Jack surveyed the farmland he'd been working so hard on. Fields of tomatoes and corn had begun to sprout up, and were almost ready for harvesting. The pictures of the bird had returned, and they were kept in his desk next to the bed. Though everything seemed fine, Jack was beginning to feel the isolation get to him. But how long would it take before the people would accept him?
He got his answer in the form of a small man in a red suit. Mayor Thomas West, the only outsider Jack had been in contact with for the past few weeks, once again returned to his farm. The unwilling farmer was watering tomatoes.
"Well Jack, it looks like you really are a gardener."
Jack chuckled, finished off the plants and set the can down on his porch. "I had a little help from some friends."
West smiled. "Glad to hear it."
"I'm guessing you've got some news, or an inspirational speech to put me on the right path?"
"Hah. Smartass. Though you're right." The mayor inspected the tomato plants. "The Harvest Festival is coming up. First of next month."
"You're not actually suggesting…"
Thomas interrupted him. "Yes, I am. The people may have prejudices against you, but you've done nothing wrong- they can't stop you from coming. And living here like a hermit isn't going to aid their views of you."
"But I…"
"Plus, these crops look wonderful. You could easily enter them and win."
"I agree." Cliff walked up behind Jack, patting him on the back. "Come on, after all this hard work, why not win a contest or two?"
"Not you too, Cliff."
Mayor West's eyes twinkled. "Who might this be?"
"Cliff Kamsey," the young man replied. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. West. Jack's told me about you."
"I see. You've done a fine job with this place."
"Thanks. But I just helped out. Jack's the one with the green thumb."
"I'm sure. It runs in his family." Mayor West winked at Jack.
One harvest and several days later, Jack was all ready to go to the Harvest Festival. But what would the people think? He was expecting the worst, but what he got was… well, different.
Jack finished cleaning up, then met Gray and Cliff outside. "Where's the old man and Ann?"
"They had to finish something up back home. We'll meet 'em there."
The town itself looked abandoned. All the shops were closed, nobody was home… even the animals seemed to be at the Festival. In a small town like Flowerbud, this was pretty common. Still, past the long walk down the main road of the town, the sounds of a party became clearer.
As they entered the Town Square, the three couldn't help but to stare. The village they thought was so small had come alive with activity. Music, dancing, food… Everything seemed idyllic. As they walked by the reception desk, the Mayor smiled at Jack, and then accepted the produce he was entering in the contest. The group split up to look around the festival. No one seemed to notice Jack. He was free to wander around the townsfolk for the first time in a long while. As he passed the town preacher talking to some children, he noticed Popuri with some dark-skinned guy. Jack didn't let it affect him. After buying some food and taking in the sights for a while, Jack heard a voice from the stage set up in the middle of the square. After a while, several of the girls he knew had disappeared.
"Ahem! Ahem." Mayor West tried his hardest to look stately. "I'd like to formally welcome you all to the Annual Harvest Festival." Cheers came from the crowd. "As most of you know, it's time for an old tradition in the village. In just a minute the dancers will come to the stage, and…" A scream cut short his speech. All eyes were now on the building behind the stage. It was older, wooden, and as such susceptible to the flames that now licked its walls. They'd grown unseen, but they spread hungrily, covering more and more of the cabin every second. The entrance was still open, but smoke now openly poured from inside. The crowd was still in shock fading to panic when Jack caught Cliff's eyes. The girls were there, getting ready for the dance.
Without wasting the time needed to plan, both men dashed out of the crowd into the burning building. It was nothing like the movies. Open flames did not cover dislodged debris blocking his way. There was very little but thick smoke and heat, the combination of which almost made Jack collapse. Both dropped to the ground and began to crawl as quickly as possible. Deeper in, a thick wooden door blocked their path. Considering the girls had to be in there, Jack prayed for cold. He felt the door. Warm, but not hot. Cliff nodded. They braced themselves, feeling the heat grow more intense with each passing moment, and slammed into the door. It caved a bit, but did not break. Before they had a chance to try again, a force broke it down from inside, sending splinters into Jack and Cliff. The confused face of a woman stared down the two would-be heroes, who returned the bewildered look, as if neither party expected the other to be there. Behind her, the other village girls stood, hesitantly deciding what to do. Cliff broke the silence. "Come on, let's get out of here!" The group was glad to oblige. Jack pulled the girl by the arm towards the exit, ignoring the ever-thickening smoke that traveled down his lungs and burned his eyes. In the back, a black-haired girl Jack had not seen before tripped and landed with a painful crack on this ground. The farmer dodged a girl he thought was Ann and ran back to the fallen woman. He extended a hand and enclosed her in his arms. The fire now spread inside the building, and the structure began to unravel in front of his eyes. Smoke and ash burning his nostrils, he sprinted towards the exit. The exposure left him weakened, and dazed. "Just a little bit longer…" The light of day, something that had never seemed so beautiful, poured into his eyes. Cliff and the other girls were waiting between the building and the crowd. Already others were running for the saved girls, holding them and offering words of comfort.
When they looked up and saw Jack standing with the black haired girl, they froze. The panic turned to silence and it seemed even the raging fire, which had been contained to the building alone, was quieted. Even the girl herself turned to truly think about who she was with, and instinctively backed up a few steps. "It's Jack Walker!" exclaimed someone he could not see. The silence broke into murmurs, questions both fearful and angry. Though he could hear none of the conversing, Jack was fully aware what was happening. It'd only be a moment before the villagers implicated him in starting the fire, or something equally sinister. He dropped his head and braced himself. The whispering became louder, turning into angry words and shouts. The crowd had become a full-on mob. The mayor, who'd been watching all of this from the stage, strode with a never before seen purpose to Jack.
"What is WRONG with you people?"
Silence. If the crowd had been awed by Jack's presence, it was stricken by Mayor Thomas' rage. He continued. "A fire nearly kills the daughters of this village, and you stand there like children! When two men who have absolutely no relation to any of them risk their lives to save them, are you grateful? NO! Because of a tragedy that happened before some of you even lived here, you try to make them out as villains! Is this right? Is this just? Father Carter, is this what God teaches us to do?" A robed man in the crowd attempted to make himself invisible. The Mayor's voice regained its normal volume. "I'm ashamed. Ashamed at all of you for being so stupid, and ashamed at myself for allowing my village to become… this." He turned curtly and beckoned to Jack and Cliff. "Come with me." They didn't dare raise question. As the three moved, the crowd parted. Jack made the mistake of looking into the eyes of the villagers. But instead of fear, or anger…
He saw guilt.
Dark here. After an eternity, Chapter 4 is here. Summer starts soon, so hopefully I'll be able to finish this epic fiction. Thanks to SomeDude and Religouls for reviewing, but CFFJ gets the 'Review of the Month' medal. As for your complaint, noted. The main thing separating 'acceptance' from 'rejection' is who the villagers are. Cliff is new, the Greens are new, and Mayor Thomas is just a good guy. Most others follow a mob mentality, and have probably heard a ghost story or two about 'the Walker family.' As for his crime, well, you'll find out soon enough. Hope I answered your question. Next chapter, we'll see if the events have changed the villagers at all. But hey, who started the fire, anyway?