A Dream. A Hope. A Scar. A Mission
Chapter 5: Don't Stand So Close To Me
The next day brought renewed hope to me. If the Potion Shop Master was right that the Firefly Festival would be something to see. It was at night, for obvious reasons, so I worked on all my chores for the morning first.
I tended to my tomatoes that were once again ripening by carefully watering the red treasures. I also cared for my newly planted corn seeds that were starting to sprout up from the brown earth. I looked ahead and relized that the only seeds that Basil and Lillia would have during the fall were egg plants, which didn't have that large of a demand on them. I had to make as much money as I could now to keep myself afloat during the Fall.
I walked into the chicken coop to see the two chickens of my happily walking around and fluffing up their feathers to eachother.
" Good morning Mimi" I told my hen as I let her eat some seed from my hand.
My rooster didn't like not being fed and flapped his wings as if he was going to try and put me in line.
" You typical old crow" I told the rooster with a smirk. " Don't think I forgot about you Captain Scabb!" I laughed at the genius name I had given to my rooster. It never got old.
I headed into the barn to see my pair of sheep, Fluffy and Fuzzy, and their lamb Fluzzy. I couldn't think of a new name for their lamb, so I just mixed the two. I sheared the wool of Fluffy and gave them all a good pet with some fodder to nibble on, and then I was out the door.
Today I figured that Biff was big enough where I could try to saddle him. I think I learned enough from Ann to get this thing down. But as soon as I put the saddle on Biff's back he bucked it off onto the ground.
" Now c'mon Biff, it won't be bad" I said as I tried to calm the horse down.
I tried and tried all day to get that horse to take the saddle, but to no success. Finally at long last though Biff let the saddle lay on his back. I figured that was good enough for right now at least, so I headed inside to eat a late lunch.
...
The Potion Shop Master decided to come over for a visit while I was eating lunch, which was a surprise.
" Why'd you come over?" I asked him at my small table.
" Because I want to see you do two things boy" the Potion Shop Master informed me. I want to see you suceed, and I want to see you in a decent house. This is no way for you to live."
" But." I began. " No one else wants to see me suceed. I mean, I've talked to Ann's dad before, he figured that I had my work cut out for me. That means he thinks I'll fail. Everyone I've seen at the vineyard thinks I'll fail too, even though they're all hypocrits." I was trailing off now. " Which I really don't understand their theories anyways. I'm doing great with the exception of the dust storm earlier."
" Theres more to this farm then just making money Jack" the Potion Shop Master told me in yet another riddle. He sort of reminded me off that Yoda character I saw in a movie when I was a kid. " You consider your Grandpa succesful, right?" the Potion Shop Master inquired.
" Yeah, he could run this farm like nobody else!" I told the old man, but of course he already knew.
" Yes, but none of these barns weren't here before your Grandpa. He hired the carpenters and helped them build both of them, and the silo." The Potion Shop Master was only starting to make sense. " Your Grandpa was also married, Jack."
" What!?" I was dumbfounded. This old man actually wanted me to look for a girl in this crazy village. " There isn't a single girl here that-"
" Sure there is!" the old man said as he gave an uneasy glance towards me. " There's Ann. You were hanging around her for awhile, but it seems that friend of yours, Cliff, has taken for her as of late." The Potion Shop Master was confusing me again. " There's Elli who works at the bakery, but that wouldn't go over all that well. You are probably looking for someone who can really help you around here. Am I right?"
I was taken back by the comment. "I guess so."
" Then the Mayor's daughter Maria wouldn't be what your looking for either." The old man was really narrowing down my choices. " The only other eligible girls your age around here would be Karen and Popuri. They both know how to work. Popuri was raised in Basil and Lillia's shop. Believe me, she knows how to plant and harvest" the Potion Master informed me. I never really thought about Popuri, but I could try it. She seemed like an emotional storm at the Planting Festival, but that was quite awhile ago now. " Last of all" the Potion Shop Master continued " there is Karen." I turned my head to the floor. I was feeling red. " She knows how to work, and work hard. During the day she works on her father's vinyard, and then by night she works at the Inn. Not to sound materialistic Jack, but if you want a challenge-" I decided to cut the Potion Master off.
" I know, but I never really thought about this" I informed the old man.
" Course' you haven't. I didn't until I was older than you. But that's where I messed up. I lost the woman I really loved because I wanted to wait until I was thirty before I got married, and it cost me. I lost her, and I'll always remember that." The Potion Master had a sad look in his eye. " Now come on boy, or we'll be late for the festival."
I decided to say something I thought I'd never say again. " Comming Grandpa."
...
We strolled down to the beach without saying a word to eachother. I was thinking of exactly how smart the Potion Master was. He was wise well beyond his years.
We seemed to be the last to arrive at the beach. Everyone else had already arrived and were holding their firefly lights in their hands. The mayor handed me one of my own firefly lights, which was truly beautiful. It glowed a beautiful pinkish-red that was the essence of sureal beauty. I just sat on the edge of the beach imagining what it could do. It was so warm and calming. It made me feel happy.
Finally the mayor gave the word to release the lights. Everyone, one by one, let their lights float out to sea. It was a beautiful spectacle to see the sea lit up in a pink flare, but I knew what I had to do.
"Grandfather in heaven, please, give me strength to complete the tasks you bestowed onto me. I am still learning, and I need strength. I promise you, I'll finish what you began. Just like Alpha and Omega, I'll bring this farm into what you wanted it to be. Amen." I got choked up just by muttering those words.
I looked around to see what everyone was doing. They, like me, were muttering prayers to loved ones. Once everyone was done they slowly began to cycle back into silent talking. I saw that Karen, however, was standing on the dock alone. I figured I would try my chances and try to talk to her. I hadn't seen her since the Fireworks Festival anyways.
As I walked over I heard her muttering to herself a prayer. I hadn't relized that she wasn't done yet, so I just kept my distance. I did over hear the end of her wishes though.
" Please Grandmother. Please let us find out how you made Heaven's Gate. The vineyard is in deep trouble otherwise." Karen said, sounding almost afraid. That baffled me. I never thought I would hear Karen speaking in fear. I thought she was made of nails.
" Erm. Karen?" I asked.
" Yeah, what Jack?" Karen asked without even turning around.
" I'm sorry, I over heard you" I informed her. I felt guilty enough as it was.
" It wasn't anything you didn't know already" Karen shot. She obviously wasn't in the best mood.
" I'm sorry. I never relized how deep of trouble your vineyard was in." I felt ashamed.
" You would have found out sooner or later the way you follow me around" Karen said. Obviously she wasn't taking my apology.
" We made a deal Karen." I reminded her.
" That was awhile ago now" Karen reinforced. " Besides, the deal was for a week."
" Heh. You get a memory to last a lifetime and I get to be your friend for a week" I said sarcasticly I was starting to lose my patience.
" I'll forget about it soon enough. Once you head back to the city everyone will forget you ever existed" Karen interjected.
Anger was bubbling up in me. " Why whenever I see you do we have to argue? I don't get it."
" Haven't we been over this before Jack?" Karen badgered.
" That's an excuse. If you had a real reason you wouldn't hold back. You did the same thing last time." I was determined to win this argument.
" I'm holding back because..." Karen was having trouble getting these words out of her mouth. ". because you're a nice guy Jack. In reality you're just like everyone else here, and that's why I want out of here. I hate it here if you couldn't tell."
" And I'm an obstacle?" I declared to her. I knew this was the truth, but I shouldn't have mentioned it to her.
Finally Karen whirled around to look at me square in the eyes. I didn't relize how close I was standing to her until she was face to face with me, which couldn't have been more than 5 inches.
" Don't stand so close to me" Karen ordered me in a subtle, shaky voice.
I decided I would just back off after all. I had blown it this time, once again, to best her in an argument, but I wasn't going to give up. Backing away I gave her a glance that sent the message 'this isn't over' to her before stepping off the dock and preparing to go home.
...
I was absent minded the next few days while doing my chores. I was an obstacle to Karen, but I didn't quite undestand. I thought that the vineyard and her family would keep her here, but she didn't seem to have the best father as far as I could tell. I never met her mother, but I didn't assume that she was some sort of haven for Karen when she was feeling down. Kai worked there as well, but he seemed distant to everyone, as far as I could tell. I was beginning to feel sorry for Karen. But I still couldn't get it out of my head why Karen would view me as such a threat.
At that moment, lightning struck in my mind! Of course, there was one other relative Karen had that I hadn't thought of. The two of them were so different I hardly considered them family. I needed to see Cliff. The thing was, I didn't really know where Cliff stayed during the day. I figured Harris might know though.
...
" Hey Harris!" I practically jumped on top of the poor guy when he was delivering my mail. " Do you know where I could find Cliff?"
" Ah sure, but keep on the down low, aright?" Harris bargained.
" Sure, anything. I just want to see him." My heart was turning like a race horse.
Harris led me up into Moon Mountain, after traveling up a twisting trail we finally came to a small cave.
" This is it!" Harris said with some cheer in his voice.
" Thanks a million Harris. I owe you one" I promised him as he departed.
The cave was quite gloomy, but it was dry. I traveled down the twisting cave, trying to find the ever-elusive Cliff. I figured I was going in circles. I must have been looking around for ten minutes before I saw a flicker of light.
After swinging around the next turn I found the flicker of light, but I didn't expect to see what was about to happen next.
"Cliff?"
...
Author's Note: Why did I do an entire chapter solely on the Firefly Festival? Because I read the other fan fictions for Harvest moon and find that they commonly skip this one or briefly skim it over while giving more memorable festivals, such as the flower festival, a whole chapter to itself. This way I feel as though I'm setting my fan fic apart fom the others. Also, most Harvest Moon fan fictions look mostly or solely at the romance area of the game, which is fine and dandy. I just didn't want my fic to be along the same wave lengths of the other Harvest moon fics. The romance of Harvest Moon is a very large part of the game itself, but it isn't the game. ( However, yes, I do relize I skipped over the Vegetable Festival, but it was an important plot element)
Author's Tip: Listen to the song that has the same title as the chapter for better effect and lasting experience!
Chapter 5: Don't Stand So Close To Me
The next day brought renewed hope to me. If the Potion Shop Master was right that the Firefly Festival would be something to see. It was at night, for obvious reasons, so I worked on all my chores for the morning first.
I tended to my tomatoes that were once again ripening by carefully watering the red treasures. I also cared for my newly planted corn seeds that were starting to sprout up from the brown earth. I looked ahead and relized that the only seeds that Basil and Lillia would have during the fall were egg plants, which didn't have that large of a demand on them. I had to make as much money as I could now to keep myself afloat during the Fall.
I walked into the chicken coop to see the two chickens of my happily walking around and fluffing up their feathers to eachother.
" Good morning Mimi" I told my hen as I let her eat some seed from my hand.
My rooster didn't like not being fed and flapped his wings as if he was going to try and put me in line.
" You typical old crow" I told the rooster with a smirk. " Don't think I forgot about you Captain Scabb!" I laughed at the genius name I had given to my rooster. It never got old.
I headed into the barn to see my pair of sheep, Fluffy and Fuzzy, and their lamb Fluzzy. I couldn't think of a new name for their lamb, so I just mixed the two. I sheared the wool of Fluffy and gave them all a good pet with some fodder to nibble on, and then I was out the door.
Today I figured that Biff was big enough where I could try to saddle him. I think I learned enough from Ann to get this thing down. But as soon as I put the saddle on Biff's back he bucked it off onto the ground.
" Now c'mon Biff, it won't be bad" I said as I tried to calm the horse down.
I tried and tried all day to get that horse to take the saddle, but to no success. Finally at long last though Biff let the saddle lay on his back. I figured that was good enough for right now at least, so I headed inside to eat a late lunch.
...
The Potion Shop Master decided to come over for a visit while I was eating lunch, which was a surprise.
" Why'd you come over?" I asked him at my small table.
" Because I want to see you do two things boy" the Potion Shop Master informed me. I want to see you suceed, and I want to see you in a decent house. This is no way for you to live."
" But." I began. " No one else wants to see me suceed. I mean, I've talked to Ann's dad before, he figured that I had my work cut out for me. That means he thinks I'll fail. Everyone I've seen at the vineyard thinks I'll fail too, even though they're all hypocrits." I was trailing off now. " Which I really don't understand their theories anyways. I'm doing great with the exception of the dust storm earlier."
" Theres more to this farm then just making money Jack" the Potion Shop Master told me in yet another riddle. He sort of reminded me off that Yoda character I saw in a movie when I was a kid. " You consider your Grandpa succesful, right?" the Potion Shop Master inquired.
" Yeah, he could run this farm like nobody else!" I told the old man, but of course he already knew.
" Yes, but none of these barns weren't here before your Grandpa. He hired the carpenters and helped them build both of them, and the silo." The Potion Shop Master was only starting to make sense. " Your Grandpa was also married, Jack."
" What!?" I was dumbfounded. This old man actually wanted me to look for a girl in this crazy village. " There isn't a single girl here that-"
" Sure there is!" the old man said as he gave an uneasy glance towards me. " There's Ann. You were hanging around her for awhile, but it seems that friend of yours, Cliff, has taken for her as of late." The Potion Shop Master was confusing me again. " There's Elli who works at the bakery, but that wouldn't go over all that well. You are probably looking for someone who can really help you around here. Am I right?"
I was taken back by the comment. "I guess so."
" Then the Mayor's daughter Maria wouldn't be what your looking for either." The old man was really narrowing down my choices. " The only other eligible girls your age around here would be Karen and Popuri. They both know how to work. Popuri was raised in Basil and Lillia's shop. Believe me, she knows how to plant and harvest" the Potion Master informed me. I never really thought about Popuri, but I could try it. She seemed like an emotional storm at the Planting Festival, but that was quite awhile ago now. " Last of all" the Potion Shop Master continued " there is Karen." I turned my head to the floor. I was feeling red. " She knows how to work, and work hard. During the day she works on her father's vinyard, and then by night she works at the Inn. Not to sound materialistic Jack, but if you want a challenge-" I decided to cut the Potion Master off.
" I know, but I never really thought about this" I informed the old man.
" Course' you haven't. I didn't until I was older than you. But that's where I messed up. I lost the woman I really loved because I wanted to wait until I was thirty before I got married, and it cost me. I lost her, and I'll always remember that." The Potion Master had a sad look in his eye. " Now come on boy, or we'll be late for the festival."
I decided to say something I thought I'd never say again. " Comming Grandpa."
...
We strolled down to the beach without saying a word to eachother. I was thinking of exactly how smart the Potion Master was. He was wise well beyond his years.
We seemed to be the last to arrive at the beach. Everyone else had already arrived and were holding their firefly lights in their hands. The mayor handed me one of my own firefly lights, which was truly beautiful. It glowed a beautiful pinkish-red that was the essence of sureal beauty. I just sat on the edge of the beach imagining what it could do. It was so warm and calming. It made me feel happy.
Finally the mayor gave the word to release the lights. Everyone, one by one, let their lights float out to sea. It was a beautiful spectacle to see the sea lit up in a pink flare, but I knew what I had to do.
"Grandfather in heaven, please, give me strength to complete the tasks you bestowed onto me. I am still learning, and I need strength. I promise you, I'll finish what you began. Just like Alpha and Omega, I'll bring this farm into what you wanted it to be. Amen." I got choked up just by muttering those words.
I looked around to see what everyone was doing. They, like me, were muttering prayers to loved ones. Once everyone was done they slowly began to cycle back into silent talking. I saw that Karen, however, was standing on the dock alone. I figured I would try my chances and try to talk to her. I hadn't seen her since the Fireworks Festival anyways.
As I walked over I heard her muttering to herself a prayer. I hadn't relized that she wasn't done yet, so I just kept my distance. I did over hear the end of her wishes though.
" Please Grandmother. Please let us find out how you made Heaven's Gate. The vineyard is in deep trouble otherwise." Karen said, sounding almost afraid. That baffled me. I never thought I would hear Karen speaking in fear. I thought she was made of nails.
" Erm. Karen?" I asked.
" Yeah, what Jack?" Karen asked without even turning around.
" I'm sorry, I over heard you" I informed her. I felt guilty enough as it was.
" It wasn't anything you didn't know already" Karen shot. She obviously wasn't in the best mood.
" I'm sorry. I never relized how deep of trouble your vineyard was in." I felt ashamed.
" You would have found out sooner or later the way you follow me around" Karen said. Obviously she wasn't taking my apology.
" We made a deal Karen." I reminded her.
" That was awhile ago now" Karen reinforced. " Besides, the deal was for a week."
" Heh. You get a memory to last a lifetime and I get to be your friend for a week" I said sarcasticly I was starting to lose my patience.
" I'll forget about it soon enough. Once you head back to the city everyone will forget you ever existed" Karen interjected.
Anger was bubbling up in me. " Why whenever I see you do we have to argue? I don't get it."
" Haven't we been over this before Jack?" Karen badgered.
" That's an excuse. If you had a real reason you wouldn't hold back. You did the same thing last time." I was determined to win this argument.
" I'm holding back because..." Karen was having trouble getting these words out of her mouth. ". because you're a nice guy Jack. In reality you're just like everyone else here, and that's why I want out of here. I hate it here if you couldn't tell."
" And I'm an obstacle?" I declared to her. I knew this was the truth, but I shouldn't have mentioned it to her.
Finally Karen whirled around to look at me square in the eyes. I didn't relize how close I was standing to her until she was face to face with me, which couldn't have been more than 5 inches.
" Don't stand so close to me" Karen ordered me in a subtle, shaky voice.
I decided I would just back off after all. I had blown it this time, once again, to best her in an argument, but I wasn't going to give up. Backing away I gave her a glance that sent the message 'this isn't over' to her before stepping off the dock and preparing to go home.
...
I was absent minded the next few days while doing my chores. I was an obstacle to Karen, but I didn't quite undestand. I thought that the vineyard and her family would keep her here, but she didn't seem to have the best father as far as I could tell. I never met her mother, but I didn't assume that she was some sort of haven for Karen when she was feeling down. Kai worked there as well, but he seemed distant to everyone, as far as I could tell. I was beginning to feel sorry for Karen. But I still couldn't get it out of my head why Karen would view me as such a threat.
At that moment, lightning struck in my mind! Of course, there was one other relative Karen had that I hadn't thought of. The two of them were so different I hardly considered them family. I needed to see Cliff. The thing was, I didn't really know where Cliff stayed during the day. I figured Harris might know though.
...
" Hey Harris!" I practically jumped on top of the poor guy when he was delivering my mail. " Do you know where I could find Cliff?"
" Ah sure, but keep on the down low, aright?" Harris bargained.
" Sure, anything. I just want to see him." My heart was turning like a race horse.
Harris led me up into Moon Mountain, after traveling up a twisting trail we finally came to a small cave.
" This is it!" Harris said with some cheer in his voice.
" Thanks a million Harris. I owe you one" I promised him as he departed.
The cave was quite gloomy, but it was dry. I traveled down the twisting cave, trying to find the ever-elusive Cliff. I figured I was going in circles. I must have been looking around for ten minutes before I saw a flicker of light.
After swinging around the next turn I found the flicker of light, but I didn't expect to see what was about to happen next.
"Cliff?"
...
Author's Note: Why did I do an entire chapter solely on the Firefly Festival? Because I read the other fan fictions for Harvest moon and find that they commonly skip this one or briefly skim it over while giving more memorable festivals, such as the flower festival, a whole chapter to itself. This way I feel as though I'm setting my fan fic apart fom the others. Also, most Harvest Moon fan fictions look mostly or solely at the romance area of the game, which is fine and dandy. I just didn't want my fic to be along the same wave lengths of the other Harvest moon fics. The romance of Harvest Moon is a very large part of the game itself, but it isn't the game. ( However, yes, I do relize I skipped over the Vegetable Festival, but it was an important plot element)
Author's Tip: Listen to the song that has the same title as the chapter for better effect and lasting experience!