Super Town Revitalization Plan
Rio followed after Dunhill as they walked up the path leading to his log cabin. She wondered what the old guy could possibly want. Last time she checked, she hadn't done anything terribly wrong (lately). Dunhill had a cheery smile on his face, and Rio thought she heard him humming under his breath. He was an easy read to her. If there had been something wrong, discontent would be written all over his face. However, from Rio's personal experience: whenever someone was this cheery, it meant bad news for her…
Maybe I should run, she thought to herself as Dunhill opened the door to his cabin. Rio eyed the rustic décor of the house; enjoying the outdoor flavor of it. In the middle of the room, there were three people; two women and a small boy. The woman on the left had a pale face, long blue-black hair, and was dressed in oriental styled clothing. She had a serious and reserved look on her face that settled but remained stoic when she noticed Rio.
The woman to Rio's right had brown skin and black hair wrapped in a green bandana. Her manner of dress reminded Rio of the islands further down south. Standing next to her was a young boy who obviously had to be related to her. The two of them gave Rio a much warmer welcoming than the other person, but Rio didn't feel off put by it. It usually took more than that to offend her.
Dunhill put a hand out to motion to each person.
"This is Iroha, our new town blacksmith, Rebecca, our new town architect, and her son Toni," he introduced them excitedly. "This is Rio. The one I told you about."
"Uh, hi, how are you?" Rio said anxiously when all eyes in the room turned to her. She never liked to be in the limelight. She wasn't shy by any means, but she liked to meet her people in small slices. After that, it was hard to stop a chatterbox like her.
"Rio, don't look so stressed! It's not like we're a firing squad," Rebecca spoke up with a warm smile that eased away some of Rio's apprehensiveness.
"Yes, Dunhill was speaking so greatly of you, we were more worried about meeting you," Iroha said with a small nod. Rio's cheeks tinged pink that they were talking about her. She had no idea what Dunhill might have been saying. The old man was kind, but he put a lot of faith in her and tended to exaggerate the things she could do. Now, these people were expecting her to be some cool customer.
The child, Toni, approached her with an innocent grin on his face.
"Is it true that you're going to build up the town all by yourself? That's really cool! You must have a lot of awesome skills," Rio leaned away from the boy because she wasn't use to dealing with excitable children. Children with a lot of energy tended to be more mischievous.
"Wait!" Rio's mind back tracked through Toni's previous words. "Who's building a town by themselves!?"
"Well, not completely by yourself, but we have high hopes. Let me explain," Dunhill decided to join the conversation after seeing the confused look on Rio's face, who was regretting her earlier decision of not escaping when she had a chance.
This is what happens when you follow old men, Rio, she sighed to herself as Dunhill began to explain his plans. He brought out a few sheets of paper with an outline detailing various housing projects and renovations based on price, supplies, and zoning.
"We're going to be the Super Town Revitalization Plan Committee!" Dunhill said; going over the details. "And, we want you to be a part of it!
"Super Town…Revitalization Committee?" The words resounded over and over again. She could understand wanting to build the town back up. Rio actually thought that their plans were well thought out and would be a big improvement to the now barren town. She just didn't know what they needed her for. "With all due respect, exactly, what am I supposed to be doing here?"
"We were hoping you could help. Your dad use to send me all kind of pictures of the woodwork you used to do. We were hoping you might be able to help with the construction on a few projects," Dunhill continued to elaborate.
"I know, but those were just a few bird and dollhouses I used to craft when I was younger. I never built a full house," Rio tried to dissuade him from thinking what he was thinking. Yeah, they had only been bird and dollhouses, but they had been beautifully crafted. She had even won some junior contests in her teens. Her grandmother had been a craftsman, or woman she should say. She taught her all kinds of things before her passing.
"That may be true, but I have complete faith in you. I've seen both your parents and grandparents do great things, and I know you can, too," Dunhill told her. The sincerity in his voice made Rio quake in her spot. She didn't like how this was turning out. Once again placed under the spotlight, the heat began to make her sweat. She hadn't felt this many emotions since the first time the Martinos had busted down her door as a child and dragged her father away; the next time she saw him had been on a hospital bed. She felt useless then, and she felt useless now.
"I-I'm sorry I can't help you..." Rio fiddled with her hands. She just needed something to do to ignore the hurt looks that flashed across the committee's faces. She understood their pain and wanted to help, but she just didn't think she could.
"But, why not? You live here too, right?" Toni asked with a small frown. He wouldn't be able to understand.
"Toni, come over here," Rebecca tried to get Toni off her case, but Rio knew she was thinking the same thing.
They all stared at her like they were waiting for an answer. She couldn't provide one though. The last thing she wanted to do was drag people into her problems on top of everything else. Kind, happy, mountain people like these would either be quick to help her or quick to run her off. Both she wouldn't be able to stand happening.
"It can't be helped. We will have to find another builder then," Iroha said calmly.
"If we find somebody out of town, we will have to pay a lot of money. Money we don't have," Dunhill shook his head.
So, I was just cheap labor? Rio thought to herself, feeling a little less ashamed.
"If we can't get anybody, we will just have to sell the rest of the town. I'm sorry for bringing you all out here," Dunhill took off his hat apologetically. His head bowed in defeat. The other three were just as grim as he was.
"You will have to sell the town?" Rio asked. This was complete news to her. Dunhill turned his attention back to her.
"Yes, there's a buyer who wants to take this land. We've been fighting them for a while, but now they are playing dirty. The government claims that unsettled land can be seized and used for more productive methods, and the buyers have jumped all over it. Since there is no one here, it's going to go up for grabs soon. At least this way, the few people here can walk away with a few dollars in their pockets to start a new life."
And just like that, the knife that had been planted was twisted deeper. She didn't want all that to happen. She wouldn't be able to live with herself because she doubted the government would think one little farmer would be important enough to leave Echo Village alone. Sucking in a deep breath, she resolved herself to her fate.
"I'll do it," she murmured; eyes glued to her.
"What?" Dunhill's eyebrows shot to his hairline as he tried to make sure he had heard the girl correctly.
"I'll do it!" Rio smirked with more determination. "I'll build the best houses you've ever seen!"
They all cheered her on as she feigned confidence; bragging about the skills her grandmother had taught her, and how she would be able to quickly pick everything else up. The faith they had in her grew even more.
"Rio, what are you getting yourself into?" She questioned as she walked back down the hill.
