This chapter is written for you readers out there, but especially coolzonegurl. Happy birthday, friend!
PS: Is September in Autumn? I don't know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon. Any original characters are mine, however.
Birthday
Matt woke up feeling elated. Today was his birthday, if he was not mistaken. He checked the calendar to be sure. There. The Eighth of Autumn. His happiness dimmed somewhat when he remembered that no one will celebrate this special day with him. He shrugged it off, reminding himself that his parents never celebrated it anyway. His parents. Only the mere thought of them brought a bitter pang to his heart.
"Good morning Matt," Andrew called from the kitchen, where he had been preparing pancakes for breakfast. He had watched Matt's antics with the corner of his eye ever since Matt had jumped out of bed, for it seemed so out of character for him.
"Good morning Uncle Andrew!" Matt replied cheerfully. He hummed a random tune as he traipsed to the bathroom. Andrew watched him carefully.
"Hmm…."
….
"I'll be playing around the farm, okay Uncle Andrew? I don't want to go out today," Matt explained to the farmer. The farmer agreed.
"Sure, no problem. Do you want to learn a little bit about farming?"
"Really? You'll teach me?" Matt asked disbelievingly. Andrew nodded. Matt whooped and started eating his breakfast with wolf-like hunger.
"Calm down lad, there's no hurry," Andrew said, chuckling lightly. Matt continued wolfing down his food anyway.
What a nice birthday gift from Uncle Andrew, he thought happily. Then it dawned on him that the latter didn't know about his birthday. Oh well, I consider it a birthday present anyway.
Less than five minutes later, the pancakes on Matt's plate had been cleaned off, a record-breaking stance for him. He stood up energetically. "I'm ready Uncle Andrew!"
"Come on then, off to the fields!" Uncle Andrew said, amused.
Hand in hand, the old farmer and the young boy walked towards the first field of spinach, ready to be harvested. They stood out fresh and green against the dull brown soil. Drops of shiny morning dew still clung onto the leaves.
"Okay, this is how you harvest the plants…."
….
By the afternoon, Andrew had taught Matt all he needed to know to run a farm. He could brush Star and the sheep almost as well as he can. He was too tiny to brush the cows, though.
Matt had enjoyed farming immensely, especially sowing the seeds and reaping the harvest. It gave him a sense of contentment to know that the seeds he had planted would one day be harvested and sold for profit.
There are still the chickens to be reckoned with, though. Matt had scurried about, bringing sacks of chicken feed to put into the feedboxes only to be followed eagerly by a mob of hens, with a cockerel standing proudly near the feedboxes. They flapped about in hopes of getting their supply of food. This annoyed Matt. He hurried to finish his task and ran out of the coop, covered in feathers shed by the hens.
"I'll play in the fields, okay Uncle Andrew?" Matt called from the door of the coop. Andrew gave him a thumbs-up from a patch of carrots. Matt ran off to the edge of the field where a clear river ran, bubbling merrily. He squatted down there and watched vibrantly coloured fish swim by. The dull coloured ones swam a little closer to the bottom of the stream.
Matt felt bored. He idly traced the words 'Happy Birthday, Matt' in the sand with his finger. He looked at the words in the sand with longing. If only someone would celebrate with him!
Standing up, he brushed sand off his hands and shorts. Matt walked slowly to where Andrew stood, leaning on a hoe, looking at his beloved crops and animals. Star came up and nuzzled Matt's ear, making him giggle in delight. His laughter roused Andrew from whatever he had been thinking about.
"I think I'll go to the beach for a while, okay?" Matt asked. Andrew nodded.
"Fine by me. I'll go inspect the farm and pull up unwanted weeds."
Matt skipped off happily in the direction of the inn. Meanwhile, Andrew turned his back on the child and went over the farm, cutting or uprooting the occasional weed. Frisky trotted along faithfully alongside his master, sniffing about and spotting one or two moles.
Andrew whistled to his horse. Star, who was trotting around the barn, came to him at a gallop. She nuzzled him for a moment. Andrew rubbed her velvet nose gently. She neighed in pleasure and cantered off for a drink at the stream. Andrew followed her, hoping to ride on her back. It was then he spied some words that were slightly blurred. Squinting, he managed to make out the words 'apy B r hday Matt' in the sand. The rest were beyond recognition.
"So today is young Matt's birthday," he muttered to himself.
….
Matt played by the seaside, collecting pretty seashells and arranged them in a circle. He used pebbles to inscribe the words 'Happy Birthday' on the golden sand within the circle.
"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me," he hummed under his breath.
"What are you doing, Matt?" Zack came up to Matt, who was crouching on the beach. Hastily, the boy wiped the words with his hand. The words blended into the sand, lost forever. Zack peered over Matt's shoulder to see a circle of beautiful seashells.
"What are you doing?" he repeated. Matt shook his head mutely. He knew Zack because the muscular man often came round to Holly Farm at five daily, excluding public holidays. Zack smiled knowingly and entered his house, which was conveniently located on Mineral Beach. Unknown the Matt, he slipped out several minutes later, holding a package in his hands.
Matt sat down on the sand, watching the calm sea. The fringe of the waves occasionally touch his feet and tickled them. The waves rolled up and down, roaring. All too soon, the sun had set and it was dusk. Sighing, Matt stood up and proceeded to go home.
It was dark by the time he stepped foot into the farmhouse. Surprisingly, the lights were turned off. Matt frowned. It wasn't like Andrew to leave the lights off after dusk. Fumbling around, he reached for the switch. He got the shock of his life when he saw what seemed to be the entire village in the house, with Andrew in front of them.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Matt, happy birthday to you!" they chanted then clapped so thunderously that Matt was surprised that the roof remained intact. Tears welled up in his eyes in happiness. At that moment, the five girls burst out of the crowd and thrust packages at him. The wrapping paper was vibrantly coloured and very attractive.
"Happy birthday Matt! Here's you're present!" Ann and Popuri squealed.
"This is for you, Matt. I hope you like it," Karen said with a smile on her face.
"Um…Matt, this is my present. Please accept it," Elli said shyly.
"I didn't know what to give you, so I am giving you a book," Mary explained as she placed a red-covered book into Matt's arms.
Matt looked at the adults, who were looking at him expectantly.
"Go on, unwrap our presents," Ann urged. Matt obeyed and opened a blue wrapped package first. In it was a huge slice of Cheese Fondue, probably from Ann. Matt shot her a grateful smile before unwrapping the second one, which was slightly bigger. On a card that was included with the package, the words 'Happy Birthday, from Karen' were written.
Matt opened it with care, not wanting to tear the fragile wrapper. Inside it was….
A quaint silver locket. Matt pried it open with shaking fingers. The picture of the bird singing proudly on the branch of a tree greeted him.
"Do you like it?" Karen asked tentatively. Matt's face broke into a grin.
"Of course I do!" he said sincerely. Gratefulness was also mirrored in his sad brown eyes. He gazed at the locket fondly and clasped it firmly in his hand.
"Why don't you open mine?" Mary suggested. Matt agreed and opened a colourfully wrapped package that had the word 'Mary' printed on it in big block letters. It revealed a necklace that was, sadly, a fluorescent pink.
Seeing Matt's dumbfounded look, Mary hastened to explain. "To go with the locket Karen gave you."
"Here, let me help you," Popuri said. Wordlessly, Matt complied. Popuri picked the locket out of Matt's palm and slid it down the necklace. She then came up to Matt and closed the clasp. She squealed, making Matt flinch.
"Oops. Sorry, Matt! But this looks good on you!"
"I have to agree," Ann said.
"Even though pink is not an appropriate colour for a boy," Karen interjected.
"Shall I take that as am insult?" Mary raised an eyebrow. No one answered.
"Thanks!" Matt said, oblivious to the girls' conversation. "I'll open this next," he decided as he opened a curiously cylindrical package. The word 'El' was printed in small letters on one side. Matt deduced it to be Elli's, especially by the way she was looking at him expectantly.
Finally, he pulled off the remaining masking tape. A silver flute rolled out and rested on his lap. He stared at it, speechless.
"Don't you like it?" Elli asked mournfully. She was crestfallen.
"O-Of course I do, Elli! I just that I've never seen one close up before, much less own one," Matt mumbled, fascinated by the flashing silver every time he turned the flute round in his hand. Elli's grinned.
"I'm glad you like it. I can teach you if you want."
"Sure! Thank Elli."
"Quick, open mine!" Popuri said, panicking, for what reason Matt couldn't fathom. The last box was the biggest next to Ann's. It was shocking pink (not surprising since it's Popuri's gift) and had holes on the sides. Curiously, he opened the top of the box (it wasn't wrapped).
A fluffy yellow ball greeted him with barely heard cheeps. Two black eyes looked up at him, its beak still small. Matt cooed adoringly. So did the others.
"Aww, it's a chick!" Ann squealed. "So cute!" The others echoed likewise. Matt held the miniature chick in his cupped hands, where it wobbled unsteadily, trying to regain balance.
"I think I'll call you snow," he said. The girls, with the exception of Popuri, stared at him incredulously.
"He's yellow, Matt, not white," Karen pointed out sarcastically. Matt ignored the sarcasm and directed a question to Popuri.
"It will be white when it grows up to be a hen, right Popuri?" Popuri nodded. Karen grumbled to herself, knowing when she was beaten.
"Thanks you all. This is the best birthday I've ever had," Matt whispered with bright eyes. Andrew clucked.
"It's not over yet, lad. What about the birthday cake?" Matt stared at him in disbelief. Several villagers chuckled at his expression.
"Come on, let's start," the Mayor announced. "Light the candles, someone."
Six pink and white candles were placed on a cake, probably made by Doug. The candles were lit, giving off a bright, calming hue of orange. Matt gazed at it in delight. He never had a birthday cake before.
"Now blow the candles, Matt," Andrew said cheerfully. The boy took a deep breath, prepared himself and blew. The candlelight was extinguished in one blow.
"Make a wish…."
I wish….Matt thought with his eyes closed and hands clasped together. The villagers cheered loudly. Steeling himself, he took the knife handed over by Andrew and cut the first slice of the cream-coated cake with strawberries on top. He gave the first slice to Andrew.
"Thank you Uncle Andrew," he whispered happily. Andrew smiled comfortingly down at the happy boy.
"You're very welcome, lad."
The second piece went to the Mayor. "Thank you," Matt said. The Mayor grinned and took a huge bite from the cake, smearing his pasty face with white cream. Trying not to flinch, Matt cut more slices and handed them around.
….
It was late when Andrew and Matt bid the villagers goodnight. They waved madly until the last villager was out of sight.
"Goodnight Matt," Popuri yawned as she headed home. "It was a nice party."
"Yeah, have another one next year! There are too few parties in Mineral Town as it is," Karen added. Beside her, Ann nodded fervently. Elli and Mary had already gone home after a few departing words.
….
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Andrew asked softly. Matt beamed.
"It was the best day of my life," he declared. And I wish it will go on forever….
….
So how was it? I tried my best to make it nice, but somehow it seems that I had left out something. Oh well. Had fun? Enjoy, coolzonegurl! Happy Birthday!