Harvest Moon - A Wonderful Life, Indeed
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####### C.R. Roush #############
###### Copyright 2004 ###########
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Chapter Three: A Whole New World
The first few days of Jack's time here were amazing. He caught on so quickly, he remembered things his father had taught him, and he connected with the Valley so well. They were all anxious to see such a young person take on such a huge challenge, and even though some were reluctant, everyone knew he would do well for the most part. I was his biggest supporter.
"So, Jack... how's it going down there on that farm? We've been hearing some good things from Takakura." Griffin passed him a large glass of milk from the opposite side of the counter, then moved closer, his elbow resting on the oak surface. Beside him on the stool was the marmaid, Muffy, and farther down the row, the ever eccentric boy named Rock.
"Well, Tak and I have got some tomatoes planted, no fertilizer yet, there's not enough money yet."
"You don't have enough money? That's a shame..." The young girl smiled flirtatiously, crossing her legs. The skimpy skirt showed a bit more leg than Jack really desired but he pretended to not notice.
"I brought about 800 gold pieces down from the city, wages and stuff. Tak had about twelve hundred here, we put it together to buy the seeds."
"What about the animals?" Rock was barely able to stay on the stool, his feet not even able to touch.
"We've got the one cow, she's about to give some milk, we've got the sheep and a colt who will be mature in just a few days. The other animals were sold before I got here, to pay for the things Tak needed." He smiled nervously, fully aware that had he stayed on the farm none of this would have ever happened.
"That's so admirable." The girl was now almost draped across his lap. The door suddenly creaked open and revealed Nami and Gustafa, chatting almost nonstop. Crossing the room, Nami only gave him a blank stare once she noticed Muffy so close to him. He shifted in the stool uncomfortably as they took seats at the far end of the counter and continued their conversation. "Jack... did you hear me?"
"What?" He blinked twice, then scooted closer to the counter. "Sorry, I was just thinking of something." She smiled, her eyes twinkling, but she assured him it wasn't important. The clock on the wall had just passed the 8 and the night sky was beginning to fill with the stars.
"You have a good night, ya hear." Griffin and Muffy stood in the doorway waving as he headed out onto the path. He was soon joined by Rock, finally finished laughing and drinking the milk.
"I think Muffy likes youuuuuuu." He sang in an annoying tone. Jack just nodded, half-smiling. "She's soooo pretty. But I think I like Lumina better."
Siezing the opportunity to change the subject, Jack jumped on the name. "Lumina? Who's that?"
"Oh. She lives up in the Manor with her grandmother. She's really nice, and she plays the piano." He nodded, pretending to be interested. They were at the door to the Inn now and it was time to break from his new appendage.
"I guess I'll be seeing you then, Rock. Have a good day, and let your mother know that I'll be in tomorrow to get that spice." The little boy smiled and nodded his head rapidly, then disappeared inside.
Just minutes later, as he was about to turn in for the day, he heard laughing coming from down over the bank. He walked towards the shipping room, climbed up onto the small hill and looked down on the path through the trees. There was Nami and Gustafa, laughing and waving to each other. She went inside the Inn as he made his way down to his yurt. In just a matter of seconds the light in the second story window turned on. The blinds were open and Jack watched as Nami walked around the room, examining something.
She leaned out the window now and Jack almost fell backwards onto the dirt. Creeping back up, his eyes just barely looking over the hill, he watched her place a small statue of some sort on the balcony ledge, then she pulled down the blinds and minutes later, the lights went off. Now it was Jack's turn to go inside and sleep, but his last thought before turning off the light was a reassuring one.
I'm going to have to get one of those...
----------------------------------------------------------------
####### C.R. Roush #############
###### Copyright 2004 ###########
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Three: A Whole New World
The first few days of Jack's time here were amazing. He caught on so quickly, he remembered things his father had taught him, and he connected with the Valley so well. They were all anxious to see such a young person take on such a huge challenge, and even though some were reluctant, everyone knew he would do well for the most part. I was his biggest supporter.
"So, Jack... how's it going down there on that farm? We've been hearing some good things from Takakura." Griffin passed him a large glass of milk from the opposite side of the counter, then moved closer, his elbow resting on the oak surface. Beside him on the stool was the marmaid, Muffy, and farther down the row, the ever eccentric boy named Rock.
"Well, Tak and I have got some tomatoes planted, no fertilizer yet, there's not enough money yet."
"You don't have enough money? That's a shame..." The young girl smiled flirtatiously, crossing her legs. The skimpy skirt showed a bit more leg than Jack really desired but he pretended to not notice.
"I brought about 800 gold pieces down from the city, wages and stuff. Tak had about twelve hundred here, we put it together to buy the seeds."
"What about the animals?" Rock was barely able to stay on the stool, his feet not even able to touch.
"We've got the one cow, she's about to give some milk, we've got the sheep and a colt who will be mature in just a few days. The other animals were sold before I got here, to pay for the things Tak needed." He smiled nervously, fully aware that had he stayed on the farm none of this would have ever happened.
"That's so admirable." The girl was now almost draped across his lap. The door suddenly creaked open and revealed Nami and Gustafa, chatting almost nonstop. Crossing the room, Nami only gave him a blank stare once she noticed Muffy so close to him. He shifted in the stool uncomfortably as they took seats at the far end of the counter and continued their conversation. "Jack... did you hear me?"
"What?" He blinked twice, then scooted closer to the counter. "Sorry, I was just thinking of something." She smiled, her eyes twinkling, but she assured him it wasn't important. The clock on the wall had just passed the 8 and the night sky was beginning to fill with the stars.
"You have a good night, ya hear." Griffin and Muffy stood in the doorway waving as he headed out onto the path. He was soon joined by Rock, finally finished laughing and drinking the milk.
"I think Muffy likes youuuuuuu." He sang in an annoying tone. Jack just nodded, half-smiling. "She's soooo pretty. But I think I like Lumina better."
Siezing the opportunity to change the subject, Jack jumped on the name. "Lumina? Who's that?"
"Oh. She lives up in the Manor with her grandmother. She's really nice, and she plays the piano." He nodded, pretending to be interested. They were at the door to the Inn now and it was time to break from his new appendage.
"I guess I'll be seeing you then, Rock. Have a good day, and let your mother know that I'll be in tomorrow to get that spice." The little boy smiled and nodded his head rapidly, then disappeared inside.
Just minutes later, as he was about to turn in for the day, he heard laughing coming from down over the bank. He walked towards the shipping room, climbed up onto the small hill and looked down on the path through the trees. There was Nami and Gustafa, laughing and waving to each other. She went inside the Inn as he made his way down to his yurt. In just a matter of seconds the light in the second story window turned on. The blinds were open and Jack watched as Nami walked around the room, examining something.
She leaned out the window now and Jack almost fell backwards onto the dirt. Creeping back up, his eyes just barely looking over the hill, he watched her place a small statue of some sort on the balcony ledge, then she pulled down the blinds and minutes later, the lights went off. Now it was Jack's turn to go inside and sleep, but his last thought before turning off the light was a reassuring one.
I'm going to have to get one of those...