(Hey everyone out there, I'm BACK! Bwahahaha! .no.I didn't die. I just.had
a mental block for about a YEAR. Grr. anyways, Praise God, I got this one
out! I promise I will work on it more if you make it worth my while. I have
a couple chapters written, but you have to show me that you want to see
them k? For you newcomers or people who are just too slow to understand
what I mean by this, I want REVIEWS!! Ok I know this doesn't follow the
plot line to ANY of the 'Harvest Moon's but I want this to be my fic and
it's not like it's really bad or anything. Any ideas for future chapters
will be greatly appreciated. Cya! Enjoy!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters, I merely write a fan fic. So sue me. (No, don't really sue me, I've got nothing of value. Please please don't sue me!)
Chapter One: The Beginning
It was early morning. The sun had just begun to crest the eastern sky when my father burst into my bedroom. He shook me awake and called to me. "Jack," he said, "wake up. You must wake up."
I was immediately awake, blinking in confusion at my father.
"Dad," I said, "what's wrong?"
"It's your grandfather. He is very ill and we must get to him as soon as possible."
"What's happening Dad? Is he going to be ok?"
It was only a look, but it said it all. My father's eyes shimmered with wetness as he turned from me. I had never seen my father cry before. It brought forth a welling to my throat that beckoned the tears on. We were silent a moment, lost in thought. My father, wiping the tears from his eyes and capturing one that had slipped down his cheek, gave me a hug. "Let's go," Dad whispered, "he needs us now."
~*~*~
The trip to Mineral Town felt like a dream. It felt like we had just left our home and already we were here. The drive had been depressing; no one could think of anything to say. Now, as we stood in front of my grandpa's old farm house, memories of my childhood came rushing back. I remembered playing with him when I was young, running to him and begging for a story. Grandpa always told the best stories...
Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and told myself not to cry. Men of nineteen years don't cry. It took all my willpower to walk through that door behind my father and mother.
There he was, laying on a bed in the corner. The room was dim, as the curtains were drawn on the windows. I glanced around the room, remembering the happy and sad times I had spent here. The sadness of the moment hung on my shoulders like dead weight.
As I knelt down beside my grandfather, I felt a hollowness inside of me. I knew this was the last time I would see him.
"Jack..." he spoke. His voice was raspy and struggling. "My boy, Jack, how you've grown. You're strong, and hard working. I'm so proud of you." Against my will a tear descended down my cheek. "Don't cry, my boy. It's too late for tears. I'm old, and it's my time to join God in Heaven. Please...don't forget me."
I was sobbing now, my heart breaking as I held tight to my grandfather's hand, feeling his strength leave him. "I won't forget, Grandpa. I promise. I will never forget. I love you..." His hand went limp in mine as he breathed his last breath.
It was all I could take. I clutched at my grandfather's hand, crying from the depths of my soul. He was like a second father to me. I used to visit him every summer and help him work the farm. He showed me the tricks and trade that came with farming and I soaked it all up, like a sponge.
~*~*~
A lawyer came to our home in the city, a few days after the funeral, and discussed the will with us. I was in another place, one far away from reality. My thoughts were with grandpa, as he was showing me the skills needed to hoe, nurture, and care for plants. They had to be watered just enough, but not too much.
"And then, of course, there is the farm itself. It has been left to Jack."
I snapped back to reality when I heard my own name. "What?"
"You own that farm now, Jack. Your grandfather wished it to be so." The lawyer smiled at me and nodded. My mother's face clouded. I knew she was going to protest.
"He's too young!" she said, her voice filled with defiance.
"Myra, he's nineteen. It's about time he was let out into the world." my father placed his hand on my mother's arm in comfort.
"He doesn't know how to farm. John, He will starve!" my mother jumped up from her seat and began to pace the length of the room.
I closed my eyes and thought back to what my grandpa taught me. Confidence rose in my heart and I spoke up. "I do know how to farm. Grandpa taught me," I swallowed hard, "when I would visit him. I helped him with the chores...Mom I know I can do this."
Mom looked at me and I could see the helplessness in her stubborn, protective eyes as she struggled to deny the truth. "Absolutely not. You are not running that farm!"
~*~*~
A week later I stood proudly at the front gate of my very own farm. Before, it had always been welcoming. Now, it loomed above me, making me feel small and insignificant. "Who was I kidding," I said to no one, "I can't do this..." The thought of going home returned to my mind as I entered the empty house. How lonely it seemed. How I wished Grandpa were here to help me.
As I cooked myself a small meal of noodles on the fire, I made myself a promise. I would farm this land. I would do it, for Grandpa.
I laid in bed that night, having said my prayers, thinking of the enormous task ahead of me. To tackle it I would need my stamina, and, most importantly, strength from God. With this thought, I drifted silently into a deep sleep.
~*~*~
I dreamt deeply that night. A beautiful girl met me on the street and began to kiss me. She was making weird growling noises and suddenly began licking my ear. That was the moment I noticed something wasn't right. I opened my eyes and looked straight into the face of a puppy. I was so scared, I jumped five feet in the air and off of my bed, landing on the floor with a thud. I gathered up the blankets and wheeled around to see that the dog had trotted daintily to the feet of a young girl. Her blonde hair was tied back in a beautiful french braid and tied with a bow. She had beautiful blue eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
"I'm sorry if I startled you, I didn't think you were still sleeping. No one sleeps in this late around here." She cast her eyes to the ground and her cheeks reddened. I realized I was only in my boxers and covering myself with the blanket. I also blushed. Squirming uncomfortably, I looked her over again, making sure I was fully covered. She knelt down and began to cuddle with the dog on the floor. "Isn't he adorable? His name is Toby. I found him in the forest a while ago, but my dad won't let me keep him. He says that dogs are a nuisance and that we have too many nuisances in our house to have to deal with another one."
"He's cute." I said truthfully.
She glanced up at me, smiling once more. "Really? You really think so?" I nodded and she turned her eyes back to the dog. "Daddy says I have to get rid of him. I don't really want to...but...I was wondering...would you like a dog on your farm?" She looked up at me again, her blue eyes begging me. "He'll be no trouble, honest. And he's good for protecting people. He's so kind and friendly, but not to strangers. He knows who to trust. Please...take him. I know you'll give him a good home."
Those blue eyes were too much. I couldn't have turned her down even if I had wanted to.
"Alright," I said. "I'll keep him here, and don't worry, you can visit him anytime you want."
"Oh thank you so much!" The girl leapt to her feet to give me a hug, but stopped short, blushing once more. "I mean...uh...thank you. This means a lot to me." She averted my gaze and turned sharply heading for the door. When she grasped the handle, she paused. Turning to me, she smiled. "I'm Ann."
I smiled back. "My name is Jack. Nice to meet you, Ann."
A shy smile crossed her face as she opened the door and was gone.
I sighed and let the blankets drop to the floor. I stretched and let out a big yawn. Checking my clock I noticed that it was only 10:30. What did she mean nobody sleeps in this late? She woke me up early! Shrugging, I pulled on my coveralls and my shirt, putting my cap in its usual spot on my head of messy hair. Patting my new dog, I smiled. "Well Toby, let's check out the farm."
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters, I merely write a fan fic. So sue me. (No, don't really sue me, I've got nothing of value. Please please don't sue me!)
Chapter One: The Beginning
It was early morning. The sun had just begun to crest the eastern sky when my father burst into my bedroom. He shook me awake and called to me. "Jack," he said, "wake up. You must wake up."
I was immediately awake, blinking in confusion at my father.
"Dad," I said, "what's wrong?"
"It's your grandfather. He is very ill and we must get to him as soon as possible."
"What's happening Dad? Is he going to be ok?"
It was only a look, but it said it all. My father's eyes shimmered with wetness as he turned from me. I had never seen my father cry before. It brought forth a welling to my throat that beckoned the tears on. We were silent a moment, lost in thought. My father, wiping the tears from his eyes and capturing one that had slipped down his cheek, gave me a hug. "Let's go," Dad whispered, "he needs us now."
~*~*~
The trip to Mineral Town felt like a dream. It felt like we had just left our home and already we were here. The drive had been depressing; no one could think of anything to say. Now, as we stood in front of my grandpa's old farm house, memories of my childhood came rushing back. I remembered playing with him when I was young, running to him and begging for a story. Grandpa always told the best stories...
Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and told myself not to cry. Men of nineteen years don't cry. It took all my willpower to walk through that door behind my father and mother.
There he was, laying on a bed in the corner. The room was dim, as the curtains were drawn on the windows. I glanced around the room, remembering the happy and sad times I had spent here. The sadness of the moment hung on my shoulders like dead weight.
As I knelt down beside my grandfather, I felt a hollowness inside of me. I knew this was the last time I would see him.
"Jack..." he spoke. His voice was raspy and struggling. "My boy, Jack, how you've grown. You're strong, and hard working. I'm so proud of you." Against my will a tear descended down my cheek. "Don't cry, my boy. It's too late for tears. I'm old, and it's my time to join God in Heaven. Please...don't forget me."
I was sobbing now, my heart breaking as I held tight to my grandfather's hand, feeling his strength leave him. "I won't forget, Grandpa. I promise. I will never forget. I love you..." His hand went limp in mine as he breathed his last breath.
It was all I could take. I clutched at my grandfather's hand, crying from the depths of my soul. He was like a second father to me. I used to visit him every summer and help him work the farm. He showed me the tricks and trade that came with farming and I soaked it all up, like a sponge.
~*~*~
A lawyer came to our home in the city, a few days after the funeral, and discussed the will with us. I was in another place, one far away from reality. My thoughts were with grandpa, as he was showing me the skills needed to hoe, nurture, and care for plants. They had to be watered just enough, but not too much.
"And then, of course, there is the farm itself. It has been left to Jack."
I snapped back to reality when I heard my own name. "What?"
"You own that farm now, Jack. Your grandfather wished it to be so." The lawyer smiled at me and nodded. My mother's face clouded. I knew she was going to protest.
"He's too young!" she said, her voice filled with defiance.
"Myra, he's nineteen. It's about time he was let out into the world." my father placed his hand on my mother's arm in comfort.
"He doesn't know how to farm. John, He will starve!" my mother jumped up from her seat and began to pace the length of the room.
I closed my eyes and thought back to what my grandpa taught me. Confidence rose in my heart and I spoke up. "I do know how to farm. Grandpa taught me," I swallowed hard, "when I would visit him. I helped him with the chores...Mom I know I can do this."
Mom looked at me and I could see the helplessness in her stubborn, protective eyes as she struggled to deny the truth. "Absolutely not. You are not running that farm!"
~*~*~
A week later I stood proudly at the front gate of my very own farm. Before, it had always been welcoming. Now, it loomed above me, making me feel small and insignificant. "Who was I kidding," I said to no one, "I can't do this..." The thought of going home returned to my mind as I entered the empty house. How lonely it seemed. How I wished Grandpa were here to help me.
As I cooked myself a small meal of noodles on the fire, I made myself a promise. I would farm this land. I would do it, for Grandpa.
I laid in bed that night, having said my prayers, thinking of the enormous task ahead of me. To tackle it I would need my stamina, and, most importantly, strength from God. With this thought, I drifted silently into a deep sleep.
~*~*~
I dreamt deeply that night. A beautiful girl met me on the street and began to kiss me. She was making weird growling noises and suddenly began licking my ear. That was the moment I noticed something wasn't right. I opened my eyes and looked straight into the face of a puppy. I was so scared, I jumped five feet in the air and off of my bed, landing on the floor with a thud. I gathered up the blankets and wheeled around to see that the dog had trotted daintily to the feet of a young girl. Her blonde hair was tied back in a beautiful french braid and tied with a bow. She had beautiful blue eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
"I'm sorry if I startled you, I didn't think you were still sleeping. No one sleeps in this late around here." She cast her eyes to the ground and her cheeks reddened. I realized I was only in my boxers and covering myself with the blanket. I also blushed. Squirming uncomfortably, I looked her over again, making sure I was fully covered. She knelt down and began to cuddle with the dog on the floor. "Isn't he adorable? His name is Toby. I found him in the forest a while ago, but my dad won't let me keep him. He says that dogs are a nuisance and that we have too many nuisances in our house to have to deal with another one."
"He's cute." I said truthfully.
She glanced up at me, smiling once more. "Really? You really think so?" I nodded and she turned her eyes back to the dog. "Daddy says I have to get rid of him. I don't really want to...but...I was wondering...would you like a dog on your farm?" She looked up at me again, her blue eyes begging me. "He'll be no trouble, honest. And he's good for protecting people. He's so kind and friendly, but not to strangers. He knows who to trust. Please...take him. I know you'll give him a good home."
Those blue eyes were too much. I couldn't have turned her down even if I had wanted to.
"Alright," I said. "I'll keep him here, and don't worry, you can visit him anytime you want."
"Oh thank you so much!" The girl leapt to her feet to give me a hug, but stopped short, blushing once more. "I mean...uh...thank you. This means a lot to me." She averted my gaze and turned sharply heading for the door. When she grasped the handle, she paused. Turning to me, she smiled. "I'm Ann."
I smiled back. "My name is Jack. Nice to meet you, Ann."
A shy smile crossed her face as she opened the door and was gone.
I sighed and let the blankets drop to the floor. I stretched and let out a big yawn. Checking my clock I noticed that it was only 10:30. What did she mean nobody sleeps in this late? She woke me up early! Shrugging, I pulled on my coveralls and my shirt, putting my cap in its usual spot on my head of messy hair. Patting my new dog, I smiled. "Well Toby, let's check out the farm."