It's me, CookieTin, back from the grave! I'm finally going to start a new chapter-fic, and hopefully it will go better than my last attempt… -cough- Anyways, I hope you enjoy Hired Help!
OoOoO
"That's IT!" screamed a high-pitched, shrill voice. "I can't STAND it here anymore!"
The person the voice belonged to was medium-height and pale, her long, yellow-blonde hair whipping around her face, which was contorted into a grimace. She wore a white, long-sleeved shirt that was rolled up to her elbows, and a pair of pink over-alls. Her shoes were sensible, brown leather boots. Her blue eyes shone fiercely, and her thin eyebrows were bunched up angrily. She threw done her sickle and continued screeching.
"I can't take it! All day, every day, I do the same things. Feed the chickens, collect the eggs, and HUG those filthy animals! Then, I go to the cow and sheep barn, where I'm forced to brush EVERY SINGLE ONE! Then I feed them and collect the milk, and sometimes, the wool and sell it. BIG WHOOP! Then, I go brush my filly, who always snorts and shies away from me! I CAN'T STAND THESE STUPID ANIMALS!"
By now, Lillia, Sasha (who had been visiting Lillia), Rick, Popuri, and the Mayor were there, watching the curiously, who was continuing with her rambling.
"THEN I water ALL of my plants, ONE BY ONE, because those stupid Harvest Sprites REFUSE to help me, saying if we were better friends, they'd help. But I don't WANT to spend my hard-earned money on a bunch of midgets, so I do it all myself!" she fumed, stomping her foot into the ground, crushing a sweet potato plant.
By now, almost the rest of the town's adults were here on Claire's farm, most of them confused but curious at what their newer villager was saying.
"I don't mind the gathering, or the earning money, but I HATE doing the FARMING part!" she carried on, obviously aware of the townsfolk, but knowing they'd kick her out, which was exactly what she wanted. She stomped her foot once more, for good measure, and glanced at the villagers, who were all gawking at her. Finally, Officer Harris stood and confronted her, albeit a little nervously, even for a police officer.
"Um, Miss Claire," he began, bur after that, seemed to have trouble saying something. Finally he swallowed and continued. "We never knew you disliked farming so much. We though, well, since you answered the ad…"
"THE FREAKING AD WAS A LIE!" Claire screamed. Officer Harris seemed to shrink back a little, but, being the police officer he was, did not step down.
"Yes, but… if you really didn't like it, why have you been here two seasons?" he continued hurriedly. The townspeople murmured amongst themselves, wondering the same thing. Finally, as they stopped talking, they looked at Claire, who seemed to have quieted down. She was actually turning a light shade of pink! The villagers blinked, confused, but shrugged their shoulders and continued mumbling. Claire, desperately wanting to change the subject, waved her arms, cleared her throat, and continued.
"Well, since you all seem to want to have me stay, and since I already have been here two seasons," she glanced at Officer Harris, who was grinning triumphantly, before continuing, "I'll stay, but on one and only one condition." She paused, smiling a bit, waiting for the villagers to respond, or to at least soak up her words.
"Well, what is the one condition?" Sasha finally asked, resting her hands on her hips and raising one eyebrow quizzically. The rest of the townies nodded enthusiastically. Did she want all their money? Bad farmer as she was, she still made the most money out of everyone in the town. Or did she want to give back all her animals and just ship the things she found around the beach and Mother's Hill?
Satisfied by the raised eyebrows questioning her, Claire continued. "I'm not exactly sure what the condition should be," she admitted, "but I think you should decide for me. Besides," she added haughtily, "I don't have the time to make up decisions. I work very hard every day. So you all should decide. I want it decided by today at…" she paused to check her pink-rimmed-sparkly-glow-in-the-dark watch, "…today at 6 PM sharp, at Rose Square." She looked at each and every one of them, and smirked. "I'll see you all at 6 sharp. I bid you adieu." She gave them a careless wave and marched inside her house, trampling a few more sweet-potato plants on her way.
OoOoO
"What should we do?" Mayor Thomas cried out to the small crowd of adults who were able to make it. Only the parents and grandparents were there; the five young adult girls and men were watching over May and Stu, along with Elli's grandmother, Ellen, who could not walk.
The crowd was silent. In reality, none of them knew what to do about Claire. None of them really liked her, anyway, but she was a huge source of food for them, since the Supermarket did not sell fruits and vegetables. So, no matter how much they disliked the snobby city-girl, they could not kick her out. It was better to leave her here in the long run.
Finally, Lillia spoke up, her voice soft and calm. She had walked to the Square by herself, but it had been a difficult journey for her ill, frail body. She had worn a light pink shawl; it was only the beginning of Fall, but Lillia was a frail woman. She always had been. The only time she was free to wear lighter clothes was in late Spring and Summer. "She says she only likes to gather herbs and such around Mother's Hill, right?" she questioned.
The town all nodded simultaneously. It was true. They had all heard her speak—okay, okay, screech—those words at them.
"So," Lillia continued, "I think Claire needs help. She can't just sell all of her—" She stopped, beginning one of her common coughing spasms. The town patiently waited for the mother to continue speaking, a worried expression on their faces. Although just coughs, even a cough was dangerous for such a frail and ill woman.
"…She can't just sell her animals, or worse," Lillia continued, "let them die. So, I think what she needs is a helper." She waited a moment before stopping and backing into the crowd once more, letting her words sink in.
"…It's the best idea we've got so far, and the only one," Officer Harris told everyone. "And that does sees logical. With a helper, she'll stay and keep her animals and crops, and we'll get to keep our food."
The crowd murmured together again, and, seconds later, they all seemed to agree. It was the best answer they had, albeit the only one, but what other possibility was there?
Mayor Thomas, not wanting to be left out, chimed in. "She'll have to pay the worker, of course, but that won't be too much of a problem." Secretly, he thought of a plan of what to do if Claire did not want to pay for the worker.
OoOoO
At 6 PM sharp, this time, the entire town, including Ellen, May, and Stu, were at a meeting. Mayor Thomas was up front, and next to him was Claire, her hair brushed neatly and make-up on her face. She smiled lightly at the crowd, looking very much like how the movie star looks down at all her loyal fans.
"Loyal fan—I mean, friends, I welcome you here today in what may be the biggest decision for my life." And she sure spoke like the said movie star, too. "Today we are deciding the one special, important condition in which I will stay here in Mineral Town. If I like the condition, I will stay with you." She paused, obviously waiting applause. None came. Scowling slightly, she continued. "If I do not like the condition, I'm packing my bags and leaving you all to deal with the farm once again, to find some other stupid person to fall for the ad you put up…" She stopped, a puzzled expression on her face. A few in the crowd smirked; some even had to hide their laughter. Claire still did not seem to realize she had just called herself stupid. "So," she hurriedly continued, "what is your condition?"
The villagers all looked at one another. Who would tell Claire their idea? Mayor Thomas stood up, but by then, the townsfolk had pushed Lillia to the front. Mayor Thomas sulkily sat back down again, defeated.
Lillia slowly walked a little further before standing right in front of Claire. Claire blinked. She had hardly ever seen Lillia outside her house; and never had she seen her look so determined.
Lillia coughed before speaking, but it was a short, yet sharp, painful cough. The villagers looked at her worriedly and exchanged glances with one another. Claire tapped her foot impatiently. She had not time for sickly mothers.
Finally, Lillia spoke. "Claire," she began, her voice soft, "since you told us you hated farming and taking… care… of your animals…" That was hard to say. How could someone not like animals? It was unheard of. She took a shuddering breath before continuing. "And since the Harvest Sprites… ah… refuse to help you, then we've decided that we would hire out someone to help you on the farm. You would do the gathering you like so much, and the worker would take care of the rest of the farm. Of course, they'd sleep in your house, maybe on a cot—"
Claire cut her short with a horrified gasp. "That's a wonderful idea, but… but… I don't want a filthy worker sharing my house!" she said with a pout.
Lillia sighed. "I suppose we'll just have to have her stay at the Inn… of course, you'd pay her for helping out, so she could stay at the Inn and but food and such—"
But once more she was cut off. Claire was frowning hugely. "But—I—don't—want—to—pay—the—worker!" she hissed angrily, stomping her foot.
The villagers looked at each other desperately. They all knew, including Claire, that Claire made the most money in the village. How would they pay the worker? They couldn't not pay the worker—nobody wants to work for free! But they needed Claire to stay, so they would have to pay.
Claire stuck her nose in the air at the silence. "Well, I suppose I'd better go pack my bags. It was nice while it lasted. Good-bye." With that, she began walking towards the southern exit to Rose Square. Everyone looked at one another in despair.
But the Mayor was smiling. He, in fact, was the only one with a huge, silly, yet sneaky grin on his pudgy face. "I think I have a solution to our little dilemma," he said proudly. It had taken him three hours to set up his little speech with all its big, intelligent-sounding words. The townspeople looked at him, a little bit of hope in their eyes. Many, however, also had a look of deeper despair. Knowing the Mayor, he'd make things worse.
Mayor Thomas grinned at each and every one of them. Claire rolled her eyes and began walking again. But Mayor Thomas had a plan. It was foolproof.
"Simple. We'll just hire a girl worker."
…End Chapter One.