The girl, Mary was weeping, and whispering to herself. I couldn't make it out, all I could catch was 'covered with weeds' I'm still not even sure to what she was talking about to this day. I think she was talking about the farm. I still don't know if that is indeed the case. Even so, I was determined to console her, even if in my heart I didn't know how. Outside, I could hear the rain falling. I took a deep breath and approached Mary. If Mary hadn't heard me enter, she knew I was there now, for she looked round, and upon seeing me she did a double take. I'd always been told how similar I looked like my grandfather but I never noticed, after all one can't choose how they look.

I suppose seeing the double of a dead man would be quite scary.

She spoke first.

"Who- who are you?" Mary squeaked.

"MasterWilkinson's grandson." I replied, Mary rose and

"I'm sorry Mr Wilkinson, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave." Mary said automatically. "The library is closed today. Please go."

She pointed to the door I had come in by. I knew it wasn't really closed, I'd read the sign, Mondays were the only day it was closed, and today was Friday. I think she just didn't want company, but I didn't want to leave and face the other villagers until I had to.

"Look I'm sorry Miss Mary, but today hasn't... been well.... You know a good day." I pleaded, "I just said my goodbyes to the only man who cared for me, my mum and dad? They packed in on me five years ago. Then I'm presented with a choice, which will have consequences no matter which I choose. I need a place to think, surely you can understand that? Can't you?" I sighed, and turned to the doorway, ready to leave, pacing myself slowly.

My hand was on the door when she called out to me.

"Wait!"

She took a deep breath then stopped, mulling over what to say to me.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't really want to see anyone right now, but if you're quiet then you can stay." She said politely, although her undertone suggested otherwise.

She still looked uncomfortably at the thought of me being in her domain for a while. Now that she was facing me I could see her properly, her hair was jet black, and she wore framed glasses, which matched her hair. Mary was the epitome of the atypical geek. Heck, even her dress resembled school uniforms back on the mainland. I smiled at her and told her thank you. She wore a frown as she directed me towards the most remote section of the library, out of her sight.

This whole 'I don't like attitude' was to be frank, irritating and I wanted to ram my head off the wall. I'd seen back on the mainland what this kind of attitude could do to a person, and I'd also seen some of the nicest people become consumed by this impenetrable fire, then too late for them do they realise their mistake for them to repair the damage. Most of all I'd seen it destroy my Mum and Dad's relationship. Somewhere deep inside me I was worried for that girl, even though I hardly knew her.

I spent the rest of that hour soul searching. Should I have resumed my life as Jack Wilkinson, office worker? Or should I have begin anew as Jack Wilkinson, the farmer and bring back the Old Summers farm to its former glory? I thought of whom I would leave behind, my friends, the few tattered threads of my family that actually functioned properly.

On the other hand I considered being my own master, and living out my life as I saw fit. rather than listening to my drunkard father ranting about getting promotion as it was the only way to become a 'real man'. Mostly I sat in there and reminisced about those golden days when I spent my summer at Grandfathers farm. That summer was one of the best moments of my life. I can still remember the summer breeze, the searing heat of the sun's fire, the baying of the animals as they waited to be fed, and my larger than life Grandfather, a one of kind man. From the moment he got up in the mornings until the sun came down, he wouldn't stop working. Not that he didn't have time for me of course. I remember him trying to teach me how to ride a horse, but I had no knack for it, then I managed to set off Grandpa's unholy army of poultry on me when I poked them with a stick. By and large I tried to help the old man with his work and got in his way more than I actually helped him, but he never did complain- he had he patience of a saint.

Eventually at some point I wandered off his farm and up on to Mothers Hill, where I came across a beautiful meadow of flowers. In the centre a large cedar tree stood transcending time as only trees know how. After running myself wild I settled down to take a nap. Then that damned girl came, we became the best of friends and I spent the rest of that summer playing with her until I had to go. I missed her terribly for a while after I'd come home. Eventually I forgot most of what I knew about her, including her name. Part of me also wanted to find her, the other part didn't want to spoil childhood memories, 'best to leave things as they were' it said to me almost pleadingly, but deep down, I wanted to find her.

When my hour was up, my mind was set in stone. I was going to revive Old Summers glory; I was going to do it. Not for that girl, not for my parents, but for Grandpa. I'd do it for him, because he gave a damn, something truly lacking in today's world.. I made my way out of the library, passing Mary at the door, I said goodbye, but she just 'hmph'ed' me. From here it was easy to make my way back to the mayors office, I noticed the rain had stopped and a weak sun had filtered through, as if to celebrate my decision I wavered at the doorway, uncertain of what to do, but then I thought of Grandpa and that image strengthening my resolveI turned the handle and entered Mayor Thomas's home. The time was now. The Mayor was surprised at my decision, he thought a city slicker couldn't cut it, he didn't say it, but his eyes told all, in them burnt a flame of disbelief. I was told that the Village would make a decision as whole on the matter. I was to stay at the Inn that night while the village held a council on the farm.

That night was awful. The clock rattled off the time painfully slow, what felt like an hour was only a mere five minutes. And I could hear them, deliberating in the square about the farms- no my fate, immune to the anxiety and worry that was eating away at my mind. Eventually after tossing and turning for hours, I fell asleep, an uneasy sleep full of nightmares, while the debate still raging on.

The first thing I can remember after that was that I was awoken, roughly b a female voice, and told to meet the Mayor at nine, at the square, I looked at the clock and found to my utter dismay and horror that it was already half past eight! I dragged myself from the bed, and forced myself to eat the breakfast that was provided for me. ("Free of charge, lad" when I enquired about the price.) Finally at ten to nine I left the Inn and headed to the Square, where my doom would be pronounced on me. I found that I'd gotten here first, so I had time to look around.

The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, and swayed ever so slightly to the winds tune. It was all so peaceful.... and an unusual place to have judgement pronounced upon someone. I'd always thought of it as judgement being delivered in a courtroom, not in a place as beatiful as this. I paced around until the squares notice board caught my eye and I absorbed myself in it. Digesting the information about the Goddess festival, I wondered what the hell that was, and made a personal note to find out all about it, if I had a chance.

Finally after an eternity of waiting I had the slow heavy footsteps of the Mayor, and he didn't look like a prophet of good news to me.

"Jack," Thomas begun in his pompous manner of speech " We, as a village, have come to a decision concerning the Old Summers Farm." He fixed me with a beady eye.

I took in a deep breath. It felt like time had stopped on me and I would be like a statue forever, with a label attached so people could laugh at my expression.

"We have decided that you, Jack Wilkinson, are entitled to your inheritance as left to you by the late Jack Wilkinson, propetier of the Old Summers Farm,"

I begun to cheer and whoop for joy, I was going to be allowed to bring Old Summers back to life! I would find her, the girl of my golden time-

"But, we have conditions that must be met. Jack, you have three years to restore Old Summers back to prosperity or I'm afraid we will have to evict you from the premises. If you agree to these terms then we will accept your request to claim your inheritance. Otherwise I regret to inform you that you will have to leave. Are you willing to accept?" He droned onwards in a businesslike tone.

"I accept your conditions, Mayor" I replied curtly, he reminded me too much about lawyers back on the mainland, people who I really don't like. I then had to walk behind him as he led me to my new home. We bounded around the corner and I saw Old Summers again, for the first time in thirteen years, and what I saw was god-awful.

Old Summers was a ghost farm. The fields were a mass of boulders, and four-foot high weeds, which choked the landscape, the barn and chicken shed were in a bad way as well, there were holes in the roof. Poor Grandpa, he had to see the farm break down and decay into this, this, mockery of a farm, a poor shadow of Old Summers.

I felt a lump coming up into my throat and tears welling up in my eyes. I hoped the Mayor wouldn't notice.

"I'll let you settle in. I'll give you a tour of town tomorrow Jack." Said the Mayor as he walked away. "Good luck." As he faded out of sight, I fell to the ground, weeping at the ruins off Grandpas Farm.

Authors Note. Hello, I finally got round to updating this after over amonths absence. Please tell me what you thought of this chapter in particular.