"Dad?"
I looked over at Micah who stood on the other side of the gated field. I smiled softly at him.
"Are you okay, Dad?"
I sighed, and looked up at the full moon shining brightly in the clear, night sky. "Yeah. I'm...hanging in there."
Micah hopped over the fence, and stood next to me. "You know, you never told me what it was like meeting Mom."
I looked at him curiously for a moment, then looked back up at the moon. "Would you like to know?"
"I-I would. I hope it's not too soon... to talk about."
I chuckled softly, still staring at the moon. "No, it's alright Micah. I can tell you about it."
I remember the day I met Pony. Takakura brought her over to Vesta's farm, and I remember thinking how happy she looked to be in Forget-Me-Not Valley. The village had heard a while ago of Terry's daughter taking over his farm shortly after he passed. Takakura seemed pleased as well, though it's hard to tell with him sometime.
"This is Pony. Pony, this is Vesta, her brother Marlin, and Celia. Vesta's vegetables are the best, so I'm sure she can give you pointers on how to take care of your crops." Takakura smiled from the other side of the fence. Pony seemed pleased to meet us. "Hi! It's nice to meet you guys." She smiled, her eyes glistening in the morning sun.
It wasn't long until Pony visited our farm after getting used to her own. Vesta and Celia were out in the fields, and I was in the vegetable shed when suddenly Pony walked in. I was shocked to see her, mostly because I wasn't used to visitors just wandering in the shed. I stopped checking the vegetable quality in the boxes just for a moment as I turned to her. Her pony tail seemed to bob with her as she skipped inside the room, her big, bright eyes smiling as big as her grin. "Oh, hey there Marlin!"
"H-Hi." I managed to stutter out. "Would you like to buy something...?"
"Ah, yes I would! But I also have fresh milk for you. My cow has been giving lots of milk, and I thought why not give some to my farming neighbor!" She smiled as she handed me the bottle.
I was shocked, and started to wonder if there was some sort of catch. "This is...for me?"
"Uh, yes!" She giggled. "Do you like milk?"
I blushed, feeling embarrassed. "Uh...yeah...thanks." I took the milk, trying to pull myself together.
"Don't mention it." She tampered with her pony tail for a little bit. "And I was hoping to buy some turnip seeds as well!"
I blinked, not registering at first what she was saying. Then I hurried over to the corner of the shed and grabbed a couple of seed bags. "Um, how many did you want?"
"Nine should suffice." She decided.
I handed her the bags, and she handed me money in return.
"Thanks Marlin! See you later!" She waved to me as she headed out the door.
I stood there in the shed wondering why on earth would she give me a present? I was too embarrassed to think that maybe she was interested in me. Besides, I had taken an interest in Celia at the time, and didn't realize that perhaps something between me and Pony could blossom.
"You had a thing for Aunt Celia?!" Micah looked disgusted. "Dad, that's so gross."
I just laughed. "I thought I did, Micah."
He seemed to sigh in relief. "I can't picture you with anyone else except Mom."
I nodded. "Me either."
"But that was a nice story Dad." Micah nodded. "Mom really cared about you."
I smiled, my palms slid into my jean pockets. "I know she did. She cared about you and Penny too. She loved her family."
After a moment of silence, Micah started to head back to the house. "Lemme know if you need anything Dad." And then he walked back to the house with all the other villagers, who came over to mourn for Pony. I took Pony's journal from my back pocket. Her words echoed in my mind.
"I do hope you will read this, Marlin. I started jotting down our time together since the year we met. Maybe it's silly or weird, but I do read it from time to time. It makes me happy to remember."
Taking a deep breath so I wouldn't start crying, I opened the book to the first page. It was dated "Spring, Year One of my Farm." And then I began to read.