Thank You
Chapter 5 Chip Off the Old Farmer
Being both physically and emotionally exhausted, Chip soon dragged himself to the bathroom to clean the dirt from his face, after realizing it was still there from earlier during his tantrum. As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he saw a significant improvement on his bruised face: the swelling had decreased greatly, and Chip had a good hunch that this would be, probably the first good slumber in a long while.
Soon Chip flopped back into bed, now clad in pajama bottoms and an old, oversized tee, thanks to his dad. "You get yourself some rest, you've had a rough day." Mr. Whistler said, picking up Chip's former (now ruined) attire. "I'll toss your old, scorched clothes in the garbage and go find something more suitable for when you wake up tomorrow. Until then at breakfast, goodnight."
Chip never realized how considerate his dad really was of him but given Chip's selfish, egotistical personality, he guessed he never really took the time to notice. Looks like talking things over with him and giving a legitimate apology had paid off. "Night dad and thanks again, for everything." With the kind words exchanged, Mr. Whistler smiled and closed the door. The blonde released a content sigh and pulled the covers up over him. Chip was so drained after everything he'd been through that he immediately snuggled down into bed, barely taking notice how quickly he was claimed by sleep afterwards.
His dad headed back out to the living room, but not before stopping half-way there to look upon upon another photo of young Chip. "Welcome home son." He ran his hands over the wooden frame, while imaging what it would've been like if Chip was a farmer like him. After all, the old saying was "like father, like son." An idea soon crossed Mr. Whistler's face. He smiled and headed to the hall closet to retrieve Chip's new attire. With a little something added to it, curiosity of him and his former wife.
The morning sun rose slowly over the horizon in the east, a single ray of it peeked in through the tiny opening in the curtains. Chip opened his eyes and stretched himself out, while a yawn escaped him at the same time. 'A new day, one without Cricket.' Chip thought as he pushed the covers back and sat upright. He realized his hunch had been right on point from the previous night, it was the best sleep he had had in a while.
Just as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, a knock came on his bedroom door. "Chip? You awake yet? I've got breakfast waiting for you whenever you're ready." His dad called from the other side. "I also rounded up your new outfit, it's hanging on a hook right outside your door." Mr. Whistler couldn't wait to see what Chip's reaction would be.
"Alright, I'll be down in a few." Chip answered back. He heard the footsteps fading as he stood up, and tugged the blankets back into place, before he made his way to the window. Pulling back the curtains, he was almost blinded by the sunlight. Chip really wished he still had his sunglasses as he stepped back and blinked a few times to refocus his vision.
Once his sight was normal again, he opened up the door and peered around the corner, ready to see what his dad had came up with. What Chip saw dangling from the wall hook almost caused him to groan and run a hand down his face, but he knew his dad must have a good reason for this specific set of clothing. Chip grabbed up his new attire anyway and started getting dressed. Surprisingly, all with a straight face.
The fresh smell of an eggs and bacon breakfast wafted through the air and just when Mr. Whistler was about to go check on Chip, the latter appeared in the doorway. Now donning a flannel shirt (with sleeves rolled up to the elbow) and a pair of brown work boots. But the most unusual part of Chip's new ensemble was the snug fitting overalls. Those reminded Chip of an all too familiar buck toothed kid. "Don't think about Cricket, don't think about Cricket." He silently muttered under his breath.
Seeing his son in a brand new outfit that gave the impression of a famer immediately put a smile on the older blondes face, and he clasped his hands together. "You look great." Mr. Whistler's bright expression didn't fade once as he sat two new plates of food down. "Here, have a nice hot breakfast. It'll do you good."
"Now I think I know how Cricket feels wearing overalls." There it was, that was the comment Chip was trying to avoid. "Did you dig out this little number from an old box somewhere?" Chip wondered, taking a seat and scooting his chair forward, closer to the table. He tried his best not to let the sarcasm show, though it was very close to seeping through his lips.
The almost guilty look in his fathers eyes told him yes. "I did but originally, your mother made the overalls entirely from scratch way before you were born. I kept it in a box for many long years to keep them nice, taking it with us when we moved to Big City and I brought them out here when I retired. I had a hunch you'd grow into them and look, perfect fit. Well, eat up son cause after this, I've got something else to show you. It's just gonna require a drive to get there, shouldn't take too long."
The words 'require a drive to get there' caused Chip to raise an eyebrow but he didn't dare question his dads motives. Chip trusted him now, their toxic, love/hate relationship had been resolved and he knew this would probably end well. Chip was basically staring a new life by turning over a new leaf.
After cleaning up and setting the plates in the sink, Chip followed his dad to the garage. His curiosity was as high as it could go as the duo hopped in the old pickup and headed off.
It was only ten minutes into the ride when the unavoidable complaining began. "Could you just tell me where we're going?" Chip whined, while looking out the window at the trees that lined the sides of the road. That's all he saw for miles.
"Sorry son, I don't wanna spoil this surprise. If you can just resist complaining, I know you'll love what I've got in store for you." This time Chip did groan out of annoyance but he was quiet for the rest of the drive while he simultaneously looked out onto the rural landscapes.
On a different note, the change in scenery was welcoming and soon Chip realized that he should be enjoying the peace, quiet, and the complete absence of the Green Family.
Another ten minutes later when Mr. Whistler finally stopped the truck, and they finally got out, the younger blonde took another deep breath. Chip's curiosity still resided but at least the complaining had finally ceased.
Very slowly, he walked tword the fence that ran the perimeter of the farmland."Where are we? All I see is wheat fields, pastures and a barn?" Chip scratched his head in confusion.
Mr. Whistler couldn't be any more happy as he revealed the surprise he had mentioned earlier, "Chip, welcome to the original Whistler Family Farms. This is where me and your mother worked back in the day." All his son could do was tilt his head in disbelief, Chip had to be dreaming. He pinched himself just to be sure, regretting that choice after letting out a painful yelp upon realizing this wasn't a dream. His dad unlocked the main gate and they started through the field and tword the barn,"I never forclosed on this place, even after the move and when I retired to my current home. I still own these twenty five acres. Only because I still frequently come out here one to two times a week. Mainly it's just to reminisce cause age has caught up to me. As it will for you one day. Beleive me Chip, I'd love to continue the work, though I'm not as limber as I used to be."
Soon, they came to a halt in front of the dilapidated barn that had faded and chipped paint. Chip's eyes gazed up to the almost unrecognizable words of Whistler Family Farms that hovered above it's entrance, "If only I knew someone, possibly in the family, who was younger than me and much more flexible.." The older man draped a hand around Chip's shoulder, and tugged him closer. "To lend me a hand with some of the farm work."
"Yeah, sounds like that's what you need." Soon, Chip's brain clicked after realizing just how oblivious he really was. "Oh, you mean me. Well, that certainly explains the farmer attire. But, I-I..you know I don't know a thing about farming, how am I suppose to help you?" A rising panic presented itself in his voice.
"Relax. Deep breath son. You've got a good teacher right here, I'll show you the ropes and help you when you need it. All you've got to do is be honest with me, listen to and talk to me when you need it and you'll get through this." Mr. Whistler soon picked up a variety of gardening tools (consisting of a hoe, a trowel and a small sack of seeds) and handing them to Chip while he pointed tword a wide open dirt field, "Think you can do it? Will you let me teach you how to farm son?"
Chip took a deep breath and almost instantly calmed down. He was at a complete loss for words but soon a very familiar quote re-entered his head. "Yes, if you truly beleive that you do reap what you sow, then I'll give it a try." Now flooded with a newfound confidence, Chip opened the gate and walked out into the field, his dad following behind him.
Taking the hoe in both hands, he stuck it into the soil and pulled it tword him. "Like this?" A thumbs up from the retired farmer meant yes. 'Seems simple enough.' After tilling the soil for a few rows, Chip grabbed the trowel and seeds, dug a handful of small holes and dropped them in, covering them after and thinking back to when he helped to replant carrots with the Greens. Guess he did learn something about farming from them after all.
Chip then looked over his shoulder, he was met with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk from his father."Not a farmer hm Chip? You're a natural. All you've got to do now is throw some water on them and let time do the rest."
Chip then stood back up, brushing his hair back soon after. "Actually, I remember this from working with the Greens." Chip then had a feeling that he was seeing that country bumpkin off in the distance. Or maybe it was just another sleep deprived hallucination.
Remembering one thing Chip had said earlier, Mr. Whistler headed back to the pick-up to grab one last accessory to his sons farmer outfit. Coming up behind Chip, he plopped a straw hat onto his head. "Just so you don't die from the heat after hearing about what happened at the Greens. And also because I care very much about you. We can run this place together, give us a chance to deepen the bond we've got going now. So, what do you say, wanna revive Whistler Family Farms?"
This was a big descion for Chip but he tried to run through the positives that could come with the offer while he collected an old rusted watering can and filled it up from an old spigot. "Hm, I'll learn about farming, you've got company now so you're not so lonely anymore, I'm turning over a new leaf, I'm free from Cricket and I'm revising my life." That was a lot of positives, guess Chip didn't have much of a choice. After putting some water on the seeds, he held out his hand. "I'd love to. Let's revive and restart this place together."
Mr. Whistler shook the firm hand of his son, sealing the deal. "That's the spirit son. I think we can make it together. Thanks for letting me teach you."
Chip's gaze shifted downward for a second then he lifted his head back up. There was one more thing he needed to say. "No, thank you for talking to me. I really needed that heart to heart. I promise I'll be more honest with you from now on."
"I knew I raised you well. And I guess now you're literally a chip off the old farmer. Am I right?" Chip's dad could help but chuckle at that joke, while nudging Chip on the shoulder.
The blonde soon found himself laughing with him. That joke was both metaphorical and literal, but it did suit him well. "You're exactly right."
"Well, come on, this place ain't gonna fix itself up." Mr. Whistler started tword their old farm house, with Chip trailing closely behind.
Chip then quickly stopped and looked out to the horizon, a sigh of contentment leaving his mouth as he did. Chip knew things were finally looking up for him and he had one more person to thank for it. "Cricket Green, I thought you were just an annoying pest but if it wasn't for our rivalry and me trying to get rid of you, I wouldn't have ended up here, starting my life over with a new purpose. Thank you."
Chip knew he was going to be fine. He never would've guessed his long-time arch enemy and his crazy family would ever be a good influence but Chip was glad they had been.
A/N
Ah, here we are at last, the final chapter and Chip's redemption. The idea of farmer Chip had been swimming around in my brain ever since I started this story, hench the clever title of this chapter. And maybe from his debut episode, Supermarket Scandal when he said he didn't know anything about farming. ;) :P Hope you guys like it. I'm finally back into the writing game thanks to this short story. I also found a better title for this fic if you didn't notice. I think Thank You fits better than A Heart to Heart, given what I added after chapter 3.
Alright, until my next BCG fic, keep smiling! Bingo Bango.