March 26, Spring, year 20

I'm falling back onto bad habits with not writing in this thing… But there's just not enough that's important I guess. I haven't found any new sprites yet, but I did hire the… three fishing ones to get my stuff down at the beach for a week. It should help, I need to start earning money for animals again.

Today's the cooking festival, but I don't know what to make. I never really went to this festival when Mom and Dad were alive. Jack's the cook in the family, not me. Just because I can make food without burning it doesn't mean I can do it fancy…

And Pony took Mom's cookbook with her when she went to Mineral Town, so all I've got is the generic recipes. Hells bells.

Claire sighed, tapping her pen against the pages of the journal.

"Maybe I'll just watch," she sighed. "It'll be something to shake up the routine… And hey, free food once it's over."

The prospect was cheering. Free food, whatever the meal, was always heartening, especially if there were leftovers to take home! She wouldn't participate, but the idea of well-made food was one that was just too good to pass up.

She wondered fleetingly if Kai would be back again during the summer months or if he'd go to Mineral Town as she pulled on her sneakers and headed out the door. It wouldn't really matter much to her, but it certainly would matter to Popuri.

Newly grown grass swayed in the cool breeze, and despite herself, Claire smiled at it. It was yet another reminder that there would be animals in the farm's future, and they would be all hers.

She uprooted the few weeds that had decided they wanted to grow in—mostly in the area of the chicken sheds—tossing them onto the compost pile her parents had put together.

"There are days I wish I had a horse," she sighed, dusting off her hands. "Even something that didn't go faster than a walk would be nice."

A horse would have appreciated the weeds, but unless she felt like a trek over to Flowerbud or Mineral Town, there was no way she would be getting one any time soon. And Claire didn't have the time to go to either place. Some days she barely had the time to visit all the empty plots of arable land for the things that grew wild on them!

She was actually starting to wonder if she'd be able to join in the Goddess Festival and the Flower Festival like she normally did, and what would happen if she was left out.

Gloom started to descend upon the blond girl, though she fought it off as best she could. Even if it meant staying up abysmally late, she would go to the dancing festivals. Besides, if she didn't go, when would she see Skye in daylight?

She had started going to the Goddess Pond at night, but she didn't stay very long. She needed her sleep after all. They didn't speak much either… and yet she kept returning. If she felt like being honest with herself, he fascinated her, and when she felt like lying, she told herself it was only so that she could make sure he wasn't going to steal anything.

Distraction left her slightly dazed, enough so that she almost tripped over Muffy in her wayward approach of the beach. Her blond cousin and best friend squeaked, Claire jumped, and then Muffy laughed.

"Have you been staying up late?" she teased, slinging an arm around Claire. "You look like you could use a good night between the sheets."

Claire deliberately ignored the double-meaning that her cousin put behind the words and grimaced slightly.

"It's hard work trying to re-raise the farm Cuz," she replied. "I'm up late almost every night trying to get everything I can. Not to mention training Puppy, making sure Clara and Tux don't get outside, and keeping the grass healthy. Thank god Dad put in the sprinkler system for that, or I'd really be in trouble."

Muffy just laughed and messed with Claire's hair fondly.

"You're still going with us for the Goddess fest, right? Lumina would get annoyed if you had to stay behind you know."

"Do I ever!" Claire said with feeling.

The few times she'd been too sick or distracted with other things to go to the festivals, Lumina let her know her displeasure for weeks. Even though most of the time it hadn't been Claire's fault. Lumina was just very… picky about everyone attending the festival. Very picky.

Privately, Claire blamed it on her friend being slightly spoiled. Everything tended to be either her way or not at all, at least on a particularly stubborn day.

"I think I can… I haven't planted anything just yet, so I should be good. Mostly I'm getting the money from the junk in Uncle Carter's excavation site," and Claire covered her mouth, hiding a sheepish grin. "Don't tell him I called it junk though, you know him. He'll blow a gasket."

"It still surprises me that he thinks he's going to find our ancestors buried in that creepy place," Muffy confided. "I mean, Grampa Max believed it, but he was also too far away in Flowerbud to actually do any excavating."

"Which is why he passed it to Uncle Carter," and Claire nodded in understanding. "We have one weird family, you know?"

"Don't we ever!"

And both girls broke up laughing as they stepped onto the beach. Some heads turned at the noise, and the laughter called up answering smiles on many faces. Claire and Muffy were well known and well loved for their ability to conjure up smiles on gloomy days.

They were both greeted by Thomas, the mayor from Mineral Town who helped to set up and run all their festivals.

"Morning girls!" he said cheerily. "Are either of you intending to enter the contest today?"

In unison, both blonds shook their heads.

"I couldn't compete with Griffin," Muffy giggled.

"And I just don't have the right recipes," Claire's smile was rueful. "But maybe next year Thomas."

The mayor nodded, looking slightly disappointed at Claire's answer.

"I was hoping for some of your mother's delicious foods," he sighed. "But I suppose I'll have to wait until I help judge the Mineral Town festival."

Claire's smile faded slightly, but only Muffy was close enough to notice. Thomas had turned away to greet the Gourmet, and more people entering the beach.

Muffy rested a hand on her cousin's shoulder. She didn't like that Claire had never really grieved for her parents, her cousin was far too good at locking everything away inside of herself. Jill had cried, and even Jack had wept at their funeral. Only Claire had remained dry-eyed and pale.

Claire's work-worn hand reached up and rested against Muffy's for a moment, then she turned to her cousin with a bright, open smile. Muffy could feel her own heart breaking at the obvious ploy, but she made herself return the smile.

"Come on," she urged. "Let's go mingle. Maybe Ruby will give us a sample!"

Ruby won the contest, but it was a close one between her and Griffin. Plus I now have some of the food stored in my fridge for meals. It's going to be the Goddess festival soon, I should make sure that Mom's dress is okay.

Oh, and Trick day. But I'll probably work all day then. It's never been one of my favorite holidays, though Jack always gets a kick out of it. I should prank-call him…

I think I'll call Eve and enlist her help. Hah! Teach him to steal the cooking gene in the family!