Author: SeerySly
You Are My Home:
It's Okay
The only sound that emanated from the spacious kitchen was the sizzling of the frying pan, the bubbling of the large pot on the stove, and the creaking of Hank's chair as he rocked back and forth on the two back legs, his feet on the table. Ellen stood over the frying pan, watching the tuna that her father had caught sit in its own dancing greases. She glanced behind her at Hank. He was twiddling his thumbs. Ellen's cousin, Blue sat across him, his head resting heavily on his hand. Ellen sighed and turned back to dinner. Her eyes wandered through the small kitchen window. Outside, the pastures had been swallowed by the quickly descending night. Cows and sheep and chicken all moved lazily in the tall grass.
"Shouldn't you have put the animals in already? It's getting cold out there," Ellen said casually, looking over her shoulder at Blue. She gave him a small smile.
"Yeah. That's why you should hurry up with dinner," he replied without looking at her. He reached up and pulled the brim of his hat further down over his face. Ellen took this as a sign for her to stop talking to him.
"Now Blue," Hank began. There was a thump as he let the front two legs of the chair land on the tile floor. "You should be a little more polite. Ain't no way to treat a lady."
Blue didn't reply, but shifted uneasily in his chair.
"It's okay, Dad. Blue's been working in the fields all day. He's probably just tired," Ellen said, turning back to the fish on the stove. She picked up a fork off the counter and prodded the meat softly. It was tender and juices flowed out from where the fork had punctured it. She did this to all three pieces, then turned the fire off the stove. She let the food cool slightly as she went to the refrigerator. Ellen dug around the shelves for a moment before pulling out a jug of grape soda, her father's favorite. She reached into a cabinet and grabbed three glasses. Setting them on the counter, she meticulously poured three equal cups of the soda. Then, she put the jug back in the refrigerator and turned to the table.
"I'll have to go to the bar tonight to get more grape soda. We only have enough for one more glass," she said conversationally as she placed the three glasses on the table, one in front of Hank, one in front of Blue, and one where she would sit. She turned back to the stove and turned off the fire under the pot. Behind her, Hank yawned.
"Why don't ya just wait 'til tomorrow, Ellen?" he said.
"You know Duke doesn't open the bar until after dark," Ellen replied as she pulled three plates out of another cabinet. She carefully situated each of the three slabs of tuna on each of the plates. She set the frying pan in the sink, then began spooning the contents of the pot (boiled carrots) equally onto each plate. She picked up two of the plates and set them in front of her father and her cousin. Then she took the third for herself and sat down.
"I don' want ya goin' out so late in the dark," Hank stated as he stabbed his tuna with his fork. "Blue, you go instead."
"Blue has to put the animals in after this, Daddy," Ellen said hastily, cutting her fish into dainty pieces.
"Just let her go Uncle Hank. She probably wants to see that flop, Carl. She talks about him nonstop in the fields," Blue muttered, obviously annoyed. Silence fell at the table. Ellen could feel the blood rushing to her face. She ducked her head, leaning closer to her plate as she placed small squares of food in her mouth.
"This true, Ellen?" Hank asked slowly, unsure of what he had heard.
"She's completely infatuated with him," Blue replied. He stabbed his tuna with his fork roughly.
"Is that so?" Hank put his silverware down gently on the table and sat back. "What's so great 'bout this Carl, then?"
Ellen didn't reply. She pushed her dinner around her plate gently.
"Go on, Ellen. Tell us."
"He's really sweet," she mumbled. "He bakes cakes. He's nice to me."
Hank studied her for a moment, then sighed. He shook his head.
"Ellen, you know I s'port you no matter what. But love is a big thing. Think 'bout who would make a good fit fer ya. I don' know if this Carl can care fer ya with just his cakes. I don' want ya goin' to the bar tonight. Stay away from Carl fer a while, collect yer thoughts. If he's the one, then we'll cross that bridge later. Just don' blind yerself with this little crush," Hank said. Ellen continued staring at her plate. She could feel her eyes stinging. Her vision was blurring.
Don't cry, she ordered herself, but even so, she could feel the water in her eyes threatening to break away. Hank sighed.
"Sorry, girlie, tha's just how it is," he said softly. He extended his arm and patted her hand. Ellen still said nothing and kept her eyes trained on her plate. Hank sighed again, louder this time. "Looks about bedtime. Good night, you two. And Ellen, stay in the house tonight."
Hank stood and gave Ellen a severe look before turning and marching out of the room. Ellen waited until she could hear his feet on the stairs before she looked up. She wiped angrily at her eyes and glared hotly at her cousin.
"Thanks a lot, Blue," she hissed. Blue didn't look at her, but instead took a huge bite out of his tuna. Ellen pushed her plate back roughly and stood. Without bothering to clean up, she rushed out of the room and down the hall to her bedroom. It was the only bedroom on the first floor, and it was small. But it fit her bed, her bookshelf, and her mirror, so she had never complained. And besides, she usually spent her days out in the fields anyway.
She pulled open the door and slammed it behind her, flinging herself onto the bed and burying her face into her pillow. With no one around to see her, she cried. She opened her mouth and cried, sobbed even. She knew they could both hear her, but she didn't care. She wanted them to hear.
The house was completely silent. Not even the old wooden walls creaked. Ellen supposed that this was the reason she was awake. She sat on the edge of her bed, her feet barely scraping the old tattered carpet under her bed. She had opened the curtains to her window and silvery moonlight seeped through the glass. She was still in the dress she'd worn during the day, having fallen asleep before she could change. Slowly, silently, she stood and tiptoed to her chest. She rummaged around in the drawers and pulled out a dark blue dress with long sleeves. Carefully, she pulled off the old brown dress she wore and let it fall to the floor before stepping daintily into the new one. Ellen turned to the mirror.
Her short, chestnut hair clung to the sides of her face. The usual sheen it held was gone. With trembling fingers, she picked up her hairbrush and ran it through her usually silky hair.
I'm going to do this, she thought shakily. She set the hairbrush down and grabbed her mother's old shawl that was hanging on the side of her mirror. She slid it around her shoulders and turned to the door. Silently, she turned the knob and stepped out of her room. The hall was empty. Ellen leaned around the staircase banister. It was dark on the landing. She could hear her father's roaring snores, and as she took a step toward the kitchen, she heard Blue groan in his sleep. She froze, but he fell back into a deep sleep, as far as she could tell. Slowly, she made her way into the kitchen.
The plates from dinner were gone. Instead, they sat in the sink, empty of food and still wet. She felt her anger at Blue melt away. He really was a good guy, he just didn't know how to hold his tongue when he was upset. She sighed softly. She would finish washing them in the morning.
Ellen continued through the kitchen and out into the store. She tiptoed passed the counter and shelves, careful to avoid brushing up against any of the merchandise. Without a sound, she reached the front doors and turned the knob. She pushed the door open, - it was always unlocked - Ellen stepped out into the chill autumn air. She shivered and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she shut the door softly behind her. She glanced up at her house, but all the windows her dark. With a deep breath, she darted off down the road.
It was easy to find the bar. After all, it was the only one in Flowerbud Village, and by no means would it be considered "dead", even by a city's standards. Ellen could hear the laughter and chatter from down the road. She approached the bar timidly. She had never been around it this late at night and she had no idea what to expect. She'd heard her father's stories about the bar fights and it frightened her. She felt her heart begin to speed up. Slowly, she approached the door. Hand shaking, she turned the doorknob and pushed open the door.
The bitter smell of alcohol and smoke immediately filled her nostrils and she coughed loudly. Her arm flew up over her nose as she stepped inside. The bar was, she noted, filled with all the usuals. Duke was wandering the tables, taking orders and joking with customers. Woody was at the bar, talking loudly with Ronald. Dan and Basil were playing some kind of dice game at one of the tables. Ellen scanned the room. Many of the customers were strangers, passers-by who would drink until they dropped tonight, check in at the Perch Inn in the early hours of morning, and leave tomorrow afternoon. Heart pounding, Ellen stuck to the wall, skirting around the room. She glanced nervously at the strangers, but they paid no attention to her, which suited her just fine. Instead, she continued to search for him.
She couldn't find him. She wondered if he had stayed home from work tonight. Just as she was about to give up and go home, however, movement behind the bar caught her eye. Her heart gave a jolt, and she could feel her face growing hot. Blonde curls, a red bow tie, brown eyes.
Carl emerged from below the bar, placing a bottle of whisky gently on the counter as he went. He turned away from her and grabbed a glass, pouring the whisky into the glass carefully. Despite his care, however, some still managed to slosh onto the counter. Pressure grew in her stomach as Ellen watched him scurry to the end of the bar to grab a clean towel to wipe up the mess. He was adorable, and she loved him for it. Smiling, she took a step forward toward the bar. Happiness flooded into her chest as she pictured tonight's conversation and she felt herself getting giddy.
It had started with cakes. Ellen had been running late one evening after coming home from the market. She had planned to bake a cake for her father's birthday, but the sun had already started to set. She knew she wouldn't have time. In a panic, she burst through the doors to the bar and rushed to the counter. Duke had been out, taking a walk with his niece, Eve, she remembered, and the only person there had been Carl. She had called out breathlessly, and he had come running to her aid. Ellen had explained that it was her father's birthday and that she had forgotten a cake. Carl laughed and beckoned her into the back. Together, they had baked a magnificent birthday cake for Hank. Ellen would never forget that.
Since then, she had visited Carl several times a week. They used to discuss baking, a hobby that they both loved. But recently, their conversations had become more personal, more intimate. It made her heart leap just to think about it.
Ellen quickened her pace as she crossed the bar, her smile widening. Carl was still wiping up his spill; he didn't notice her. What a surprise he would get! She was excited at the thought.
Eve emerged from the back room, carrying a tray of food, her long, blonde hair tied back in its usual purple ribbon. She set it down on the counter and tapped Carl on the shoulder. Ellen slowed her steps, not wanting to interrupt, and definitely not wanting to share Carl. Eve was saying something to him and motioned to the tray. Carl nodded and tossed the soiled towel under the bar. Eve leaned against the counter casually and studied the people in the bar. When her magenta eyes landed on Ellen, her red lips curled into a smile. Ellen froze.
Eve flipped her ponytail behind her back, and leaned closer to Carl. Ellen's pulse sped again, but not out of excitement. Slowly, Eve leaned in towards Carl's ear. Ellen could see her lips moving as she whispered something in the young man's ear. Carl's face lit up bright red and Eve laughed. Ellen could feel her stomach tightening. A feeling was coming over her like she had never felt. With another glance in her direction, Eve pressed her lips to Carl's cheek. When she leaned back, the imprint of her lipstick was almost impossible to see for Carl's tomato-red blush.
Ellen's chest locked up; she felt like she couldn't breathe. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes again. Of course she'd been stupid, thinking that Carl was interested in her. How could he be, while working in such close quarters with someone like Eve. She could never compete with that.
From behind the counter, Carl's blush was fading. She could see him take a deep breath and look up. "Hi Ellen!" he said cheerfully and waved. Then his face fell. "What's wrong?" he called. But Ellen shook her head. She shook her head so hard that it made her dizzy, but she didn't care. Gasping for air, she turned and sprinted out of the bar.
From behind the bar, Carl stood frozen. "Ellen?" he called, but it was too late. She was already gone.
A/N: Phew! That was a long one! This has been bugging me for a really long time, so expect more of this. I absolutely love Harvest Moon, I think it's the most addicting game ever created. This is set in Magical Melody and it'll eventually be comprised of short ficklest of each rival couple in the game. Don't worry, this one isn't finished. In fact, each pairing will be two or three chapters. Anyway, hope you liked
