Part 2 – Spring, Yr1: Forgotten Yesterdays bring New Tomorrows

Almost a week had passed by since the Goddess Festival. Thanks to all the seeds the Harvest Sprites had given her, Jenn was making a killing on produce shipped. She already sent all the turnips grown, the potatoes were ripe for picking any day now, and it would only take, say the next weekend, before the cucumbers were ripe as well. Jenn made sure to visit the Sprites regularly and bring them gifts. She made it to their Tea Parties just about every day.

With this new money, Jenn was finally able to get all the things done she needed to do. Gotz was working on remodeling the Chicken coop so Jenn could get more livestock. Afterwards she would ask him to work on the Sheep and Cow barn. At the super market, Jenn got her rucksack upgraded again and even bought a basket. She decided to get her tools upgraded next. Taking her new basket and rucksack with her, Jenn headed for the mines near the goddess waterfall. Inside she began to dig up dirt using her plow. It wasn't long before she found some kind of strange red berry in the ground. Jenn didn't know why, but instinctively, she ate it without second thought. Jenn felts renewed and stronger than before. She took on her task more vigorously now. She was finding ores rapidly and putting the useful ones in her basket. Jenn had descended a few floors into the cave, when she came across Grey.

"Oh, hello Grey. What are you doing here?" she asked as she was climbing down the latter.

"Ah, hi Jenn," Grey said looking up at her, "I'm looking for some silver ore."

"What a coincidence, I'm looking for ore to upgrade my tools with. If I find any silver ore, I'll give you some."

"So you're already upgrading your tools?" He started, "It seems like it was yesterday that you first came here."

Grey returned to digging and searching for ores nonchalantly. He peeked at Jenn from the corner of his eye and continued to work.

"Well I have only been here a few weeks. And I have the Harvest Sprites to thank for my early success. I would probably still be struggling if it wasn't for them…"

Jenn readied her hoe and then with a swift swing, dug into the earth in front of her.

"Hm.. Junk ore."

She dug again for a few times and came up with nothing.

"It's not as easy as it sounds, huh?" Grey asked from his corner of the mine.

"Well it's not exactly hard either," Jenn replied with a smirk on her face.

Grey turned his head around and returned the look.

Jenn cocked an eyebrow and with a mischievous tone said "You wanna race?"

"Sure, first one to find a silver ore, wins."

"Right. On your mark, … Get set, … GO!"

At the sound of the word 'go' the two began searching furiously for the elusive ore. Jenn came across some copper ore which is stashed away in her basket, and even some loose money her and there. She discarded all the junk ore she found and after half an hour she triumphantly flashed a newly dug up silver ore at Grey.

"HAH! I win, eat that Grey!" she exclaimed as she stuck her tongue out cutely.

"Heh, I guess I'm totally outclassed."

Grey's smirk has turned into a grin. Jenn gave him the silver ore and began climbing up the ladder with her basket of ores and other crops. After going up a few rungs Grey began to climb the ladder right after her, needless to say, it was a bit … difficult … for him to not look up while climbing, for one reason or another.

"Nice view…" he muttered.

"What did you say Grey?" Jenn asked curiously.

"Nothing!"

After Jenn escorted Grey back to the blacksmith's and dropped him off, she grabbed her trusty fishing pole and headed for the goddess stream. She still had no idea how to use it, so she might as well learn now, ne? As she was climbing up the steps Jenn could see Cliff's figure there; he was also fishing in the stream.

"Cliff?"

Cliff glanced at her casually from his spot.

"Oh, hey Jenn," he greeted. He turned back to his fishing.

"I thought you'd be at the church, I never knew you fished," she commented.

"Well yeah, I kinda have to," he said sheepishly, "Since I don't have a steady job and limited cash I have to fish every once in a while."

'I probably would have had to as well if the Harvest Sprites didn't help me,' Jenn thought to herself.

"I don't now how to fish. This nice man named Greg gave me this rod but I don't know how to use it. I thought I might come here and learn how to use it."

"Oh, well I'll teach you how to fish," Cliff said cheerily.

"Oh thanks. I'll probably fish a lot better now that your helping me."

After a short explanation of how to use her fishing rod, Jenn was ready to have her first go at it. She took a deep breath and cast her rod. After a short time she could feel something tugging at the line.

"Hey, I can feel something!" she announced excitedly.

"That's great Jenn. Now just reel it in," Cliff explained.

Following Cliff's advice, Jenn reeled in what she caught. When her 'catch' finally surface, Jenn's excitement quickly faded away.

"Aww, all I got was a can."

"Yeah, there is a lot of garbage in the waters around here," Cliff begun, "Fish are getting more scarce. That's why we shouldn't litter."

Jenn pouted. Her first catch wasn't really impressive. It was really embarrassing, especially since Cliff was there with her. Cliff could see her disappointment.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get something sooner or later, just keep at it."

He felt something tug at his line. He reeled it in quickly, and on the end of his line was a small fish.

"See, it just takes a little time and practice, that's all."

Jenn cast her line again. It was a long wait before she got something again. She didn't mind though since Cliff was there with her. She really enjoyed his company. The day rolled on and Cliff managed to get a few medium sized fish. Jenn's line on the other hand was lacking in the action department. The sun began to set and they were just about to pack up and head home when something tugged violently at Jenn's line. She pulled her pole back and furiously tried to reel it in but the fish was too strong. It pulled back and ended up yanking Jenn off her feet, and nearly drug her into the water when Cliff rushed over to help her. Jenn got to her feet and both she and Cliff wrenched the pole back revealing what was on the end of the line. At the tip of Jenn's rod was a…

"What is it?" Jenn asked with a puzzled expression.

"I think it's a Char," Cliff replied, "But I'm not completely sure."

The fish was, overall, unimpressive, just like Jenn's other catch. This fish was much larger Cliff's fish, but it was so thin and skinny, it looked like it was made from bone and scales. By the way it was colored they would have to throw it back because it was poisonous. 'I really wanted to catch a lot of fish to give to Cliff. That way I'd impress him and give him something to eat!' Jenn thought. Jenn pouted for a little bit and Cliff could see her unhappiness yet again. Just at that very moment, Kano the photographer appeared. An idea popped into Cliff's head and he beckoned Kano over to them.

"Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't we have Kano take a picture of your catch?" Cliff suggest.

"Why? It's not that very pretty."

"Ah, c'mon Jenn, lighten up," Cliff said smiling, "It'll be fun."

Kano adjusted him camera and began to center it on Jenn. He was about to take the picture when he motioned Cliff to stand closer to Jenn. Cliff edged just a tiny bit over. Kano sighed and then moved from his position to beside Cliff. He pushed Cliff to about two inches away from Jenn and told him to stay put until the picture was done. Cliff was a bit uneasy. His stomach growled loudly and Cliff's face turned beat red. Kano snapper the photo and Cliff scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. By now the fish was about half dead so Jenn quickly took the hook out of it's mouth and tossed it back into the river.

Kano walked up to them and handed Jenn the picture.

"I think it's one of my better pictures," he said. "Will you be wanting copies?"

"Nah, not really," Cliff said, "Hey thanks for your help Kano. We really appreciate it."

There was a loud caw, and a shadow of a bird over head began to circle around the two. Jenn looked up at it and began to feel nostalgic. It swooped down and landed on Cliff's shoulder. She gazed at it with an empty stared and began to remember a song. It seemed as if it just flooded out of her.

"A voice from the past, Joining yours and mine,

Cutting out the layers of harmony, and so it goes on and on,

Melodies of life, to the sky beyond the flying birds – forever and beyond."

Cliff was completely and utterly confused. Here was this girl that just seemed to 'phase out' as soon as she saw Cain, and then she began singing. He just stood there and listened to her singing.

"So far and away, see the bird as it flies by,

Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up on the sky,

I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings,

Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings."

Jenn paused for a moment, still in her daze. Cliff thought she was finished and smiled sweetly.

"Hey, you know, that wasn't half bad Jenn."

Jenn began to wobble just a bit. Cliff blinked and asked if she was ok. There was no response. Jenn closed her eyes and then collapsed, leaving Cliff in a panic over what to do.

Jenn woke up and felt as if her heard was a balloon that was detached from her body, floating off somewhere in space. Dizziness overcame her, and she was feeling faint. Jenn plopped her head back down on the pillow, and with a blurred vision, saw Doctor looking over her.

"You really shouldn't be moving," he said. "Try and conserve your strength."

"How long have I been here?" she asked.

"Cliff brought you in here in the afternoon yesterday. It's about 11 am in the morning. It seems as though you at something poisonous. Probably something you picked up in the woods nearby. Try to be careful about the food you eat there."

Jenn began to stir and tried to get out of the hospital bed. "I have to go take care of my farm…" she said weakly.

"You can go back to your farm if you want Jenn, but I suggest that you don't do any work. If you so, you will more than likely collapse again and be in worse condition than before."

"But…but," she argued, "I can't sit around and do nothing. I have to take care of my animals and crops. It's not much work so I'm sure I'll be fine…"

"Jenn you shouldn't work when you are sick!"

The Doctor and Jenn turned to see Rick standing inside the clinic just in front of the door.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to over hear your conversation, but I did. See, I came here to pick up some medicine for my mother when I heard everything. Jenn, if you are really that worried about your farm, then I can help you run it while you are sick. I know how to take care of crops and animals because I run the poultry farm."

"But what about your hens and mother?"

"Popuri can take care of hens, and even though m mother is still ill, she is a lot stronger than you are right now."

"…And of course I'll come at the end of each day to check up on you," Doctor added in.

Jenn wasn't in the right state of mind to protest. She nodded her head slowly and fell back into bed, drawing the covers over her. This left Rick and Doctor with the problem of carting her over to her house without disturbing her.

It was only a couple of days Jenn spent sick. She enjoyed Rick and Doctor's company quite a bit. Rick would come in early in the morning and speak with her a bit before going out into her farm and working. He would come in periodically to speak with her so she didn't get lonely. When he was done with work he would come back inside and keep her company until Doctor came to check up on her.

"I really appreciate everything your doing for me Rick."

"It's no problem Jenn," he replied, "After all you did help me get Popuri back and you are trying to save this town form becoming bankrupt. I should be thanking you!"

"But you're doing so much," she said weakly.

There was a brief pause of silence. "Why did you decide to help me?"

"You reminded me of my mother, laying sick in bed."

There was another awkward pause of silence.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Doctor said as he entered through the front door.

"Oh, no, not at all Doctor," Rick explained, "I was just telling Jenn how valuable she is to this village and how we appreciate her taking over the farm."

Doctor nodded in agreement and went about his way with Jenn's checkup. He said that with a good night's rest she should be able to get back to work the next morning. Rick said goodbye and left, leaving the Doctor and Jenn alone.

"How much do I owe you for taking care of me?" she asked?

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Don't worry about paying me for expenses, Jenn."

"Why is that?' she questioned.

"Let's called this repayment for those herbs you gave me a while back ok?"

Before Jenn could protest anymore Doctor got up and left. Was everyone in this town this friendly all the time? Maybe life here wouldn't be so bad. People in the city sure could learn a lesson or three or four from these humble town folks.

…

People in the city? What were they like? They were bad? No, shallow, cold, uncaring, greedy and manipulative. That's what they were. She felt bitter about the city, but why? A feeling of excitement rushed over her. Slowly but surely Jenn's memory was returning to her. All she needed was some kind of huge catalyst that would allow all her memories to become unlocked. Jenn tried to delve deeper into her mind to search for snipplets of past, but couldn't learn anything more. After exhausting herself from all the strain of trying to remember her lost past, Jenn drifted to sleep peacefully.