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Chapter 3: Sprained Ankle
"Goodbye!" Jack waved to his father as the ferry pulled away from the dock. When the ferry was out of sight, Jack sighed, "Three years. I have three years to get that farm in shape." He began walking up the stairs that led out of the beach.
Jack was walking past the Green Ranch when somebody yelled, "Hey!" Jack stopped walking and turned to see a cute red-haired girl in overalls walking toward him. "You're Jack's grandson, right?" Jack smiled and nodded, "Yeah. My name's Jack also." The girl smiled and shook his hand, "Ann. Ann Green. Pleased to meet you. So. You've decided to take over the farm?" Jack looked at her, "How did you know?" Ann shrugged, "News travels fast around here." Jack nodded. Then, "I guess you'll be becoming a customer then." Jack smiled and nodded.
"Hey! I've got an idea! We're giving away a pony. Would you like it? You wouldn't need to feed it until winter. It would feed itself via your grass." Jack's eyes widened, "Yeah! I'd love it!" Ann smiled, but her smile turned into a frown as she saw someone walking toward them "Oh no." Jack looked at the approaching figure and then back at Ann, "What is it?" He asked. "It's my brother."
Ann's brother was close enough now for Jack to make out some features. He was probably a few years older than Jack and he was about twice Jack's size muscle-wise. He didn't look happy.
"Ann! What are you doing? You should be feeding the animals!" Ann frowned, "I was greeting our new neighbor! And you'll be happy to hear this, he says that he could use our pony!" Her brother studied Jack for a moment and then said, "No." Ann's eyes widened, "What do you mean no? He's perfect!" Jack blushed slightly. Ann's brother scowled, "I said no!" Ann scowled back, "I'm giving the pony to him! Whether you like it or not!" Her brother took a step closer to her. Then, "Gray? What are you doing?" Doug stood behind him with a disapproving look on his face. 'Gray' turned to face his father, "Ann's just giving away Cliffgard's brother!" Doug looked at Jack and smiled, "So. You've decided to take care of him?" Jack nodded, "If that's okay." Doug smiled, "Very well then. He's yours as long as you promise to take care of him." Gray looked at his father in bewilderment, but, with one look from Doug, he walked off in the direction of an animal barn. Ann smiled, "Thanks, Dad." Doug smiled at her and then shook Jack's hand, "Good luck on the farm. Take care of the horse and that dog. I'll drop the horse off later. I'll also bring some free dog food along too. After that, though, you'll have to pay for it." Jack nodded, "No problem." Doug patted him on the back, "I think you'll do fine." Jack smiled widely and headed for home. Doug put an arm around his daughter's shoulders, "I hope . . . For the sake of us all . . ."
The Chihuahua barked happily when it saw Jack enter the farm. Jack knelt down and scooped it up in his arms. "I still haven't even named you. Hmm . . . I think I'll name you . . . Taco. That's a great name. Taco . . ." Taco yipped happily and Jack set him down. "Hello? Anybody home?" Jack heard a gruff voice say. He turned around and jumped back. Standing there was a man that would make Gray look like a toy. "Ye–Yes?" Jack said meekly. The man smiled, "Oh. So the rumors are true. You are taking over the farm." Jack nodded. "That's great! That means I'll still have business here! I'm Zach Shipper, the town shipper. I ship this town's produce to the city." Jack shook Zach's gigantic hand. "Jack Williams." Zach smiled, "You sure look like your grandfather." Jack smiled back. "Anyway. I'm here to tell you about shipping. You see that crate?" He indicated a large, wooden crate near Jack's house. "That's a shipping crate. You also have one inside of the barn and chicken coop. After you collect your produce, you can put it in those crates, and usually at five every Monday, I'll collect it. I'll pay you the approximate price for them also. Don't worry about leaving the produce in there too long. They all have built in refrigeration units." Jack nodded, "Okay. When I start getting some crops, I'll be sure to do that." Zach smiled and patted Jack on the back, "You'll do fine. I can see your grandfather in you."
"Thanks." Zach turned to leave, but Jack called out, "Wait!" Zach turned back to face him, "What's up?" Jack looked around sheepishly, "Uh . . . I don't have much money right now, so I was wondering how would a newbie farmer get some quick cash?" Zach laughed a big, hearty laugh. After a few moments, "There's many ways. You can get some in foraging, but mainly in part-time jobs. The Carpenters sometimes will hire people to help cut wood and things. Green Ranch pays for help with their animals. Let's see . . . The vineyard could use some help this fall during the harvest. Hmm . . . There's the Festival Committee. They don't really pay you, but you get free stuff at the festivals. What you'd normal–."
"Festivals?" Jack asked. Zach smiled, "You really are a newbie aren't you. Oh well. Festivals are kind of our own little holidays. They're usually days to celebrate. You should subscribe to the local newsletter. It's published by the Festival Committee. It gives you updates on upcoming events and such." Jack nodded, "Thanks. But, uh . . . Where would I subscribe to this newsletter?" Zach smiled, "I'll do it for you." A man in a mailman's outfit opened Jack's mailbox, placed something in it, and then walked off. "I've been here a day and I'm already getting mail? That's weird." Jack walked up to the mailbox and opened it up. Inside was what looked like a small newspaper. He pulled it out and looked at it. He chuckled, "Looks like someone already beat you to it, Zach." He held it up for Zach to see. At the very top of the front page was, "FLOWERBUD NEWSLETTER" in bold, colorful lettering. Zach chuckled also, "Yep. Looks like you're right. I wonder who did it." Jack looked at the newsletter thoughtfully, "Me too."
Jack waved goodbye to Zach and then walked into his house. He plopped down on a chair in front of his dining table and looked at the newsletter again. For the first time, he read the front page. The first column's headline said, "OLD FARMER DIES. FLOWERBUD MOURNS." Jack smiled at that. At least he knew that he wasn't alone. He began reading, "'On March 15th, one of Flowerbud Village's oldest members, Jack Williams, died. He had been ill for many months and we all knew it was coming. His funeral was held March 22nd.
"Many people of Flowerbud have been worried that this would affect the town's revenue. Ever since the former owner of the vineyard, Eve, died, Jack had been the sole 'moneymaker' of Flowerbud. Jack's crops brought much recognition to Flowerbud. That, in turn, shot the town's revenue up. Because he's passed, the town's revenue will lower. But, there is a beacon of hope for the men and women of Flowerbud Village. Jack's grandson, ironically named, Jack, has decided to continue his grandfather's legacy and bring the farm back up to par and possibly, hopefully, more.
"The town seems to have mixed opinions about him though. Some are afraid of the fact that he's never had any former experience. Others, though, hold him in full confidence. The reason being, his grandfather had no past experience when he first took that farm either. The mayor seems to think that the farm is in good hands. He says, quote, 'Anybody Jack thinks can handle that farm, I think the same.'
"So the result of this crisis in Flowerbud is still unknown. Maybe this new Jack will succeed. Maybe not. Only time will tell . . ."
Jack looked at the newsletter sadly. "So. The fate of the entire town may depend on me. Grrreeeaaat." He said dragging the last word out.
After finishing the newsletter and finding out about the upcoming events called the 'Sowing Festival' and then the 'Flower Festival', he realized he hadn't eaten yet that day. He sighed and turned to a little refrigerator in the corner of his house. That was the only kitchen utensil he had. He opened it and peered inside. There was nothing. He sighed and looked toward his front door. "Looks like I'm goin' shopping."
"He'll never make it. He's too much of a shrimp." Gotz said with a laugh. Karen glared at him, "His grandfather made it didn't he?" Gotz stopped laughing and looked at Karen, "Don't be so naive. His grandfather got lucky. There was no pressure on him at that time. He could take it slow. It won't work that way this time. The entire town depends on him. He needs to start making money soon or there won't be any Flowerbud a year from now." Karen looked at her father with a look of bewilderment on her features, "What do you mean?" Her father didn't answer. "What do you mean there won't be any Flowerbud, Dad?!" She said while slamming her fists on the wooden table. Her father was always angered easily. This instance was no different. "Don't you talk to me like that! I am still your father! I give the orders around here! Not you!" Karen jumped up from her chair in fury. "I won't take orders from an alcoholic like you! You have no right giving them!" Her father stood up too, "I told you not to–." The sound of the front door slamming rang throughout the house. Karen had left the building.
Jack gathered whatever stuff he needed for shopping. His old rucksack and his wallet. That was it. Of course, he didn't have much else to take. After doing this, he walked out and shut the door quietly behind. He was feeling a bit tired, but one breath of the country air revitalized him. Think about waking up to this every morning! He thought while surveying his land.
His field, for the most part, was flat. There were a few hills here and there though. To his left were the other three buildings that were on his land. His barn, chicken coop, and fodder silo. Jack could almost imagine the cows, sheep, and chickens milling around this area on a sunny day. He smiled and studied the land beyond his land. Forward and to the right was the Green Ranch. Behind him was the Moon Mountain. And finally, directly to his right was the town.
"AHH! I hate him!" Karen said with a growl. "Why can't he ever learn? Why is he always so bullheaded?" Karen ran down the hill that led out of the vineyard. She had plans to go and vent up on Moon Mountain. Little did she know how much that plan would soon be changed . . .
WHAM! She slammed into somebody. Hard. They both went sprawling. Karen cried out in pain as she sprained her ankle because of the fall. It was then she got a glimpse of the person she had run into. It was Jack. Her first instinct was to apologize, but she destroyed that in a matter of seconds, "What are you, stalking me?! Watch where you're going, stupid!" All came out in a flurry. Jack never stood a chance. Or so she thought until she saw Jack get up and walk over to her. He smiled a bright smile at her and held out a hand. I didn't even phase him! It's like he didn't even hear it! Her anger and frustration with herself were once again turned outward to Jack. "I can get up on my own! Don't touch me!" And she really believed she could. For a few seconds at least.
"OW!" She yelped as she painfully remembered her sprained ankle. Jack once again held out his hand. He still hadn't said anything. Karen simply swatted away, "I said I can get up on my own!" He retracted his hand, but didn't move. Karen tried to get up more slowly this time. She put her hands under her body and pushed herself up. Finally, after what seemed to have been a long time, she stood. Now I have to walk. She thought with dread. She took one tentative step and cried out again. Jack had obviously given up not helping her and put her arm around his shoulder to steady her. She growled and said, "Can't you take a hint? I. Don't. Need. Your. Help!" She pushed away from him. The pain that came with that was so intense that Karen started falling again. She felt her feet leave the ground, clenched her eyes shut, and prepared for impact . . .
It never came. Jack had caught her and was now holding her like you would a baby in hopes to prevent her from hurting herself worse. "What are you doing?!" Karen screeched. "I'm going to take you home." He answered. Karen growled, "You are not going to take me home!" Jack just looked at her in amusement. "Yes, I am. You're hurt. Unless you have somewhere else in mind, I'm taking you home." He said in a steady voice. Karen sighed in defeat, "Please. Anywhere but my house. I left for a reason. I don't want to go back yet." Jack nodded, "Anywhere in mind?" Karen thought about it for a moment, "Anywhere." Jack nodded and started walking back to his house. "I think my grandpa kept a first aid kit somewhere in the house." Jack explained.
"I just can't shake the feeling that I'm carrying you over the threshold." Jack said with a smirk as he entered his house with Karen in his arms. Karen promptly elbowed him in the gut. Although, she had been thinking the exact same thing seconds before.
Jack set her down on a chair and propped her ankle up on another. "Now. Where would he keep that first aid kit?" He asked himself. After looking around for it a little bit, he turned to Karen. "Well, since you're my Grandpa's unofficial granddaughter, maybe you'd know." Karen smiled and shook her head. Jack shrugged and continued looking. Seconds later, as Jack was rummaging around in one of the drawers of the small nightstand by his bed, he said, "Aha!" and pulled out a small first aid kit. The Red Cross symbol was painted onto the front of the metal box.
Jack opened it up and peered inside. All that was there was a simple ACE bandage. He shrugged and pulled it out. "This'll work."
He carefully lifted Karen's hurt leg up so he could wrap the bandage around it. "Thank God for first aid training." He said with a smirk. Karen just stared at him, "What?" She asked with a frown. Jack stopped wrapping and looked at her, "I said 'Thank God fo–." She cut him off, "That's it! You'll cause a riot for thanking 'God' around here." Jack blinked like an owl, "What?! Why?" Karen sighed. "I don't know about back on the mainland, but, here, we have the Goddess." Jack was silent for a moment. "What about my grandfather? I here he was a pretty loud Christian." Karen smiled. "Yes. He was the exception. I couldn't tell you why, but, somehow, he didn't cause riots. He somehow was able to get by fairly easily. I think it was because he was so warm and loving. Throughout my entire life, I only saw him get angry once. And that was at our local priest. It was a religious clash." Jack nodded, and sighed slightly. It's not important. If I have to change a metaphor around a little bit, to fit in here, so be it.
Karen looked around the house. She could see that Jack had changed it around a little bit to fit his style of living.
From where she was, there was a small TV and an old couch facing it to her right. In the upper-right corner of the house was Jack's bed. In the upper-left corner was a small refrigerator. Beside that was a door that led outside to a small outhouse. To Karen's left were a large toolbox and the front door. Directly to the right of the front door was the large cabinet that she found the wine in. Right next to her was a small, square table. It was cozy. Not that it hadn't been before…
"There. Done." Jack said finally. Karen looked down at the her ankle and winced. Even through the bandage, she could see the swelling. "That's really swollen." She said quietly. Jack nodded and stood up. "Well. I'm going into town." Karen looked at him in bewilderment. "Why?" Jack turned around to her, "I'm going to get ice for your leg." Karen's eyes widened, "No! You don't have to do that!" Jack shook his head, "I want to do it." Karen sighed, "Okay, but first, can you . . . help me get outside. I don't feel like sitting around here until you get back." Jack smiled and helped her out of the chair. She put her arm around him. Willingly, this time.
Without thinking about it, Karen, whom was sitting on a chair brought out from Jack's house, waved goodbye to Jack as he walked out of his farm. When he saw this, he flashed her a smile that would have melted Antarctica. It was enough to make any coldness in her heart that she felt toward him disappear. She didn't like it. Nobody had ever gotten through her 'defensive barrier' so fast. Nobody. It made Karen want to tell Jack anything and everything. It made her want to tell him things that she couldn't even tell her best friend, Ann. And it scared Karen.
Jack walked into town and looked around. To his right was Lillia's Seed Shop. Forward and to his left was the place he was looking for. Ellen's Bakery and Market.
He walked into the building and, immediately, the smell of fresh bread wafted up through his nostrils. His mouth nearly began watering. He looked around at this little store. In the upper-right corner of it was the checkout counter. To his right was a single table with a menu on it. In his mind's eye, he saw himself and Karen sitting there eating a candle lit dinner in that spot. Then again, He though as he looked at the rest of the building. Right in front of him was the 'market' part of the store. On a table directly in front of him were different foodstuffs. Cereal, bread, instant whatever-food-they-decided-to-make-it-this-time, and multiple others. To his left was a shelf filled with different candies. Ahead of him, past the first table, was the frozen 'aisle'. Right next to the check-out counter was another counter with a glass top and front. Inside of it were many different types of cakes, pies, cookies, and breads. That was the bakery section. Next to the bakery was a kitchen utensil section where a person could buy silverware, dishes, and other things like that. And finally, in the upper-left corner of the store was the refrigerated section. There were drinks, lunch meats, and other things there.
Jack hurriedly picked out the items that he would need and placed them on the checkout counter. There was nobody there, but there was a bell on the counter. Jack smiled a mischievous smile . . .
"I wish he'd get back soon. I'm getting bored." Karen said to herself. "Bark! Bark!" Karen jumped at the high-pitched bark. A small Chihuahua walked out from the doghouse that was in front of Karen and looked at her in puzzlement. "Hey! You're a cute little dog!" The dog barked and then jumped into Karen's lap. "Karen!" Karen looked up from the dog to see Ann walking into Jack's farm with a large pony in tow. She had a bag of dog food under her arm. "What are you doing here?" Ann asked when she reached Karen. "And what happened to your leg?" Karen smiled. "Well. I had another fight with my dad today. I was going to go to Moon Mountain to cool down some, but as I was running out of the vineyard, I ran into Jack. Literally." Ann laughed. Karen glared at her. Ann, then, quieted down. "Anyway. He wasn't injured, but I sprained my ankle. Then, he tried to take me back home. I told him no, so after some arguing, he remembered that his grandfather kept a first aid kit here. So we just came back here." Ann nodded, "Where is he now?" Karen shrugged, "He said he was going into town for some ice for my ankle." Ann's eyes widened, "He walked all the way to town for you? In this heat? Yeesh. He must like you or something." Karen blushed deeply. Ann looked at her in amusement, "And it looks like the feeling might be mutual." Karen glared at Ann, "It is not!" Ann laughed, "Uh-huh. That's what they all say. So. How long has he been gone?" Karen shrugged, "Probably for about half an hour." Ann's eyes widened, "The market's only five minutes away. I wonder what he's doing."
BRING! BRING! BRING! BRING! Jack chuckled as he rang the little bell over and over again. BRING! BRING! BRING! The door that led into the kitchen flew open and a middle-aged man ran out. BRING! BRING! BRING! Jack kept on ringing the bell. "Okay. I'm here now. That's enough." The man said with a laugh. BRING! BRING! BRING! "That's enough." BRING! BRING! BRI– The ring was cut off as the man swiped the bell away. "Aww . . ." Jack said. The man rolled his eyes, "Are you shopping or did you just come here to play with the bell? Oh. My name is Jeff, by the way." Jack smiled, "I'm Jack, and yes, I did come to shop. I have these things and I'd like two loaves of bread." Jeff smiled and grabbed the bread. "Here you go, have a nice day." Jack just looked at him in bewilderment, "Huh? Don't I need to pay?" Jeff shook his head, "First purchase is always free." Jack smiled, "Cool." He looked at the pile of stuff that he had just bought. There's no way I'll be able to carry all of that home before the ice melts. He looked around and spotted an old, rusted shopping cart behind the counter. "Hey, Jeff. Uh . . . Do you think I can, maybe, borrow that cart? I'm in a hurry to get home." Jeff looked at the cart and then back to Jack, "Sure. Why not? Just bring back sometime." Jack smiled and put all of his stuff in the cart.
Karen watched as Ann put the horse away and then fed the Chihuahua. Ann sat on the grass next to Karen's chair. "So . . . What do you think of him? He's kinda cute, don't ya think?" Ann said. Karen rolled her eyes, "I don't know what to think of him. He can seem really nice some times, and other times he can be very mischievous. He's really different from the people around here. I wonder where he's from."
"I'm from New York." Karen and Ann both screamed. Jack, who had snuck up on the two, laughed. Ann paled, "How long have you been there?" Jack smirked, "Oh . . . Not too long." Ann sighed in relief. "Just long enough to hear you call me cute." Ann's eyes widened in embarrassment and she turned a deep red. "Don't worry though. It's not the first time I've been called cute." Jack said with a mock-prideful air about him. Karen laughed and Jack joined in. After a few seconds, Ann got over her embarrassment and laughed too.
After a few minutes of getting to know Jack, Ann decided it was time to go home. She got up and looked at Karen. Karen was looking at Jack. She does like him! Ann though with a smile. "Karen. Do you want to come over?" She asked. Karen blinked and then looked at Ann. "Uh . . . Sure." Jack suddenly remembered something. "I forgot to make you an ice pack! I'll be right back." Jack ran into his house. Ann looked at Karen with a smile, "Oh yeah. He really likes you." Karen scoffed, "He's just being nice." Ann smirked and was about to reply, but Jack ran back out of his house. He had a black T-shirt in one hand and a bag of ice in the other. "Okay. Let's see . . ." He said as he opened the bag of ice. He laid the shirt flat on the ground and poured some ice onto it. From there he took the sleeves and the two bottom corners of the shirt and tied them together. "It's not really all that great, but it'll do." He said with a smile.
Jack handed the 'ice pack' to Karen. Karen frowned, "I don't really have any use for it now. I'm going to Ann's house. They have plenty of ice packs." Jack frowned and then smiled, "That's okay." Karen started handing it back, but Jack stopped her, "Keep it. It's the least I can do for running into you." Karen wanted to say how it wasn't his fault. That it was her own. And that she should treat Jack to dinner sometime. And–, "Darn right, it's the least you can do!" Jack winced slightly but then he regained his composure. "Uh. Yeah. Anyway. See ya." Jack looked at Ann, "So. My horse is in the barn?" Ann nodded, but didn't say anything. She was embarrassed at her friend's behavior. Jack smiled a weak smile and then called for his faithful companion, "Taco! Taco, where are you?" A small bundle of fur that was in Karen's lap suddenly awoke and barked. "There you are. Come on." The dog jumped off of Karen and ran to Jack. Jack opened the door to his house and Taco ran inside. "Thanks." He said to Ann. He looked at Karen, "Sorry 'bout your ankle. See you." Jack genuinely tried to flash his million-dollar smile. He only ended up with a half-a-million-dollar one, but even that was able to make Karen swoon.
Jack walked into his house and closed the door behind himself. "Sorry . . ." Karen said so quietly that Ann couldn't even hear her.
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--Ben