On Horseback

Chapter 8: The Way To A Woman's Heart

Summer is a great time for swimming. One of the reasons I look forward to the end of the season so much is because of the Swimming Festival. The competition is for males only, and the name says it all. It's a swimming competition. It's too bad that females can't participate, but it's not like I'll die thinking over that fact.

The Firefly Festival on the 17th, was saddening. It always has been for me. The festival is based on guiding the spirits of your ancestors back to heaven, by lighting the path with floating flower candles on the sea.

I stood on the dock just looking up at the stars for about one hour or so wishing that my mother would come back and be with me. It's sad that she won't ever be, though. Karen was thinking about her grandparents and great-grandparents, while Popuri was thinking about her grandmother's dream to continue running the flower shop that they, well, run.

Elli was thinking about both of her parents. They'd both passed away when she was just two-years-old. Finally, Maria was thinking about her grandparents. They had originally started the library before she was even born. Not that I care about such a tramp.

Jack and I talked about both of our mothers. I had found out that his mother died of lung cancer when he was only nine-years-old. The thought scared me. Having a mother who had to suffer through a painful death, whereas mine just died very quickly. It sends shivers down my spine whenever I think about it. Eeeeek. Truly scary. Brrrr.

Today's date is the 19th. The Swimming Festival is held on the 24th. All the males were practicing for competition. Except, strangely enough, Jack and Cliff weren't.

"You're not going to participate?" I asked Jack one day, while helping him harvest some corn. It was a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon. The two of us were discussing the festival and other topics.

"Yes, I will participate. I just don't have enough time to practice. I mean, if I lose, so be it." I laughed at his comment and gave him one of my warmer smiles. "Oh, and if I win, then I'll give you 5000G to spend in any sort of way that you want!"

I seemed surprise at that, but there was no way that I was going to turn down free money! "Then I hope that you win!" I exclaimed and it was Jack's turn to laugh. "If I do, then I do."

A few minutes later, Karen and Cliff came walking into Jack's farm. "Hey, Ann! Jack!" Cliff called out to the two of us. I looked over to see two of my friends walking over. "Yo, guys, how are you doing?" Karen shrugged. "The vineyard's doing well, surprisingly." After Karen said that, Jack's eyes perked up. "Then my prayers worked!"

Karen's head shifted toward Jack. "What?" she asked, sounding stunned. Cliff came over to me and handed me a pink cat mint flower. "Oh! Cliff! These are so rare to come by! For me?" Cliff nodded. "Please, Ann, do take it."

Cliff and I began talking for a few minutes, and Karen was with Jack. She began blushing quite a bit, and put her hands together, as if she was praying or something. "But?! Oh lord, Jack, I don't know...I just don't know what to say."

Karen was showing one of her more gentle sides. She began dancing around and screaming, "Jack put our vineyard back together! AHHHH!" I seemed pretty frightened. Karen hadn't been this happy since we got out of high school.

Jack began walking around as if he was trying to defend himself, trying to catch Karen. Thank the lord he was standing right where she tripped, and he caught her in his arms. "Karen! Can you calm down?"

I shrugged and went back to harvesting. Cliff, having nothing else to do (I assumed, anyways) decided to help me pick the corn.

"Come on, we've got to dance! COME ON!" Karen cried as I continued to harvest. She began dancing with Jack to that same tune that was played at the Flower Festival. Yep, that's the dance to the song that was playing.

"Have you ever danced with the one you truly love?" Cliff suddenly asked me. I looked up at him. What a question, coming from him.

"We-ll..."

"You don't have to answer the question. I mean - there may not even be anyone you love."

I decided to go with the polite comment that Cliff said. "Yeah, I don't love anyone. Not yet, anyway." Cliff and I continued to stare at each other. I couldn't remove my eyes from his face. Well, not until Karen toppled over me.

"EEK!" I cried. The corn that was in my hand flew and hit Cliff in the face. "Why! Ann, you don't go around throwing fresh vegetables at people!" From underneath Karen, I murmured, "I wish I could hear you, and I wish that Karen would get off of me!!"

Karen quickly helped me get up...and Cliff threw the corn at me, which hit my ear!

"Cliff! You nasty little devil!" I shouted, sounding shocked, even though I wasn't. Jack picked up some corn and began throwing it at the three of us. "Yikes!" we all cried.

"HA! Got you real good, there! Just try and get me!" Jack exclaimed and began running around all of his either prior-picked vegetables or his pre-picked vegetables. "Nananana, you can't catch me. Come on! Not even gonna make an effort? You're all so boring! Nananana!" he cried out at us while he continued to dance and prance around all of the veggies.

Karen picked up a corn and threw it at him. It landed on his head. "Why, Karen! I never knew that "fun" was your middle name! You're going to enjoy this little corn up your left nostril!" And with that, the corn, DID fly into Karen's left nostril!

I decided to just join in. The four of us were constantly throwing corn around at each other. "Watch that you don't land on my tomatoes! Or else you're going to have to feel my evil wrath!" cried Jack as he threw a corn at me. I quickly dodged it and it hit Karen in the face.

"You're damn lucky we're not using tomatoes!" she screamed at the farmer. Jack laughed but fell down once a corn sent special delivery by Cliff whizzed right into his right leg.

"Lord, Jack, you suck! You truly suck!" I shouted. Jack walked over to the watering hole that I'd fallen in a few nights back. "Don't EVEN!" Karen screamed at him. She seemed pretty serious too. Unfortunately, Jack had already tossed a big bucket of water at us. Cliff avoided it, but Karen and I were surrounded with water.

"Jack! Just watch me deal with you!" I yelled at him in my most macho voice. "Does anyone have anything that I can whap this kid with?" Cliff burst into laughter, and Jack sent a bucket of water that reached Cliff this time.

At that moment, we went on a water rampage, and the four of us chased each other around the farm. It was funny, and I loved it.

When it began to get dark, Jack looked at his crop fields. It wasn't as messy as he thought it would be, but it was fairly messy. "I'll get this cleaned up in a jiffy. I'll catch you guys tomorrow or whenever."

Karen, Cliff and I walked to the crossroads and said goodbye to each other, and I headed down the path back home, to the Green Ranch.

The next morning, I woke up to another wonderful sunny day. "Ahh! Such a splendid morning, yet again!" I cried as I opened my window...to find Cliff looking in right at me. "Ann, you forgot to tell me something yesterday!" I began laughing and looked at the clock on my vanity. "Cliff, it's only 6:30 a.m.! Could you come back a little later? Please?" Cliff nodded, and said, "Sorry to bother you so early."

I quickly got changed into a tank top and put on a skirt. I hadn't worn one since I'd gotten out of high school. But I decided to put on a more girly look today. My father almost spilled his morning coffee when he saw me in the attire.

"Ann! What on earth are you doing in a skirt?!" I decided to play dumb with my father. "I don't know. To surprise you?" Dad didn't like when I said that, so I quickly said, "To wear something new for once! It's not like I have a pathetic record or anything! You know that, daddy!"

My father replied, "I didn't get a word that you said. 'To have a pathetic record'?" I blushed. "Let's pretend that I never said that, mmkay?" I opened the door and said 'bye to my Dad. I slammed the door and ran down the street to the crossroads. As I'd figured when I came to Jack's house, he was outside cleaning up our mess from yesterday.

"Hey, Jack. I'd love to help this morning, but I can't." Jack looked up at me and said, "And a good morning to you, too. Nice skirt, never seen you in one of 'em before." I grinned a big smile. "You have now, Jacky!" I exclaimed. Jack chuckled and handed me a corn. "No, this is not from yesterday, I just picked it now. Enjoy!" I smiled. How I love corns...drool.

I told Jack that I'd be spending the day with Cliff, and said that I'd come by later.

I ran to the gate of the vineyard where Cliff was standing. He looked at me and said, "Hmm...6:45. Later, eh? I knew you'd come by early!" I laughed and told him that I wanted to go to the square. "The square? Whatever for?" he asked me. I winked at him. "It's always quiet there, exception of the festivals."

Cliff and I agreed to go to the square. We sat down on the benches once we got there. "At this time in the morning, there's never anyone here. So, what better time to come, eh, Cliff?" My friend looked at me for a second and said, "Hey. I never knew that you had such pretty eyes! They make me feel...dreamy...dreamy." I felt special for a moment. But that was a quick thing for Cliff to jump to. We sit down, and all of a sudden he gets...romantic. I couldn't resist; should I go in for it?

"Remember when you asked me about sitting under the sun...no, that was dancing. Whatever. Anyways, ARGH! Here, just let me deliver!"

My lips were getting all wet, so I quickly moved into his lips. All of a sudden, he must have seemed stunned by my sudden movement. But he didn't throw me off of him or anything. Actually, I think he was enjoying the...kiss. We just sat there for a moment, lips still stuck on each other, enjoying each other's company. I didn't want to leave the dream that I was currently dreaming.

Cliff...was I falling in love with him?

But...what about...Jack?