Chapter 2: Thrice Short Changed
Here he was, the library. Mary was inside. He could do this, he knew he could. Jack was going to walk in and propose. He held up the blue feather and was terrified by what he saw. When he was getting all frustrated with Won, he must have been clenching his fists. The blue feather was a mangled mess. He'd have to buy a new one. Good thing he had a big harvest yesterday, he had more than enough cash. Time to go shopping!
Jack dashed down to the store. He was about ready to fling open the door when he remembered what happened last time. With a deep breath, he opened the door. "Jeff, I need a blue feather, and now!"
"I'm sorry Jack, you'll have to wait a minute, I'm trying to help Lillia with her shopping. She took all the effort coming down here, it is the least I can do."
Lillia looked irritated, "Don't treat me like that Jeff. I'm fully capable of doing anything I want. That's why I came down here instead of sending Popuri."
"But you are sick, I couldn't stand it if something happened to you because I neglected you."
Jack couldn't stand it! Was everyone in the town out to stop him from getting married? Was everyone just trying to keep him away from his goal? "Look, I'm just going to leave my cash on the counter, okay?" He took his money out. Wait, where was it all? He had had some 15,000g, all that he had in his hand now was change. Won! That snake had taken all his money. Won had pick pocketed him. It was the only explanation. But there was no time for that now, he'd deal with Won and pay Jeff back later. Jack dumped the last of his money on the counter, grabbed a blue feather, and ran outside.
Finally he was ready, blue feather in hand, he could see the library down the road. He was ready. Jack was walking confidently down the road to his destiny, when the door to the mayor's house swung open. "Oh no," Jack said under his breath, "please, anything but him." The mayor walked through the door. "If I don't say anything, just walk straight by, maybe the mayor wouldn't stop me." The mayor turned around to close the door behind him. "Please just don't say anything to me, just walk right by me."
The mayor stepped out on the street and noticed Jack, "Hey Jack! How's it going on the farm?"
Jack wanted to say, shut up you fat blob and get out of my way, but he held his tongue, "It's okay I guess."
"Yeah... Nice weather isn't it?"
Why the small talk? Why did the mayor need to waste Jack's time? "Oh, it's okay. Fine for growing crops."
Jack couldn't stand it anymore, "I'm sorry I have to go!" He pushed the mayor to the side, just in time to see Grey come out of the Library, practically dancing down the street. "No... he couldn't, please tell me he didn't!"
Jack ran down the street to the library, hoping above all else that he was wrong, praying to the Harvest Goddess that Grey didn't just do what Jack dreading that he did.