SPRING, YEAR 1

BRAMBLEWOOD BARN

The first year is always the hardest. No matter where you go or what you are dealing with. It was a silent, unspoken rule that everyone in the entire world knew about.

Nothing ever seems to run the course you've prepared to embark upon. Whether it be a new job, new relationship, new school, new surroundings …, everyone has somehow, one way or another, encountered the accursed first year blues.

Amaya Grace Meadows, "Maya", was no exception from that reality.

After inheriting her late grandfather's rundown farm, Maya made it her mission to redesign and introduce the farm under new ownership, a new name and a new face in the Stardew Valley.

After walking down the dusty trails into the west side of the valley, Maya halted with her duffel bag in one hand and her backpack tugging on her shoulders, in front of the old, decrepit cottage that stood before a variety of huge pine trees scattered throughout the farmland.

The sign in the front of the entrance, clung to the broken gate with the engravings of the farm's name, 'Bramblewood Barn'. It shook and trembled against the soft breezes that past by and was covered in the abundance of tall grass and weeds that seemed to have no ends in the huge jungle of thorns, vines and thick shrubbery that encompassed the majority of the lot.

Maya questioned if she had the right address.

She retrieved the letter from her late grandfather from her backpack and glanced over the given address, her eyes wide with disbelief and uncertainty as she looked between the dilapidated house and the vintage photograph attached to the letter.

The differences between the past and the present were astronomical.

Carefully and cautiously, Maya took small steps onto the creaky planks of wood that lead to the slightly crooked front door. Her heart was flooded with anxious pangs and nerves that ignited goosebumps that pricked her skin and sent small shivers down her spine. She had no reason to fear this place.

This land was a place she had known for most of her life, albeit she hadn't visited Bramblewood Barn in over 13 years, but still; it was a place of familiarity.

With a slow intake of breath, she grasped the handle and twisted it to the right, pushing forward gently to the loud whine of the door hinges echoing throughout the house. The smell of pine and peppermint invaded her nostrils upon entry and made her smile sadly. Her grandpa always liked to suck on peppermint candy whenever he had the chance, even though he would curse and swear that the candy would kill him if he accidentally swallowed it.

There were small gleams of light here and there infiltrating the house from the open windows in the back, which also allowed a robin to lay her nest under the window sill and certain bugs to chip away at whatever good pieces of wood were left. Maya wrinkled her nose.

"Err...hello, there," a male voice called from the doorway. Following behind him, carrying a basket filled with an assortment of sweets and a side of flowers was a woman, in her late 30s or possibly early 40s, with fiery orange hair with the voice of a songbird.

"Goodness me!" exclaimed the woman, one hand on her hip with a look of astonishment. Maya turned to them with an awkward smile.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" She continued in her cheery voice, a little over-cheery for Maya's liking. "I haven't seen you since you were so little in your grandfather's arms. I can still remember you in your little jumper, eating snow peas on his lap." The woman shook her head with a sad smile. "He was a wonderful man."

'You didn't know him', Maya thought.

"Goodness me! I'm so sorry, darlin'. I'm over here reminiscing about the past and you don't even have the slightest clue of who I am!" She laughed to herself, heartily. "My name is Robin! I'm Pelican Town's carpenter! Anything you need upgraded or constructed, that's my specialty! And by all that is holy, this dumpster definitely needs it!"

The man beside her gasped and looked at her with bewildered eyes.

"For Heaven's Sake, Robin! Have you no shame?! That was quite callous of you!"

"Callous?" She giggled to herself. Maya fidgeted uncomfortably with a silent anger bubbling under her skin at Robin's comment. Yes, the house and whatever was left of the actual farm itself was in bad shape and outdated, but a little touch of kindness never hurt anybody.

"I was only teasing," she chirped and smiled enthusiastically at Maya, who tried her absolute best to smile in response, but it ended up looking more like a grimace instead. The man, sensing the brewing tension, cleared his throat.

"Please forgive the intrusion, Ms. Meadows. My name is Lewis Caldwell. I am the mayor of Pelican Town and was a close friend of your grandfather's."

Maya smiled lightly. "... He always talked about you, sir. Never had anything bad to say."

'Because Mayor Lewis was useful to him,' her cynical mind spat. She ignored it.

"Well Ms. Meadows, I'd like to officially extend the town's welcome greetings and thanks to your grandfather's farm by giving you this," He pulled an envelope from his left jacket pocket and held it forward in both hands to Maya's curious face. Holding the crisp piece of paper, she delicately unfolded it to reveal a check for $1000 enclosed inside.

Her eyes widened and Mayor Lewis did his absolute best to stifle his chuckle.

"It's from everybody here in Pelican Town. We all knew how hard your grandfather worked to build this farm and make it successful and we also acknowledge how helpful it was to each and every one of us here. So, as a way to give our condolences and thanks for having such a valued member of our community, we want you to have this money in hopes of rebuilding Bramblewood Barn to the best of your ability."

That little speech would've made Maya's soft heart cry ugly tears before him had it not been for the limited amount of willpower she possessed that gave her the strength to blink back that flood of tears.

"I …" Maya breathed hoarsely, her throat suddenly having gone as dry as a desert.

"No need for words," Mayor Lewis grinned. "Just promise me that you'll use that money at some given point. The townsfolk really pitched in on this. I know it's not much, but we all thought that if there was any way we could help the transition or restructure of Bramblewood Barn, then gosh darn it; we most certainly will do it!"

As the mayor continued to talk on behalf of the lovely townspeople and their generosity, Maya's gaze was captured in the eyes of Robin, who hung her head in silent shame.

"Anyhow, we'd best be on our way now. I'm pretty sure Robin's customers are waiting on her and I've got some paperwork to get started on." Then, he stepped forward and extended his wrinkled hands out to Maya, who cautiously placed her hands in his grasp.

"Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need help … or an extra pair of hands on the farm. I may not be as young as I used to be, but these hands of mine are very handy when it comes to gardening."

Maya nodded with a bright smile and thanked him for his good nature and kind words. After Mayor Lewis turned on his heel and left the creaky old barn, Robin continued to stand idly by while Maya, sensing the heavy amount of awkwardness in the air between them, scratched her arm uncomfortably before Robin broke the silence.

"I really didn't mean any harm from what I said earlier, sugar. I really was just teasing, but I think my excitement to see you and Bramblewood Barn come back to life again gave me so much joy and hope for the future of this place that I may have overstepped in my words."

Maya looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact. She wasn't very useful or knowledgeable in situations like these.

"Listen," said Robin. "Why don't you come by my home tonight for some dinner? I'll treat you to a grand Stardew Valley meal to welcome you here officially. Plus, my family is very much looking forward to meeting you ever since we all heard that a new farmer was coming to town. My daughter, Maru, is so excited about your arrival."

"And it'll also be my way of apologizing for those comments." Her smile faded into one full of bashfulness and regret, which Maya could see was truly genuine. And it wasn't in her nature to hold a grudge. Though her introverted personality begged and pleaded for her to reconsider this and decline, Maya just couldn't shake the feeling of letting this woman down or giving her the wrong idea that she despised her by refusing her offer.

So, in the end, she decided to forsake her comfort and peace of being alone tonight and said yes to the invitation.


Around noon, Mayor Lewis stopped by again to deliver a second gift to Maya. 15 packets of parsnip seeds and an additional 5 boxes of fertilizers. The support and charisma from the mayor was a bit overwhelming, mostly because she just moved here not too long ago and the gifts wouldn't stop yet, but she was grateful to be living in such a homey and friendly community.

It was clear that the people of Pelican Town really believed in her and this farm. There was an unspoken amount of trust that they were instilling upon Maya which made her even more nervous that she might bring this once prosperous farm into ruin, which seemed very likely considering she had no prior experience in farming, gardening, crafting or even raising farm animals.

The last time she had ever visited this farm was years ago when Maya was going through her own version of a midlife crisis as a teenager. The background story was pretty basic: struggling with the notion that she was living her life day-to-day, feeling unaccomplished and stuck in this mundane cycle of waking up, going to her 9-5, coming home, rinse and repeat pattern had finally gotten to her.

And as usual in an effort to find herself, she left the city for the country.

Her closest friend and confidante; Zoella Iris Meadows; her cousin by blood and sister by choice, accompanied her on this little 'retreat' to Bramblewood Barn. In her mind, Maya had hoped that this would give her a sense of identity and a revelation of what she truly needed in her life in order to feel complete. Yet, the complete opposite happened.

She had found her passion in nature, in the country air and the simplistic lifestyle that was around her on this farm. And now, even in its decrepit state, the memories and the feeling of self-worth and understanding were still present and reminded her of why she came here.

Maya's purpose was to not only rebuild this broken farm, but to rebuild herself the way she imagined. The way she knew was best for her personality and lifestyle. Maybe it was crazy and unrealistic, but the urge to be someone that she could be proud of and love for the rest of her life outweighed the negatives.

Around 6:15, she had finished planting those parsnips seeds with whatever tools were still available for use and watered them with the fertilizers, in hopes that in the coming days; they would grow into something that could not only bring her revenue, but also bring life into this farm, the townsfolk and herself.

Shortly after, Maya took a well-deserved shower and dressed herself in a casual dress that she hadn't worn except to a wedding two years ago. It was a simple peach coloured frill dress that stopped at her calves and she smiled, feeling the country-like energy embedded within the dress. It was cute and modest, a perfect dress to wear to an evening dinner gathering, not that she had ever been to one in recent years.

Still, the truth rang clear in how she looked in the tall mirror glass in the master bedroom. She looked very much like a farmer and even more, like a cozy farmer if that made any sense at all.


24 MOUNTAIN ROAD

Now of course, Robin left no address for Maya to follow.

Perhaps she had forgotten in the midst of all of her excitement to see the new owner of Bramblewood Barn. Thankfully, Mayor Lewis was easy to find in the small community of Pelican Town and was more than happy to guide her to Robin's residence.

And of course, the townsfolk of Pelican Town eyed her with curiosity (mostly the men) while others had gleams of dislike (mostly the women, albeit for a select few who looked at her in interest). It didn't bother Maya.

Those looks were not nearly as frightening and as unfriendly as the ones she received while living in the city. Industrial life tends to make people more firmer and harsher, at least that's what Zoe said right before she left home. At the thought of her, Maya clutched at her handbag tightly. She missed her best friend. The only person to ever stick up for her and share her imagination and could bring the adventurous side out of her. Being in Stardew Valley, in the old house, only reminded Maya of the memories they made on their trip and how amazing this farm could be if she had Zoe's influence, but Zoe had her own passions and aspirations that she was following in Canterra City. A Hollywood-esque metropolis that had captivated her dear cousin when they visited with their families on one holiday retreat and so, with a disappointed heart, Maya had to watch Zoe fly off to a new city two weeks before she departed for the Valley.

Her feet stopped moving when she reached the top, or at least halfway, of the mountainside. It was 8 PM and Maya already had a good mind to retreat and flee back to her little cottage to avoid the impending humiliation of being late to this dinner invitation. She didn't know Robin or her family at all and the idea of being the talk of the town thanks to 'No Filter' Robin would surely make living here more nightmarish.

On the upside, the house was large and … interesting to say the least.

Under the moonlight, the fire-lit candles blended with the iridescent moonlight to create a lovely orange, blue glow over the front of the house and highlighted the unmistakable view of a telescope off to the side of the house accompanied by a mini workstation. To the right was a big garage complemented by hauls of chopped wood wrapped into twine, a ladder and some carpentry tools.

Nervously, Maya approached the front door, lit up by the candlelight and knocked twice, silently hoping that no one would answer. Then, the door opened and her dreams of high-tailing down the mountainside back into town plummeted with her self-confidence and her voice. The man standing behind the door was a tall, handsome and well-dressed African-American man in cream slacks and a brown dress shirt with a kind smile on his lips.

"Ahh, here's our guest of honor," he grinned and moved to the side, allowing her to enter his home. Though she was nervous to look him in the eyes, she mustered all of the strength she had to look up at him to not seem as rude or unsociable.

The man extended his hand to her and spoke in a surprisingly calm voice that did not match the bass in his voice.

"My name's Demetrius. I'm the town's local scientist and Robin's husband. Thank you for coming by for dinner. It's wonderful to have you here in Pelican Town."

Maya blushed from the shock of his words. Demetrius grinned wider.

"I… I apologize for … for being late, sir. I wasn't given any directions to your home-" she stopped herself and her blush deepened. Flustered, she continued, "Not that it was your wife's fault! Maybe she told me and I didn't hear-"

"You have nothing to apologize for," he said in a soothing tone. "Robin was already stressing herself all this evening because she forgot to give you directions and didn't have your phone number to reach you. In fact, she was ready to run back into town and help you find your way, but thankfully you're here now and that's all that matters."

'What a nice man," Maya thought, sighing in relief.

"Did you walk here all by yourself?"

"Yes. Well, actually …. Mayor Lewis helped me up the pathway to the mountain and I told him I could carry on from there."

"I see," he nodded. "When you go back home, I'll have Sebastian escort you. Even though there's no real threat here in Stardew Valley; there are wild animals around us and I think it's safe to say that both Robin and I would feel more comfortable if you had an escort."

Maya opened her mouth to assure him that she would be fine, but was halted when Robin, dressed in a beautiful emerald green dress with red rose accents and gold jewellery on her neck and wrists, entered from the living room and saw Maya with her husband. Immediately, she ran to Maya and grasped her hands with regret and worry in her eyes.

"Maya, I'm so sorry! Did you walk here all by yourself?! Goodness me, I can't believe I forgot to give you the address! I was so worried that you had gotten lost or were upset with me which you have every right to be! You're not hurt, are you? The walk up the mountain can be very tough and could hurt your ankles on those sharp boulder edges!"

"Robin, let the girl breathe for a minute." Demetrius laughed. "She's fine and I'll bet you're hungry too from that walk."

And then right on cue, Maya's stomach gurgled gently in response to his question and she was blushing all over again. Demetrius and Robin grinned collectively.

"Well, that's good to hear. Means you're ready for some good home-cooking and I made sure to go all out for tonight! Just for you!" said Robin, enthusiastically.

'No pressure or anything'.

The couple guided Maya into the main dining area where two people were already there, finishing their jobs of setting the table with plates, napkins and cutlery for tonight's feast. On one end was a girl, a bit younger than Maya with short brown hair that nearly matched her skin, amethyst eyes and pink glasses that sat on the bridge of her nose. She was wearing a plum coloured dress with a white T-shirt underneath and matching plum converses, such an informal yet formal choice of attire.

"You'll have to excuse my daughter, Maru, for her choice of clothes. I told her to dress formally because we have a special guest and this was the closest compromise we could agree upon." Robin frowned. Maya smiled a bit at the mix-matched girl. It made her feel less of an oddball herself.

"It's nice to finally meet the new farmer of Bramblewood Barn," said Maru happily, "You have no idea how exciting it is to have a female in charge of such a big estate like yours!"

Maya stifled a giggle. "Well, … it'll be a lot of work to maintain, but … I'm sure it'll be worth it."

Robin's grin widened at hearing Maya's voice. She then moved with her closer to the boy that stood across the table from Maru.

"And this is my son, Sebastian. Sebby, say hello to the Pelican's Town first female head farmer!"

Sebastian was handsome. Dark hair with blueish-purple highlights slicked back into a man-bun and wearing a black dress shirt, black jeans and boots; he was the epitome of an emo-boy which somehow appealed to Maya, surprisingly.

He tilted his head slightly to her as he placed the cutlery against the plate, the strands of his falling over his eye as he talked. "Do me a favor … don't ever call me Sebby, even if my mom tells you it's okay." Then, he gave his attention to Maya and wrinkled his nose at her appearance.

"So you're the city girl who's going to save that shit house on Granite Road? Good luck with that." He scoffed, cutting his gaze away from her and back onto his task, ignoring the surprised gasp and stare from his mother, the disapproving one from his step-father and the resentful look that his half-sister gave him.

What a pickle to be in…


Peace & Love

xGhostReaderx