Chapter 2: A Part-Time Job

"Morning!" Akari said cheerfully as she walked through the door.

"Yo Akari!" Luke said waving. "How's your farm?"

"Same as always…" she said glumly. "Craig said he's never seen crops grow so slow! And my yard is weed less! Maybe I'm just not cut out for farming…"

"Ahhh, don't feel bad! Farming isn't just growing crops! It's raising animals, and stuff…" Luke said, trying to cheer her up.

She sighed, "I guess your right…"

"Hey, if you need money, I'm sure Dale will let you work here part-time." I suggested.

"Really?" she asked excitedly.

"Sure! I could defiantly use an extra hand around here." Dale said looking up from the rocking chair he was building.

"Bo! Show her how to organize the wood bin!" Dale said to me.

"Yes! I get time alone with her!" I thought to myself.

"Yes sir!" I said cheerfully.

I brought her over to where we kept all the different kinds of wood.

"They all look the same…" shesaid glumly.

"Not really. If you look closely, you can tell the difference." I explained.

I picked up a piece of oak wood.

"Tell me what this one looks like." I said holding it up.

"Umm… It's kind of a sandy brown…" she stuttered.

"Good." I told her. Then I picked up a piece of pine wood.

"What kind of wood is this?" I asked.

"Oak?" she said scratching her head.

"No. You were close though. It's pine. See how it's just a shade or two darker than this one?" I asked holding them both up.

She looked at them for a second, then said, "Yeah! I do see a difference!"

"Great!" I said happily.

I put the piece of pine wood down and picked up a piece of maple wood.

"Do you see how this one is a little whiter than the other two?" I asked.

"Yes! Yes I do!" she said excitedly. "Bo you did it! You taught me how to tell different types of wood apart!"

She gave me a big hug. I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Thank you so much!" she said.

She went over to the woodbin and began separating the wood.

I sat there perfectly still, my heart beating slowly.

"BO!" Dale called. "Get in here! I think Akari can take it from here."

"Coming!" I said after a moment.

I ran inside and began helping Luke with the table he was building.

"Did ya enjoy yourself?" Luke teased.

"What do you mean? I asked as I finished making one of the table's legs.

"Your 'alone' time with you-know-who." Luke teased.

"Shut-up." I said angrily.

"Hey! I'm done with the wood bin!" Akari said.

"Great! I'll come and look at what you've done." Dale said.

"Okay." she said, sitting down on a stool.

Dale walked to the door.

He turned around and said, "Show her how to work the front desk, Bo. I have a few errands to run."

"Yes sir." I said.

Luke smiled at me teasingly.

I glared at him then went over to the front counter.

"This is how you open the cash register." I said pressing the button on the side of cash register. The cash register chimed when it opened.

I showed her all of different buttons and what they did. Once I had finished, a customer walked through the door.

She seemed to have it under control, so I went back to work on the table.

Luke gave me another teasing smile.

I stuck my tongue out at him and went back to work.

Dale came back around six, he looked around and smiled.

"You all did a good job today!" Dale said happily. "Here's your pay for the day Akari, 200G."

"Thanks Dale!" Akari said taking her pay.

"Thanks again Bo." she said before she left.

"You've done enough for today boys. You can go get something to eat in town. I have important business to take care of." Dale said going towards his room.

"Yes sir." we both said.

Once we had gotten out the door, Luke caught me in a headlock.

"Stop it Luke!" I yelled, trying to pull myself free.

"Aw! Lighten up kid!" he said, not lightening up on his grip.

He gave me a nuggy and let go when I said, "Uncle!"

"Come on kid. Let's go to the Inn." he said.

"Hopefully… she won't be there…" I mumbled under my breath.