NEW LEAF

PART 9: WHITNEY'S INVITE

ME: Go home, Isabelle.

ISABELLE: Wh-what do you mean, Mayor Mark?

ME: I mean go home. Look, I'm not joking around!

I laugh at Isabelle's flabbergasted expression. I'm glad I remembered to do this—she needs a period of respite. I expected her to react this way, but she still doesn't look like she really believes what I just said.

ISABELLE: You mean…stop working?

ME: I'm giving you a little break.

It seems like I'm actually stressing her out by saying this. THAT I didn't expect. She looks around frantically.

ISABELLE: B-but, where do I go?

I raise an eyebrow.

ME: You go home. Don't you have a home?

She looks at me with desperation in her eyes. She says with a disturbing drawl,

ISABELLE: This is my home.

My eyes widen a bit and I bite my lip, the atmosphere feeling incredibly awkward. I start to brainstorm for an idea and remember something almost immediately. I clap my hands, huffing victoriously.

ME: You know about the Island right?

Isabelle looks at me blankly.

ME: Y-you don't get out much, do you?

She shakes her head.

ISABELLE: Not…as often as I should. But I'm so busy. Ah! Mayor! How are you going to handle all of my work by yourself? I can't go on vacation!

ME: This isn't a real vacation, Isabelle. I know we aren't exactly over-manned or anything, but-

ISABELLE: Mayor Mark! I can't just cast aside my duties!

She puffs her chest out.

ISABELLE: I am your secretary! I must uphold my responsibilities no matter what! Therefore I…

She deflates and starts to shuffle around timidly.

ISABELLE: I…have to respectfully refuse your offer. Thank you!

She rushes back to her desk and starts doing paperwork, acting like the conversation is over. I start to feel a little annoyed, but I also want to respect her decision. I thought she'd be jumping off the walls in pure joy, but this took a completely different turn. I almost get the impression she's trying to prove something.

Either way, things just got awkward once again and the only noise in the city hall is the scraping of her pen tip against the table. Suddenly, the entrance door opens up and Isabelle jumps in her seat, gasping in terror. What in the heck is wrong with her now? Ever since she sat down, she has looked very twitchy. I gaze back at the entrance to see Pecan again. I remember now that she had wanted to talk to me about something back at the café.

She waves nonchalantly.

PECAN: Mayor Mark! I hope you aren't too busy…

I shake my head with a dry smile.

ME: Not at all. You wanted to ask me something?

She nods and then does a cute little twirl.

PECAN: I've decided that I'm moving out!

I reel back in surprise, my insides feeling hollow.

ME: Oh my…uh, is there something wrong?

PECAN: Ha ha! No, don't worry! I just feel it's my time. I want to discover new lands…new faces! It's what keeps me going, really. Variety's a wonderful thing.

She starts to pace around thoughtfully.

PECAN: I was thinking somewhere not too cold? Yeah, a total climate change. I really do dislike this weather. Brr!

Nothing I can really do about that, unfortunately, although I love the winter myself.

ME: So you're more about the heat, huh?

PECAN: You got that right! I don't just not like the cold, but I really prefer wearing lighter clothing. I hate feeling all poofy and stuff from wearing four sweaters at once.

I look down at the sweater she is currently wearing and just now realize she has plenty more underneath.

ME: I understand. Hey, that's absolutely fine with me! I wish you safe travels on your journey.

PECAN: Yea yea! I know you're trying hard not to tear up, that's okay. I'll see you around, Mayor Mark. Maybe I'll come back and visit someday!

With a twist and flick of her tail, she heads out the door but forgets to close it. I walk up and shut it, the slight wind wailing as I seal the opening. I look back at Isabelle and her face is back into her mounds of papers. I make a weak little sigh.

The pause in the progression of my town has inspired me to spend more time with villagers and to get some other things done. I venture out to Main Street and notice that a familiar white wolf walks into the Able Sisters' store. I mean to follow.

With the small bells ringing away, I slowly open up the wooden little door, trying not to get too much blowing snow inside. I enter the warm, homey interior and I am greeted immediately by Mable, who is very much delighted to see me. I see off to the side that Whitney has noticed me as well. She gives me a coy grin and turns her attention back to the row of mannequins and clothes.

I respectfully dismiss Mable, seeing as how I'm already set up with plenteous winter gear for the season. I amble over to Whitney, who has particular interest in a row of long-sleeved shirts and heavy jackets. She gazes over at me again off the corner of her eye and smiles.

WHITNEY: Hey there.

I greet her back and we don't say another word for a bit. I try to think of a topic for discussion, but Whitney gets the upper hand.

WHITNEY: I had a look around the museum.

ME: Oh?

I almost forgot it even existed, although I've been making frequent visits to contribute to their exhibits.

WHITNEY: Yeah, it's pretty impressive. The last town I was in had a good display as well, but for months and months it never grew. I guess I could say the same for everything else…except for the weeds of course.

I chuckle nervously, sorry once again that she had to go through that.

WHITNEY: I also had my eye on something else. It's something I don't think I've ever seen before. The Dream Suite on the far side of the street.

I hold my breath for a bit. I wouldn't blame her a bit for being interested in such a thing, but I was hoping I'd forget about it for a while longer. I can tell where this is going from a mile away.

WHITNEY: I want to see what it's like. Will you accompany me, Mayor?

ME: M-me? Um, oh sure. I've indulged in their services myself.

The wolf's eyes widen and she grabs my arms in excitement.

WHITNEY: Really? That's cool! Hey, what's it like? What kinda weird dreams did you have?

She pulls away after forcing herself to silence, looking embarrassed.

WHITNEY: Heh, sorry. I'm just a little intrigued by this sort of thing, that's all.

ME: It's alright! Um…it's a bit hard to explain, really.

I go on about the Dream Suite, trying to be as specific as I can about the experience, although I actually take it upon myself to keep hush-hush about the whole Isabelle thing. I want this to be pleasant for her. Whitney listens in a trance the whole time.

WHITNEY: That's crazy. I've always heard about the subject of lucid dreaming, never really knowing how to accomplish it.

She grabs my arms again.

WHITNEY: C'mon, Mayor! Let's do this!

ME: Aren't you going to get some—

WHITNEY: Later! C'mon!

She pulls me out of the shop with a strong grip. I give a passive gesture to Mable, who is staring at us in bewilderment, as I exit.

As we make our way down the street, I notice that the wind has picked up a little. Small, white pellets of snow dance around frantically, almost hypnotically. We arrive at the doorstep of the Dream Suite when its door suddenly swings open. I'm surprised to see Tom Nook standing at the entrance. He's in a brown, hooded jacket, the mellow look on his face unchanging as he eyes Whitney and me.

TOM NOOK: Oh, hello, Mayor Mark. It's good to see you.

ME: Uhh, you too. Were you just heading out?

TOM NOOK: Yep! Just conducted a bit of business. You know how I am. All about business.

I grin with teeth bared, nodding in mutual understanding, except with no real understanding. What sort of "business" discussion would he want to have with Luna of all people? He walks down the stairs and we move aside from him. He walks back to his estate office and speaks up without looking back,

TOM NOOK: Don't get into trouble!

I sense something behind me and gaze over my shoulder to find Wolfgang seated on a bench at the end of the road, staring at us with a look of suspicion.

ME: Come on, Whitney.

Prying my eyes away from Wolfgang, I head into the Suite with Whitney, the sudden stillness in the air disturbing me.