well, I just started, but I know it won't be easy." I admitted, feeling some doubt in me.
Maria nodded. She understood how I felt. "Don't give up." was all she said. A long pause ensued then she finally said: "Oh yeah, we have a daughter... She may be at the church."
"Okay." I said.
I could tell Stan's wife is not very talkative. I left the mayor's house and came back to the church and went inside. As soon as I stepped inside, I saw a blue haired girl reading a book near the altar. I assumed that's her, considering that her hair is the same color as her mother. I walked down the aisle between row after row of benches, approaching the altar.
"Um... Hello." I said when I placed my right foot on the first step toward the altar.
She slowly turned around and looked at me with those cute brown eyes. She seemed so... innocent when I looked at her. An innocent, devout church girl, that's the best way I can describe her.
"I haven't seen you before. Did you come to that ranch?" She asked me.
"Yes."
"Oh... I'm Maria."
"Nice to meet you, Maria. I'm Tony."
"Nice meeting you, too." Maria nodded sullenly, yet innocently.
I have already explored half the town, and everybody is really friendly. Eventually. in the southwestern part of Neighbor Town, I found a bar that appears to be closed. Apparently the bar is open at night, for guys who want to get drunk. Not my kind of place. A blonde woman that appears to be a few years older than me in a sparkling red dress that is partially cut on the left side of her dress's skirt to partially reveal her left leg came out of the closed bar and locked the door with her keys. She also wears red high heel shoes to match her dress, and she wears earrings shaped like a crescent moon. I decided to greet her because I haven't introduced myself to her yet.
"Hi." I waved as I approached.
"Hello. The bar is closed today. Its usually open except Sunday, though." She said.
"Oh. I'm not interested. I drink orange juice and water." I replied as I began to walk away.
The woman smirked. "That's okay. You can visit every night if you want." She said.
I then walked into the next shop next door to the bar. Apparently it is open. As soon as I came in, a drunk guy with a bottle of alcohol in his right hand came walking in a drunk fashion towards me.
"Puff...*hic*... Have I seen you before?"
"Um... No." I tried not to make any facial expressions that would offend the guy because his breath smelled bad, as if he had been drinking alcohol recently, which explains why he doesn't look sober.
I then walked up to the bartender, who was a big woman wearing a red apron. Next to her on the desk is a very tasty looking cake.
"Welcome. You look a little skinny. You'd better eat every day, you know. Stamina is the key to being healthy and happy." She advised me.
"Oh, don't worry, ma'am. I'm always prepared." I pulled out a rice ball from my pocket and ate it on one bite.
"Ha-ha! I like your style, kid. You know how to plan ahead." The woman said to me with a big smile.
"*Hic*... Thank you honey." The drunk guy called out, taking another gulp of beer.
"Not you, Hank. I was talking to the kid." The woman replied almost coldly.
"Well, bye." I said then left the bar.
I continued walking down the road until I met a red haired girl with bright blue eyes. She is shorter than me, her forehead is up to my chin, she wears a plain white shirt under a thin brown jacket, and she wore blue jeans with leggings that extend down to her kneecaps, and she wore brownish-red tennis shoes. Judging her height, I assume that she's several years younger than me, but no younger than 17, but appearances can be deceiving sometimes.
"Heh, you are the owner of the ranch. I'm Ann. Nice to meet you." She said, offering a handshake.
"I'm Tony." I shook her hand.
"So do you like it here?" Ann asked me.
"Eh, I could get used to this place," I replied with an indifferent shrug.
"Well, since you're the new farmer and all, expect to depend on my inventions to help make working at a farm more easier," Ann said.
"You're an inventor?" I asked in surprise.
Ann slowly nodded. "I'm still in training. I'm learning from my father. Our house is over there, if you want to meet him," Ann pointed out.
I then entered the house she was standing next to. inside, i saw Michael standing behind the service desk. I walked up to him.
"Michael. I didn't expect to run into you again. So I hear you are this town's resident inventor, right?" I said to him.
"That is correct, Mr. Tony. You know, tools are already put in your shed and pen, right?" He asked me.
"Yes, the mayor told me. Well, nice meeting you, sir. And thanks." I left.
The next building I came across 40 yards east from Ann and Michael's house and the bar is surrounded by a fence. I entered the house and saw the man I saw back on the road towing a cow this morning!
"Hey, son! You have to have a meadow if you want to buy livestock." He greeted me, though he still had a stern look on his face.
"Yeah, I know, for the cows." I replied. "Not just for cows, but also for chickens. I have a bag of grass seeds for you to use, so make good use of it and raise them. I'll bring the seeds by your shed later. " He said. Then I left.
Then I returned to the bridge where Derek's assistant is waiting for me, his own pickup truck parked on the side of the road. I'm done exploring Neighbor Town and getting acquainted with the town's citizens, so it is time for me to go back home, and I don't feel like hoofing it on my own two feet.
"Are you going back to the ranch?" The assistant asked me.
"Yep. I'm done here." I nodded.
"Then, I'll give you a lift back. I'm Mike. I'm a trainee of shipping." He said.
"Really? So you're just starting out on a job, too?" I asked.
"Yep. You as a farmer, me as a shipper. Let's do our best to achieve each other's goal. With grit!" Mike gave me a high five.
"Yeah! With grit!" I nodded with a confident smile.
We crossed the bridge and climbed into the pickup truck. We drove back to the ranch. By the time I got back, it's already night. I wasted no time to get in my bed. I took off my coveralls, gloves, and put on my pajamas, and jumped in my bed. I needed all the rest I can get, because tomorrow, the hard work begins.
To Be Continued...