Dear Readers,
There is so much mix-up over the actual default name of the MC in Friends of Mineral Town (Pete/Jack/none), I'm just sticking with the one I like (Jack). I do not mean to claim that this is his actual default name, nor do I care what his real default name is.
I hope you enjoy the story below. Thank you.
Thanks to Gotz, the farmhouse now looked enormous and bare. It contained a kitchen with no tools, a fireplace that had never been lit, a tightly-made twin-sized bed, and a table with one place-setting. The carpenter nodded his head at the fresh addition. "Looks nice, if I do say so myself."
"It does, Gotz. Thanks so much." The farmer looked so small by comparison, especially without his cap. "Let me walk you out."
They headed out into a cool, steady drizzle. Gotz headed south, stopping to pet Jack's dog, and disappeared over the footbridge. Jack took a deep breath, then hurried north off his own property, all the way on to the other side of town. Today he had no time for errands. There was somewhere he needed to be.
He knocked on the small, rounded door to Basil's house, huddling under the short archway overhead. Anna answered the door, her hair perfectly coiffed. "Jack? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was hoping to speak with you and Basil, if you have the time."
Anna offered coolly, "We always have time for a visit, Jack. Come on in and dry off."
Jack held his cap tightly in his hand, quickly fixing his hair while Anna's back was turned to call her husband. He accepted a clean dish towel, self-consciously dabbing his neck and arms with it. Basil could be heard long before could be seen emerging from the stairs.
"Jack! How are things?"
"They're good, Basil, but I really was hoping to talk to you both."
Basil and and his wife looked at each other in confusion. "Is everything alright? You look a little tense."
"Well," Jack tried to laugh. "I am. But everything is fine, I promise."
"Why don't we start then? Please, take a seat. I'll put on some tea." Basil took off his cheery feathered hat, both men hanging their hats up on a rack by the door. They waited for Anna to join them to begin.
Jack briefly licked his lips. "I'm sure you've both noticed that I've made frequent visits here, and also to the library."
"We know," Anna smiled. "We had a little bet going."
"Mary's always showing us new gifts you brought her, or telling us about how you helped her with her book."
The farmer continued, "I've also been building up my property, with the hopes that I'll soon be able to support a wife, and someday, a family."
Suddenly the parents grew quiet.
Basil bit his lip. His voice fell. "I see now." He looked to his wife.
"I'm not ready to have this conversation," Anna confessed softly, looking apologetically to Jack. "I'm sorry. It's not that you aren't a good man. It's just that she's our only child..."
"Anna, I think we need to talk about this."
"I can't, I'm sorry." She rose from the table and fled upstairs.
Basil looked back to Jack with a sheepish grin. "Anna and Mary are very close. They've always been- this is going to be a difficult time for my wife, I hope you understand."
"I'm so sorry. Should I come back another day?" Jack planted his hands on the table, preparing to rise. Basil stopped him with one hand on his shoulder.
"No, please. I really want to hear what you have to say."
Basil then rose to take the tea kettle off the range. He poured two teacups, leaving plenty of hot water for Anna when she returned, and set them out for himself and Jack with milk and honey. Jack breathed in the steam along with the tea's sweet, earthy smell. He made a mental note to himself that he should really order some tea soon. Mary loved tea.
"Alright, Jack," Basil began again, gently. "Out with it."
Jack put his teacup down. "Alright then. Basil, I want to marry your daughter, and I've come for your blessing."
Basil paused. His usually cheerful face became stern. "Jack, I don't know what to say." Jack's heart fell. "My wife is right: you are a good man. Or at least, we both think you are. You've got a good piece of land, and you work hard. I know you've got the potential to give Mary a comfortable life, but I really don't know anything about you. And I can't with a clear conscience give you my blessing without really knowing you."
His throat suddenly dry, Jack took a quick sip of his tea. "I'll tell you anything you want to know. I'll find a way to give you proof. I'll-"
"It's alright, Jack." Basil reached across the table to pat the younger man's hand. "Why don't you just start at the beginning?"
