This is a story idea that has been floating around in my head for quite some time now. I've always wanted to write a novel based on the Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons games, so I thought I would write it now. I have all of the main plot points already planned out, but there are certain details and events that I will be making up as I go along. Also, this is not a strict adaptation of any one of the Harvest Moon games, but draws from multiple games of the series,. So the world does not fit 100% with any of the games, but is a new continuity, mainly drawing ideas from Harvest Moon 64 and Back to Nature/Friends of Mineral Town. You will also notice many nods to other Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games that I worked into the story. I hope you enjoy the story.
Prologue
The sound of the rooster's crow entered old Farmer Jack's ears at around 6:00 in the morning as it always did. For as long as he could remember, this was his life, working on the farm that his parents had left him when they had died. There was nothing he enjoyed more than feeding the animals and watering the crops, and today was no exception. He loved the animals as if they were part of the family, and he felt it was his duty to make sure they could have the best life they ever could have.
But it was on this particular morning, early in July, that little Pete first set foot in Mineral Town and met old Farmer Jack for the first time. Pete was a five-year-old boy from a big city across the sea, and had come with his parents to Mineral Town on a Summer vacation. Pete was the kind of boy who loved exploring new places, and was anxious to see what fun things he could find to do in this little village. When the ship reached the shore, he immediately picked up his little backpack and ran off without waiting for his parents, and soon found that he couldn't remember the way back. Afraid and alone, he hid behind a large stack of hay and began to cry.
Farmer Jack had been working on the farm all morning, feeding the animals, milking the cows, crating the eggs, sheering the sheep, and pulling the weeds from his garden. He was in the middle of playing fetch with his pet dog, wondering what he would do when he got too old to work on the farm (as he had no wife or children), when he heard the sobs from behind the haystack. Looking behind it, he saw little Pete sitting there afraid.
"Why, hello little one!" he said, trying to sound as kind as he possibly could. "I haven't seen you around here before! What's wrong?"
Little Pete turned his back and cried some more. He had been warned by his parents about strangers, and wasn't about to make the exception for this old man, no matter how kind he seemed.
"You don't have to be afraid," said old Jack, trying to figure out what to do. "I won't hurt you." Looking closely at Pete, he noticed a tag hanging from his backpack, which had a phone number written on it. "Wait here," he said to Pete. "I think I know what to do."
Entering his house, Farmer Jack went to his phone and dialed the number that was written on the tag. After a few seconds of ringing, he heard a voice at the other end.
"Pete, is that you?" came a worried woman's voice from the phone.
"He's alright," said Farmer Jack. "He's here at my house. Just ask for directions to Farmer Jack's farm, and you'll find him here safe and sound."
A few minutes later, Pete's parents were reunited with their son, and were tearfully thanking old Jack for helping them find him. "We were so worried that we had lost him," said the mother. "We rarely ever go on vacation, and he's never been to an unfamiliar town before."
"I'm glad everything turned out okay," said Farmer Jack, smiling. Turning to little Pete, he asked, "Have you ever been to a farm before?"
"No, sir," answered Pete. "I've always wanted to though."
"Well," said old Jack with a laugh. "How would you and your family like to spend vacation at my farmhouse? I have sleeping bags, and you can all spend your nights in my house as long as your vacation goes for, and I can even teach you about the animals and crops."
Pete's face lit up with excitement, and he turned happily to his parents. "Can I, Mommy? Please? Daddy, you heard what the old farmer said! I can stay on the farm!"
His father frowned, "I don't know, little Pete. I'm not sure if we have the money..."
"Oh there will be no charge!" said Farmer Jack quickly. "You can stay here for free. I rarely have visitors these days, and having you here is payment alone for me."
"Thank you, sir," said Pete's mother. "You don't know how much this means to little Pete, getting to play on a farm for his Summer vacation.
So, over the following month, Pete and his parents stayed in Farmer Jack's house during their vacation, and Pete had the time of his life learning all about the animals and the different crops that grew in the garden. Pete also enjoyed exploring in the woods and meeting other little kids around his age to play with. And there was one little kid in particular who Pete remembered years after his vacation had ended.
It was the third day since he and his family had began staying at old Jack's house. Pete was sitting in the woods under a tree, resting. He had almost dozed off, when he heard a lovely little voice humming from far away.
"La la laaaaa, la la laaaaaa la, la, la la. La la laaaaa, la la laaaaaa la, la, la la."
The little voice came closer and closer and closer, and last a little girl, just about Pete's age, approached him.
"Oh, hello!" she said. "You must be that kid who's been staying on Farmer Jack's farm for his family vacation."
"Yes," said little Pete. "That's me."
"Oh, nice to meet you," said the little girl. "I've heard so much about you from some of the other kids in the village, and I've been wanting some new friends to play with. I get so bored out here sometimes."
"Well," said little Pete, getting up and stretching, "I would love to spend some time with you. I've been a bit bored today as well."
So Pete and his new friend played together in woods near the farm, and when evening came, they both climbed to the peak of Moon Mountain to sing their little song together.
"La la laaaaa, la la laaaaaa la, la, la la," they sang. "La la laaaaa, la la laaaaaa la, la, la la."
They did this every sunny day of that wonderful Summer. For years afterwards, it was the best Summer Pete had ever had.
But, as sad as it is, Summer never lasts forever. In early August, it came time for Pete and his parents to return home to the big city across the sea. Pete said a tearful goodbye to old Jack and his new little friend, and hugged both of them.
"I'll get awful lonely without you here," said Farmer Jack. "Would mind writing me a letter every few weeks?"
"I'll write you lots of letters!" said Pete. "This was the best Summer ever!"
As Pete boarded the ship to sail across the sea, the little girl shouted to him from the shore. "Come back someday! Please don't forget! Come back to see me again as soon as you can!"
"I will!" Pete shouted back. "I promise!"
And, one day, he did come back, twenty years later...