Sunday, Spring 8th- the early evening

I stayed for the entire festival. The dancing was kind of nice, not to mention talking with lots of the townspeople made me think about what else I could do at the farm.

Let's see… tomorrow's Monday, that means the Blacksmith's is open. I can go mining after I water my crops and brush the horse, and drop off my Axe for an upgrade- not only will I be able to clear stumps, but I can seriously start saving for an upgrade to the house. (Author's note: I know you're supposed to upgrade the chicken coop first, but I'll just pick the expansions as I need them. Who actually needs a bigger chicken coop during the first year, anyways?)

I let myself flow with the music, listening to it carry me away… and I watched the girls dance around, as well. Ann was kind of funny to watch, as she was obviously not interested in the entire skirt thing, but she did try her best to stay in time.

Karen was obviously an experienced dancer- her twirls reminded me of something I saw my sister do in ballet class maybe ten years ago. She knew what she was doing- and I believe she knew I was watching her.

Popuri's hair seemed to fly over into her face every time she twirled around, which was quite often. Her hairband had come loose, and now it seemed she couldn't complete a single repetition without having to brush her hair out of the way.

I kept on having fun until about four o'clock, when the dancing was over, the record player wound down, and everyone started to leave. I saw Karen catch my eye as she was leaving, telling her mother that she wanted to cool down at the beach after she got her costume off and safely stored away.

"So what did you think of it?" It was Rick, walking back towards his house.

"I liked it. No words you couldn't understand, and the girls were actually wearing something. You wouldn't believe what they get away with where I come from."

"I can imagine." He made a face.

"Well, much as I'd love to talk, I've got to rush home. I predicted hatching for tonight or early tomorrow morning, so I'm going to pull an all- nighter. I think Popuri's staying up too, so if you can't sleep, come on over. We'll pull a table out to the chicken coop and play games and stuff."

"I think I might take you up on that offer. Stay up all night, have a blast with you guys, my potatoes are coming in tomorrow, so I can pick them, brush the horse, and sleep all day as a little reward. Life's working out."

"I'll see you tonight, then! Come by the coop around ten!" He ran off, obviously making preparations in his mind. I started making preparations in my mind, as well.

Let's see… the Inn closes at about ten. It's about five now. I can go to the beach with Karen, eat dinner at the Inn with Ann, and then stay up all night playing games with Rick and Popuri. Jason, you're a genius- I think.

So… time to hit the beach…



"Hey! You came!"

I slid off the crate I had been using as a seat for half an hour, and stood up to greet Karen. She laughed for a second and sat down on the crate nearest to me, but not next to me.

She considers me a friend, I believe. A very good one, at least.

"So how's life been treating you?"

"Well, it's been all right. Except for this morning when I solved most of my problems by falling out of bed."

"You fall out of bed in the morning and solve your problems. That's better than slipping down the stairs and discovering you left a roller skate there the night before."

I laughed a bit, and turned my gaze to the sea.

"Life's kind of strange, when I think about it. 'Time flows like a river… and history repeats…'"

"Is that some kind of a quote?"

"Yeah… maybe some song, I don't remember. But it fits. I remember running around the village when I was young, raising a ruckus and generally having a blast out here every summer."

"As I recall, you used to put frogs in Elli's bonnet and spend all day chasing butterflies and picking flowers back then."

"And then the seven of us would all sit around near the top of Mother's Hill and listen to you sing. Life was good back then- pure and uncomplicated. Not like today."

"I know. Mom's obviously trying to teach me to cook, and seeing as how she resents the fact I add a bottle of wine or something to anything I cook, I think she's realizing it might be a lost cause."

"Well, don't kick yourself over it. Everyone does something in their life- maybe your thing isn't cooking. Reminds me of the time I tried to cook in a fully-equipped kitchen."

"Oh?"

"I was maybe… eight at the time, and Mom had set out all the things she needed to make a soup we all liked. She was letting it simmer, and I thought I'd help out and add something that I thought was going to give it a kick. So, I found a little red bottle, and dumped maybe half of the contents in."

"Let me guess… Tabasco sauce? Half a bottle's like setting your mouth on fire."

"Unfortunately, I thought it was some kind of sweetener or something, so by suppertime, everyone's drinking anything they can get their hands on. Mom looked at the counter, saw the half-empty bottle of Tabasco, and next thing I knew I was grounded for two weeks."

Karen laughed while I let my face grow a bit red.

"So, are you any better at cooking now?"

"Well, I can fend for myself- but what I have out at the house isn't exactly a five-star restaurant."

"You'll get everything in no time. Once you get a rhythm set in, and get settled, you'll do fine."

"Yeah- after all, sometimes I think farming is just digging a hole in the ground, dropping a seed in, and watering it. But then I come here and get reminded that it takes plenty more than that."

We sat there for a while, and then Karen abruptly realized something.

"Oh, geez. I'm supposed to do a total inventory with my parents tonight- it's going to be a madhouse. You wouldn't believe how much stuff we stock."

She stood up, and I watched her walk off and up the stairs. Then she turned back to me.

"Good luck with it. You'll do fine. Trust me."

She then turned and ran up the stairs and off towards the supermarket.

I sat there on the crate- and looked at my watch.

'Sundown is in approximately four hours. That should be time enough- unless I do something stupid like falling in the hot spring and twisting my ankle.'

I dusted myself off, stretched my legs, and started the walk to the base of Mother's Hill, to prepare for more exercise than I'd had all last month.



"It's about time! What kept you?"

Popuri was sitting on the grass near the start of the Mother's Hill trail when I finally came up.

"I had some stuff to take care of at home. I have a plot of potatoes coming in tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure I had watered them and all that."

"Oh- all right- I forgive you." Her eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Well, this is the Mother's Hill trail. It's not that hard to climb, actually. The hardest part is where you have to go up to the summit."

"I'm up for it. How about you?" I asked.

"Sure! Let's walk!"



I'll break it off here.

Sorry I haven't updated in so long, but I've been VERY busy with school, ACT testing, SAT testing, and finding a place that will publish a book of mine.

There will be a poll next chapter- frankly, I'm just happy I was finally able to finish this one!

As always, my e-mail is Jayson_Four@yahoo.com - so don't hesitate to flame me, praise me, or say I should write the script for the next HM game.

Catch you later,

Jayson 4