So for the next five years I stayed put like the good little boy, until I needed money, I was 13 and starting the dreaded 'Teenage' phase, you know, the whole My parents are lousy, they never let me do anything, thing. I also tried my hand at letting my hair grow, much to my fathers dismay, I think his biggest fear was me turning into some kind of drug addict or something, which is impossible out in Mineral town. This community is too small for that kind of thing to take root. I also started to listen to less traditional music like the dashing white sergeant, and more rock music, that came to an end when Father smashed my CD player with a Hammer. The miserable bastard that he is, I hate him. Eventually I wanted money to replace it. Father wanting the Blacksmith shop to be continued after his death and was hinting at trying my hand at shoeing Yodel Ranch's horse, Siegfried IV. After smashing up my CD player up he tells me to help him shoe a horse?! I told to him go shove it, I wanted to do something else. That got him. For once he shut the hell up.

Mother gave the idea of a part time job to me. At first I hated the idea, but the more I thought about it the more the idea grew on me. With the income I could buy myself a new CD player, and lots of other cool stuff, when I wanted, instead of having to go through the channels of asking for it with Mother and Father. With this thought in mind I set out to find myself a part time job. I thought of the Inn at first, but James had beaten me to it. Being older than me by three years he was able to drink, and since he had developed a taste for alcohol I had hardly seen him, not unlike his Mother Karen, who was well known for her infamous nights out. I avoided the Inn like the plague during those days. I felt sorry for Rick, he had to stand back and watch his wife and son waste themselves away both shouting 'I have no problem' when confronted.

Pair of Liars.

I tried Ajas Winery next, which was now run by Duke and Manna's daughter I never could remember her name; I was informed that my interest had been noted and I would be informed if a place came up.

Yeah, that'll be the day; I'm still waiting for that job.

Alistair, who told me he was saving money up for university, took the supermarket's part-time assistant job, which screwed me over out of a really easy job. I mean all you done was pack bags of shopping!!! How difficult could that be. The poultry farm and Yodel ranch wouldn't take anybody on board unless they were going to work fulltime, so I was stuck in a rut wandering around town racking my head to think of somewhere to get some work. I didn't think of the farm until three days later. I was worried and scared about trying here, I could still remember my fathers warning words and the look on his face clearly, and with a feeling of apprehension and worry I stepped over the gate and entered. I looked about for signs of life. I seen his house, it was a medium sized house with no second floor, with a veranda and a rocking chair on it, which was currently vacant. I went to the door and knocked. My heart was skipping beats in fear, what if he attacked me? Or tried to kill me?

Stupid, stupid dumb thoughts.

He answered after what felt like an eternity; as soon as his eyes fell on me he looked irritated. "What do you want?" Jack said sourly.

"D-d-d-do y-you have an-an-a-any part time jobs Mister J-Jack?" I asked cursing myself in the process for stuttering like a fool.

"A what?" Jack snapped.

Oh, how I hate repeating myself, I take that off of my mother, she never liked repeating herself much either.

"A part time job." I answered quickly, my confidence restored, so far he hadn't pulled out a weapon to kill me with.

The old man looked thoughtful, my hopes begun to rise, maybe I had a chance here.

"What makes you think you have the what it takes to do the job? Being a farmhand isn't like working in the supermarket, you've got to put your back into it at all times, one screw up can cost dearly." He said.

That's another thing I hate so much, being preached about something I knew already. Old fool.

"I know Mister Jack but can I try? I would really like to earn some money, Please Please!!!" I pleaded.

"Call me Jack. I hate when people do that." Jack said irritably, he seemed to be thinking, he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts "I'm sorry I can't take you on board, because the truth is I cope fine with my work, sorry Kid."

I couldn't leave then I still needed a damn job, otherwise I would have to work with my damn father, something I did not want to do.So I tried pleading some more.

I went on my knees. "Please, I've tried everywhere else! I really need a job!" I begged.
The old man sighed, he didn't like being pressured. He looked me up and down.

"You remind me of your mother." Jack said simply.

My mother? Why say a thing like that right then? I didn't answer him. He gave yet another once over then begun to speak.

"All right, you can work here, but you won't be doing any of my chores. Instead I'll buy you some seeds. You can clear yourself some land and till a field, then you can plant them and take care of them, once their ready, I'll let you sell them. Any profit you make will be yours, but you must pay me back for the seeds I bought." He looked into my eyes, "Deal?"

"Deal" I exclaimed happily.

"You'll have to comeback tomorrow, at noon sharp. I won't have the seeds ready until then." Jack said giving me on of his trademark winks.

I went home that night happy, but a bit worried that I wasn't sure what I was letting myself in for.

The next day I arrived at noon sharp. I was eager to work; I needed the money for my new CD Player. Jack was waiting for me leaning on his scythe with a grin on his face.

What?" I asked him warily.

"Your on time. I like a man who keeps to his word." Jack chuckled, he pointed to a corner of the ranch near the mill. "I've laid out your tools and I'll be teaching you how to use them."

We walked together talking about the next festival in fall, the harvest festival, when we arrived I found a patch of ground with rocks, weeds, and some lumber. On the grassy verge next to the mill there where some tools. There four of them, a hammer, scythe, axe and the hoe. They looked battered and woebegone.

"I used those tools myself twenty five years ago, they were my grandfathers" Jack said nostalgically, "I miss him so much, he was the only real family I ever had with my dad wasting his time in that damned office nine til five. I never really grew close to him, but with Grandpa, it was so easy, we just connected." Jack murmured, then he remembered me. "Oh sorry, old memorys, " Jack took a deep breath, fixed me with a beady eye and then begun his tutoral "The hoe is used for..."

The afternoon passed slowly, he in turn instructed me in the use of all the tools, and then explained how to clear land and ready it for planting, all this took so long that he didn't finish until half past four, he told me to go home and rest up. I'd need my strength for tomorrow he said. After hearing all that I could believe him. I went home and went to bed early that night, and dreamt that I was running the farm, I dismissed it as a load of rubbish. My first day wasn't any work but the second.

Of course my parents weren't aware that I was working there, they thought I was working with Zack to handle orders and shipping, a perfect cover story seeing as Gray and Zack handled all transactions by mail meaning they'd rarely meet face to face so I wouldn't be rumbled. It was then I begun to got to know the old man well and uncovered the bad blood between him and my father.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Feel free to leave any comments.