Friday morning couldn't have come any faster.

The sun was already raging down on me by the time I opened my eyes. All I could see was white light. I could hear seagulls squawking from a distance, and the waves were lapping gently onto the shore. I groaned, my neck and back aching against the pier on which I had spent the night.

I sat up slowly, my eyes still struggling to make the required adjustments. For the first time in a long time, I was able to sigh peacefully. That is, until I saw a boat on the horizon.


I finished docking the Heaven-sent ship and took a few steps back.

The boat was beautiful. Pearl white and gleaming, it stretched at least thirty feet. It had at least two stories, judging by the windows below the top deck. Even the helm had its own level. In blue cursive at the bow of the ship was the name of a woman.

Lillia.

"Hello!" I heard a familiar voice shout.

A short man in a burgundy suit and hat was leaning over the railing of the boat, smiling brightly. He had curly brown hair and the tackiest mustache I had ever seen. I was reminded instantly of the Pringles man. It must be Thomas, the man who had called.

"What's your name, boy?" He asked, tipping hit hat towards me.

I tipped my own in return. "Gray."

"The name's Thomas! We better get a move on, wouldn't you say?" He gave me a wink, and gestured to the pontoon on which the sealed crates were gathered.

I nodded in agreement and pushed up my sleeves.

Let's get to work.


Little did I know that I would be the one doing all the work. The lazy bastard stood like a king watching the court jester waiting for a good laugh. His nose was held so high in the air; I worried that he might drown if it rained.

"That's the last of 'em." I said, cracking my knuckles.

"All aboard! Next stop – Mineral Town!" Thomas pumped a fist into the air.

I stifled a laugh and untied the cleat hitch. I gave the boat a good shove and pulled myself onboard as it drifted away from the dock. The mayor hurried up the stairs to the level above, where the helm was situated. He gave the wheel a few good twists, and we were off.

"And everyone brings something to add to the pot! Haha! Isn't that great?"

Great. Grand. Wonderful.

Thomas' mouth had not stopped. The fact that we were in the middle of the sea with no land in sight didn't exactly help my pounding headache, either. How much longer until I snapped?

I shoved my hands into my pockets as I leaned against the railing of the ship. My fingers grazed the stone I had grabbed before running out last night. I would never let the blue orb out of my sight again. It was the only beacon of hope I had left.

"Do you like horses, Grant?"

The man was still going strong.

"It's Gray," I grumbled. "And no, I don't. I try to avoid any animal that can stomp me to death."

"… Well, there are plenty of other festivals you could enjoy. Maybe the sheep festival, or the New Years festival, or even the Full Moon festival - that's when you invite that special someone to the mountain top with you to watch the moon."

He had put air quotes around 'special someone', to which I rolled my eyes.

I had never even had a girlfriend. I think the villagers were afraid of me – especially the women. I wasn't one to strike up a conversation, and I think they took my social awkwardness as being rude. If I couldn't even make a friend, how was I supposed to get a girlfriend?

Like I needed the extra baggage, anyway.

Women could wait. What I needed was a solid living situation, and a job. What Mineral Town could offer, I had no idea. I guess I just had to wait and see.


"Land, ho!"

"Shi-…!"

The boat lurched, and I awoke from my slumber just moments before faceplanting onto the deck of the ship. I groaned, reaching up to see if my nose was still attached to my face.

"Watch your footing, there, boy!"

No shit.

I stumbled back onto my feet and shifted my gaze forward to what was no longer the open sea. Before us was a shoreline, freckled with umbrellas and towels. There was a log cabin and what looked like a white shack. Besides those structures, the place was deserted.

Quiet. Peaceful.

This was it - my chance to start over.

I restrained myself from diving off that stupid boat and swimming all the way to shore.

"Batten down the hatches!" The mayor hollered. "Get those buoys ready for docking!"

Yeah, yeah.

I crouched down and lifted the lid of the seat on which I had been sitting. Inside were the ropes and buoys we had tossed in when we had set off.

"Ready," I shouted.

Hopefully this would be the last time I'd ever have to step foot on a boat ever again.