On Horseback
Chapter 6: A Classic
I dreaded the fact that the power was out. I needed the power; I live for the power. Arrgh, I was furious.
The typhoon, though, did end the following morning. I was already wide awake and my father knocked on my door. "Hey, pumpkin, did you hear the great news?" I rolled my eyes. All news from Dad was always crummy. "What?" I asked, sounding interested. "The Vegetable Festival has been re-scheduled for Summer 12th. Isn't that great?"
I wanted to throw up. This was the only year to date that I could remember that a storm hit on the Vegetable Festival, and what do they do? The whole damn thing gets re-scheduled! ARRGGH!!
I walked out of my room and gave my usual morning, perky smile to my family. "Great! I assume that the vegetables aren't going to rot?" Gray choked back a laugh. I glared at him. "What? So what if I asked that question? Am I suddenly stupid now, Gray?" My brother chuckled as he got up from the table and went to his room.
"Stupid kid," I muttered as he shut his door.
"Oh, by the way, Ann," my father said as he poured himself a cup of coffee, "this letter came for you earlier this morning." My face lit up in joy. I hadn't received a letter in...well, actually EVER! My father handed me the letter and I tore it open, awaiting to see who it was from. The letter read:
HEY ANN! I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU'D LIKE TO VISIT THE TOWN WITH ME SINCE WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE WITH YOU YET. YOU AIN'T BUSY ARE YA? ANYWAY, I THOUGHT WE COULD GO TO THE LIBRARY TO GET US A FEW BOOKS TO READ AND MAYBE ME MIGHT VISIT THE BAKERY TO GET WE SOME YUMMY PASTRY, I HAVEN'T ATE THOSE LATELY. OH, AND ALSO WE WANTED TO GO TO YOU COUSIN'S SHOP TO GET SOME NEW TOOLS FOR THE FARMING. IF SO, I BE WAITING FOR YOU AT YOU FRONT GATE AT 10 O' CLOCK, HOLLER BACK, LASSIE!
-JACK
I didn't quite understand the letter. He must have not been taught how to write a proper letter. If someone were to ask me where he was born, I'd probably burst out laughing. "Jack wants to go to town with me at ten this morning," I told my father. Dad didn't look surprised. "What is he? Your new best friend?" I blushed and smiled. "I suppose."
I ate my breakfast as fast as I could and quickly jumped into the shower. After that, I threw on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I got my sunglasses and trotted out the door.
My watch read 9:55, which meant I was early. I leaned on the gate and waited for my "prince charming" to come and whisk me away into the town. At exactly 10:00, Jack came walking over. A warm smile came to his face when he saw me at the gate. "I assume you got my letter?" he asked me as he approached the gate.
"Yes," I replied, "and you're very lucky that I'm standing here." I giggled. He had a lost look on his face.
"Okay, so where do you want to go, first?" he asked me.
I began acting all shy for a minute and replied, "I don't know. Well, I haven't been to the library in a while and I just love books." Jack grew another smile on his face. Just this time, it was bigger.
The walk to the library took a few minutes. "Ahh, beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! BEAUTIFUL!" I screamed. Jack looked at me as if I was crazy and said, "Are you feeling high?" I punched Jack on the shoulder, but it was only a light punch. "Silly, I just love the sunshine." Jack laughed. "Well, after yesterday's storm, I guess that the sunshine is a pretty site." We arrived at the library and opened the door.
Maria (or in my case, "the tramp") was standing behind the counter signing out some books.
"Hey, Maria!" I shouted. Maria turned around, grinned, and quietly said hi. "What a tramp," I muttered to myself. Jack and I walked up to her and asked her for directions to any animal care books. She pointed to the left and rolled her eyes, as if she'd never talked to us before.
"What was that all about?" Jack asked me as we approached the animal care section. "Nothing," I muttered again. Jack and I were still fighting about the whole ordeal between Maria, Karen and myself. He says that we're being too rude to her and that we should be at least friends. God, I hated picking out that topic.
While Jack read the animal care, I scanned the romance section and picked up a book entitled Mid-Summer Draft. It certainly didn't sound too romantic, but I figured, "Heh. Why not?"
I read away.
Eventually, after a little while, Jack tapped my shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, hey, are you checking that book out?" Jack laughed and said, "No, it's actually time to go, Ann." I quickly checked watch. "What? 2 o' clock? How? I've only been reading for about-" I was interrupted by Maria who yelled over my voice, "You've been reading for almost four hours! That must be a good book! A long one, too!!"
Stupid tramp. How I hate her. "Will you be checking that book out?" she asked me. It was a good book. I just couldn't say no. "Umm, okay." Maria quickly scanned the book for me and said, "It's due on the 27th. Thank you; enjoy the rest of your day."
Stupid tramp. Stupid, stupid, stupid tramp. Okay, now I'm getting carried away. I may hate her, but I think that I'm starting to push not just her buttons and Jack's, but mine, too. I think I'll stash that word away for a little while, now.
We walked out of the library and headed for the bakery. Elli was a good baker, but her cheesecakes needed improvement. They tasted quite sour. We opened the door to the Flower Bakery.
"Why! This is certainly quite the surprise! Ann and Jack!" Elli called from behind the counter. "Can I seat the two of you?" Jack nodded and said, "Anywhere is fine."
Of course, anywhere really is anywhere to Elli, and she made us sit outside in her grandmother's rocking chair...yeah, wweeeiirrddd.
"What can I get the two of you?" Jack quickly and promptly answered, "I'll have a strawberry cake with whip cream and a cherry on top. Tea with that, please." Elli looked at me. "I'll have water, since I drink the damn" -Jack burst out laughing- "caffine filled beverage every morning. For my course, a chocolate cake, with chocolate icing and...yeah, that's all."
Elli went to get our food. While we waited, Jack and I talked mostly about the coming events.
"The Swimming Festival should be good," I told my friend. Jack didn't seem too sure about that. "I'm not a swimmer; I'm not going out for it." I rolled over onto my back and looked at the clouds above us. "Why not?" Jack repeated, "I'm not a swimmer. They should have a girl's competition since all of us guys -from what I've heard- have only been able to go out for it in the past."
I smiled at him, which he looked upside-down from my view.
Elli arrived with our pastry, which we hungrily devoured. It was good. VERY good. Fortunately, we didn't order any cheesecake, or we'd be standing in front of our toilets throwing it up all night.
After we finished our food, Jack paid Elli 800G, and we were on our way. It was late, and Rick's shop -my cousin's shop- was closed, so he walked me home.
"So, how was the walk to the town today?" Jack asked me.
"Fine, short, but fine," I replied.
We arrived back at the ranch gate and he gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Umm, Jack?" I said, looking at him. He looked back at me and stared into my eyes for a minute. "Yes?" he asked. I looked at him for a moment. "Umm...well, thanks for the goodnight kiss." I blushed. He blew me a kiss and was on his way.
I walked into the house and Dad was reading the newspaper. "You could have told me that you'd be out all day," my father joked as I took my sandels off. "Today was marvellous," I sang as I skipped into my room. Dad must have been stunned because the last thing I remember hearing before I shut my door was, "Ooookay."
Well, that was it, again.
Another day gone.
Lights outs.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Very short chapter! A quick day in the town, that's all. Next chapter will be longer, I promise, and more in depth with Cliff, too. Read and review, please!
