Diary of a Farmer
Chapter 4
Author's notes: Hi everyone, so sorry it's taken so long to update. I'm preparing for my families big trip to Japan and China. I'm really excited, I'm making one of the outfits I'm taking so I've been sewing. Finished the purse so far. To Tycat92 and Hyper Kitty I too deleted my game tear I was so close to the end of A Wonderful Life, My son was grown and everything, I had to start over. Well here's chapter 4. Enjoy.
Jack stayed out late that night chatting with Duke and Ann; he had a wonderful time. Jack got home around two o'clock in the morning and went straight to bed.
As a result of staying out so late last night Jack woke up late the next morning it was almost ten. Jack got up and got dressed to go finish clearing the field, but the sight of the pie sitting on the counter reminded him he should go thank Popuri. Jack pulled out the small map of Mineral Town Duke had drawn for him last night to prevent him from getting lost again.
Popuri had said in her note she lived at the Poultry Farm. Jack looked up the Poultry Farm on the map and saw it wasn't too far from his farm. He put the map in his pocket and left the house.
Jack was almost to the Poultry Farm when a small white chicken came running down the road toward him. Jack bent over and caught the loose chicken. "What are you doing out here." Jack said. The chicken was probably from the Poultry Ranch, he thought. When he looked up again there was a young pink-haired girl running toward him. She was wearing a long red skirt and a purple top; she looked terribly out of breath. She stopped in front of Jack breathing hard. "You…found…Flower…"she said breathing between her words "Thank…You…Jack." How did she know his name? Jack thought, who was she? "I'm Popuri, Mayor Thomas told me about you." she said seeming to read Jack's mind. So she was Popuri.
"I'm so glad you caught Flower." Popuri said "She's my favorite chicken, I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost her." Flower clucked and nibbled Popuri's finger affectionately. "Do you like chickens?" she asked. "Yeah, they're nice." Jack replied. Popuri smiled. "That's great. Why don't you come over to the ranch for a little while and meet my family, we are neighbors." Jack nodded "I'd love too."
No sooner had they entered the gate when an older red-haired boy came walking toward them; he wasn't in a very good mood. "Popuri you left the gate to the chicken pen open again!" The smile faded immediately from Popuri's face and she looked down at the ground. "I know Rick, I'm sorry. But Jack here found Flower, so it's ok." "No it isn't Popuri." Rick replied "You do this all the time, one day we'll loose a chicken, then what Popuri." "I said I'm sorry Rick." Popuri said. She grabbed Jacks arm and lead him toward the house. "That's Rick, he's my brother, don't mind him Jack."
Popuri talked like what her brother said hadn't bothered her but Jack could tell by the look on her face it had. They entered the house; it was cozy and made Jack feel very comfortable. A woman with pink hair like Popuri's stood up from behind a counter. "Who's your friend Popuri?" she asked. "This is Jack from the farm down the road, Jack this is my mother Lillia." "Nice to meet you." said Jack and Lillia at almost the same time. "He's the one you baked the pie for Popuri, right?" Popuri nodded.
"How is farm life so far Jack?" Lillia asked "Have you got your seeds planted yet?" That jarred Jack's memory. Seeds, He hadn't planted yet. He hadn't even finished clearing the field. "Oh gosh, I forgot to plant the seeds I bought. I'm sorry but I better go home and plant them." "That's alright." said Lillia. "Popuri why don't you walk him home, you're going that way to the store anyway." "ok." said Popuri, and they left.
On the way Jack could tell the argument she had had with her brother was still bothering her. "Are you alright Popuri." he asked "Your brother was a little harsh on you." Popuri was silent for a moment, "He wasn't always like that." she said "Mothers very sick, she got sick a long time ago when I was little. Father left to find a cure for her. It was thoughtful of him but, he left us to run the Poultry Farm all by ourselves. Mother was too sick to work so Rick had to take over. He was young too. He stopped playing with me, and stopped laughing and smiling like he used to. He had to grow up too fast, he's angry at father and sometimes the pressure of supporting Mother and me gets to him and he yells.
"Try not to let what your brother says get to you." Jack said "He's just trying to do what's best for you. He loves you even if he looses his patients sometimes." Popuri looked at Jack "Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better." They walked together until they reached the farm's gate. "Well I have to go now." Popuri said "Thanks again for everything, really." And with that leaned over and kissed Jack on the cheek. Jack turned bright red and Popuri walked away giggling.
Jack stood there for a moment, but then remembered all the work he had to do. Jack worked as fast and hard as he could for the rest of the day. It was almost five o'clock when Jack finished planting. He stood there admiring his work. He was so tired, every muscle in his body was screaming and the next thing he knew Jack was falling to the ground and everything was black.
Authors notes: I'm still undecided which girl Jack will pick in the end. I am open to all suggestions. Thank you.