My father was a businessman, just like his father, and his grandfather. Growing up he attempted to encourage my sister and me to have a competitive drive and to pursue winning at all costs. This was almost opposite to the qualities my mother tried to raise us to have.

Winning was everything to my father, whether it was in the form of receiving the best grades in class (something I don't believe I was ever successful at) or sports competitions (I'm not going to relieve those mortifying moments where I was encouraged to try new sports and to become the best in them. I never was). First place was always the goal in my father's eyes.

Second place was not an option, it wasn't a consolation to rank second because to him it still meant you lost. The times my sister and I ranked lower than second in anything resulted in a cold, unimpressed silence from him during the car ride home (there were a lot of those).

My mother, on the other hand, insisted that it was the journey and growth you gain that was most important in competitions. The experience and insight we gained were more important than any title or trophy.

My mother would attempt to comfort us with phrases such as, 'it's the taking part that counts!'. Yet father drilled the words victory into our head like we were soldiers in the military. The juxtaposing views my parents held made my childhood very confusing.

Standing on the stage during the Cow Festival whilst Bella was being judged, I tried to repeat my mother's encouragements through the years whilst trying (and failing) to drown out memories of my father's disapproval. Thank God he isn't here watching in case I ranked last place, I thought as I tried to compose my nerves.

This was not a private competition, where contestants were judged in private and then the results were published the next day in the town square. This was an all day event where different farmers from multiple towns, near and far, came to be judged by Woofio, an animal trainer who, whilst I was unfamiliar with, seemed to be admired by all the other contestants there. All of the residents of Westown were gathered to watch the judging period, and to my surprise so was many residents from Lulukoko.

"Look at these people Nami!" exclaimed Dessie.

My goddess companion stood with me on the stage, invisible to the crowd watching and the fellow contestants. She glanced around at everyone then looked back to Bella and frowned slightly, "So many people. I hope Bella doesn't get stage fright..."

"If Bella doesn't have stage fright then I definitely do, I didn't realise this competition would be so busy..." I replied distantly, trying to calm down my nerves before it was Bella's turn to be judged.

Dessie patted Bella and gently whispered reassurances to her, "If you get nervous, Bella... Just imagine everyone naked! That's what I always hear people tell other people to do when they're nervous..."

Dessie quickly covered her mouth and giggles into her hands, "We won't let Nami do that though since she'll get too excited if she imagines Wayne without any clothes on!"

I shifted awkwardly and prayed that the heat I was feeling from my cheeks wasn't actually a blush developing there. "D-Dessie," I stuttered quietly, "you can't say thing like-"

"Ahem! Since the judging period appears to be over, it's time for the moment everyone has been waiting for! The results presentation!" Announced Stephanie, the MC who was hosting the competition.

I glanced around at my fellow competitors on stage. Although this was the beginner class, from what I had overheard from their small talk with each other before the judging period, most of the contestants had been running their farms for longer than I had.

Breathe Nami.

I thought back to my mother's encouragements over the years to try to calm my nerves and refocus myself. It's the taking part that counts, she'd say. Even if you don't win today, what you take away from today will help you improve. You can try again next 's okay.

But it wasn't okay. My mother wasn't the one who I needed to prove myself to, was she? She's not the one that wrote the list of tasks I needed to complete in order to show that I was a true farmer. It was my father who I needed to impress. I needed to prove myself to Mr. Winning is the most important.

The judge for the competition walked back to the stage and stood beside Stephanie. Before the competition I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to the judge. Perhaps a stern looking man or woman dressed in a suit? An old, experienced farmer who had been in the livestock business since they were young?

When Woofio's arrival was announced and a man dressed in a dog mascot suit walked into the stage I assumed he was someone who was dressed up like an animal to entertain the younger children whilst the judging period was underway. I thought he was just a fun mascot who would walk around handing out animal shaped balloons and bark at people. I wasn't expecting him to be the judge. Why would he be wearing a dog mascot suit to judge a competition? I thought that perhaps it was to hide his true expressions from the participants, so nothing would be given away. Perhaps there wasn't actually anyone underneath the costume, or he was a poor man who had been struck with a terrible curse. That was an absurd thought and was impossible. Then again, I was standing on stage with the Harvest Goddess after recently being discharged from Westown's clinic because the Witch Princess struck me with a ray of magic. These days anything seemed possible.

I watched tensely as Woofio pulled out a golden envelope and handed it to Stephanie before turning to all the contestants and announcing, "Before we announce the results, I'd just like to say, woof, that I am doggone happy to have been invited here today to judge all of this wonderful livestock."

The crowd quietly laughed at his dog pun, including Dessie who covered her mouth with her hands as she giggled like a child, "It's silly because he's a dog!"

Woofio continued, "Stephanie, our lovely MC, will now announce the results of today's competition. You should all be proud of your effort, however there can only be one winner."

"That's right, Woofio! Let's find out who our winner is today," Stephanie said as she moved her microphone to her other hand and opened the golden envelope. She took a peek at the name inside, smiled, then glanced around at the contestants to prolong the announcement and add the typical period of suspense that came with any competition announcement..

Dessie pouted and jumped up and down impatiently, "They need to hurry up! Bella is getting really bored..." She sighed dramatically before adding, "So am I, my feet hurt."

I glanced down at Dessie and tried to whisper discreetly, "Can't you... Float or something?"

Dessie looked offended, "But then I can't feel the land beneath my feet! I can't feel nature coming alive and growing under my toes...-"

"Congratulations Nanami from Echo Farm! You and your lovely cow Bella are today's winners of the Beginners Cow competition. Let's give a round of applause for Nanami!" Cheered Stephanie.

The announcement didn't sink in at first, I began to clap, prepared to congratulate a different contestant on winning. It wasn't until Dessie began jumping up and down and pulling on my shirt that I realised what was happening.

... I had won?

I couldn't fight the grin growing on my face, I let myself smile and enjoy this moment.

Winning isn't everything. My mother would say. If I had lost I would have got back up and entered the next festival. But I had won. I had worked hard for this competition despite the setbacks, I knew I was allowed to be pleased and proud of myself. This win was a sign that I was progressing towards becoming a good farmer.

I patted Bella affectionately and whispered, "Well done girl. You did great."

Stephanie gestured enthusiastically for me to join her centre stage to collect a bouquet of flowers and a trophy, I smiled down at Dessie and gestured for her to join me. I had her company and antics to thank for getting me through each day and taking away my loneliness. I just wished everyone else could see her so she could have this moment as well.

Dessie walked beside me to the front of the stage and said excitedly, "You get a flower crown too! Can I have it after you're done with it? I LOVE flower crowns." She gestured to the flowers threaded through her hair happily. I nodded then approached Stephanie to receive my prizes.

"Let's give it up for Nanami!" Stephanie cheered as she handed me my flowers and trophy. I curtsied to the crowd and tried to take a picture of this moment in my mind so I could remember how I was feeling right know whenever I next felt hopeless. I did this, dad.

~~~

As I walked off the stage I felt strong arms grab me and pull me into a bear bug.

"Hi, Uncle Frank" I whispered as I hugged him back.

"That's my niece!" Frank chuckled and squeezed my shoulders, "Well done Nami, congrats on the win!"

"Thanks, Uncle Frank," I smiled, "I wouldn't have been able to do this without you, thank you for all of your guidance. It really means a lot."

"This is the first big step, huh? I'm lookin' forward to seein' ya grow through these competitions. Y'all should go and talk to everyone, I'm sure they're wanting to speak to ya after ya win."

Frank patted my head affectionately then nudged me in the direction of Wayne, Ludus, and Ford who were all standing together. As I approached them I noticed Dessie standing in between Wayne and Ludus, gazing up a both of them in awe. I wondered how things would be if I wasn't the only person who could see Dessie, if everyone here knew about her and interacted with her. Then again, considered the number of comments Dessie made teasing me about my interactions with other people I was glad that they couldn't hear what she was saying.

"Congrats on the win!" Wayne said as he noticed me approach, "I figured ya'd take home the victory. Do ya think y'all enter a higher class next time?"

"I hope so, I want to work my way up as much as I can" I said and turned to Ford, ignoring the kissing noises Dessie was making towards Ludus. "Have you been enjoying the festivities, Ford?"

Ford looked troubled, he kept glancing back and forth between myself and a cow that was being kept with the other livestock being entered into the competitions taking part today. I suspected that maybe he hadn't heard me or worse, was choosing not to respond. I was about to repeat myself when he replied.

"Since this animal Festival opened, there's this one cow which kept on having its sight towards my direction while looking as if it wants to say something. What on earth does it want from me?" Ford turned to Wayne, and shook his head.

"Maybe it's in love with ya, Ford." Wayne winked at me then chuckled.

Ford frowned and glanced back towards the cow, "I can only think about that so I couldn't even concentrate on today's festival. What an odd entity..." he muttered as he adjusted his glasses.

Dessie, invisible to everyone else, stared up at Ford and cocked her head, "He's a little weird, isn't he? I think that cow knows it too…."