Takakura only had a small reservation about talking to Mark when he saw him bringing bag after bag of garbage from his home out to the side of the house. "What are you doing there, Mark?" He asked, approaching from his own home.
Mark stopped to look but returned to dropping the bags-probably the tenth- to the side of the house. "You've only been here a few days. How did you accumulate so much garbage?" he asked, following to the side of the house. The deep shadow from the house provided good shade from the summer sun.
"I'm just cleaning up. I know it's summer but I don't think the old guy ever believed in spring cleaning" Mark kicked the bag as it began to lean. Takakura sighed, "Your father never was the cleanest person. He often went months without cleaning"
"Yeah, I bet. He didn't clean back at the house either. He just expected mother to" he responded. Mark didn't say much other than that before going to retrieve more. In that time, Takakura remained there.
It was something bright that caught his eye. Yellow and red. He stepped closer to inspect the bags. Littering some of the dirt beside the bags and some coming from the openings of the loosely bound bags were yellow and red petals. He picked one up, a red happy lamp petal, it was long and waxy between his fingers.
As he realized that the bag was full of flowers petals, he looked around to all the other bags. They all were full of petals.
"Takakura" Mark began as he came from around the corner.
"Ah, yeah?" he jumped.
Takakura was surprised he could jump so high for his age. It must have been all the years farming. He was planning on helping Mark around the farm. He saw that none of the plants that he had been growing had sprouted. When he went to check the day previously, he saw evidence of tilling and plowing but it was a mess. There were little mounds where he had recovered the seeds. It was sloppy and by the looks of the seeds-which Takakura inspected- they should not be planted so close together. If they sprout, they will choke out the others.
Takakura decided to see Mark and give him some advice. Mark dropped another bag and whipped his hands. "Is there something you wanted?" He asked, finally standing still.
"Er... yes actually. I saw what you were planting over there" he pointed a finger around the house, "That won't do at all. The seeds are too close and they won't grow"
Mark's brow furrowed and a stiff line creased it. He looked much like his father to Takakura when he did that. "I thought I would take a look at it with you-"
"Well, you already seemed to take a look" he was quick to respond, frowning. Takakura didn't know what to say but before he could reply, Mark interjected, "I'm sorry. I'm just kinda busy now"
"Well, do you need any help? It looks like you are doing a lot" his eyes skimmed the bags. "No…well" he began but quickly shushed himself. Takakura stepped in further, "If there is anything you need" and he did mean anything. While they stood there, Takakura took the opportunity to ask about the bags.
"Did you tire of the flowers?"
Mark's eyes widened, Takakura couldn't help but notice. "Did you look through them?" the question had the accusation of some violation on Takakura's part. He scooted in front of the bags like a child trying to hide some misdoing. It concerned Takakura but he decided not to show it. "I saw the petals" he gestured to them which Mark quickly kicked away.
"If you had sold them, they would have been worth quite the bundle. Too bad, you know if there is one still fully intact, then you can give it to one of the ladies of the valley" Mark's ears perked. That Muffy was first to come to mind. Second was the bar. He couldn't help but recall the looks the village folks gave him. He almost shuddered as he thought of it.
"Say, Mark"
Mark lifted his head to him as he had lowered it subconsciously as he thought. "I've noticed that you haven't left the farm in a few days" That's not completely true. He has taken breaks to gather more flowers every so often. "I was thinking, let's work on the farm together. Across the bridge, there is a farm. Go there and you should find a woman named Vesta. I don't believe that you have formally met yet. She can sell you some new seeds" Takakura said.
Mark hasn't been to the farm before but he has seen it. As he collected flowers, he saw a girl come out from one of the wooden huts on the property and cross into another. Her long brown hair hung in the breeze as she crossed. That was all he saw. He was curious but didn't pursue it.
"I can give you some money this time" he said as he withdrew money from his pocket, "so get going" Mark couldn't reply and just went on ahead. Being visible in the town made him the slightest bit uncomfortable. He was hoping not to run into that Rock.
Being from the city, he wasn't all that used to the quite yet. Only the birds and the rustling of the hot breeze made sound. It was pleasant compared to the blaring shouts and automobiles of the city. He was nervous to meet this Vesta especially after the other residence have behaved.
As he walked, the girl became visible through the watermelon patch. Almost as if feeling his gaze, she peeked up from the patch and eyed him. Her long hair hung and draped over the fresh melons.
Her eyes were wide with glee. "Hello" she was the first to initiate the contact. "I don't believe I've met you before" She left it there for him to fill in the blanks. "Oh, uh…" he approached, not wanting to call over the distance. He came to the short fence where she was on her knees resting on a knee board. "I actually am looking to find a 'Vesta'" he told her.
She didn't hesitate to point to one of the huts. "She should be inside right now" she laughed. There was dirt on the corner of her mouth and what looked like juice. A cracked open watermelon resided beside her hip.
"Okay" he smiled and headed in. As he rounded the corner he was immediately halted by a blockade- a man. "Who are you?" he said. The man had a good foot and fifty pounds over Mark. Mark had run into a few thugs back in the city and this man looked the part with his collar popped and jet hair greased back. He'd never seen such a structured body, his muscles were thickly chiseled and created much anxiety in Mark.
"I, uh. I came to see Vesta- to buy seeds"
The man scanned him up and down and left and right. With the cock of his head, he grunted. Mark was hoping he would get his approval. He swallowed hard waiting as the man crossed his arms.
"Hey, why are you standing in the door-" the door swung open.
The man quickly dodged and from the other side of the door, out stepped a heavily built woman. She was even bigger than him-and probably more muscled. There was some resemblance in the broadness of the shoulders and the thickness of the jawline. Her hair was a burnt squash and frizzy.
It wasn't long before she noticed Mark lingering near. "Oh and who do we have here?" Mark was so close to shitting himself. Hoping against hope that the two of them weren't going to gang up on him.
"Um… I came to see Ms. Vesta to buy seeds" he shrunk. There was a shift in her expression. "-Takakura sent me" he was quick to add. "Oh, really? Well come on in" she held the door wide open. Mark was slow about walking around Marlin. He wasn't exactly the warmest person he has met. On the other hand, he barely knows him. On the other hand, he doesn't want to know him.
Inside the small hut was mainly wood and cardboard boxes filled with veggies as fruit produce. He glanced around the room. "So Takakura sent you" the woman said as she walked behind a thick wooden table set in the middle of the room. "What do you need?" she asked. This woman, tall and thick, was Vesta, Mark assumed. Marlin was lingering behind him, his shadow draping over his shoulders. He couldn't have felt more uncomfortable.
Mark stepped forward out of Marlin's thick presence. Scratching his head, he eyed the sprawl of seeds on the table. He sighed, rubbing his chin in thought. His main thought being, how long until they realize that he hasn't the foggiest at what he's looking at. They look sort of like what he has been growing. He never paid too much attention. Seeds are seeds. "Hurry up, already" Marlin grunted.
"Quiet!" Vesta snapped. Marlin stiffened back up. Mark was the most frightened and ceased breathing. "Now, what is it you are looking for?" She asked, placing her hands at the edges of the table. "Um… well I'm growing Tomatoes right now so…"
"So you want to grow some more? Tomatoes are a good plant and it isn't the most expensive seed either. Melon have a higher selling price but Tomatoes are easier to care for" Vesta responded. She cocked her head to the back and Marlin went to a crate and took out a bag of seeds.
"That'll be 30G"
"Okay, uh…" he began shuffling through his pockets. When he felt the money he placed it on the table as Marlin was tying the end of the bag. "So I take it that you are the new farmer" Vesta says. Mark looks up to her and nods. "I heard a bit about you already. Mark, is it?" she laughed. He nodded again. He was wracking his brain wondering what she knows. "I'm guessing that you're Mark's kid too" She smiled, confident in her conclusion.
He was surprised. Yes, he was Mark's son. Maybe his name was a good clue. He was named after the guy after all and he was working on his farm too. "Yeah, I am actually" He glanced around between the two. None of them were reacting to that bit of information, not like those at the bar.
"I thought you looked familiar. You're a dead-ringer for your old man" She smiled, her hands on her hips.
"You think so?" He asked. He did notice some similarities. He had the same thick brown hair that's better off short and the same fat knuckles that he hides in his gloves.
"Just alike. Don't you think so Marlin?" She laughed, gesturing to Marlin. Marlin on the other hand seemed to have no interest. He glared over at Mark and it made him shudder. Mark couldn't tell if Marlin was angry or if his eyes were always so callous.
"Exactly" he answered. Something about the tone made Mark uncomfortable. Almost like there was some hidden implication in it.
"I thought so. Okay Mark, if you need anything else then come again. We'll always be here if you need any help but I'm sure Takakura will help you too"
Mark felt the tiniest bit relieved as he was heading home. At least there were some people in the town who didn't freak out when his father came up in conversation. They were relatively kind, except that Marlin, but now he has some friends. Or at least, allies. As he was walking down the path, he saw Takakura coming down from the path and he paused as soon as he saw Mark.
"Oh, Mark…" he said waving. Mark didn't respond, rather waiting for him to go on. And Takakura did. He went over to Mark and scratched at the back of his head. "Mark, I went and ordered you a cow" Mark's eyes widened. Before he could respond, Takakura continued, "I thought that it would be a good investment and would really help you develop the farm" he said. Mark just nodded.
"Thanks"
"Oh, Mark. Did you meet with Vesta and her brood?"
"Yeah, I did actually. I got tomato seeds" he held out the bag as evidence. Takakura smiled in return.
"Well, that's good. Vesta is a good person to lean on if you need something. There also is that Celia…" he didn't go on. Mark could tell what he was thinking. She did look like she would make a nice farm wife and she is pretty. Not as stunning as that Muffy, but still pretty.
Takakura just nodded and wandered off to the bar. Mark glared up to the farm and sighed. He really didn't want to go home. That last two nights have been hell. He didn't think that having his father back would be so uncomfortable. After the petal vortex, just the sight of the stray happy lamps made him anxious. The last place he wanted to be was home.
As he thought about it, he thought of the bar or any other escape. He could go fishing but he really hated fishing. He could use a drink but he was frightened of the stares. As he thought of the bar, he thought of Muffy. She was so pretty. He could use a mate. As he thought of her, Celia came to mind too. She would probably be the better wife. She could help him plant and raise the stock.
But just then another face came to mind. One he only saw once. There was one more bachelorette he met. A red-haired girl. As he thought, he caught himself walking down the road. She would be an interesting person to meet. He hasn't heard a word from her…yet.
