In My Life

Well, tell me what you think. Lyrics for Help! at the end of the chapter.

The farm was shaping up quite nicely, nestled between a quiet stream and the lively town. The ripe fruits of the earth were growing into a shell of their full glory in the fields that stretched on from the empty cow barn to the vacant chicken coop.

It was time for some more life on the farm.

Rick leaned comfortably over the fence of the farm, exchanging bits of random talk with the not-so-talkative Makoto as the farmer watered his crops.

"I could use more to do around here," Makoto grumbled, looking over to Rick briefly. "I've gotten a grip on watering and harvesting already."

Rick put his finger and thumb to his chin, humming to himself as he nodded approvingly. "Hmm… yeah, I guess that's true."

"Yeah."

With a clap and a quick rub of his slender hands, Rick shot up with the perfect reply.

"Hey, come over to the ranch. I wanna show you something."

--------

So Makoto, standing outside around like a moron with his arm in a sling cast as Rick disappeared into the chicken coop, waited for this "thing" he had to see. Finally, Rick poked his redhead through the door, stepping out with a small feather ball of a full-grown chicken clutched firmly in his hands. Makoto stepped forward, his neck stretched to get a better look at what Rick had for him.

"Well, now," Rick began, walking up to Makoto with chicken near his abdomen. "This little hen is for you."

"Really? How much?"

"Again, this little hen is for you. Absolutely free of charge."

Makoto stared at the tiny, red capped head of the chicken, the little thing darting its eyes around on the ground.

"Free?"

"Yeah. A little gift to get you started."

Makoto looked up.

"Why?"

"Why?" Rick echoed. "Why, because the old man said so. Towards the end, he sold off all his animals 'cause he knew he wasn't gonna make it. But he left one egg to me, and told me to hatch it when you came."

Rick held the hen out to its new owner, Makoto taking her gently with his left arm. For a moment, the chicken nestled itself on Makoto's body, resting her little beak by his arm.

That arm being a choice pecking spot. Blood dribbling from the wound, Makoto arched an eyebrow as he looked down.

"Ouch," he simply said.

Rick tried to say something, groaning as he watched stare at his own blood without a flinch.

"Well, she should come to like you soon… You know… you'll…" He trailed off a bit with an obvious groan as he stared at Makoto. "Goddamnit Makoto, you're friggin' bleeding!"

"So?"

"So, well... it doesn't hurt?"

"No."

"Umm… yeah… lemme fix that for you so you don't have bother anyone down at the clinic."

"Too late."       

Rick feigned ignoring the last comment, and started up the stairs for his house.

--------

That little hen came to be known as Brando. Makoto wasn't one too keen on naming things, that dang farm still without a name, but the Godfather conveniently came on and helped him along with that. Anyway, Brando and Makoto grew to become good enemies, Brando everyday expressing her animosity for the nasty farmer boy. Makoto could have made some Red Cross folks very happy with all the blood drawn.

And a girl at the clinic rather unhappy, as he thought. A few days had passed since that, and Makoto tried his damn hardest to not think about her. He tried going through his chores as the crazy freak who didn't give anything about anyone. He tried collapsing on his bed to fall into a coma after a hard day and night of work. He tried, but she was here, there, and everywhere to him.

Well, I'm going to try writing about what's been going good. I'm making a little more money from eggs. I can now hatch those eggs and make more chickens. I'm actually doing well on the (insert name here) Farm.

 I'm trying to recuperate from the accident. Of course, I try playing the piano with one frickin hand.

End of entry.

-From Makoto's Journal

I can't get her out of my mind. I've got to do something about this… tell her straight out.

End of entry.

-From Makoto's Journal

During the spurt of depressing afternoon rain that week, Makoto stayed inside his dreary house and in front of the old piano with only the half-broken screen door leading open to his porch and beyond. Surely no one dared come near the farm, all except Zack the shipper, who just needed to run in, pick up the harvest, and take off again back onto his routine.

He stood there in the rain that intermittently chose to pound on and then recede, counting the crops and eggs that were shipped by the nasty farmer. He looked over his shoulder and saw Makoto on the piano bench, most likely he was brooding. Zack turned back to his work, choosing to dash under Makoto's porch. He did, and stopped to pull a notepad and tiny pencil from his back pocket, jotting some quick notes about the shipment.

From inside, Makoto briefly turned around, gave a shrug, and went back to his work. Zack took notice, and simply shoved his notepad and pencil back into his pocket before heading off to pick up the shipments. Having transferred everything from the shipping bin to a large, wooden crate, he heaved the load up and onto his shoulder, taking a moment to regain his bearings.

Until, of course, a speck of red appeared in the rain, gradually turning into something discernable as someone with an umbrella. Zack stopped for a moment to incredulously stare, as it wasn't an angry face or even a hit man who came to take Makoto out.

The nasty farmer had a visitor.

Zack leaned back to catch a glimpse at who was approaching. Finally, she stepped onto the farm. It was Elli.

"Paying a visit, or just taking a shortcut?" he called, a grin on his face as Elli passed him on the way to the porch.

"Visiting," she dryly replied, turning around at the foot of the stairs with a complimenting wry little smile.

Makoto kept on playing the piano, devoid of base, but it didn't seem to bother him. Of course, his back was turned.

"Good one," Zack nodded. "I've been coming here for nearly three weeks, and he still hasn't even come out with a "Hi" or a "What's up?" You know, it makes me feel bad when I can't talk to someone on my route!" He sighed. "Anyway, what brings you here?"

"He forgot his appointment today," Elli replied with a cute cock of her head and a smile.

A blank expression jumped onto Zack's face as he stood there, nodding with a hum.

"Good luck."

As Zack grabbed the crops and proceeded to leave, Elli made her way up the stairs and under the porch, stopping to lean in at the door and set her umbrella aside. The screen was shut, but she could see Makoto, his focused playing carrying on. As she stood there, she heard him play the same riff and ending it with the same frustrated groan.

Then it stopped for a while, and Elli sighed and proceeded to turn back. That was, until she turned to the door again and saw Makoto's eyes glaring out from behind the screen.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a flat tone, his words curt. Elli looked up at him through the door.

"You missed your appointment," she immediately replied.

Makoto nodded.

"Oh… I didn't realize," he muttered. He sighed for a moment, and then proceeded back into the house. Elli waited there for a minute, until Makoto turned over his shoulder.           

"Go away," he said, his gray eyes cold.

"I need to make sure you're okay," she retorted, keeping her cool.

"Dandy," was the grumbled reply.

"Glad to hear it." She paused. "So, what were you playing?"

"Attempting to play a solo from this song… In My Life… or something like that."

"You sounded like you were struggling with it," Elli replied, here eyes downcast. "You must feel terrible."

Makoto nodded.

"You play an instrument?"

"I play the flute."

"Yeah, let me chop off your hand and see you try to play. It's like that." He looked her in the eye, his eye flashing a cute look. "I'm not left handed."

Elli couldn't help but half smile at Makoto's bizarre charm. Makoto stood there, lost in her.

But he finally did come to his senses.

"Now tell me, why did you really come here?"

 Taken aback by his question, Elli tried fishing for an answer.

"Come on, Makoto. I already told you that I wanted to see how you were doing," she sighed. "You're not in any pain anywhere, right?"

"Dandy," was the curt reply.

In retaliation, Elli gave Makoto her cocked-eyed glare without a word. Makoto gritted his teeth. He had to do it.

"You know you didn't have to come here in the first place," he told her.

"That's not true, Makoto," she replied.

Makoto gritted his molars, ready to lay down his line.

"Look, I don't need you coming around here. In fact, I don't appreciate you being around. I don't need someone, got it? So just go sod off, and don't come back." He shot his glare, leaning forward to drill it into her.

For a moment, there was nothing. No reply, no nods. Makoto stood behind the screen, his teeth gritted up unexposed, and Elli waited for a moment before snatching up her umbrella.

"Just go talk to the Doctor when you need to reschedule."

And with that, she was off. Makoto watched her leave, eventually shoving his face to his hand, gripping his hair with his long fingers.

--------

The next day was a day reserved for good times and togetherness. There was too much fun to be had as the residents of Mineral Town gathered in the town square to enjoy the exhilarating sights and smells of the Cooking Festival.

But Makoto, who didn't know good times or togetherness, found himself seeking sanctuary from the festival in the shadows of some sort of light that left him comfortable. He sat on a footstool across from Ellen, the gentle light washing his face from her favorite window.

"It was nice of you to come by again, Makoto," Ellen said in a kind tone from her rocker. She turned to look at Makoto, whose head hung in his clambering insecurity. Watching him, Ellen slowly nodded. "You've got something to talk about."

Makoto nodded in despair, not looking up.

"I can tell you," he murmured.

Ellen smiled softly.

"You're in love with my granddaughter, am I right?"

With a snap of his head, Makoto turned to look at Ellen.

"How did you know?" he asked, not quite defensively, but still in a shock. Again, Ellen let loose a smile.

"When you get to be my age, oh, how you can tell!" she replied with a little laugh. Makoto continued to watch her, his eyes showing signs of comfort. His eyes then fell downcast, slowly sighing as he prepared with more.

"There's something though…" he began. Ellen's attention was caught, and she turned to wait for him to continue.

With a couple of deep breaths, Makoto tried to find what he so needed to say.

"This is the first time I've been in love… but I can't even go through with my feelings." He paused, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know what the future holds. Come three years, I could be gone. I can't do that to her." He stopped again, choking on words he wanted to say.

Ellen stayed silent as Makoto tried to finish.

"I guess for now…" he continued, not even talking to anyone now. "I guess… I can just admire her from afar." He stopped to let out a sardonic huff. "I don't even know what her parents would think of me."

"Makoto, I don't want you to regret this later," Ellen told him frankly. Makoto affixed his gaze on her, a heaving sigh breaking from his lungs.

"But the thing is… I already pretty much blew her off…" he said, his voice trailing. "She'll never want anything to do with me."

He sighed, and together they sat tense and comfortable in that room as all the activity bustled around in the town square. Makoto knew he had to leave before Elli came back, but he had time.

--------

Help! By John Lennon and Paul McCartney

(Help) I need somebody
(Help) Not just anybody
(Help) You know I need someone
(Help)

When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone
I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind
I've opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me

And now my life hand changed in oh, so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like
I've never done before

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me

When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone
I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind
I've opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me, me, me, Oo