Hello again. I would like to thank you if you've taken an interest in this story. I'll do my best to keep you here. :D

Also, I would like to apologize for the wait. I know I've put this off for a while, but I've been super-busy, and I haven't been very concentrated on my stories. Well, I've updated now, and I hope you won't be disappointed.

Well, here's the next chapter. Enjoy.


"Oh my," Mayor Rosalyn said, frowning for the first time since I arrived. "I apologize once again for this mix-up. I honestly thought we had already built a house and workshop for you..."

I smiled at her, although I did feel a little ripped off. "Really, it's fine. I like building things, so it's not a problem, really."

The people of Amity had, according to Mayor Rosalyn, neglected to build an actual house for Andy and I, as well as a workshop for the things I would be building. I had to build a house and a workshop from scratch. Luckily, we essence builders can do this really weird thing that somehow provides us with building supplies (my mother once called it "reaching into hammerspace," but so far, I haven't pulled out many hammers) so that we can build things. I still haven't figured out how to get interiors other than the one that keeps on popping up in every house I build, but I'm working on that.

The house really was nothing special. I had put together a one-story house made of beige-ish bricks and a white trim, with a black-shingled roof and a white door. I had done my best to make the house symmetrical, though, putting the same number of fancy-looking square windows on each side of the house, and the same number of dormers on each side of the roof (Andy had complained about that horrible OCD habit I had, saying it would come alive when I built the house, and I suppose he was right). Andy had brought his precious lawn gnome that, for some reason, he had named Jerry. Much to his delight, I placed it in the front lawn. I didn't mind - it added a certain charm to the exterior.

The workshop wasn't much to look at, either. I simply made a two-story building with an exterior made of brown wooden shingles. The roof was flat with a white mold-like trim, and I used a black door rather than a white one. Again, I put symmetry into effect, putting the same number of lights and windows on each side of the building in the same places. A sign shaped like a hammer hung above the door to emphasize the fact that it was indeed my workshop.

"Why so much symmetry, though?" Andy asked, slightly annoyed. "It's just a house. Why does it need to be seen as the same from two sides? I mean, why not have some variety?"

I studied my work. "I think it's got plenty of variety. Jerry's there, and I think that's already a lot of variety."

Andy frowned jokingly. "I think Jerry wants more stuff on the house. Make it a mansion! Then give him a flamingo friend. He'll be happy."

"Shut up," I said, playfully punching him in the arm. "Just be glad we've got a house."

I heard the sound of a car engine roaring, and turned to see a large moving van coming towards us. There was no doubt in my mind that they were for us. Gee, I wonder how long it took them to get here?

Mayor Rosalyn smiled widely at me again. "Summer, could you do me a quick favor? I believe it would help the growth of our town to some extent."

I nodded. If it would help the town, I could do it. "Andy, do you mind helping the movers bring our stuff in?" I asked my brother. "I've got to do something for Mayor Rosalyn."

Andy opened his mouth to protest, but he immediately closed it again. "Fine," he said, giving me a glare. "But you're making dinner tonight."

I nodded and began to walk away with the mayor. Andy was going to be disappointed. We had no cooking supplies whatsoever.

She led me down a path made of flat rocks. I took note of the thorny tree that seemed to have a face embedded in its bark that grew by the pond. I noticed a girl dressed in black and a man who showed the beginnings of a beard talking in front of a small, dark-looking house. What an interesting place.

"So... what is it that you want me to do?" I asked Mayor Rosalyn when we reached a small grove of trees.

The mayor smiled wider and looked at me. "Well, you see, I am in need of a podium. I will make speeches to the citizens of this town occasionally, but I have no podium to keep my notes on if I need them. And, to be honest, I'd like to see what you can do. So what do you say? Will you do it?"

Although it was a bit of a surprise to be receiving a task so soon after my arrival, I accepted the task. "I can do that. A podium should be easy enough."

Mayor Rosalyn clapped her hands together. "Excellent! And just in case you don't have the blueprint for it, I've got one right here." She pulled out a rolled-up blueprint and handed it to me. "Go on, take it! I have no use for it. Oh, and if you don't mind, could you possibly decorate it with some red apple essences?" She pointed to one of the trees in the garden, from which was hanging some red apples. "They're my favorite, and I think the podium would be more appealing if you did at least something to it. The former essence master would always do that, and her work would look so beautiful! Do you think you could?"

That was probably why she brought me to the around, I noticed not only the red apples, but also green apples and yellow blossoms. This place would be useful later on if I were to decorate other things I built for the town.

Well, I had a bit of skill with... essence decor, or whatever it was called. I could work with that. "Sure. Like you said, the podium will look better that way, anyway."

"Wonderful! I simply can't wait to see it! I expect great things out of you, Summer! I'll be waiting back at the town hall - bring it to me when you're finished." She left the garden gleefully, leaving me to gather some apples on my own.

I just stood there for a moment, trying to figure out how to get the apples down from such a tall tree. I had always been short, but reaching them would have been out of the question anyway. I had more strength than most of my friends, my brother included, but would I have enough strength to actually shake the apples off of the branches from which they hung? The tree was much too straight, without many crevasses or bumps, so it would be impossible for me to climb it.

I decided to try and shake the apples down from their spots. I grabbed the trunk and began to shake wildly. Almost immediately, apples began to fall from the branches, loud THUDS resonating from the ground. I only needed to shake it for a few seconds before I had more than enough apples. I let go of the tree and went to go pick up the apples that were now scattered around the tree.

"You're welcome!"

I froze. The voice that had just spoken echoed in my head in a slightly metallic way. I looked around the garden - around me, in the trees, and it was obvious that no one was behind any trees - but I was alone. Genuinely freaked out, I moved quickly in picking up the red apples. When my arms couldn't carry anymore, I rushed out of the garden back towards my house. I didn't want to keep Mayor Rosalyn would be waiting for her podium...


There you have it. I'm sorry it was so short, I'm sorry it took so long to publish and I hope I haven't let you down. All the same, thanks for taking the time to read this.