Chapter Two; Turtles and Gift Baskets

It would be about a week before Cody would verify the new farm girl's existence in the valley. This was not done out of lack of respect for the girl, or any sort of rudeness, it was just his way. He found that his time was better spent pondering his problem than dwelling in thought about who was dwelling in the valley. Cody had a routine everyday; he walked, and walked a lot. Just beyond his humble home was Turtle Pond, not too far away from the pond was the shoreline- a pleasant little beach. A river ran flowed into the ocean; Cody would follow that river up stream until he reached the waterfall. Once he spent some time there, pondering his problem, Cody would return to his home the way he came. On a rare occasion- for the sake of being spontaneous, he would venture out to the mountains to view the valley from above. The rocky side paths up the mountain side were dangerous, but they offered a thrill, something besides his problem solving. But when Cody truly felt adventures, like flirting with disaster- Cody headed to one place, The Blue Bar. People were there, and people- well, were unpredictable. However, Cody had made this routine of his some time ago, and steadily he began to grow weary of it. Ten years was a long time to deal with a problem.

Though Cody had lived in the valley for quite some time now, nearly half his life, he found that he was very content keeping to himself. People normally came to him to talk, hardly ever was it the other way around. There was no arrogant pride in this, it was simply how he liked to operate; that was how it was. And while Cody hadn't thought much on the Abiba at all, the topic of her had just fallen into his lap.

"Have you met Abiba yet, Cody?" asked Nina. Cody looked down at the little, questioning, elderly woman. A small smile grew on his face, it was the only reaction a human being could have after looking upon such a happy woman. She was so blissfully happy in her way.

Cody nodded once. "Yes, I have," he said while Nina handed him a clean piece of cloth. Cody took it and began rubbing a very large turtle's shell.

"She's such a sweet young lady, my dear. She really is! Oh, just yesterday she came watching up to me and gave me a flower! I was so surprised! How could she have possibly known that I adore flowers so? Such a wonderful young lady!" Cody watched the woman in her excitement. He examined her clothing with his eyes. Upon Nina's vest were several, hand-stitched flowers and flowers sewed onto her pants. Cody found him smiling quickly to himself. Nina was the perfect embodiment of the word cute. He continued to rub the turtle's shell with the cloth.

Nina smiled at the turtle. "You're doing just fine aren't you?" she patted the turtle's shell. "You've seen just as many years as I have, haven't you dear? We're so lucky to have a nice young man like Cody to clean your shell every now and then." Nina turned to Cody. "Honestly dear, thank you so much again. I used to be able to scrum hard enough to get all the muck off his shell, but then my hands began to ache and Dr. Hardy told me to be gentler with my hands- I was so glad when you said you'd help."

Cody smiled at her, nodding a few times. Cody and Nina used to meet up quite often at Turtle pond; the pair would just look about, admiring the natural splendor. The little woman had such a spark in her, Cody was truly fond of her. He would notice how she'd dote on the turtle with such a gentle hand, he was so moved that he had offered one of his bandanas to Nina, who tied it about the turtle's neck. A stylish accessory that cemented the friendship of the three. But about a year ago, Nina found that she couldn't help clean the turtle's shell. Her arthritis would pain her too much. Without another word Cody went to work and took up her mantle.

"Oh my, you have such powerful hands, dear," sighed the little old woman beside Cody. She reached out her pail wrinkled hand and rested it on Cody's. Cody immediately noticed the difference in size. The woman's hand fit like an infant's little hand would in an adult's palm. "I'm surprised I never noticed that before, dear. They are indeed quite large." Nina nodded to herself cheerfully. Cody remained quiet until his work was done. Nina continued to nod happily. "Yes, how does that feel?" she asked the turtle. The reptile's only response was his slow movement into the pond, looking back at his companions just before he was fully submerged. Nina laughed. "Well then, I must be going." She patted Cody's palm gently, "Be safe my dear, I'll see you tomorrow."

Cody grunted and watched as the little old woman made her way up the hillside. After a moment Cody glanced down at his own hands. His palm was mostly covered by his gloves that cut off at the fingers. But it was indeed true, he knew this very well indeed. He towered over the population of the valley. He was a black giant. Something very odd indeed.

Without wanting to think on it for much longer, Cody went to the shoreline and watched the ocean for a while. The shimmering waters crashed upon each other. In the distance the water appeared to be still, subtle enough to look flat, but as they would approach the shore they would crash and collide upon one another. Feeling that it was about time to continue his routine, Cody continued up the hill. The river gave off a soothing sound as it ran down hill, following its natural course before it too would collide with the ocean itself. It was, well- chaotic.

"Oh hey, Cody!"

Slightly caught off guard, Cody looked to his left. The voice that had called to him was the new farm girl, Abiba. She was walking down from her farm, headed toward him. Her chestnut hair bounced as she walked, it seemed very light, and free. "I haven't seen you since last week, right? How are you?"

"I'm fine," he replied in his deep voice.

"You live in that metal house, right? All the way across this half of the valley?" she continued. Cody nodded in a reply. Abiba began to feel a little uneasy. Cody wasn't one to talk, but she found it difficult to carry the conversation on herself. "Uh- you live all by yourself, doesn't it get lonely?"

"No, it's peaceful." There was a certain look in Cody's eye that made Abiba slightly more uneasy.

"Oh? Well- I,"

Without meaning to be rude Cody interrupted. "I must be going now…."

"Um, right! Okay!" Abiba waved, "I'll see you later then, Cody!" Cody never returned the wave. Abiba stood there, slightly perplexed about her conversation.

Cody never meant to be rude, however he was being so. He kept to himself, that's how it always was. And as the sunlight would play about his face when it broke thought the canopy of trees above him, Cody felt very sure that this was the way it would always stay.

In the next morning, Cody woke up bright and early, just as always. Within moments he began pondering his problem. He was fairly surprised that the he didn't dream of it when the night sky was about. Cody stepped out of his metal home, yawning and stretching out his arms and legs. He brushed a little dirt off his tunic. He looked up and noted the contrast between the black sky of the night and the yellow hues of dawn. Birds began to chirp about the valley, everything was just as it should be. Simple, clean, unchaotic.

"Hey! Cody!"

Cody flinched a bit. This never happened in the morning. Cody looked behind his home. Descending the graceful slope of the valley was Abiba, carrying a large basket of some sort in her arms. The sunlight flooding over the horizon danced upon her face, as if delighted to see her sparkling eyes. "Good morning there!"

Not entirely certain why she had come, Cody slowly nodded a hello. When she had reached him, Abiba placed the basket to her side. "Uh- well, sorry to have come so early. Nina told me that you're up at the crack of dawn and I well, wanted to see you before you got to busy." She played with her work apron nervously as she spoke. Cody towered over this girl too. "I'm sorry if I got in your way yesterday. I tend to talk too much. But I was wondering if you'd accept my apology and a gift from me to you." Abiba took up her basket again, removing the cover to reveal a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Cody's face softened a bit. "Well, you see, you live all alone, right? I was talking to Marlin yesterday and he told me that people who live by themselves don't eat enough of the good stuff, and so I figured I'd give you some." She laughed, "But don't be fooled- I didn't grow it all, just the tomatoes and potatoes and… that melon." Abiba pointed out a juicy looking melon at the front of the basket. "The rest I bought from Vesta's farm."

Cody looked into the basket that had been lovingly arranged, for he could tell each plant offspring was place carefully into the basket's woven walls. He took up the basket from Abiba's arms with ease. "Oh wow, that was a bit heavy for me, you've got some good arms there, Cody!" The sunlight continued to dance upon her face, which Cody studied for a moment. She was fairly plain at first glance, but there was perhaps something in the way that the light touched her face and made it unique.

Cody nodded. "Thank you, Abiba." He smiled at her as she left his home, saying something about her cow being angry with her for not letting her about first thing in the morning. He watched her moved up the hillside, once again noticing that copper gleam in her hair. He went into his home and placed the basket onto his table. There was something comforting about Abiba- at the same time, something chaotic, but what exactly that was, he couldn't figure out.