Point of view change here. We're switching over to Jack's view for this chapter.
I watch George sulk off with his shoulders slouched as he left, much like his father the last time I seen him here. George isn't bad at farming, he has the potential to be good, but it could all go to waste if he becomes an apprentice to Gray. It's about five in the afternoon and all the chores are done for today. I haven't seen Zack pick up today's shipment yet that lazy slacker that he is. I once shipped a months worth of crops and that fool of a shipper manages to let them all be decay in transit to the market. I had to survive off piece meal that winter. Thank god for Ann allowing me to run up a tab at the Inn.
I've decided to go and have an early evening today so I can refresh myself for tomorrows harvest, even with Georges help, it'll still take 3 days to do, I've got the sprites onto taking care of the livestock though, so I can focus on working on those crops. I cook myself up a quick batch of rice balls, my speciality meal, the only one meal, which tastes good and I can cook it without it carbonising on me. I gave George the recipe a while back. I wonder if he ever did cook it? I suppose I should ask him tomorrow, as I head to the bedroom, I glance to the kitchen, I can see the stack of unwashed dishes from my meal. Normally I would just do them when I wake up, but tomorrow I need to be out in the field the whole day to harvest the corn, so I decide to go and wash up now than rather go and pay the morning after, when I need to make maximum use of my time. I watch the soapy suds wash away the sticking rice grains on my bowl, and then I whip out with towel and with a quick skim around the inside to dry it. Not the best of jobs, but it won't kill me. I finally turn off the lights and go into the bedroom, I change into my pyjamas and slip under the covers. I fall asleep almost immediately. The summer heat never bothers me.
Later on, I'm walking in town, I don't know where I 'm heading I just felt like wandering around. Some of the lampposts aren't right. They're flickering on and off. I just chalk this up to Mayor Thomas, he never could really run this town, wait? Did I just say Mayor Thomas? Hmm... that's odd. I could swear that Harris ran this town now, and that Thomas passed away. "Hey Jack! Anything to report?" came a voice casually from behind me, I turned around to see Harris in his patrol uniform, "It's just that nothing ever really happens in this town." "Harris, I thought you were the mayor! "I said bewildered. "Mayor? Sure Jack, look I've got to complete my patrol now or I'll be very very late home, I don't want dad up worrying about me. I'll talk to you later." Said Harris hurriedly before tipping me a wink, then he took off. Unnaturally fast as well. I carry on walking through Rose Square, which is covered in snow. Again odd... I carry on to the Inn where Doug greets me. "Hi Jack, want today's special?" Doug smiled. "It's sheep's wool smothered in spa boiled egg. 256,000 G to you!" "No thanks Doug," I smiled back "I don't want whatever it is." I blinked and he was gone. "This is beginning to get a little weird." I mutter to myself. I continue walking past the flickering lampposts into the next part of town. I wanted to stop by the clinic and chat to Grant (the Doctor) but as I march up to the clinic's door there is a notice pinned up. It read
"The clinic will be closed for now until the end of time, as I Grant don't feel that there is a need for a doctor in Mineral town anymore, I have left for the mainland, please don't try to contact me, your poison letters and your telegrams won't annoy me.
Yours in good faith
Grant."
Grant's left for the mainland without telling me? What the hell? When was this? I spent some time at the door pondering about this news. At least Rick should be at the supermarket he'll tell me what happened, I can always rely on him so I went over and knocked. No one answered. Now I'm beginning to get very pissed. First Grant and then Rick, what's next? Saibera back from the dead? I decide it's time to go home. I'll get some sleep and then I'll solve this mess. As I walk back to Old Summers farm, I hear nothing, it seems in my time from the supermarket to walking past the library a mist has fell over the street. No biggie I've walked through a typhoon once, not fun, but I've done it. I keep walking. As I pass the blacksmiths shop, I see a figure come towards me; the figure's wearing a blue baseball cap and the sheepskin jacket. He walks towards me. He's carrying something. Suddenly I reconise who it is. It's that git Gray, and he's carrying a shotgun!
"Gray what are you doing?" I ask, worried about what he's doing.
He just fixes me with a beady stare; he points the muzzle at my chest.
I'm sweating here, in fear at Gray.
"Time to die, Jack" Gray coldly sneers.
He pulls the trigger, and the gun explodes before me. I feel the shrapnel pierce my chest, I pour crimson. I fall to my knees as this whole mess slowly fades away to black I see my Grandfather behind Gray shaking his head in disappointment.
I woke up drenched in sweat, I looked down at my chest, and it was fine. No bullet wounds, I'd had a bloody nightmare. 'Damn it' I thought. I knew I wouldn't sleep for quite a while so I went over to the cabinet and take out the whiskey and pour a dram, making my way to my favourite armchair to get over the shock of it. I didn't enjoy what I'd just dreamed. It disturbed me. I drank the first shot in one gulp to calm my nerves. The alcohol dulling the senses, quelling the fear, I must admit that first dram tasted like heaven to me. I went over to the dieing embers of the fire, and stoked them again to breathe them back to life. I could puzzle most of that dream out, but I couldn't understand why grandfather had shaken his head at me. Had I failed him? I didn't know. I eventually drifted off back into sleep in my armchair. I don't remember any more of my other dreams from that night. But that dream stuck with me I don't know why but it just did. It's the kind of thing that creeps up on you unexpectedly and takes over your thoughts, corrupting them. I sighed heavily.
The next day George turned up on time, announcing to me that he'd managed with out the alarm clock. I was impressed. Only 5 years and he didn't need the alarm clock. I needed it for six years before I could do anything without it. We worked away for the next three days harvesting those crops. I just hoped that Zack didn't screw this shipment over. This was the culmination of a season's work, if he fucked this, I would kill him. It would also put me in a very financially crippling position for autumn, something I didn't want to be put into.
We'd finished harvesting on the 24th. I looked over to the waning summer sunshine, and felt old memories stir within me. Was it not twenty, twenty- five years ago I spent this day with Mary, at the pier, watching the fireworks cascade down, in endless beautiful colours. One of Saiberas better successes. It was then I considered proposing to her... but I was unsure of what to do. I'd went to the library at weekends from the word go. When I'd first arrived in Mineral Town after my grandfather's funeral. I went to the library for peace and quiet. I'd found Mary despairing at the farms demise, I'd promised her I'd return it to its former glory and more. I'd done it, one of the few promises I'd kept for her. Of course Gray arrived on the island at the same time. I can remember him on the ferry with a face like utter thunder. He'd told me his father had sent him here to 'iron him out' and to become an apprentice to Saibera. Gray made Saibera out to be a demon. I found him to be one of the nicest people in Mineral Town. Gray just didn't like criticism, that's all. Of course he had much more free time to socialise in town and his eye fell on Mary, eventually he started to visit the library every day. I shook my head to clear my thoughts; I have my farm to take care of now. Dwelling on the past gets you nowhere. I sighed as I packed my tools away into the shed; love was a blessing and a curse. That night as I went to bed I wept. My tears exorcising my memories.