Harvest Moon Generations
First Generation
Chapter 5: Spring Festivals and other events
Today was a great day, the sun was shining and forest quiet, I decided that I was going to do some more foraging. I was done collecting as much blue grass as I could find that and headed home. When I went to put them in the shipping bin, they were gone. "…how?" I lifted my bag and looked underneath, there was a hole forming from all the tools I put in there, and they probably had dropped out on the way home. I groaned, "Now what." I thought back to the General Store, they had a backpack! I looked up at the sky, the sun was still high in the sky, 'I should have enough time to make it and buy a new one!' thinking as I started speed walking. I got there right before they closed and the new backpack, which they call a Rucksack. It was brown and had a sturdier structure than my city one, and it was a lot roomier. I walked to the inn to grab some dinner then home feeling better than ever.
It had been a while since I went to the clinic and I still haven't had a proper checkup by the doctor here, so I decided to go and finally get that done after going and foraging in the mountains again. As I walked in I said hi to Elli, "Oh, Claire! Are you not feeling well? Did something happen?" She was getting worried.
I smiled, "No, I'm fine, just wanted to get a physical done. Since I'm going to living here I thought that would be a good idea. Here, I found this in the mountains today, take it would look pretty on your desk." I pulled out a Toy Flower, it was covered in small puffy petals
Elli blush, "Claire, how thoughtful! Actually, today is my birthday, so this is extra special. Thank you so much, I always enjoy getting presents no matter how old I get."
"Happy Birthday Elli! I didn't know! Looks like I'm just super lucky today!" I smiled and sat down to wait for the doctor.
After a few minutes, Elli called me back to the office and sat in front of Trent's desk, his raven hair almost covering his face. "Hello, Claire. Are you eating well?" He looked up from his desk a very serious face looking at me.
"Yes, I've been eating well. Well trying to at least."
"Good. Food I very important for you. Eat balanced meals. You shouldn't be on a radical diet, okay?" I nodded in response. He got up from behind his desk and started to take my vitals, "Everyone in this town is pretty healthy. There are many unhealthy people in big cities, you know. It must be nature." After finishing the basics, he looks in my throat, checks my eyes, and reflexes, "Everything checks out, Claire."
I stretched and try to start a conversation, "So, Doc, tell me about yourself."
He looks at me as he sits back down in his chair, "Well I'm studying medicine every day. There is no end to this kind of world. So many challenges. How about you? Farming must be hard. You're a female too. Take care of yourself."
I can tell he means well but he's a very blunt person, "Farming is hard, but I haven't done too much yet. Just trying to get my bearings first. I think the beginning of the next season I'll really start my work."
He nods, "Well, Elli and are here for you if you have and problems, okay?"
"Okay, thanks." I smiled.
"By the way, Claire." He got up and went to his medicine shelves behind him, "There is a special tonic I got from another town. You can gain energy and recover from fatigue at the same time. It's not as effective as the medicine I got here, so I don't sell it, but…" he found what he was looking for and brought to the desk, "I made some improvements, so it should work. It's bitter, though, would you mind trying it for me please?" He looked at me a nervous smile forming.
Looking at the drink and it was a dark cloudy colour, "O…okay."
His face light up, "Really? thank you! Go ahead, bottoms up."
Looking at it again, I took a dry swallow, 'Maybe it won't be too bad?' thinking as I reached for it and chugged it back. Bad idea. It tasted so bitter and like grass and something had died, I tried not to make a face and looked at him with a weak smile.
"It wasn't good, was it. But it works, right?" he pulled out a pen.
I sat there, after all of that I did feel like I could run up Mother's Hill, and back in no time flat, "Yeah I do, shockingly."
He smiled and wrote down what had happened, "I knew you'd understand the quality of this tonic. One more?" I started at him like he was nuts. "I'm kidding. Don't rely on medicine all the time, okay?" He smiled kindly at me, "It was fun to talk to you today. You helped me out too, you are very courageous." He waved at me as I walked out of his office and I said goodbye to Elli.
Today was Spring Horse Races, I had never been to something like this before. We meet in the plaza and about half the town was here, a huge tent was set up and I walked over to the Mayor, "Hello there Claire, here to make a bet?"
"Yeah sure, why not?" I placed couple bets on the horses, everyone around me cheering like crazy! Astronaut had won the first race, and this continued for the rest of the day. Placing bets on the next Racers, Napoleon won the second race and Lucky Run won the last Race. I won 125 medals in all and traded them for a few diamonds. Today was a lot of fun, I'd like to enter next year.
I was getting tired of eating bread and rice balls for dinner so I headed to the Inn to get some actual food. I ordered and ate a delicious meal that Doug made. I looked around the bar area and I didn't see Ann, "Hey Doug, where's Ann at?"
"She's upstairs cleaning the rooms." He pointed at the stairs in the corner. I thanked him and headed up them. When I got up there I knocked on the first door and opened it up looking in, no Ann. I did that till I hit the last room and say that they door was slightly open, I peered in and saw her talking to Cliff.
"Hello, Cliff." She smiled setting down some towels.
"Hi, Ann…" he whispered, I could barely hear him.
"We haven't had much chance to talk, you know." He looked away from her and muttered something, "So, what brings you to this village?"
He stayed silent for a while, Ann just waiting patiently when he answered, "…I don't really want to say…Sorry…"
"No…I'm sorry for asking!" She gave him an apologetic look, "It's none of my business. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?" Looking at the clock on the wall she smiled at him, "I have to get back to work."
As she turned to leave Cliff started to say, "Oh, um…" She turned and smiled at him. He looked at her and smiled back, "Thanks, Ann."
A big grin spread across her face, "Of course!" She turned to leave and started towards the door. I hurried back a few doors down and went to my routine of checking for her. "Hi, Claire, how are you?" I heard her.
"Hi, Ann! I was just looking for you! Just wanted to hang out is all." I smiled at her, I was safe and had a nice chat for the rest of the night.
The next day was the Cooking Festival, I don't have a kitchen in my house but I thought I'd stop by and see what it's all about, again about half the town showed up it was mostly all the wives and mothers. I got there just as Mayor Thomas had announced that the theme for this year would be Juice and he called out whoever was competing to show back up at 12. I just hung around and talked to Rick and Trent till it was time to compete. It was finally time for the Festival, a large man in a purple suit and top hat came walking out and was behind the counter, "We will now start the tasting! Please come up here when I call you." Announced the Mayor.
"Here we go…. First is…. Doug!" The red-headed man walked over to what he created and so did the Gourmet, he drank some and announced "You've done a good job of combining many ingredients into a unified whole. Very tasty!" Doug walked away proud
Next was Ann. "Hmm…the milk pulls the diverse tastes together…Very god job!" Ann looked pleased with herself walking off.
Then Lillia, "The Fruity flavour of this dish is absolutely wonderful!" Lillia waved at Rick as she walked off.
Then Manna, "The idea of mixing Milk with Vegetable Juice is ingenious! Delicious!" Manna was speechless.
Last was Karen, I saw her mother looking very embarrassed as Karen walked up, "I think…I think I will reserve my comments on this dish…" Poor Gourmet, he looked sick after drinking that.
"Mr Gourmet has tasted everything now. Please wait for the results." We didn't have to wait long for the announcement, "The winner is…." Thomas pausing for effect, "Manna!" We all cheered loudly, her husband the loudest of us all, "Your cooking was truly delicious! Let me congratulate you myself!" The Gourmet shook her hand and they took a picture together, a ribbon was handed to her, and she had bragging rights for the year.
It was the end of Spring when I decided that I wanted to plant crops next season. I had done a lot of foraging and saved up a good sum of gold and was going to head over to the General Store and Won's shop. As I walked out the door I almost ran into Barley. "Oh, good morning, Barley. How can I help you?"
He looked saddened, "Hello, Claire. I've got a favour I'd like to ask you." He motions me to follow him to the side of my house, as I turn I see a young brown foal. "This foal was born at our farm, but for some reason, he's not doing very well. We can't look after him all the time, so do you think you'd be able to until he grows up?"
Looking at the foal, he was so cute, "Yes, I'll take care of him." My mouth moved before my brain did, could I take care of a horse? Too late now.
Barley light up, "That's great! Thanks so much! In that case, you can even name him!" Thinking long and hard I decided to call my new addition to my farm family, Oliver Twix. Barley gave me a quick rundown on how to care for him, and we led him to the stable where his new bed would be. "I'll come check on him when he's older. Until then take good care of him, okay?" Waving goodbye, I went to inspect the farm for some weeds to pluck before I left.
After clearing my farm I was headed to the General Store, as I walked up the path I saw May and Popuri with some guy. "Hello, Kai!" May said hugging his leg he was smiling down at her and petting her head.
"Welcome back, Kai. When Kai comes, we know Summer has officially Started!" Popuri said grinning ear to ear.
"The Beach House will be open from the day after tomorrow, so come on by you two. My treat!" He said smiling at the girls, he had dark skin and dark brown eyes, he wore a purple bandana on his head, a white shirt with a brown bomber jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and dark pants.
"Great!" May said holding Popuri's hand, "See you then!" Popuri and May walking away hand in hand. He waved them goodbye as I was approaching.
He looked towards me, "Hiya, I don't think you were here last Summer. My name's Kai." He stuck out his hand and I shook it.
"Hello, my names Claire. It's a pleasure to meet you. Yeah, I moved in the beginning of this year so I'm still new around here still. I run the farm down the way." I smiled back at him.
He whistled low, "Wow, that's pretty amazing. Best of luck to you."
"So, what did Popuri mean when she said Summer had officially started?" I inquired.
A big grin spread across his face, "Know that tiny cottage on the beach? I run it during the summer. So, when I show up so does Summer. Come by for a visit sometime."
"Yeah I will!" we said our goodbyes and parted ways. As I was walking to the store I thought, 'He seems nice.'
I arrived at the General Store and to my disappointment, they didn't have any summer seeds out yet. 'Well, I'll stock up on Spring seeds for next year.' So, I bought 2 of each, walking out to Won's shop at Zack's place, this would be my first time there.
I got to the beach and walked into the shop, "Welcome. Thank you for coming." I heard Zack and Won greet me, "I only carry the highest quality items. Take your time." Won motioned to his small shop which was set out on a box.
As I start to browse I heard the door open and see Karen walk in, "Hi!"
"Hello, Karen. Don't see you around here very much." Zack greeted her.
She smiled, "I was at the beach anyway and wanted to check out your new shop. I'd heard rumours about it."
"What a beauty…!" I heard Won whisper shout behind me. "Who is this?"
Karen walked beside me, Zack began "Umm…this is…"
"My name is Won, a travelling salesman." Interrupting Zack.
"Oh, I've heard about you! My names Karen." She said smiling at him.
If I didn't know better I'd swear that hearts were floating around this man's head, "Karen…That's a very beautiful name!"
She giggled, "Thanks, why don't you show me what you have!"
"Good idea! Claire!" I jumped when he shouted my name, "Get out of my way! You are an obstruction to business!" I took a step back debating if I still wanted to shop here after. I also wanted to punch his stupid box but I didn't.
Karen looked at me apologetically and looked at his items, "You have many interesting things!"
"You have good taste! Right now, is golden service time! So, you can take home any one item for free." He motioned to his items set out.
"Really?! Thanks! I'll take this." She grabbed a bag of seeds
"Just come back all right?" Won winked at her.
"I will! Bye now. Bye guys." She waved at us as she exited.
Zack walked over to Won's box, "Golden service time, huh? What should I take…?"
"Golden service time is over! You want something, you must pay!" He was very serious now. 'Yeah, I knew that was going to happen.' I thought to myself sighing.
"Oh, Claire. I have something for you." Zack motioned to the back of the house. He pulled out a fishing rod, "A friend of mine lent me this. I don't fish, but I don't want to throw it away, either. Do you want it?"
"Yes!" I took it from him and folded it up and put it in my rucksack, 'Yes! I can fish and earn more money or cook them!' Okay getting free stuff is great but I did come here to look at what Won sold, even if I don't get the special Golden service offer. I bought 2 Cabbage seeds for next Spring and 2 Pineapple seeds for this upcoming Summer. I bid them both a good day and walked back to my farm. To think that I have lived here for a full season. I wonder what will be in store for me next.