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Chapter Two: Settling In
Caw-Caw!
Ugh, Bela groaned internally, burying her face in her pillow to hide from the early rays of the morning sun. There's no way it's already tomorrow.
After Mayor Lewis and Robin had departed from the dilapidated farm, Bela had simply thrown her luggage in the front room and thrown herself on top of the surprisingly new bed in her grandfather's old room.
Seems like they did some renovations before I arrived. Bela thought gratefully. It didn't take long for Bela to succumb to her dreams, her grief and long journey both taking a heavy toll on her.
Caw-Caw!
Bela groaned again, this time reluctantly pulling herself to her feet. She knew that she had several long days worth of work ahead of her and the sooner she got started the better.
She rummaged through her luggage and settled on a faded pair of ripped jeans, paired with an old t-shirt and boots. She styled her hair away from her face, taking a moment to stand over the kitchen sink and splash some cool water to remove any remnants of sleep from her eyes.
As she prepared to exit the farmhouse she noticed a dozen packets of seeds on the kitchen table with a small note next to it. Bela picked it up, feeling slightly embarrassed that she had failed to notice it sooner. It read,
Dear Bela,
This is just to help you get started. Good luck!
Mayor Lewis
Bela gave a small half-smile at the mayor's act of kindness. It was heartwarming to experience kindness from someone who was pretty much still a stranger.
Maybe, Bela mused. Things will be different. In a good way.
She strolled out of the farmhouse, the crisp spring air nipping at her nose. She found a chest behind the house filled with old tools.
Hmm, Bela glanced out at the property riddled with overgrown grass, discarded tree branches and stones. Where do I start?
After pondering for a moment, she decided to grab the scythe. She figured clearing the grass was the easiest task to perform.
First, Bela sighed. I'll clear out the main island and make a patch for a garden and plant the seeds Mayor Lewis gave to me. Then, I'll clear the routes to town and up The Mountain.
With a plan in place, Bela began wildly swinging the scythe, desperate to rid the farm of the knee-length grass. Hours go by before Bela was able to completely clear the path to the farmhouse from town. She took a seat on her front steps, fully taking in the magnitude of Riverland Farms.
Shit. Bela thought to herself as she gulped down a bottle of water. Looks like I have my work cut out for me.
"Honey," a kind, yet tired voice called out. Caroline had just finished restocking the shelves at Pierre's General Store. "I'll be back in a few hours."
"Have fun and tell the women to drop by sometime." Pierre responded without looking up from the register. Today had been yet another slow day as Pierre struggled to compete with the nearby Joja Mart.
Caroline grabbed her sun hat from the counter and left without another word to her husband. I wish he would spend less time worrying about the store.
She walked out of the nearly perpetually empty store to meet with her friends in the town square.
"Hello, Caroline!" a cheery voice greeted her.
"Olivia! This is perfect timing."
"I know!" Olivia responded, strutting over to the housewife. As usual, Olivia looked as though she was heading towards a photoshoot for Forbes magazine. "Let's not keep Jodi waiting."
The pair quickly made their way to the edge of the square near the cemetery, where Jodi was already standing there waiting.
"Caroline! Olivia!" Jodi smiled at them. "How is everything?"
Caroline smiled back, "Oh, Jodi, you know how it is. Same as always."
"Oh, I'm in a lovely mood today." Olivia waved a hand across her perfectly made face and chuckled lightly. "I've managed to make quite a lot of money through some of my stocks. I think I might be able to make a significant payout and hire a landscaper to help maintain the yard."
Jodi and Caroline quickly exchanged a look. Both women were housewives, struggling to make ends meet and keep their children in line. They would never admit it, but they were both a bit jealous of Olivia's wealth and free time.
"Now," Olivia continued on, seemingly unperturbed by the pair's jealousy. "If only Victor would find himself a job, then things would be perfect. How are your kids?"
"Well, Sam's gotten himself a part-time job at Joja Mart." Jodi answered, fidgeting with the end of her braid. She gave Caroline a sympathetic glance before continuing, "And Vincent is still having trouble focusing on his lessons with Penny. Luckily, she's been dropping by the house to give him extra lessons."
"Ah, Adrian has been struggling with the new math Penny introduced." Caroline said, nodding in agreement. "And Abigail's been slacking off with her online classes ever since that new Prairie King game came out." She shook her head in disappointment.
"Hmm," Olivia nodded. "I think Victor mentioned that they've been practicing in the saloon."
"Oh, Yoba," Jodi rolled her eyes. "That's all Sam's been talking about this week. Part of the reason why he got his job was so he could get it."
"Ah, well, at least it's been keeping the kids busy." Suddenly, Olivia's eyes narrowed. "Have any of you met the new farmer?"
Caroline sighed, knowing that Olivia always changed the conversation to gossip.
"Well," Jodi answered shyly. "I tried going to that old farm with a bean casserole to welcome her, but no one answered. I even visited Mayor Lewis to just make sure that Bela had actually moved in and he said she arrived here Monday."
"Well, when I went over there, I saw her working out in the field." Caroline said, as the other two leaned in closer. "But, when I tried calling out to her, she just ignored me."
"No way!" Jodi exclaimed.
Olivia gasped in surprise, "How rude!"
"I know!" Caroline sighed. "Forgive me, Olivia, I know things in the city are different, but I didn't expect her to outright ignore me."
"No, I understand, Caroline." Olivia responded. "You would think she'd be a bit more polite. Didn't Lewis say that she was around Victor and Sam's age?"
Jodi nodded, "You'd think a young woman like that would have had better manners."
"Hmph," Olivia stuck her nose up sharply. "Seems as though we have another Andy in town."
Caroline and Jodi looked around the square quickly, happy to see it empty at this hour.
"Olivia!" Caroline chastised lightly. "You're too blunt."
"Yeah," Jodi agreed. "Maybe she's just a bit shy like Sophia."
"Well, at least Sophia has the decency to say hello," Olivia shot back. "People like her are the reason why people like you think people from the city are so rude."
Caroline and Jodi shoot another glance at one another, remembering when Olivia and Victor had arrived in Pelican Town just the year before. With her extravagant looks and taste for the finer things in life, many in town had been intimidated by her and her wealth.
"Hopefully, you just caught her on a bad day, Caroline." Jodi said, trying to give the new farmer the benefit of the doubt.
"Hopefully," Caroline sighed. "Well, ladies, I should probably help Pierre close the shop and get dinner ready for the kids. I'll see you all again soon."
Jodi and Olivia nodded in agreement, each of them bidding their farewells before heading their respective ways back home.
"You know, Caroline," Olivia said in an unusually cautious tone of voice. "Sometimes, you and Jodi are too kind for your own good."
"Goodbye, Olivia." Caroline gave a weak smile.
Olivia rolled her eyes playfully, "Have a good night." Not even a minute later, Olivia was opening the door to her beautiful manor where her son sat in the kitchen, nose buried into a book as usual.
"What did I say about bringing books into the kitchen, Victor?"
"Mother," Victor raised his eyes sheepishly. "Apologies. I was just waiting to see if you needed any help with dinner and figured I would entertain myself. I'll bring this back to the library at once."
"It's all right." Olivia smiled. "And don't worry about dinner, I've already prepared something for us."
Victor turns to return his book to the library before Olivia continues, "Wait just a moment, dear."
"What is it, mother?" Victor furrows his eyebrows in curiosity. Hopefully, not another inquisition about my unsuccessful job search.
"Have you heard anything about the new farmer, Bela Rivers?"
"What do you mean?" Victor frowns. "I haven't yet gotten the chance to meet her, but I assume it's because she's been busy fixing up that old farm."
"Hmm, interesting," Olivia says, turning to grab their dinner from a pot on top of the stove. "I was just curious if you've heard anything from any of your friends, like Abigail."
"Abigail?" Victor asks, rolling his eyes. "Did something happen with Caroline?"
"Well," Olivia turns around, a glint of mischief in her dark eyes. "Since you ask, Caroline mentioned that Ms. Rivers appears to be quite rude." She eagerly scanned her son's face in hopes of inciting a reaction.
"Rude?" Victor's eyes widened in surprise. "How so?"
"Apparently, when Caroline went over there she spotted the new farmer working out on the field. When she tried calling out to her, she just completely ignored Caroline. Can you believe that?"
"Hmm," Victor frowned. "Perhaps she was preoccupied."
"Still," Olivia rolled her eyes. "It doesn't take much to say, 'Hello' or 'I'm busy, can we talk another time?'"
"I suppose so." Victor stroked his chin in thought. "Perhaps, I'll head over to make my introduction."
"I wouldn't waste my time." Olivia said, carefully serving a plate of spaghetti to her son. "Jodi also wasn't able to talk to her."
"Oh, come on, Mother. Don't be so judgmental." Victor gratefully accepted the plate. "And have you forgotten that she's from Zuzu City, like we were? She might not be used to the townspeople's friendliness. I know I wasn't."
Olivia sighed before taking her seat across from her son. "You may be right. If you do decide to pay her a visit, make sure to extend an invitation to dinner."
"Of course."
"Now that that's settled," Olivia said, the mischievous glint in her eye returning. "Let's talk about your job prospects."
Victor Jenkins decided to pay this mysterious farmer a visit. He decided to bring a simple wooden basket, adorned with beautiful faux green leaves, holding one of his mother's finest, iridium-quality aged Blue Moon wines as a welcoming gift. Inside the basket, Victor had written a simple note, inviting the newest resident to Pelican Town to dinner at the Jenkins' residence.
His mother, Olivia, was a bit apprehensive about this invitation, especially since she had heard of the newcomer's rebuff of her friends, Caroline and Jodi.
Regardless, Victor decided to try and engage with the farmer. After ensuring that the wine was secure in the basket, he promptly exited the manor and began heading west out of town towards Riverland Farm.
Maybe, Victor pondered. This newcomer is focusing on fixing up that old farm. If she grew up in the city, perhaps she didn't realize the importance of antiquated pleasantries in a small town like this.
He chuckled to himself, remembering how awkward it was when he and his mother first arrived in Pelican Town. Similar to the newcomer, Victor and his mother had resided in Zuzu City. He was studying engineering at the prestigious Pellcar University, while his mother worked as an accounting manager at Joja Corporation.
Hmm, Victor thought. I wonder if Ms. Rivers worked in the same department as Mother.
After about twenty minutes, the cobblestone street of the town square had morphed into a simple dirt path. As he approached Riverland Farm, he was amazed at how much had already changed on the main island. The path he was on was clear of grass and any other debris, and across the farmhouse was the beginnings of a simple strawberry patch.
It seems as though the new farmer has been quite busy, Victor noted, looking around in admiration. However, it appears that quite a lot of work still needs to be done. He noticed that there were still many large stones and fallen tree trunks littered across the property.
After surveying the field and determining that the farmer wasn't outside working, Victor walked up the steps of the farmhouse and politely knocked, his hands rapping against the wooden door quickly, yet loudly. He waited patiently before knocking once more, a bit more urgently. This time, the door suddenly gave in.
I suppose the farmhouse is in need of maintenance as well, Victor thought, wondering what his next move should be.
Well, Victor gently pushed the door open, I do suppose the door is unlocked.
"Hello?" Victor called out, peeking his head inside the farmhouse when he heard no response. "Ms. Rivers?" His eyes swept across the room, searching for the newcomer.
"Ms. Rivers?" He called out again, cautiously stepped inside the farmhouse. "My name is Victor Jenkins. Might I ask where you are, Ms. Rivers?"
The front room was surprisingly spacious, containing only a small table, chair, television and fireplace. He looked over to the left and noticed a small kitchen, also barely decorated and only containing the simplest of appliances. To his right, he noticed a door that stood slightly opened.
That must be her bedroom, Victor thought, There's no way she could still be asleep, is there? It's the afternoon.
He decided to walk over and knock once more. "Ms. Rivers? Are you in there? I don't mean to intrude."
Once again, there was no response.
Getting slightly impatient, Victor slowly pushed the door open wider and was annoyed to see the new farmer sweeping with her back towards him.
How rude! Victor was annoyed that his mother may have been right about the new farmer. How can she act like she hasn't heard me calling her for the past five minutes?
Victor cleared his throat loudly. "Excuse me, Ms. Rivers. Did you not hear me knocking?"
Victor looked on in astonishment as Bela continued to sweep without acknowledgement.
"Ms. Rivers," Victor raised his voice in annoyance. "I did not want to believe the rumors, however, you are acting just as rude as the townspeople have described you. How disappointing!"
Bela swept whatever dust she had managed to collect into a dust pan, finally turning to see a stranger in her doorway. She dropped her dust pan, screaming in fear. She gripped her broom with both hands tightly, pointing it at a man whose face changed from an expression of annoyance to one of fear and confusion.
'"Who are you?!" Bela screamed, waving the broom threateningly.
She didn't hear me? Victor thought in confusion. He looked at the angry and scared farmer, realizing that she must be deaf.
"My name is Victor," he said slowly, taking extra care to emphasize each word. "I live in Pelican Town."
Bela's face burned bright red in embarrassment as she promptly lowered her broom. She raised her hand in a waiting gesture, before looking around the room for her hearing aids. She hadn't worn them in days since she had been spending most of the time working in the field and didn't think she needed to.
"I-I'm sorry, Victor," Bela apologized, the red refusing to leave her face. "But, how did you get in here?"
"I'm afraid that your door was unlocked, Ms. Rivers." Victor answered sheepishly. Now that the farmer was no longer threatening him with cleaning supplies, he couldn't help but notice her beauty.
"Bela. Just call me Bela." She nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Well, Bela," Victor raised the arm holding the basket, "Welcome to Pelican Town."
And this concludes chapter two! I hope that you all enjoy cameos from some of the beloved characters in SDV. I promise that more will be introduced in later chapters.
See you all next week for chapter three!