- Harvest Moon, A Wonderful Life –

"A Changed Life"

- "Carter's Drinking Problem" -

Hardy awoke to a knocking upon his office door. Getting up with a groggy look on his face, he stumbled around until he found the doorknob and opened it.

It was Seth. He blinked.

"Eh? Seth? That you?"

"Oh, did I wake you? Sorry, I'll come back-"

"Don't be ridiculous, come in..."

Seth walked in and took a seat by Hardy's desk. Hardy closed the door, then faced him.

"Um... need something, Seth?"

Seth took a deep breath. "Well, it's about me and Celia."

Hardy shook his head. "You're not looking for therapy, are you?"

Seth blinked. "Uh, no. Let me finish."

"Alright..."

"Well, yesterday night, we went... deeper."

Hardy scratched the back of his head. "In your... relationship?"

"Yes."

"I, uh... see. And why are you telling me this?"

"I dunno, I thought you'd be the first I could tell this about to."

"This early in the morning?"

Seth looked out the window; it was still dark. "I did wake you, didn't I?"

"Yes," Hardy admitted. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to get more sleep..."

Seth stood. "Ah, okay. Sorry, I guess we'll discuss the full of it this afternoon, or something."

Hardy nodded. "...sure... g'night, Seth, or morning, or whatever."

He closed the door was Seth walked off.

(((SFR)))

"So... what do you mean by that?" asked Flora

"I'm sure you have a good idea," winked Carter.

Hardy, Carter, Flora, and Gustafa were chatting beside the Inner Inn.

Gustafa took ahold of his guitar. "I'm in the mood for playing a tune... what do you guys want to hear?"

"It's mid-afternoon, right?" Carter scratched his chin. "Play... whatever, I don't care all that much."

"I never heard you play very often before," Flora said. "I'm interested to hear your works... just play us one of your own songs."

Gustafa sat down against the wall of the Inn. "Alright... here goes."

He started off in a soft tune.

"When we sing faith... we ask one thing... is there such a thing, as a second chance?"

He continued his soft beat, running his hands on the guitar strings.

"I've seen the light... and it is bright. Once more we embrace, the truth, of man."

As he continued, Flora's eyes widened. "Wow! That's great! I didn't know you had such talent, Gustafa!"

"He's been doing this for years," Carter explained.

"Well, I can see how he came to be so good," Hardy said.

Seth came over just as Gustafa was finishing.

"Is that Gustafa's guitar I hear?" he asked cheerfully as he approached. "Man! I haven't heard that thing in ages!"

"Hey there, Seth!" Carter called. "So, how have things been?"

"Good," Seth hesitated. He was looking at Hardy. "...you told them, didn't you?"

"I couldn't resist," Hardy chuckled.

Seth sighed. "Oh, well, I suppose I could care less."

"There's no shame in love," Gustafa muttered. "It's always a good thing, y'know?"

Flora nodded in agreement.

"Yeah... I guess," Seth awkwardly said. "Look, I'm goin' over to the Blue Bar for a drink, anyone wanna come?"

Gustafa stood. "Sure, I could use a good drink right about now..."

"Yeah, me too," Carter said, stretching his arms out. "Flora?"

Flora shook her head. "No, thank you. I don't really enjoy... well... drinking."

"It's not bad for you," Carter reassured.

"I'll be fine," Flora insisted.

Carter shrugged. "Well, okay, I'm not your papa... I'll see you back at the site, then."

They waved goodbye to each other.

(((SFR)))

"God damn, I love this stuff..."

Carter was engaged with his fourth glass of Stone Oil.

"You'd better be careful with that stuff," Griffin warned. "I'm tellin' you, it's no walk in the park of you drink one too many. Maybe you should have a red punch..."

"Nah," Carter chuckled. "I'll be fine..."

He finished off the glass. "Say, can I have another? Hot damn, I'm thirsty... or I don't know what it is!"

Seth was watching him uncertainly. "Are you okay, Carter?"

Carter cheerily snorted, "I'm fine! No little drinks can slow me down, no sir!"

"I'm not too sure," Griffin muttered. "You're acting like you're drunk. I don't think there's any alcohol in this!"

"Must be too strong for him," Hardy suggested.

"Nothing's stronger than me!" Carter yelled drunkenly. Gustafa patted him on the back.

"I appreciate the free spirit and all, but keep your voice down. You're kinda loud."

Carter eyed him. "Eh? Fine, so be it. This one's my last glass."

Griffin looked relieved. "Okay, this is your fifth. No more, okay?"

"I said that already," Carter pointed out, taking the refilled glass and drinking it in several gulps. "Ah! That's the stuff!"

Seth muttered, "Man, I didn't know that stuff could be so strong."

"I think it only affects some certain people," Hardy explained. "Obviously Carter is one of them..."

"You'd better not be talkin' about me!" Carter yelled. "I have the hearing of a dog, ya know!"

Gustafa snorted. "Yeah... sure you do."

Carter blinked. "You shut up!"

"At least he's a happy drunk," Griffin said.

"I'm not drunk!" Carter said. "Just... happy... yeah... damn, that stuff is strong. Boy, will I be hung over tomorrow. I guess that's all for me tonight, Griff."

Griffin sighed. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Carter."

"Yeah, whatever..."

Carter bumbled through the door.

"Man, that was awkward," Hardy muttered, sipping his glass of Moon Trip.

(((SFR)))

"Hehehe... not drunk? Who am I kidding? I'm wasted off my ass!"

Carter was stumbling around down the cobble path.

"Nah... I can't be drunk... that stuff was strong, that's all... no alcohol in it... but what makes no sense is how it can be strong but have no alcohol in it... that's just weird... huh."

He wasn't paying attention, and walked into the fence at the side of the Inner Inn. He broke through it and fell with a crash.

"Ow! Damn fence! I'll show you!"

He kicked at the splintered pieces.

"Grah! C'mere, you!"

He chased after a splinter that had been knocked away. But he stumbled, tripped, and fell down the hill.

He shook himself off when he got back up.

"Oh, is that it? You stupid little... where are you?"

He swept his hands around in the grass. When he found the splinter, he cut himself.

"Ow! Son of a-!!"

(((SFR)))

Marlin was standing at the side of the beach. He appeared to be deep in thought, with a somewhat sad expression on his face...

He heard yelling, and turned around. He saw Carter walking drunkenly about, throwing his arms and punching the air. He walked towards him.

"Carter? What the hell is your problem?"

Carter looked at him. A dazed expression appeared on his face.

"What do you three guys want? Go away!"

Marlin was concerned. "You're drunk, man. Did you get loaded off something, or what?"

"You guys want a fight, huh?"

"Come on, you need to get back home, let me help you-"

"Don't touch me! Take this!!"

He flung his arm and punched Marlin hard in the face. He fell unconscious. Carter looked at his limp form. He hadn't meant to hit him that hard.

"Uh... you okay?" he asked loudly.

Marlin didn't move. There was a small trickle of blood forming at his mouth; he must have lost a tooth.

"Shit," Carter looked around. He quickly turned and half ran, half stumbled away towards the river.