A rooster's crowing pierced the morning air like a knife through a cake. I shot up, falling out of bed and landing with a thud on the floor. I rubbed my eyes until my vision cleared. I stood up, the wooden floors creaking as I shifted. I stretched my arms before doing two half-hearted squats. Why I did these was a mystery even to myself, but I knew the consequences of skipping this routine: I had multiple broken dishes to prove it.
Walking through my kitchen, I grabbed a quart of milk and two eggs out of my refrigerator, the latter being fresh from my coup. After making scrambled eggs on the old electric stove and pouring a glass of milk, I set them down in front of one of two chairs at the table. I walked over to the TV, turned it on, and took my seat. After a brief moment of gray and black static, the TV flipped to a familiar blue-robed figure: The Fortune Teller.
"The spirits are very happy today! They will do their best to shower everyone with good fortune," declared the Fortune Teller. On the television, she was raising her arms up seemingly in an effort to reach the image of a juicy purple Stardrop, one of the rarest fruits and one that they claim is imbued with special powers. Whether that meant flight, super strength, or even the ability to tell jokes that were actually considered funny, I couldn't tell.
"That's what I'm talking about," I muttered through a mouthful of eggs, fist pumping with the hand that wasn't holding a fork. "Thanks, spirits!" By my plate was an opened letter from Lewis, the Mayor of Pelican Town as a reminder that today, Spring 24th, was the annual Flower Dance. It was a special event to commemorate life and beauty in the new year in the form of a dance between the bachelors and bachelorettes in town. I fixated on a specific line of text.
"If you can find a partner, you may want to participate in the dance yourself!"
Well, with the spirits in such a good mood! Maybe this time she'll…
I glanced at the clock. Seven o'clock! I downed my largely full glass of milk, choking when I swallowed more than I could handle at one time. After this episode, I slipped into my work boots before bounding out the door in my sleep attire: Boxers.
Oops! Good thing I don't have any neighbors.
I quickly completed my tasks for the day: I fed the two chickens Billy Hatcher and Poultra, collecting their eggs for tomorrow's breakfast. I watered all my crops, only pausing to refill my pail at the small pond on my property. With this done, I darted back inside my house, showered quickly, ignoring the burning in my eyes from my shampoo, and dressed in a light blue suit. This was far from my usual red button up shirt and brown work pants, and frankly I felt like a goldfish out of water. Then again, one couldn't expect to find a dance partner looking like a craftsman. One of many reasons Clint the blacksmith probably couldn't find a dance partner.
I checked the time again. Nine o'clock, the start of the event. Fortunately, Lewis was a proper gentleman, by his own accord at least, and would not start the event until everyone in town was present, whether or not they danced. I quickly walked back to the bedroom, looking at myself in the mirror. I paused, gripping my left hand with my right. I let out three deep breaths.
But what if she says no? My eyes dropped as I shuffled my feet a bit. After a moment I smiled and chuckled.
The Fortune Teller wouldn't lie, now would she? I can always write a letter saying how dissatisfied I was or some nonsense if not.
Leaving my watering pail by the door and giving my tie one final tug to straighten it, I departed for the event.
After a stroll through Cindersap Forest, I finally reached my destination: A clearing large enough for the whole town to fit in just south of the wizard's tower. What did he call himself before force feeding Junimo inducing hallucinogens to me? Raspberry? Razzle Dazzle? I passed by the general store owner Pierre's stall, promising to buy strawberry seeds at the end of the dance and to stop harassing me now. The thought of doing business with the man caused me to shiver, but seeds didn't grow on trees. Well they did, but nothing worth planting did.
Scanning the clearing, I found just the man he was looking for: Clint the blacksmith. While some wouldn't be caught dead around the poor guy, I found him alright. In fact, he's one of my closest friends, even if I liked to razz him. He was sweating profusely, staring at Emily the saloon waitress with eyes so wide they looked as if they'd fall out of his face and roll away into the woods. I approached him.
"Clint!" I exclaimed cheerfully. This caused the blacksmith to jump, scanning around for where the voice came from. He let out a sigh of relief before beginning to sweat again.
"Hey Jacob," he offered, dabbing at his forehead with his sleeve. "Haven't seen you in a few days."
"Yeah, no kidding," I replied. "Haven't collected enough bars to upgrade my tools yet."
There was a silence for a moment, allowing me to soak in the sights of the festival. Haley, the resident 'peaked in high school but still holding on to the glory days' woman, was swaying off in the distance practicing her dance moves. Pam and Shane, the local alcoholics, could be seen pouring the contents of an old flask into their cups of punch, no doubt trying to liven the events by killing their livers. Even the spokesman for the local chapter of the Adventurer's Guild was off in a corner, eyepatch and all. What was his name? Manfred? No, it was some kind of fish.
But where was she?
"Jacob," Clint began, dragging me back into the conversation. His words were directed at me but his gaze remained on Emily. "Do you… Do you think Emily would dance with me?"
"Don't tell me you haven't even made any progress with her?" I returned, shaking my head. "What about that advice I told you at the Stardrop Saloon: Impress women with your strength!"
"Yeah, well I tried that by lifting a stone. Real impressive when I dropped it on my leg and wore a cast for half a season, asshole."
"Alright, alright. Look, all you have to do is ask her." I slapped him on the back. "Come on man, she won't dance if you don't ask."
"Fine, but only if you ask someone too," Clint responded while rubbing his lower shoulder, slightly above where I hit him. He chuckled. "I can't be the only one rejected today."
"Don't worry I've got the perfectper-." I froze.
From the entrance, I saw her: Penny, the tutor for the two children in town. She sported a flowing white dress that went down to her ankles, the same style of dress that all the eligible bachelorettes in town adorned for the Flower Dance. While her auburn hair was worn in the same curly on the bottom pattern and her emerald eyes shone like they did every day, they never got old. I began fidgeting with my hands.
"Uh, the right per...ception?" Clint's question snapped me back to reality. "Perseverance? Anti-perspirant? Because if it's that, please let me borrow some before Emily sees me and thinks I fell into the river."
"Okay there she is," I said, motioning with my head at Penny. "She… She's the one I'm going to ask!" I took a deep breath, trying to steady my heart. Thoughts flashed back to the previous Flower Dance my first year in town when I had asked Penny before, but received a polite 'No thanks.' I scanned the clearing, noticing a severe lack of anime hair this year which could only mean one thing: Sam, her previous year's partner, was not there. Now there really was a chance.
The spirits are in good humor today!
"Here's the plan, Clint. I'm going to walk over to Penny and ask her to be my dance partner without pissing myself. Meanwhile you," I said while pointing at Emily, "are going to ask Emily. Neither of us will be on the bench this week." I stuck out my hand as if offering some great compromise between two politicians rather than two grown men who fretted at the thoughts of something called the Flower Dance. "Deal?" After a brief pause and a deep sigh from Clint, he took my hand and shook it.
"Deal," he agreed with a nod.
With that I turned around, almost landing on my ass for the second time today. Flushing for a second, I took a deep breath and walked over to Penny, now standing alone by the fence off to the side. The closer I got to Penny the more I began to tremble and my palms began to sweat. If my friends back from Zuzu High School could see me now they would certainly bust out in laughter. Before I knew it I was standing behind Penny. I cleared my throat, preparing to propose that Penny should dance with me and we would have an awesome time.
"Hi…," was all I could spit out. Penny lurched and turned around, her green eyes staring into my eyes. She gave a small but warm smile back. A smile that Jacob was far too familiar with: One that was hiding a degree of sadness
"Hi Jacob," she replied in her soft voice. Normally I could force myself to at least say something to Penny to keep a conversation alive, but the silence continued. After some time, Penny added on. "Umm… The mountains look pretty nice today?" She dug her toe slightly into the dirt, darting her eyes to the ground almost as if she was embarrassed to have said it.
"Oh, ah, yeah," I stammered. "Very pointy and high." I fought with all my might not to slap myself. Pointy and high? What the hell was I doing aside from ruining this opportunity? Never mind that Penny offered a polite laugh, it wasn't funny. "Anyway, uh…" I thought for a second, then remembered I'd seen her mother Pam. "I saw your mom earlier, I was worried that you wouldn't be here." I paused before quickly adding. "That is, that is of course, if you wanted to."
"Well, not that I don't love her but… You know how she gets when it comes to bowls of punch and alcohol," she chuckled. It felt more forced and not all that humorous. I had opportunities to speak with Penny when we had gotten more familiar and I had seen Pam's outrage first hand when I once tried to help Penny clean up their trailer.
I laughed. "Well, the spirits are supposedly in great humor today!" I rubbed my hands together. "You know, that is if you uh… If you buy that kind of thing. Maybe she'll stop at a cup?"
"Maybe," she conceded. She sighed, looking around the clearing before continuing. "My normal dance partner finally pulled off some super skateboard trick that he's been working on for an eternity, as he claims." She shrugged with a slight smile. "I guess I'll be on the sidelines this year unless the spirits grant me some good fortune." I froze, unable to move at first. Though typically I was the master of not picking up signals from women, today luck was coursing through my veins like heroin. Finally I sighed before smiling.
You idiot Jacob, you damn idiot. Say something! SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!
"Yeah…" I began before trailing off. I scratched my right arm through my sleeve, the sleeve of the suit he specifically bought for this dance. The dance I specifically attended for some closeness with this very woman. My brain must have gone on auto-pilot since I was unable to properly use it myself.
ASK HER!
"So, uh…" I began stuttering hard to the point that Penny began to show some concern. I swallowed hard. "So, it's a dance and you… You know, you need to have a partner and… Well, I, you, us." I instinctively took her hand in my own. "I was wondering if, you know, if you were cool with it if you would… If you would be my dance partner?"
Real nice, moron. The boy she tutors could've asked her better than you.
Penny was looking down at our hands connected, a noticeable blush running along her cheekbones. Her eyes met with mine in a tight connection. With a smile, she enthusiastically nodded her head like a bobblehead swatted by a child.
"Why yes!" She said, still beaming. "I accept!"
"YES!" I screamed, raising my hands up to the heavens. I don't know if there was anyone who lived just outside the proximity of Stardew Valley, but I'm sure they heard this. With a blush of my own creeping in, I scratched the back of my head. "Sorry about that I'm just, uh… I'll just let Lewis know and we'll get started." Penny giggled, twirling the end of her hair while digging the toe of her foot into the ground again.
"I'd love that."
I swirled on my heel, taking care not to fall into the grass. I fought every urge to skip like a school girl coming home after class. I made my way across the field, doing what I could to not trip over the now non-responsive Shane or crash into Emily's trance like dance practice. Before I knew it I was standing in front of Mayor Lewis. He smiled at me, twirling his silver moustache.
"Well Jacob, my boy," he began in a jovial tone. "Today's the big day. May I be so bold as to ask if you've got a partner?"
"That I do," I responded, a smile ten miles wide on my face.
"Very good, my good sir, very good! Now then, shall we get this show on the road?" I responded to Lewis with a nod. As he motioned for everyone to get into formation, I noticed Clint standing next to Lewis.
"Clint!" I barked at him. "She said 'yes'! Penny said yes!"
"Oh, that's great," Clint responded glumly. He sighed, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck. The more I looked at him, the more I realized how pale he was. Even more so than usual, no doubt caused by him never leaving his forge during the day. He glanced longingly at Emily.
"Well what are you waiting for?" I asked, making sure my suit was wrinkle free before I joined the dance. "Time to get lined up!"
"Yeah, uh, about that," Clint trailed off. "I think I'm just, you know, going to watch this year and…"
"DUDE."
"It's not my fault! I went up to her and she was so beautiful in her white dress and her beautiful blue hair and well, I just kind of did that thing-"
"That thing where you piss your pants?"
"Screw you man, I got nervous! I've seen you look like a fool in front of Penny of all people."
"Now what the Hell do you mean by-" I was cut off by the sound of a whistle. I glanced over to the middle of the field, seeing all the young men and women standing across from their typical partners except for one: Penny, standing there waiting for me. I shook my head. "Better luck next year then, I've got to get lined up." With that I sprinted away, leaving Clint to wallow in his self pity. I took my place across from Penny.
Suddenly the flowing tune they play at the start of every Flower Dance began and the women were walking towards us with their arms in the air while we bent our right leg at the knee. I couldn't explain why this was the big opening move. Demetrius said this dance was traced back to ancient fertility rites so maybe this was how they got laid back in antiquity. After what seemed like a lifetime I found myself face to face with Penny. My heart raced as I put my hands on her hips and she put her arms around my neck. It was that time I'd waited a whole year for: Time for Penny and I to dance.
And we danced.
Darkness covered the valley, the horizon having snuffed out the sunlight several hours ago. The trees of Cindersap Forest, a beautiful lavender during the day, were mysterious looking in the night. Penny and I were making our way through the forest with our arms intertwined. I thanked Yoba silently that it was night and she couldn't easily see the blush on my face. She turned to me and smiled.
"I can't believe you'd never danced since high school," she began. "I don't think you stepped on my feet once!" I beamed upon hearing this.
"I went to the library, read every book about dancing cover to cover." She laughed at this shaking her head. I chuckled slightly and felt pride in the fact that I was able to play this off as a joke. Only Yoba and Gunther the curator knew that I was telling the full truth.
The familiar sight of Marnie's ranch came into view complete with bales of hay and barrels sitting outside the front door. We had reached the exit of the forest and were approaching the town.
"I… I'm sorry, Penny," I began, stuttering a little. "You know, about Sam not being showing up."
"Oh no, Jacob!" Penny exclaimed, squeezing my arm. "Please don't apologize, Sam can decide whether he wants to try his double, triple, loopty loop… Whatever trick instead of dance." She paused for a moment, seemingly breathing a little heavier. "In fact, I uh… Well, I actually haven't had this much fun at a Flower Dance before."
"Really!?" I paused.
Calm down man. Don't be stupid here.
"I had an incredible time too, Penny," I continued. "Really, I mean it."
"I'm glad." We were now in town and I could see Penny's beautiful smile under the lanterns' glow. For once I could tell something was different in that smile: There was no sadness, no hint of her hiding back the struggles of her personal life. It was real. We walked in silence for the next couple of minutes. I could see Penny twirling the end of her hair, seemingly deep in thought. As we neared her and Pam's trailer, I slowly started.
"Penny…" I trailed off for a moment, trying to properly collect my thoughts. She looked at me intently. "I'm going to sound dramatic here, but I just wanted you to know: A lot of moments with you are among my best."
I could see the blush on her face taking over her normally pale skin. I'm glad this was the case so it could match mine and I wouldn't look like I had a fever or food poisoning. After all, when Gus uses older fish in the tacos at the saloon, anything can happen.
"Jacob…" Penny began softly, her eyes darting to the ground for a moment. She rubbed her hands together. "The past few years have not been easy for me. I've… I've felt like no one truly wanted to be there for me, and… At the Flower Dance, and in life, I always felt I'd have to settle for Sam." Her eyes met mine as we stopped at her door. "But then you came around." My heart raced, I thought it was going to burst out of my chest in a bloody pulp and stain the door. "Then I realized I didn't have to settle. I had someone who was there."
I looked down and noticed that our arms were no longer connected. Instead, we were holding each other's hands. My calloused, swollen hand from farming surrounded her soft hand and all I could think of was how perfect they fit. I looked back up into her emerald colored eyes and in them I saw everything. The present, the future, a true meaning.
We stood there for a moment in silence with nothing but the river's gentle flowing in the background. I couldn't come up with words, but I could tell by looking into her eyes that we both had the same thing on her mind. I put my arms around her waist, pulling her in. I closed my eyes and leaned forward until our lips met for a brief moment. In that moment, my senses went into overdrive. My legs were wobbling and I felt as if I were going to collapse right there on the ground in front of this trailer, a spot no doubt reserved for Pam after a night at the saloon. I felt as if I were removed from the Earth and in the air with Penny.
We pulled away, our lips parting. We looked at each other blushing and smiling. She began to giggle and dig her shoe toe into the ground for a moment while also playing with the ends of her hair. After a moment she grabbed the door knob and twisted it open.
"G… Goodnight, Jacob," she struggled to get out, her face still beaming and blushing. "Thank you. For… For everything."
"Y… Yeah, uh, goodnight," I stuttered again. "I'll see you soon, Penny." With that she nodded and waved, disappearing into her trailer. As I turned around, I swear I could faintly hear a cheer from inside the trailer. Then again, that might have been my own holler after she went inside. Thankfully no one was around to see my jello legs hobbling back home, because I never did recover my full sensation that night.
I managed to drag myself to the farmhouse, doing a small dance on my front porch. I paused in front of the door to reflect on the matter. Was it real? Had I really not only successfully danced with Penny but learned that she reciprocated my feelings and we had shared our first kiss?
This day was a massive success.
Beaming again, I entered my farmhouse ready to jump into bed and end an absolutely perfect day. I looked around, cringing slightly at the mess in the kitchen sink and pile of clothes on the floor in the bedroom.
I'll need to tidy this place up. Can't have Penny over in a pigsty.
After checking the weather for tomorrow on the television, I glanced up at the clock and noticed it had just struck 2 a.m. Instantly being flooded with fatigue and unable to fight it, I collapsed on the floor five feet from my bed with a huge smile still across my face.
Well, it was almost a perfect day.