Chapter 5: The Wish

With less than a week before the Goddess Festival, the town is springing to life with preparation. Flowerbud's Town Square is all abloom with noise as people hurry to and from, carrying tables and wares that will be for sale to the outsiders who visit. This celebration is not only spiritually meaningful for the residents of Flowerbud Village, it also serves as a means for them to earn some extra money as there is little financial growth in such a small community.

Popuri pins two pieces of hair back on either side of her head to get them away from her face which has become dewy like a morning rose. She is busy helping her mother with arranging the flowers that will be used to decorate the festival and separating them from the ones that will be sold. Even after hours of snipping stems of white roses and pink carnations, there is still work to be done and she wastes no time. This is Popuri's favorite time of year, and she barely considers this to be work. Her mother, Lillia, catches sight of a young man outside who is headed to the bakery. She is fond of the boy and knows that he is fond of her daughter. Remembering her own youthful days, she softens her expression as she looks over at her daughter working diligently.

"Poppy," says the women in a sing-song voice, "why don't you head over to the bakery and take a break. It's nearly lunch time!"

Startled by the sudden proposal, her eyes wide and questioning as she delicately clasps a lily.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" she asks genuinely. Popuri's mother is always in need of an extra hand around the shop. She is quite sure though, and encourages her daughter to hurry along before any customers come in. Without hesitation, she does not even take the time to wash her hands of the potting soil that lightly sanded them. Deciding she wasn't hungry, she instead heads south out of town towards the Aurora Farm, unaware that the reason her mother suggested the bakery was because Jack was there.

Mesmerized by the song birds and spring air, Popuri hums a tune barely audible over the chirping birds. A smile finds its way across her cheeks for no apparent reason as she walks along the dusty, country trail. She loves the spring, but she knows that all beautiful things must come to an end, and makes a conscious effort to enjoy every minute of its fleeting nature. As she makes her way onto the farm, she takes a detour past the chicken coop and stables to talk with the animals. She reaches out to touch some of them; they know her very well for she visits quite often. After a few moments to herself, she is surprised that Jack has not found her yet. She looks around at the expansive field, the grass is a lighter version of the emerald shade it will be in the summertime. A sigh escapes from her lips as a strong breeze blows by. Her hair and skirt is caught up in it and for a moment she feels so happy. She throws her hands out to either side and closes her eyes, pretending to be bird.

"Well hello there, young lady."

She turns to see Pete, the old farmer who has run the Aurora Farm for many years before she was even born. With a giggle, she looks at his blue eyes shaded behind wrinkled skin and a warm smile. She imagines that he must have looked a lot like Jack when he was a young man.

"Hi Uncle Pete! I'm on break from the shop, it's so busy in town! How are you? What are you doing?" Her mouth can hardly keep up with her thoughts as her eyes dart from the tools in the old man's hands back to the fence behind him that seems to be broken.

"Ah, just keeping busy," he says. He is a man of few words, but he enjoys the young girl's spirited nature and always welcomes her company.

She follows him as he makes his way over to the far end of the pasture. As he works on the fence, she tries to help by handing him tools but becomes confused by some of the more technical terms he uses to describe them. His patience never grows thin though, and the girl's chatter keeps his mind off of the warmth of the afternoon sun which is growing warmer and warmer on his tired back.

"Hey, Uncle Pete. Have you ever seen a music box buried around here? A long time ago, when we were playing on your farm, we found a music box in that tree over there but we buried it for some reason, but everyone has forgotten where we buried it! I was thinking maybe you have come across it?"

"Hmm" the old man says as he continues to hammer down another nail. He then pulls the rag off of the back of his neck and uses it to wipe the sweat which pours down his forehead. The hesitation raises Popuri's spirits as she patiently awaits his answer.

"I can't say I seen it," he says after some time, "but I remember that ol' box. I gave that to your mother, I mean your grandmother, when we were young. Err, no. She wouldn't be your grandmother now, would she?" The man laughs a hearty laugh as he struggles to get off of his knees and back into a standing position.

"Oh, really?" exclaims Popuri while clasping her hands together in a girlish way, "how romantic! Now I really wish I could find it."

Pete has grown old but he is still strong. He manages to carry all of his tools without the girl's help despite her constant offering. She listens as he talks about his younger years with his wife and how they had both worked very hard on this farm together. His words are tinged with a bit of sadness though, and Popuri inquires further.

"Well, my boy don't wanna take over this farm. He's movin' the family to the city. I'm proud of him. The boy has a great mind and ain't never really been cut out for workin' the fields, but it will be sad to see this old place go."

Popuri's eyes begin to water as she imagines life in Flowerbud without the Aurora Farm and, worse, without her close friend Jack.

"What about Jack? Won't he stay and help you work? I don't think Jack wants to move to the city, he would never leave all of his friends here!" The elderly farmer smiles at the girl and replies in a calm tone in an attempt to subdue her distress.

"I'd never ask that boy to stay. It would be a lot of work for him on his own-"

"I'd help him!" she bites her lip, realizing that she had interrupted him, "I'm sorry, but I want you to know that I would! No matter what! Really, I will because I love this farm it is like home to me and I could never just watch it go."

"All things must come to an end. We only cry when the good things end though," he smiles warmly at the girl, admiring her sincerity, "I do wish though that this farm would live on, even after I am gone. It would give me peace to know my hard work has paid off."

"I wish that too," she says, growing more melancholic from the thought of the kind farmer not being around. How sad her days would be without the view of the lovely brown cows and fluffy sheep grazing in the green pastures, or the rows upon rows of yellow and red tomatoes that covered the summer fields. The Aurora Farm was what kept much of Flowerbud financially stable, as it was the highest earning business other than the Vineyard.

Before heading back home, Popuri takes a long look at the old man dressed in his dirty overalls and flannel shirt. She then hugs him tightly, burying her cheek into his shoulder as tiny tears escape from her eyes.

"Thank you Uncle Pete. I love this farm so much and I will do everything I can to make your wish come true!"