The Best Decision

1

Sun broke through the dusty old window of Grandpa's cabin at 6:00 sharp that first morning. I wasn't really all that drowsy, Joja had me working morning shifts a lot; I was used to it. I rolled out of bed and stretched, looking around the room. The place was dusty, but devoid of cobwebs or signs of rats. It was clean, just uninhabited. A little fresh air and a broom and it'd be fine.

I spent a while clearing room out front to sow what seeds I had. It wasn't easy work, my muscles quickly grumbled in protest. Still, by the end of it there was a neat row of watered dirt with parsnips starting the slow process of growth. If I was gonna farm, I had to start somewhere. I stowed my tools and considered what to do with what was left of the day. Mayor Lewis did mention that I ought to introduce myself to a few of the other villagers, but he said a lot of them went to the saloon in the evening; I could find them later on.

I wandered to the edge of the property, past a long line of overgrown grass, stray rocks and trees. I could still see where there had been rows of crops in some places. After a while, I knew I must have crossed the property line. The overgrowth evened out to a small forest path, and I dug in my pocket and glanced at the map of the town I'd picked up. A few people lived south of here, other than that it was just forest and a pond. Worth a noontime stroll at least.

I meandered southward, listening to the birds, scooping up the occasional pinecone or other odd object. Even if I couldn't hack it as a farmer, this would at least make for a nice vacation. I made my way towards the pond, it would be nice to put my feet in. The trees parted into a clearing, I could smell the water. There was a little dock out in the middle, with someone on it. Even from there I could see long orange hair and hear humming drifting across the water. I traced the edge of the water and started down the dock.

She turned at the sound of creaking wood. "Hi."

"Hey!" I replied, a little overenthusiastic. "I'm…uh…" my words drooped out of my mouth as my mind processed the woman in front of me. She kept her hair in a long braid tucked around her shoulder and watched me with curious blue eyes. She wore a short green t shirt and suspender corduroy jeans, exposing a fit toned midriff. I shook my head to clear it after I realized I'd been staring.

She smirked and raised an eyebrow. "The new farmer, right?"

"Y-yeah! How'd you guess?"

"One, everyone knows everyone out here and I've never seen you before. Two, you've got a big pack of dirty tools on your back."

I flushed and laughed shortly. "Right."

"Still a little tired?"

"Yeah, bus ride was long."

She offered a hand. "I'm Leah. Nice to meet you Mr. Farmer." I shook it, her hand was calloused and warm.

"Nice to meet you, Leah." We let go and I racked my mind for a new topic. "Nice, uh, nice day out, huh?" The weather. Nice Casanova.

"Yeah! You picked a good time to move in. I love the forest out here in spring."

"I'll look around it more, it's beyond refreshing."

Leah smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure!"

"Why'd you come out here?"

I thought about grandpa's letter, about how I'd started seeing my cubicle whenever I closed my eyes, the couple of nights I'd spent lying on my back staring at the ceiling unable to sleep. I mulled it all over, took a deep breath and said "I needed to leave…well, everything."

Leah nodded, looked to the side and mumbled "Guess that makes two of us."

"Hm?"

"Nothing." She smiled in farewell, turned back towards the water and said "Welcome to the valley."

A few weeks later, I'd started to learn Pelican Town pretty well. I had to admit, coming out here had been great for me. The work got harder every day, but I got stronger. I'd stopped thinking about Joja entirely, the people here helped. I honestly loved everyone I'd met, even Shane and George were all right once you talked to 'em for a while. I wandered south of the farm in the afternoon one day, pack full of freshly harvested crops. I wanted to get some fishing in before I headed into town to sell the harvest. I strolled through the woods, humming part of a song I'd heard at the Stardrop. I'd only heard part of it as I left, so I mostly looped through it, keeping time with my footsteps.

A familiar voice came from the trees off to my side and sang the last of the song. "So that's how it ends?" I asked, nerves strumming like guitar strings.

"Mhm!" Leah slid out from behind the tree line.

"What brings you out here?" I asked.

"I'm always out here in the spring, it's where I find my inspiration."

"Inspiration for what?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a sculptor."

"You didn't tell me, that's awesome!"

Leah smiled and shrugged. "I'd like to think so. Off to the river?" she asked, pointing to the fishing pole over my shoulder.

"Yep, fish are really jumping right now. Where are you headed?"

"Just into town, I need lunch."

"Well, they aren't great to eat on their own, but that reminds me." I set my supplies down and fished inside my pack. "Big harvest today, here, have these." I held out a few parsnips.

Her eyes sparkled. "Really?"

"Yeah. Call it payment for finally finishing that song for me if you want, it was driving me crazy."

Leah giggled and took the parsnips "Thanks. I love fresh veggies."

I shouldered my pack and said "I'll keep that in mind. See you!"

"Bye!" She wandered off to the east and I went south. I turned on my heel and watched her go. My heart had taken up the nasty habit of leaping into my throat whenever I saw her. I bounced a little on my heels to let out my giddiness. Off to the river, a little profit supplement and somewhere to vent some nervous energy.

I wandered the woods for at least an hour every day that spring. Though I will confess, it was largely in hopes of running into Leah, I had taken a real liking to it. The sounds, the smells all of it was just the cooldown I needed after time on the farm or a lengthier workout in the mines. Whenever I'd had a fresh harvest or found something particularly nice growing wild, I'd always save a bit to share, just in case I came across her.

When we did meet and I'd made such a find, she'd accept it always with genuine surprise and gratitude, frequently inviting me to sit and eat it on the spot with her. It was on those late afternoons, resting on the grass and watching the sunset that I first realized, I really loved this place.

One morning I fished into my mailbox to find a reminder letter from Mayor Lewis. The Flower Dance was the next day. I'd be hard pressed to forget, it was all Hayley had been talking about. Still, this was my first year in town, it would be nice to soak up some of the traditions. A thought came to me, they were holding the dance in the clearing east of town. Leah and I would be heading the same direction the morning of, she might like to walk together. I'd already ruled out the possibility of dancing with her that year, she'd already told me her best friend Eliot had that honor. But, it wasn't a short walk and Eliot was kind of a late riser. I watered my slowly growing field of crops and filled Brutus' (my newly adopted cat) water bowl. I gave him a quick head pet and said "Wish me luck pal." He responded with a quiet "Mrow," and I headed south.

I knocked twice on her cabin door. "Hello?" she called out.

"It's your northern neighbor!"

"Hey! Come in!" I slipped inside, not wanting to let the cool air out. Leah's cabin smelled like all the best kinds of plants and spices, with a strong undertone of paint. It was small, but clean and cozy, and littered head to toe with paintings, sculptures and art supplies. I didn't spot Leah herself until she poked her head out from around the corner and motioned for me to come over. "Hey, come check this out." I rounded the corner to find her stooped over an abstract wooden sculpture, the ground around it was covered in wood chips. She sheathed her hammer and chisel and stood back to let me get a clear view. "Whadya think?"

"You did all of that yourself?"

"Uhuh!"

"All carved from one piece of wood?"

"Yep!"

"That's…incredible!" I was being serious. Even if I couldn't tell what I was looking at, I could tell hard, well done work when I saw it.

"You think so?"

"Yeah! I mean, I can barely see the chisel marks, and you did all of that from one log. That's fantastic!"

"Well, I did sand it a bit."

"Ah. Nevermind, it's hideous," I teased, hands up in surrender and smile still clearly on my face.

She nudged my shoulder and moved to stand next to me. "Wood's great to work with. Once you get past the outer layers, true nature starts to show," she said.

I thought about that for a moment, pondering the carving. "Yeah. It's kinda the same thing with people."

"Hm? Oh! Yeah, I guess it is." She scratched her neck and continued "I have to admit, it's not easy to pay the bills as an artist."

"Have you ever thought about submitting any of your work to a gallery or anything like that?"

She shrugged. "There aren't really that many of them around here."

"Well, what about an art show here in Pelican Town? I mean, look at this place! You've got more than enough stuff here for an exhibition."

She paused at that. "Hmm... interesting. I guess that could set the wheels in motion to making Pelican Town a true art destination..." She moved back into the middle of the cabin and raised her arms. "I came out here partially because I figured it'd be full of other artists, but I haven't really found any." Her arms fell a little and she said "So I'd be the only one putting anything forward. What if no one likes my sculptures? I've gotta admit, I'd be crushed…"

I looked around the cabin and said "Trust me, people will like them."

She studied me, not impolitely and finally said "I'll have to think about it." She set her tools down and said "Wow I totally sidetracked you there. You came here for something, right? What's up?"

"Oh! Uh, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to walk over to the flower dance tomorrow."

"Sure, that'd be nice."

"Great! I'll come by around 8:30?"

"Perfect."

"All right then, it's a date."

She raised an eyebrow "Oh?"

My cheeks turned bright red. "Ah! Uh, when I say date I mean uh…"

She giggled and said "Smooth one Romeo. I know what you meant."

I laughed nervously and turned for the door. "I'll just, show myself out." She scooped up her tools again and I turned back at the door. "I meant what I said earlier. You've got skill."

She gave me a smile that could melt an ice geode. "Thank you."

The Flower Dance turned out to be a nice way to spend a day off. Even Rasmodius and Marlon made their way out of the woodwork to enjoy the festival. I was reserved to the sidelines during the actual dance, but my work-weary muscles thanked me for it. While everyone else seemed in agreement that Hayley was the jewel of the performance, I only had eyes for Leah. It was on that late afternoon, watching her turn gracefully to the music in that beautiful white dress with her hair around her shoulders that I first realized, I really loved her.