3.
Were parsnips supposed to look like this? She pulled one out of the ground and examined it. It was kind of…ugly. A weird beige color, a little gnarled and twisted, almost like a carrot but not quite. She figured she'd risk it, and rinsed it with her watering can. Taking a bite out it, sweet earthy flavor filled her mouth and she was surprised at how good it tasted. For being completely new at this gig, she was proud of having grown a nice tasting root vegetable. She quickly harvested the rest of them and placed them in a basket on her porch.
The sun was out today, there was a slight breeze, and Rei was finally feeling good about something. That incident in the Saloon last week had driven her to stay on the farm more. She tilled the land, placed the rest of her parsnip seeds, and watered every day. She cleared more and more of the property, relishing in how the scythe cut through the tall weeds. And she had found wild horseradishes, dandelions, leeks and onions, and made fresh salads every night. Her old friends back in the city had always lamented at how great organic food was, but it could never compare to this.
She had even made it to the small creek that ran through the property, and excitedly used it as a chance to practice her fishing skills. Catching some small carp to sell was a perfect plan and today, as she grabbed her basket of parsnips to wash off in the river, was going to be good. She could feel it.
Since she had moved here, she had used up most of her savings. A lot of that was to fix her house up. She had managed to get a new mattress, a small camp stove, and a minifridge. She even asked Robin to help her refurbish some of the floors and the outhouse. It wasn't a lot, and definitely a far cry from her last home. But it felt like truly hers. She knew that by now she was pretty low on cash, maybe only some left for a few more weeks. But she refused to give up. She wasn't about to run to her father for money. The hell she would!
That incident at the Saloon last week was her final act of insecurity in this town. If those people wanted to doubt her, then fine! They would never know how to handle a big city like she did; they wouldn't know the first thing about class or poise. They wouldn't know how to handle the judgment! The people! Snubbing her nose in the air, she cast out a line.
A few hours later, and her stubborn cockiness gave way as she enjoyed the gentle sounds of the creek. She had caught five smallmouth bass that afternoon. Gathering them all up in her basket with her freshly washed parsnips, she made her way towards town.
The bell above the shop door tinkled as she walked in. Her jeans slightly muddy, new boots finally scuffed up a bit, and her long hair in a sensible braid over her shoulder. No make up this time, no effort, just Rei and her produce. Pierre looked surprised as she sauntered up to the counter and placed her basket in front of him.
"How much for parsnips and freshly caught fish?" She asked, eyes drilling into him.
Pierre sifted through the basket, carefully inspecting each item as she inwardly rolled her eyes.
"You want to sell this to me? JojaMart is just across the bridge." He sniped.
She wasn't going to back down. "JojaMart wouldn't know the difference between fresh produce and packaged crap." Oh how she relished being salty. No one in the city ever spoke to her the way the villagers did.
A shift in perspective occurred on Pierre's part. He noticed her steely gaze, the firm set in her jaw and recognized that ambition. In old photos found in the town library, that determined gaze was there in the form of her grandfather. The one who gave this valley so much meaning and depth. Perhaps she was more like the old man than he was giving her credit for.
"I'll give you 500 and a few seed packets." That was far below what it should've been worth, but she was tired of arguing with this man.
"Done. And I'll take some bean starters as well."
"Congratulations on your first harvest Miss Mizuhara." He couldn't help but jibe, if only to test her once more.
"Rei." She kept her straight face, "But thanks." And selecting some cauliflower and potato seeds, as well as grabbing a few bean starters, she left the shop.
"She seems pretty cool." Pierre turned to see his daughter Abigail smirking in the back corner of the shop. Before he had anything to say, she pushed past him and left herself, the tinkling bell ringing once again.
"Hey! Hey wait up!"
Rei turned around and saw a purple haired young woman jogging slightly to catch up to her.
"So you're the new farmer huh?" She coked her head to the side to look at Rei, as if she was trying to figure her out.
"Yup. That's me." Rei wasn't sure if she wanted to pursue this conversation. From the town gossip that was extremely easy to overhear, she knew this was Pierre's daughter.
"Cool. Although I always loved exploring those old fields by myself."
"Find anything interesting?"
"Nah, but makes for a perfect sword practice place."
This was new. Rei looked at her more closely. Purple hair, black choker, vest with lots of pockets and huge brown eyes. How many people did she know with colored purple hair, who liked playing with swords?
"I'm Abigail. I've never seen my dad look so constipated before, it's hilarious! Way to rile him up, he was all ready to dismiss you, but he can't dismiss real products. How'd you learn how to fish anyways? Or if you don't mind me asking, how to do…well any of it?"
"Mostly luck. And that guy Willy."
"You'd like my friend Sebastian, he never says more than five words also."
Rei just arched an eyebrow, but deep down she was amused. This Abigail seemed sweet, even if she was trying a little too hard to be cool.
"Can I come check out what you've done with the place?"
"Gonna report back to your dad?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely." She had a shit-eating grin that Rei admired. Maybe Abigail could teach it to her one day.
They walked back to her farm, Abigail chattering about an Adventurer's Guild and how she wanted to join one day. She brought up some mines in the mountainous part of town and how there was a ton of ore and gemstones there. Rei listened, as the world of the valley begin to open up more to her.
Abigail's phone buzzed twice before Rei called her for it. They had spent the last few hours with Rei meticulously trying to plant neater rows of crops and Abigail jumping from stump to stump, fighting fake monsters.
"Hey, I think someone's trying to get ahold of you."
She jumped down from a boulder and walked up to the steps of Rei's porch, flipping open her phone. Rei shook her head, who owned a flip phone anymore? But as she saw Abigail's face light up at whomever she was speaking to, Rei silently admonished herself. Just because she used to have the latest technology didn't mean she had anyone who made her feel like that.
"Lemme check with her real fast, "Abigail looked over to Rei, "Would you mind if the guys came by? I sorta missed band practice and now they're curious."
Rei shrugged, wondering who "the guys" were and thought back to that night in the Saloon. The blonde kid and the dark haired guy.
Twenty minutes later brought them down the path, Sam holding up a box of pizza and Sebastian carrying what looked like a six-pack.
"Hey New Girl!" Sam excitedly bounced over to where her and Abigail had been sitting on her porch and presented the pizza to her.
"Here's a housewarming gift!"
He must've missed Rei's surprised reaction as he happily set the box down and explained what type of pizza and how they loved pizza after band practice and how Abigail had missed it, to which Abigail began protesting. It was all too much. However a chilled can appeared in line of her vision, held out by no one other than the other young man, dark hair shading part of his face.
"Thanks" she accepted and cracked the top open. He just nodded at her, with a knowing look. When was the last time she drank beer out of a can? Did she ever do that in the city? The refreshment felt good on this warm spring night.
"Anyways, we're all wondering, what brought you out here to Pelican Town?" Sam had finished whatever story he was on about and all three looked at her expectantly.
She took another swig before answering. "A change of pace, I guess." She expected more questions, but this time Sam seemed to understand her not wanting to elaborate as he began listing all of the fun activities the town had to offer instead.
"I mean it's a little slow here sometimes, but man, days by the river or the beach are great, the summer festivals are the best ones—no Abi they are the best, fight me! And maybe one day we could take you out to the desert where there's a casino run by this weird dude. Ooh! You could hear our band play sometime!"
In the city, she had always received invitations to things, but never this genuine before. Sam looked like he was so excited to show her the town, and Abigail nodding with him, even as she disagreed with town festivals. She felt a gaze on her. Sebastian had been quietly watching the exchange the whole time, as if trying to read her. She didn't know how to quite react to that, normally she was the silent one.
"Hey guys," He suddenly spoke, "She's probably tired, from you know, working all day. Let's give her some rest."
Abigail and Sam nodded and stood to go. As they turned to face her, Rei stood as well.
"Thanks for coming by this evening." Inwardly she cringed at how formal she sounded. "I appreciate it."
Sam laughed. "Well now that we know you're around, we'll come bug ya more often!" His easygoing demeanor had her crack a smile.
"Careful!" Abigail warned, "He means it!" With their final waves, they set off towards town, the sun setting behind them.
Rei sat on her porch again, sipping a second can of beer. An odd warmth was in her chest again, and she stared at her little crops in the ground feeling hopeful. This was a better week than last, and she didn't feel at all embarrassed that her guests had to see her tiny home, with an outhouse instead of a proper bathroom. In fact, they seemed to like it. She went to bed that night with a small semblance of peace as she listened to the crickets chirping.