Chapter Four- A Reason to Stay
Jack stood there, not knowing what to say. This spunky girl had quite a mouth. She crossed her arms and with a "hmph!" went into the backroom.
Rick looked at Jack, embarrassed. "Sorry you had to see that, Jack," he muttered.
"Eh, I needed a laugh, anyway."
Rick nodded, and his face broke into a friendly smile. "So, what brings you here?"
"Huh?" Jack looked up. "Oh, I was going to buy some food. I didn't really plan well with the crops and all..."
Sasha heard this and she seemed to appear right in front of his eyes. "You would like to buy something?"
Jack backed up a few feet, and nodded. "Yes, I would like bread or something, please."
Her eyes grew wide and she pushed him towards the large shelf filled with goods. "Can't live without chocolate. Oh, and bread is very important. Here's curry powder for all of your homemade stews. Oh, and flour-!"
"Sasha!" Jack's knees bent as he held the many items that Sasha had handed him. "I'm just here for dinner, not to feed an army."
She looked disappointed. "Oh, well, sorry for bothering you." She walked to the register and waited sulkily for Jack to pick out something small to buy. He finally decided on a loaf of bread and a bar of chocolate. He handed her the items and paid for them. "Have a nice day," she said rather rudely, and handed him back the food.
After turning around, Jack rolled his eyes. People. He walked out of the store. He could see the setting sun from behind a few trees to his left. The tops of the trees were outlined with deep crimson. It was time for Jack to get back to his farm. Reaching his house, Jack turned around before walking inside. His eyes scanned the farm. Healthy crops grew beautifully, and the grass that he had planted last year was vibrant and green. This was a farm that any farmer would be proud of. Why wasn't he?
Sighing, Jack walked inside, and his mind went back to the same thing it did everynight. Do I belong here?
He dropped the groceries on the counter and fell face-down on his couch. His appetite vanished as his mind began to fill with thoughts. He wasn't happy in the city, and he wasn't happy now. What did he want? He didn't know anymore...
Nights were always the same. He would ask himself these questions, and he would finally decide that the right thing to do was leave Mineral Town. But, everytime... Jack covered his face with his hands. Right. Everytime, you wake up afterwards and you don't do anything. You stay here.
Another voice came into his mind. Hey, the people are counting on him. Give him a break.
Jack stopped before he started fighting with himself. He heard scratching at his door, and he remembered that his dog was outside. He opened the door and let him inside. He looked up before closing it and stared at the dark land. The wind whistled as it danced around the blades of grass, causing waves in the sea of green. The moon made the small pond beside his house sparkle as if it contained diamonds instead of water.
Yes, the country was always so brilliant. The colors seemed brighter here, and Jack could hear things that he could never here before. Crickets chatted at the same time every night, and locusts played their music every hot summer.
Maybe that's why I stay here, he thought calmly. I don't stay because I'm depended on. I stay because I love nights like these. Shaking his head, he retreated back into his home and looked down at his only friend. "I just don't know what to do, Sam." The small dog seemed to smile and licked Jack's leg. Jack scratched his back with two fingers. He had named his dog Sam as soon as Thomas had given him the puppy. There was one person whom he missed greatly.
Jack sighed heavily. Oh, Samantha...