Washed Up

I had always had a passion for farming. At least, that's what mom had always told me. She always commented on my passion for animals. You see, I spent all my time in the barn as a kid, growing up on a farm; you should always take advantage of it. I would always be grooming the horses, or milking the cows or just talking to them. I enjoyed it in there, but mom said that she noticed that the animals always enjoyed being with me as well, so it made it easier for her to take of the farm when Dad died. I guess that's why when I decided to pick up and move out of mineral town to Sunshine Islands, she wasn't very happy.

"I need your help here" She would always say "Do you really have to go?" She would whine. But my response was always "Mom, I'm a big girl. It's time for this big girl to hit the big world"

It was hard for her, I know. But Grandma and Grandpa were going to move in with her. They were also living on a farm at the time, and they loved my moms company. So the day before I left, they came for a visit. They told me that they were proud of me for taking this big step, and offered to get me a starting animal. I refused, I wasn't much of someone to accept charity. "I'm not even going straight to Sunshine Islands" I said "I'm going to the city first. I need to get a job so I can save up for the farm"

When I left, and got on the boat. There were many tears, from my family, my best friend Elli. She was a nurse; and had settled down quiet a few years ago with Dr. Trent. They were also expecting, and I had been very happy for them. But, sometimes when I was in my room thinking about Elli, I would get jealous. It hadn't taken her long to get married and settle down. In fact, it hadn't taken anyone in my town long to settle down. Not Poprui. Not Anne. Not Karen. Not Mary. Yup, everyone in town was married, everyone except me…I often felt lonely for this very reason, and I wondered if there was anyone out there for me.

Elli and Dr. Trent stood by the rails with my family. Grandpa. Grandma. Mom. All of them. There were tears of sadness. Tears of joy. Tears of almost everything. I mean, it was going to be awhile before I saw anyone form Mineral Town again. The boat began to pull away as I waved one last good-bye to the most important people of my life. Then, the dock vanished, and I was my way to the city. I took one more look at mineral town. At the place I had once known as a childhood dream. The place I grew up in. But now I was off to bigger and better things.

The first mate of the ships name was Brock. He had been a close friend of my dads before he died. Of course, Brock was devastated when he had died, but he had a way of continuing with his life, and as far as I knew he had never mourned over anyone. "Finally going out on your miss?"

I turned around to see Brock leaning against the side of the wall. His brown hair with a hint of grey, easily gave away his age. Brock was beginning to get wrinkles and big ones If I might add. They only ran on his forehead and chin, but anyone could tell he was old.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that" I looked back over the horizon, and became mesmerized by the sudden change of scenery. The waves crashing over the side of the boat. The sea air blowing against my face. The fish dancing under the water. Yup, it was the most perfect day ever.

I sighed. "Are days always like this out here"

Brock came over towards me and shook his head. "No. Storms always pop up. You can never tell when they'll come"

When Brock said "storms always pop up". He was right a hundred percent. A couple hours later, I could feel the sudden crashing of the waves which were by now much fiercer. The wind howled to the dark night, and the boat began to rock back and forth and back and forth. I heard a sudden knock at my door, and suddenly Brock burst into my room. "Miss, you got to get in a life boat! If this boat goes down, we'll get sucked down along with it"

I cocked my head "What? I thought…"

"Ever heard of the titanic?" He began to pull me off the bed "If you don't want to die, then we have to get you into a lifeboat!"

I was about to say that I would die in the storm, with the waves crashing over me but he didn't give me a chance to speak as he pushed me out the door. "I'm sure you know how to use a life boat miss." Brock held tight on to my arm, and the pressure made my arm feel like jelly. He forced me to keep up, and my legs were beginning to feel light fro running so fast.

It seemed to take ages before we reached the life boats, but we eventually got there. The storm hadn't let up at all; in fact I could have sworn it got worse. Brock pushed me into a lifeboat and began giving me instructions…at least, I think he was giving me instructions. I couldn't hear him over the howling wind and lightning. The next thing I knew, the boat was in the water and I was on my way to who knows where.

As I continued farther and farther away from the boat, I noticed the waves as they began to climb higher and higher. It scared me half to death! Wouldn't you be scared if you were in a little fishing boat in the middle of ocean?

A big white flash caught my attention as I noticed the boat I had just escaped was beginning to sink. It must of got hit by lightning I thought Poor Brock…I got to try and save him! I started searching the boat frantically for paddle. And after that…all I remember is a sudden wave crashing on to my boat, and then I blacked out.

The sun shone brightly in the sky, and the waves crashed against the shore. The beach was a white color, but all of them were like that. I hadn't awoken yet, but I was almost a hundred percent sure I was dead. It was hard to open my eyes, the light stung them, and I didn't really understand why. Finally I was able to open them a little bit, and I say a dark figure standing above me. I couldn't see who it was of course. The figure was just took dark.

"You alright?" He sounded gruff and harsh, almost mean like, but kind at the same time. Like I said before, I couldn't see him well, but I could hear.

I didn't answer at first, feeling too weak at the moment but I was able to get out "I don't know…"

I heard another set of footsteps approaching and the figure In front of me all of a sudden vanished, like a ghost. I knew he had probably just run off. Who was he?

"Hey, you!" He called out from far away "Are you alright?" his voice sounded and worn. He held a cane, and his head bald. He looked like he was around maybe 60 or 70 years of age.

The man came closer to me, until he was leaning down. "Hey miss, you alright?" He asked once again.

I sat up slowly and rubbed my hands against my eyes. The sun was bright, a little too bright for my liking. "Yes…sire. I think I'm alright"

The stuck out his hand. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Uh.." I squinted at his hand "Three?"

"Yup, nothings wrong with you" He stuck out his hand to help me up. "I'm Taro by the way. I live on this island, and as you can see form here." He pointed east. "There's a village just up ahead."

I glanced over towards where he was pointing, and sure enough, I saw small buildings. But one thing surprised me…there were no people. "Uh, where are the people?" I turned my gaze back to Taro. "A village isn't a village without people"

Taro looked back over to me. "Oh there's people, just no as many as we hoped" He began to lead me away from the beach. "There's me and my daughter, Felicia. She has some kids around your age, Elliot and Natalie. They're both really hard workers, and it' a blessing that they're living with us. Next…"

"Taro!" I heard a voice call from far off. I turned to see a blond headed girl run up to us, with a big smile on her face. "Who's this?"

"This is…why I don't recall. I never asked her name" They were now both looking at me with a curious expression on their face.

"Chelsea. My name's Chelsea" I looked down to the ground. "I was heading to the city, when a storm hit my boat. I guess I got washed up on to the beach here"

Julia smiled "Where were you going?"

"The city. I want to be a farmer, but I had to go to school to study…" I looked back up at Taro who had a big smile on his face "A farmer eh?" He looked over at Julia. "You can be our farmer. We really need one, it's the only way our village is going to grow any bigger"

"Yeah!" Julia put her hands on my shoulders. "Then we can be friends! And I can help you!"

I laughed "No…it's okay. I don't want to intrude"

"But I insist" He laughed "Sunshine Islands needs a farmer anyway…"

I paused Sunshine Islands? I was headed here after the city I rubbed my neck I guess I'm stuck here for now. Might as well become a farmer. Who knows, I might like it and not need to leave I smiled. "Sure why not"

Julia Squealed. "Yeah!" She looked over at Taro "Have you showed her around yet?"

"I was just doing that when you…."

"I can do the rest!" She pulled me towards a barn like place

Taro shook his heads slowly "Alright! Just bring her to my house when you're done!" And with that Taro turned around and wandered down the pathway.

Julia had brought me into what looked like a shop or some kind. There was a counter on the left, and some animal stuff against the wall in front of me. So I assumed that it was a animal shop. A over weight lady with orange hair and blue apron opened the front the door and walked in.

She stopped walking when she closed the door and saw us standing there. Julia turned around and smiled brightly. "Hey Mirabelle! This is Chelsea, she's going to be our new farmer"

I didn't say anything, and I started to look down. My nerves were getting the best of me, again.

"A new farmer? Well, that's a relief. I was starting to wonder how we were going to sell our animals…" She laughed "Enough of my blabbering. You look like you could use a meal. Come and sit down, I'll make you something"

I blushed "No, I really couldn't…"

"But I insist" She smiled and walked off into the kitchen.

"Mirabelle Is kind lady" The door leading to outside opened once again. In walked a man with a black hat which covered his grey hair. He wore a cowboy suite, and his expression on his face indicated he was little grumpy.

"Vaughn!" Julia exclaimed "I would like you to meet Chelsea. She's going to be a farmer!"

I didn't look up at him. I kept my focus on the table, but Julia didn't seem to like that. "Chelsea! C'mon say hi"

I looked up to him and bluntly said "Hi" Like I said before, when I get nervous, I don't really talk that much.

Vaughn didn't smile. His expression stayed like it had before. "Hi" He didn't sound impressed. "Not that I expect you'll be here long…"

"Vaughn! Be nice! She just washed up on the beach form last nights storm!"

His eyes widened. But the expression, yet again didn't change. "Oh" I looked down once again towards the table.

"Oh? Oh! Didn't you see last nights storm? It was a hurricane! Can't you act a little concerned for someone besides yourself?"

He paused for a moment. I didn't think e was going to. "No" With that he walked off towards the door in the back and went inside,

Just then Mirabelle came back. "I made curry. I hope you like it" She placed it on the table and I began to eat slowly. "Julia? Has Vaughn come back yet?"

Julia frowned. "Yes. And he wasn't exactly cheery"

"I don't know what I'm going to do about him" Mirabelle sat herself across from me at the table and sighed. "I'm sorry about Vaughn Chelsea. He's unfortunately one of the few who doesn't have a cheery attitude. But it can't be helped…" She trailed off. "Hopefully one day, things will change. But for now, he'll just stay that way"

I thought about those words Mirabelle had told me. I was shy, and quiet, I guess like Vaughn, but I wasn't rude or anything. I sat on a stool in my house in which Taro had given me. It was on a large piece of land, but it was farmers land so I wasn't surprised at the size. I hadn't really hoped in starting a farm so early, but Taro had insisted, and I wasn't going to refuse. I began to ask myself something. Why was Vaughn so grumpy? I mean, shouldn't everyone smile once and awhile?. I just shook my head at myself If you ever answer those questions, it would be a miracle. Why? Because I'm way too shy.

Authors Note

I apologize for the horrible writing; I can get choppy when I rush things. I write the story as I go along, because it unfolds that way. I also apologize for it being short.

So yeah please R&R and I hope you will continue reading