The Beginning

The wagon creaked and the horse whined on our way up the last hill before all of Forget-Me-Not Valley had come into view. All at once I could see a forest, a town, a river, and the ocean all together in symbiosis within the valley. Takakura welcomed me to the valley and I felt something I had not felt since the last time I saw my father. The feeling of being welcomed, and that your stay could be as long as you like simply because everyone is glad you are here. I breathed this feeling in along with the rich ocean air, and savored both as a small spark went off in my heart. I imagined my father was watching Takakura and I, happy to see his old friend guide his vagabond son back to the valley he held so close to his heart.

The first thing along the gravel road was a farm with no livestock but with a considerable number of fields looking neat and well maintained. They had several windmills on their land leading me to believe that they had a wind powered irrigation system in place. On the other side of the road, was an open field filled with Toy Flowers, a yellow trumpeting spring wildflower that smells faintly of soap. We came to a wooden bridge that spanned over a running river. The waters were clear and swift and I could see fish as the river flowed towards the ocean, babbling as it went. Upon crossing the bridge the path began with two lamp posts on either side. Then the road split off into three directions, to the right was a forest path, straight ahead was the town, and left was towards the beach. Takakura pointed to a clearing behind some trees right before the town's main street began. He said there, that's my fathers property, as we dismounted and went on foot into the clearing.

What drew my eyes first was the enormous green pasture, fenced and connected to the barn. We stood out looking over the land from the pasture and Takakura spoke of destiny now that I had come to the place he and my father had founded all those years ago. He said the buildings were old now but still strong as I thought of my father and the storm. He then began showing me the grounds. First was the barn, its roof was green and completely rounded off around the tan brick and stones that made up the face. Takakura said he would show me more the barn later as he moved on to the tool shed that was connected to the left of the barn. He explained that he had left tools for me to use and seeds to sew my first crop. The tools had been my father's so they were quite old and heavy, but Takakura reassured me that these tools would never fail me. Next was the tall food storage building that was directly opposite of the barn. Before Takakura went out to various towns to sell goods he would use the storage building's shipping container to hold items until he was ready to leave. Now that I was here to work the land he was looking forward to checking the container daily to see if we have any produce to sell. He chuckled still and made it clear that he wasn't expecting piles of product to start appearing every day. He went on, that this would be hard work and the results would be minisqueul at first, but he concluded that the more you work with the land and its creatures the more the land gives back to you. Before moving on from the food storage building Takakura added that there was also a detailed ledger that would keep an account of all our business and a catalog that livestock, building plans, and farming supplies could be ordered from. The chicken coop was across a path going around the tools shed. It sat between two fields and faced the pasture painted white with a blue roof.

Just as Takakura finished a brief instruction on chicken housing there were two yips and a whine behind us. One the gravel path before us were two dogs, one had pointed ears and the other had long flat ears, both were a lovely warm brown with white marks on their faces and paws. They both each had a red scarf tied around their neck. Takakura examined them, saying they must be strays, which led him to ask if I would like to keep one. I thought of how I could provide a loving and nurturing home for at least one of these pups. I chose the dog with pointed ears considering how well he must be able to hear with ears cupped to the air. I named him Togo after a famous shedding dog who led a team of dogs through a blizzard to save a town full of sick children. Takakura looked pleased and said he would make a house for the little guy, but first he would find an owner for the other dog. Takakura concluded the tour with the main one room cabin where I would be living from that day on. It was aged but charming with simple carvings in the headboard and bandboard of the cabin. A metal spout sprouted up through the top face of the cabin next to a window. I imagined my father and mother together in the small cabin perhaps feeling cramped knowing they were trying to start a family. Perhaps this and the notion that there were more profitable opportunities available to my parents off the farm that led them to move away from the valley. However for a bachelor like myself it was perfect.

Takakura's own residence was right next to the food storage building and he said as long as he was there, I was always welcome. This was a comfort to hear that I would not be attempting this important change in my life alone. I could see how much my father meant to this man from the way he told their stories, how he looked me in the eye, perhaps seeing bits of my father in me. I smiled and nodded as he led me back to the barn. I walked through the doorway to the barn following behind Takakura and was taken aback to see an adult cow standing in front of a trough. Takakura rumbled with laughter that he had purchased this cow as a welcome gift. She was a mix of black and white, with big soft eyes, and she had just given birth, approximately ten days ago. This meant she was producing milk, and that the best way to take care of her, and to ensure the best quality milk was produced, her trough must be filled daily, she needs to get plenty of fresh air. Since she was currently in such good health she could and should be milked twice a day. I named my first cow Hana which according to my father is another name for a flower.

After checking Hana for myself and being shown the fodder shoot that connects to the silo outside, Takakura led us back to the barn's front door. He wanted me to name the farm now that it was in my possession, so I thought of a fitting name. I recalled at that moment Takakura's words on our arrival, that owning this land was my destiny, so I said to Takakura I will name it Destiny Farm. He then said with a smile that this was good enough and now wished to introduce me to the townsfolk.