NEW LEAF
PART 3: TOM NOOK
I head into Main Street, exploring and getting a mental note of how the buildings are lined up. It's pretty bare-bones at the moment, but Nook's Home is the first standing structure I see, a post office sitting to the right of it. I go inside the building.
The interior looks nice and clean, house models neatly showcased across the floor as well as other bits and pieces, like styles of doors, mailboxes, and hedges. It made me yearn for an actual house, but I would have to be patient.
A pudgy raccoon stood in the middle as if expecting me. He had standard shades of brown on his fur, but wore a bright green vest with a red tie. Underneath he wore a white-collar shirt with long sleeves. He looks like he's ready to get right down to business.
TOM NOOK: Ah, hello! Welcome! Welcome!
Despite his warm greeting, there is something off about his face. His eyelids are slightly drooped down and point upwards, giving an almost melancholy demeanor to his complexion.
TOM NOOK: You must be the new mayor, am I right? Isabelle at the town hall told me to expect you!
She did? What, like a couple seconds ago? I guess she's really upbeat about this whole thing and wasted absolutely no time.
TOM NOOK: On behalf of the Quietown chamber of commerce, I'm pleased to welcome you! So, Mark, you're here today because you want to build a house, yes?
I just nod. I'm not exactly sure what to expect out of all this and how these animals carry out their tasks, but all I know is I need a place to stay. I yearn it more than ever right now considering I need someplace private to think to myself.
TOM NOOK: Very good! Very good! I can build one just about anywhere you want, yes, I can indeed!
There is something about this raccoon that rubs me the wrong way. He is incredibly jumpy and talkative, prodding me with his artificial excitement while trying to remain formal. It wasn't all too unfamiliar with me.
TOM NOOK: So have you decided on where you want to live?
I haven't exactly planned that portion out, but seeing as how there was quite a lot of open space according to the map, I didn't think that a little impromptu session would make this anymore difficult. I wasn't a very picky guy either.
I just nod to the enthusiastic raccoon.
TOM NOOK: Then this won't take long at all! Just take me where you want to build your new home, Mark!
We head out back to Quietown. I find myself pacing around, and acting in complete contradiction to what I had just said about myself. I couldn't decide where to place my home. There were many places across the town that looked very nice.
I spent around a whole thirty minutes deciding on what would be a good spot, and Tom Nook did not show a loss of patience for one second.
"No rush at all!" he says to me. He sounds sincere too—no sense of cynicism in his voice. Regardless, I try not to keep him out here for too long. I even began to frustrate myself with all of this.
I choose a spot a tad close to a small pond and near the town hall. Seeing as how I am to be mayor, it seems like the most logical choice to have my home built near it. The raccoon agent analyzes the spot and then bursts with excitement.
TOM NOOK: Yes, yes. There's plenty of space to build a house here! You're close to a pond too! If you enjoy fishing or being in nature, it's the perfect spot!
Despite his subtle act, I'm happy to hear this from Nook. He makes it sound all the more comforting.
TOM NOOK: Hold on a moment. Let's see…it will look something like this…
He gives me a verbal picture of how it is to look when the shrubbery and other plant life is moved aside. I don't hold any adversity toward it. I tell him it's perfectly fine.
TOM NOOK: Ok! It's decided then! It will take a bit of time to build your house, so for today, let's reserve the space for you.
Something strange happens. I feel like I've drifted away for a bit. My eyes lose focus but my vision returns in only a couple seconds. Nook is still standing there, and before him is a fence lining around where my house will be set. I blink a few times, impressed at the sight.
TOM NOOK: Ta-da! And with that, this space is officially yours, Mark!
He starts to chuckle nervously before continuing…
TOM NOOK: Umm, including the cost of the land, materials, building costs, et cetera.
Of course. Of course they won't just give the mayor a place to live for free. Not even in my own dream. I try to make things harder for myself even when I'm making a fantasy world in my head.
TOM NOOK: Well, the calculation is complicated, so I can't come up with it just now. I'll tell you the total later.
The raccoon instructs me to drop on by his office when I've taken care of things. Now that I have an address, I suppose another visit to Isabelle wouldn't hurt.
I then realize something. I'm not just going to lie on the grass within the confines of the fence, right?
TOM NOOK: Ah, but I suppose you still need a place to rest your head…
Right on cue. Nook tells me to give him a moment. Right after he says that, my head starts to swim again, and before I know it, I'm back. There is now a medium-sized tent within the fence lining. This will have to do!
TOM NOOK: Ta-ta-ta-da! I'll let you borrow this tent so you have somewhere to sleep! I've also put up a mailbox, so you can even start receiving mail!
It is mighty thoughtful of the raccoon. I'm glad things appear to be working out.
TOM NOOK: I bet you rarely see a tent with a mailbox, right?
He laughs heartily at his words. I suppose I haven't seen one. It really is pretty convenient. He says he has to head back to his shop, and so we say our goodbyes.
As much as I want to just flop inside the tent lazily and rest my mind, I decide I have to get back to Isabelle. I go to the town hall.
Isabelle is behind her desk, just waiting for me to walk through the entrance. I see the eagerness in her eyes.
ISABELLE: Oh, Mayor Mark! Welcome back! Did you find the perfect spot to call home?
I give her a simple, assuring nod.
ISABELLE: Wonderful! I'm very happy to hear that! You're in temporary housing for now, right? I do hope your house is completed soon. Living in a tent can be very tiring.
With the lack of heating or air conditioning, I suppose she's right. But at the moment, I'm perfectly fine with what I have and can't wait to just relax already.
Isabelle proceeds to tell me she's completed most of my registration and asks for my birthday. I find myself feeling particularly pitiful that I don't even know this. With the fact that the animals have taken everything I've said about myself for granted so far, I decide this can't be any different.
I tell her my birthday is today. Her eyes widen.
ISABELLE: Oh my gosh! Well, Happy Birthday, Mayor Mark! It must be such a shock to have taken up so much responsibility on your special day…
Strangely enough she doesn't ask for the year of my birth either, but I guess that coincides with the fact that I was promoted on the spot and it was made clear that such information did not matter at this point.
ISABELLE: Please, take this!
Isabelle hands over a card, about the standard size of any that'd fit in one's wallet. She tells me it's a Town Pass Card and serves as an ID card that proves my place of residence. She also tells me that I can visit other towns with it. Other towns, huh? My train of thought runs off the rails once again. No doubt there are other towns out there, but it's already been demonstrated to me that this is a very different world with different standards and rules. It makes me think what lies out there.
ISABELLE: All right then, this wraps up just about everything we'll need to process your move. The last thing we'd like you to participate in is a ceremony that commemorates your arrival. Let's just say this can also serve as a little celebration for your birthday since it was on such short notice.
She winks at me after saying this. I actually didn't want a whole celebration over it either, but I guess that's what I get for not thinking before opening my gob.
Isabelle points out the spot on my map which turns out to be the event plaza, a decent-sized spot consisting of gravel. Special events are held there every now and then.
ISABELLE: We'd like for you to plant a tree in the square so it can become a great symbol for our town!
It definitely wouldn't hurt, and sounds nice enough to signify the beginning of my run as mayor.
I follow Isabelle out to the plaza. There is a hollowed-out platform in the middle filled halfway with mulch and soil. All of the villagers have gathered here to observe, although there has been no official announcement of this taking place.
I brush it aside and stand on the platform with Isabelle. She hands me a sapling and asks me to plant it. I look down on the soil, feeling my heart racing. This is a pretty simplistic little task, but really seemed like it meant a whole lot to everyone around me, and I guess it really did mean a whole lot. I puff out my chest, bend over, and insert the sapling into the soil. There is a thunderous roar of applause all around me.
On August 30, 2013, I became the mayor of Quietown, my own little quiet town…