CHAPTER FIVE

     It was still early spring, and the Goddess Festival was just around the corner. Kyo hadn't found a date. In fact, he hadn't even given the festival any thought. He had overslept this morning, and it was now 8:18. He pulled himself out of the comfort of his bed and got ready for the day ahead.

*~* My View *~*

     I finished up my breakfast and threw the bowl in the sink. I had gotten a late start this morning. Just as I went to sit on the couch I remembered all the chores I had to get done. Though I was seriously considering taking a day long vacation, I had to make up for yesterday. In all the turmoil of the day's happenings, I hadn't done a bit of farm work.

     I loaded what I would need into my rucksack. Some tools, food, and chicken feed. As I closed the tool box I saw quite a surprise through the window. Mary was standing at my door with her hand in the air. She seemed to be contemplating whether she should hit the doorbell or not. Wondering what this was about, I went to the door.

     Mary seemed surprised when I opened the door before she could press the bell. She stood in front of me with her mouth open slightly. Finally, some words came to her.

     "Oh, uh… Good morning, Kyo."

     "Hey Mary," I said and waited for her response. When she said nothing, I continued. "Is there something you want?"

     "Oh yes! Um…can I come in?"

     "Certainly," I was very curious. Why did she seem so nervous. She wasn't acting herself. I lead her to the table anyway.

     "Kyo I wanted to ask you something. I talked to Gray about it, and he's all right with it." She paused, and seemed to remember something. "Do you have a date for the festival?"

     "No…" Now I confused. This was getting strange.

     "Well, I was wondering. Would you… do you want to go with me? I mean, I feel kind of bad about the whole…you know…so I was hoping we could go together."

     I sat there with an open mouth, considering what she had just said. Was I still asleep? Finally I came to my senses. I took a moment to think of what to say.

     "Mary, I don't want to go to the festival with you, knowing that you were doing it out of pity. I don't want you to do me a favor. You're engaged to Gray, and he may have said you could ask me, but I know he's not all right with it. I'd feel weird anyway. To be honest, I feel weird sitting with you now, after what happened yesterday, no offense. Know what I mean?"

     She nodded silently.

     "Now you and Gray go together, and have fun, you crazy kids."

     Mary gave me an odd look for that last remark, but smiled anyway. "I understand. Well, I'm glad I came anyway, it was nice to talk to you," she stood and gave me a hug before heading for the door. She opened it, but before leaving she turned around. "And thanks, Kyo, for being so good about all this."

     The door closed and she was gone.

     WHAM! I hit my head on the table. Ow…there had to have been a better way to express my frustration…

     Sheiko gave me an icy glare. She seemed to be angry at me for not feeding her the other day. I didn't like the look in that chicken's beady eyes. Once I was done I backed out of the chicken house, and closed the door. Mental note: Never forget to feed the chicken.

     I had used up the last bit of chicken feed just then. It was time to make a stop at Popuri's house to get some more. I love visiting that house. Their mother, Lillia, stays at home for the most part because she is weak thanks to some sort of disease. While she's at home she enjoys cooking, and so on any of my visits I get free food. Beside the great food, the smell in the house is always mouthwatering.

     "Afternoon ma'am," I said as I peeked in the doorway. That was the nice thing about this town. The doors are always open, and you're always welcome.

     "Oh, Kyo! How nice of you to stop by. Come in, sit down!" she insisted.

     I sat at the table wearing a huge grin. "Oooh, that smells wonderful. What are you making?"

     "Why thank you! I should have known that'd what you were here for. It's cheese fondue, and I believe it's  done," she had this smile that never seemed to leave. She was such a friendly person, yet another reason I loved this house.

     "Well, that's not the reason I came here," another whiff of the fondue came to my nostrils. "Well, not the only reason, anyway. I'm out of chicken feed. Do you guys have some for sale?"

     "Of course we do. Once Rick gets back he can take it to your farm. Until then, why don't you try some of this? It's a new recipe, so I need you to tell me how it is."

     "Oh I couldn't…"

     "Oh, but Kyo I¾"

     "Well, if you insist," I interrupted jokingly. I hoped I hadn't offended her by mistake, but was put at ease when she laughed.

     Lillia poured the cheesy goo into a bowl and put it in front of me.

     "Now you know you're always welcome here. I love testing out new recipes, and you eat anything. Besides, you're all skin and bones, and you need something to keep you going while you're doin' all that work in the sun."

     Meanwhile I was half way through the bowl. I looked up and tried to speak through a mouth full of cheese. "Ooh, mmm mff brf."

     Lillia laughed again. "I take it it's good then."

     I paid Lillia for the chicken feed, and she told me she'd have Rick send it over once he came home. As I was leaving the yard I ran into Popuri. Before she had noticed me I had seen her, and she seemed to be down. Eventually she looked up at me, slightly surprised.

     "Oh, hi there, Kyo."

     "Hey Popuri. Something bothering you?" I asked

     "It's nothing, really," she said, sounding very depressed. Then she reconsidered. "Kyo, all the other girls have dates. I'm the only one going to the Goddess Festival alone, and it's only three days away. It's just not fair."

     "They all have dates? Ann already has someone?" I hadn't even realized what I said until after I said it.

     "Yeah, she's going with…Cliff, I think. And Elli has James."

     "James?"

     "Yeah, you know, the Doctor? Karen has Rick" she said, sounding almost disgusted, and then added, "and Mary has you."

     There was something I didn't need to hear. "Actually, Mary's going with Gray."

     Popuri looked shocked at this. "Oh, you mean you said no? She told me she would ask you."

     "Yeah, she did, but I figured it'd be best if she went with Gray. I'd feel weird about it."

     "Oh," was all she said in return.

     "Well…since we're both dateless, would you wanna go with me?" I normally wasn't so brave with situations like that, but somehow it just came to me.

     Her face suddenly brightened up. Popuri was always smiling, but this smile was different from the one I saw any other day. This was a sweet and very happy smile. It was the kind that gave you that warm fuzzy feeling inside. "I'd like that," she said. "I'd really like that".

     She stood there for a second before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me in a hug. I cautiously returned the hug by putting my hands on her back.

     "Uh, well yeah, I just thought…I uh…thanks," I managed to spit out.

     She stepped back from me, still smiling. "So, will you come to my house on the day of the festival?"

     "Sure."

     She walked past me and went into her house. Meanwhile I was standing there in her yard, very happy with that hug. Finally I gathered my thoughts and decided to pay Ann a visit, so I headed off to the Inn.

     I opened the door and was greeted by Doug, Ann's father. He was a generally friendly man, but he knew I was good friends with Ann, so he was always good to me.

     "'Ey, Kyo! What brings you here? Can I get you something?"

     I shot him a smile. "No, that's all right, just visiting Ann. She here?"

     "I believe she's in her room. You know where it is, and I know she won't mind you stopping by, so go right ahead in."

     "Thanks Doug," I said walking past the bar and into the kitchen area. This is where Ann and her father actually lived. Her room was down the hall, and Doug's past that. I walked to her door and knocked lightly and listened for an answer. I got one in the form of a loud snore. Carefully, I cracked the door open and peeked in to find Ann napping on her bed. She looked kind of cute sleeping there, though her snoring kind of took away from that.

     Tiptoeing into the room, I sat on the edge of the bed next to her. Before I woke her up I happened to spot a book on the dresser next to the bed. Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked it up and opened to the first page. It was Ann's diary. I quickly shut it and put it back on the desk.

     It's none of my business. I shouldn't read it. Besides, we're good friends. She tells me everything about herself anyway. I told myself. Of course, if she tells me her secrets already, what's the harm in reading them? That convinced me. I opened to the last couple of pages she had written.

     Dear Diary,

     I can tell Kyo's more bummed about loosing Mary than he's letting on. He was at the bar last night with Karen. She bought him a drink! I couldn't believe he'd actually drink something like that. I talked to him afterward, though, and he said he didn't like it, so nothing to worry about. Anyway, I'm really happy because Cliff asked me to go to the Goddess Festival with him! It's going to be so great! Of course, I wasn't too sure. I had kind of wanted to go with Kyo, and I'm not sure how he'll feel about me going with Cliff. I mean, I know we've been friends all this time, and he never seemed to mind when I talked about how much I liked Cliff, but I'm not sure how he feels about me. Last night when I walked him home, I felt it was right to give him a kiss on the cheek before I left. I swear, I felt a spark when I did, though. Who knows maybe we could take our friendship further. I could see Kyo as my boyfriend. But can he¾

     Ann began to stir behind me. Quickly I shut the book and put it back in its place. She turned on her side and found me sitting innocently next to her.

     "Kyo? What are you doing here?"

     "I came for a visit cause I had left the farm anyway. I found you sleeping in here and was going to wake you up. I guess when I sat down it did the job." So I lied. What was I suppose to tell her? Hey Ann, I came to hang out, but since you were sleeping I took the opportunity to read your diary.

     She smiled with her eyes half open, and she was still half asleep. "So what's up?"

     "I heard you have a date for the festival. Cliff, eh?" I winked and gave her a nudge with my elbow.

     Blushing profusely, she giggled and asked, "How did you know that?"

     "Popuri told me. I ran into her this morning."

     "Oh, ok. I hope you don't mind that I'm going with him."

     "Why would I mind?" I asked, though I knew full well what she meant.

     "Oh, nothing. Just saying…" she said this while avoiding eye contact with me. Then she changed the subject. "You escorting anyone?"

     "As a matter of fact I am. Mary asked me this morning, but I a said no. Long story short, I told her I'd feel weird about it. But when I was talking to Popuri this morning, the fact that neither of us were going with anyone came into the conversation, so I asked her."

     "You asked her?" she asked.

     "Yeah…" I responded, confused.

     "I don't believe it. For the year I've known you, you've always been to afraid to do anything like that."

     "So I'm getting better. It's not that hard to believe."

     "I suppose…I'll have to ask Popuri to make sure you're not lying."

     I scowled at her. "Well anyway, I have to be getting back to my farm work. And you should be getting out of bed, you lazy lump."

     And so the day went on like most other days. The festival was approaching, and to my surprise I had a date. Things were looking up.