Tuesday, 16th of Spring

"Get off of me!" Alma yelled, kicking the sheets off. Her heart was pounding in her ears, she was panting, and sweat was dripping down her back. She closed her eyes again, remembering it was a nightmare. It wasn't real. She took in a deep, shaky inhale, then pushed it out. Her heart rate started to decrease, and her breathing slowed back to normal. "It wasn't real," she reminded herself. She sat up and looked down at her hands that were still shaking. She noticed the indentation from her ring still on her finger. It felt like a lifetime ago. "It was," she told herself. She stood up and got dressed. "This is a better life."

Alma went out to check her mail. She had a letter from Pierre about new fertilizer in his store and another from Marlon at the Adventurer's Guild. He said that if she could slay ten slimes, she could be admitted. "Slimes," she read, thinking back to her encounter in the mines. "Well, an apt description anyway." She had already killed a few, so ten actually didn't seem too daunting. She wondered if she could do it and really call herself an adventurer. She took out her journal and noted it.

When she looked over the crops, she saw tulips were ready, as was a potato or two from the mixed seeds. She harvested those, watered everything else, and gave Bisclavret his water and pets too. After doing a walkthrough of the farm, she went into town. On the way, she gathered any salmonberries she could find. She knew they weren't valuable, but every little bit counted. She was less than five hundred gold away from getting her chicken coop. When she went into Pierre's shop, she was surprised to see how many customers were there. Not only were people shopping for their groceries, but the ladies of the town were heading to the back for Caroline's weekly aerobics class too - which Alma wanted to join in one day. "Welcome to Pierre's!" he called as she came in, and she could see from his face that he was happy about all the activity too. "How can I help you today, Alma?" he asked as she approached the counter.

But just then, the door opened, and Pierre's face changed. Alma looked behind her and saw Morris, the manager of the JojaMart in town. He walked into the middle of the store and cleared his throat loudly, as if trying to get attention. Alma and Pierre watched suspiciously, and they saw all the customers turn to Morris to listen. "Come and get it, folks!" he announced. "Coupons for fifty percent off your purchase at JojaMart!"

"Fifty percent?!" Pierre cried.

Morris looked at him and smirked, then called again, "Well? Any takers?" He waved the coupons in the air, and the people in the store descended upon him. Within a moment, the store was empty. Only Morris remained.

"But … I can't match those prices!" Pierre said to himself as much as to Alma. "I'd be selling at a loss!"

Morris chuckled as he walked up to them at the counter. "It must be so difficult for you," he said, rapping his knuckles on the counter, "to lose your loyal customers like that. But can you blame them? Joja Corporation is clearly the superior choice. Soon the whole town will realize that."

"Not the whole town," Alma sneered. "I'm never giving Joja so much as a penny. They've taken enough from me."

Morris looked down his nose at her. "You're new, farm girl. You'll learn how the town works in time." And with that, he gave Pierre another long look and left.

Pierre sighed heavily and leaned over the counter, holding his head in his hands. "Listen, Pierre," Alma started. "If you need to buy my produce at a lower price, I understand. You have my business no matter what, and I'd be happy to help out if I can."

"No. No, Alma," he said, standing up. "I'm a fair businessman, and I know you work hard. I'm not lowering my buying prices."

"Then maybe increase the price a bit so you can – "

"And lose more customers to Joja? No, I can't do that to the people here who have been so loyal to me. They've come to expect the prices as they've been."

"Well," Alma said slowly, "they didn't seem … very loyal to you today."

He looked down and sighed again. "It's just business. It's not personal." He looked up at her. "I'll be all right, Alma. I'll figure something out. Thank you, though, for trying to help."

"Well, let me help some more," she said, putting her bag on the counter. She sold him her tulips, potato, and salmonberries, and she bought some more potato seeds.

As they were doing business, Mayor Lewis came in. "Good afternoon, Pierre! Alma." He came up to them and stopped. "What's going on? Why do you both look so … forlorn?"

"Morris was just in here," Pierre answered. "He stole all my customers with fifty percent off coupons. Fifty percent, Lewis!"

"And then he rubbed it in his face," Alma added.

Mayor Lewis put his hands on his hips, looking to the ground and shaking his head. "I wish something would happen to that JojaMart. They've been no good since they got here. But you mark my words, Pierre: you know I always buy all my groceries from here, and you know I always will."

"Thank you, Mayor, that means a lot."

"So you see? You still have some loyal customers," Alma said with a small smile.

"And with regular additions of farm fresh produce," Mayor Lewis said, patting Alma's back, "maybe we can attract more."

"Absolutely," she answered.

Pierre smiled a little. "Thank you both."

"Well, I'd better get back to it," she said, hoisting her bag over her shoulder again. "I need to go do some fishing in the mountain lake. I'll see you all later."

"Thanks again, Alma. See you around." Pierre and Mayor Lewis both waved to her on the way out.

Alma made her way to the mountain lake, picking salmonberries on her way. When she got up to the lake, she cast her line and waited. She was pleased that after a few tries, she was able to catch two bullheads. Still no carp or largemouth bass, though. But there was still time. She was out of space in her bag, so she went to the community center to drop off the bullhead and decided to maybe try the beach for an anchovy. She went all the way down and fished next to Willy on the pier. They chatted, and he gave her tips as she fished. But unfortunately, she didn't get anything valuable. Walking along the beach, though, she did pick up a clam and cockle shell, so she was happy to take those back to the community center as well. She stood outside the door of the community center and thought about going to the mines, but she was already pretty low on energy. Maybe she should just go home, plant these new potatoes, and call it a night. And as she made her way back through town, she passed the clinic. She felt the familiar pull: should she go inside, or should she move on? "I'll just go say a friendly hello – to him and Maru."

She went into the clinic and saw Leah leaving. "Hi! Here to see the doctor?" she asked.

"Yeah, just popping in," she answered. "See you around!" Leah waved before heading out, and Alma turned back and saw Maru at the desk and Dr. Harvey at the door to the exam rooms. He flashed a quick smile then made his way through the door and around to the back of the desk.

"Hi Alma!" Maru greeted. "Is it an emergency?"

"No, no, just dropping by to say hello to the both of you," she said with a smile. She noticed the blue jazz flower still sitting on the counter in its vase. "The flower is still hanging in there, huh? It looks good here."

"Yes, it – it livens the place up," Dr. Harvey answered, pushing up his glasses. "Sometimes the clinic can look a bit cold, so it's nice to have a little color."

"You know," Alma said, "I'd never heard of a blue jazz flower before I moved here."

"That's probably because it only exists here," Maru answered.

"Really?!"

"Yes, it's a native species only found in Stardew Valley."

"Any medicinal properties you know about, Doctor, like a lot of the other plants here?" she asked.

"I don't know, actually," he answered, sticking his hands in his coat pockets. "It is edible, though, but, no, I think it's mostly decorative."

"It's quite an unusual-looking flower, don't you think?" Alma asked, looking at it. "Just kind of a … big kind of pom pom-looking thing on a stem."

"Yes, I suppose, but I-I rather like it." He walked to the flower and picked up the vase. "It's expressive, energetic, a little quirky, unexpected …. Seems to, uh, take quite a bit after its namesake, don't you think?"

"What, jazz?" She looked at the flower in a new way. "I guess I hadn't thought of that."

"Is that where the name comes from?" Maru asked.

"I'm not sure," he shrugged, "but I-I would assume so. That's what it makes me think of, anyway."

"Gunther would probably know," Maru teased, and they all chuckled.

"Do you listen to jazz?" Alma asked.

He paused for a moment, as if hedging his answer. "Yes, occasionally, when I'm b-by myself in the clinic or in my apartment. I'd say it's the music I, uh, gravitate to the most, but I wouldn't call myself anything like a, uh, an aficionado."

Alma laughed. "Me either. I mean, I'm not against it, but I wouldn't call myself a fan."

"It's not for me," Maru said. "I find it a bit chaotic and distracting."

"It is quite polarizing, I think. But, yes, I enjoy it. I feel like it's quite classy, and just like they say to dress for the job you want, I feel like if I listen to more jazz, maybe it will make me more … sophisticated, I guess."

Alma laughed and said, "If that's the case, I guess I should listen to more bluegrass to be more like a farmer!"

"And what, should I listen to electronica?" Maru asked. They all laughed, but Alma could see from Dr. Harvey's face that he looked a little uncomfortable.

"Well," Maru said with a sigh, "I think it's about time for me to go home. Mom asked if I could help her load up some lumber before dinner." She turned and asked Alma, "Have you met my mother? She's the town carpenter."

"Oh, yes, several times. In fact, she's the person who picked me up off the bus when I first arrived! She's helped me out a lot. And soon, she'll be building a chicken coop for me."

"Soon?" Dr. Harvey asked.

"Yes! Maybe in the next day or two."

"Well, that's exciting!" Maru said. She came around the desk and got her things ready to go. "I'll see you around, Alma. See you Thursday, Doctor!"

"Yes, see you then, Maru. Take care." Dr. Harvey and Alma both watched her walk out the door. When she turned back around, she could see him still with a coy smile on his face. "Uh, h-hi, Alma," he said, as if suddenly aware of the expression he was making. "Er … Read anything interesting in the library lately?" She wondered what was going through his mind. He still seemed so flustered.

"Actually, yeah," she said, sitting in the waiting room. "Are you aware of Gunther's new Lost Books collection?"

"Oh! No?"

"Well, apparently there are several books that once belonged to the library but got scattered throughout the town, and he asked me to keep an eye out for them while I'm working. I've donated two so far! And he was able to clean them up, so I got to read them!"

"Wow, fascinating!"

"Yeah, it was pretty cool. I've been reading that one called Tips on Farming for a while now. And the other book was written by Marnie!"

"Really?"

"Yes! It's about caring for animals."

"That will be, uh, helpful for you when you get your chicken coop, no doubt."

"Yes, absolutely!" She realized he still seemed quite uncomfortable, and she was maybe too excited. She tried to tone it down a bit. "Anyway, you should check it out sometime."

"I will. Heh." Then he sat awkwardly again.

"Listen, um," she started, "I'm sorry if our comments about jazz made you uncomfortable, like when I said I should listen to bluegrass and Maru said – "

"Oh, no, it's not a problem. It was – It was funny!"

"Okay. It's just … you seem a bit nervous. I wanted to make sure I didn't say something that made you uncomfortable."

"Oh, no no no, nothing like that. It's just - I'm - Well, I'm … just kind of an anxious person is all."

"Like at the Egg Festival?"

He put his head down. "Right. Crowds, heights, certain ... social situations …."

Alma folded her hands in front of her. "Well, again, I'm sorry if I said anything to make you feel uncomfortable, or if I ever put you in any of those situations."

"No, Alma, no, you never have. My anxious nature is nothing you need to concern yourself about." Alma nodded, still feeling like he wasn't telling her the whole truth. But she also didn't feel like it was her place to pull it out of him. "I'm sorry to say this, but, uh," he stood up and walked to some of the files that were collated behind the desk, "I do have some paperwork I need to do before I close down the clinic. You're – You're welcome to stay, but – "

"Oh, no, I understand," she said, standing from the seat. "I'll get out of your hair."

"I-I don't want to seem like I'm kicking you out. It's just quite boring."

She started inching her way to the door. "No no, it's okay. I need to get home anyway. I just wanted to pop in and say hi, that's all."

"Well, um … I'll see you around then?" He said, smiling and hugging one of the files to his chest.

"Yes, see you around." She opened the door. "Have a good evening."

"You too, Ms. Alma."

She went out and looked to the evening sun. The sunset in Stardew Valley was always beautiful. She took a breath and made her way back home.

TW: bullying

Alma walked into JojaMart and picked up a shopping basket. She passed by Morris's desk to get to the aisles, filling up her basket with canned foods, processed meats, boxed snacks, frozen dinners … until her basket was overloaded. She went to the checkout and smiled at the woman working the register, but she didn't even acknowledge Alma was there. She started scanning the items and putting them into bags.

"Alma?" She turned and saw Pierre standing there, bewildered. "I thought you said – "

"Pierre! I'm sorry! It's not what it looks like!"

"It looks like you're getting a bunch of crap from JojaMart!"

"That will be twelve thousand gold, ma'am."

Alma's head shot around to the worker. "Did you say twelve thousand gold?!"

"That's right. Twelve-zero-zero-zero … and ninety-seven cents, to be exact."

"But I – I can't pay that!"

"Not to worry, ma'am," Morris's voice said from behind her. "We have something in place for people who are … delinquent on their bill."

"You leave her alone, Morris!" Pierre cried. "She's my customer! My friend! My neighbor!"

Morris turned and backhanded Pierre so hard, he fell to the ground and didn't get back up. Then Morris looked back at Alma. "I know about you," he said, coming closer to her. "Downtown branch, originally an IT specialist, then moved up to data analyst, then … back down to IT again after a nasty audit – before you quit. Simply – walked out of there. Right?" Alma was both terrified and furious. "Well, we do have a payment plan for customers who are unable to satisfy their bill, but for you, I may have something better in mind." He grabbed her by the back of her overalls and carried her all the way to the back of the store. He kicked down the "Employees Only" door and threw Alma on the floor. It was totally black in this room. But when he turned on the lights, she saw they were inside the call center. She heard the familiar discord of typing, phones ringing, alerts on the computers, and some people talking on the phone. "Take your place at your computer, and all your debts will be paid," Morris said, towering over her.

"Never," Alma spat. "I'll put my food back on the shelves."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that," Morris said, lifting up his foot. When he brought it down, he slammed it on Alma's hand, crushing her fingers. She screamed, and for a second, the sound of working stopped in the room. But after just a quick moment, an alarm sounded, and they got back to work. Alma looked back up to Morris, and he lifted his foot up again, bringing it down on her face.