Chapter 14:
Chelsea skipped down to Chen's store. Her shimmery brown hair dancing in the early fall breeze as she hummed a small tune. But, as our knowingly clumsy Chelsea goes, she trips on a cobblestone that slightly protrudes the rest of them. Causing her to fall to her face
"Well, shit." Chelsea rubbed her forehead and sat with her legs crossed in the middle of the road. A slightly tan appeared in front of her eyes, suddenly without reason Chelsea stared at it then at its owner.
His hair was golden from the roots till the tips became so light they were almost white. His eyes were the warmest summer green there was. A red ascot covered his neck and a white t-shirt was tucked under his rolled up overalls. A brown work jacket hung around his waist while his black rain boots glistened in the early fall sun. He had a matching rucksack only it was the color of his eyes.
"Miss?"
"Mmm. Thanks dude." Chelsea grabbed his hand and steadied herself with it.
"You alright?" Chelsea cocked her head slightly and touched her face tentatively. As she brushed her cheek, she retorted with a slight pain.
"It seems to be a bruise." The dude slowly came in closer till his face was inches from her's.
"Yeah. I'm alright man. Ha-ha." Chelsea slowly began to head back over to Chen's store when the golden head grabbed her hand. She turned back to face him and pulled her hand away.
"I haven't seen you around here before. You new?"
"Um… sort of. I just came here at the beginning of summer."
"Oh! So you must be the new farmer. I'm Mark. I run the smaller farm down by the meadow."
"Oh. Well, I'm Chelsea." Her eyes glanced around awkwardly for a second, "Look Mark. I got to go to Chen's for more seeds. I'll see you around?"
"Sure Chelsea. See you later."
Chelsea slowly walked to Chen's with this weird feeling like she was being watched.
…
Chelsea opened the shop's door and glanced at the China man's small counter.
"Hi Chen!" The China man slowly appeared from the back along with his small replica Charlie.
"Hello Chelsea. What can I help with today?"
"Well, I was wonder if you could show me the new seeds for the fall." Chelsea approached the counter and watched Charlie run around to her side and lay his head on the counter top as Chen pulls out a large book.
Flipping through the pages, Chen comes to a section with a boarder of soft orangey brown. Turning it so Chelsea could see properly, Chelsea leaned in as so did Charlie.
A few minutes when Chelsea pointed to a word.
"Chen what's this word mean?"
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Dad I know this one can I say!" Charlie said to Chen.
"Sure son." Chen replied.
"That's yam."
"Oh. … Hey Charlie what's this one?" Chelsea's finger moves right next to the one she pointed to.
"Um… Fall seed. Lasts about ten days. Will re-grow. 300Gs."
"Oh… What about this one?" Her finger skips down the page to a picture of a cornucopia of vegetables.
"Egg plant. And that one's Carrot! That one is… um…"
"Spinach and Bell pepper."
"Oh! That's Chen. I'll take two eggplants, four carrots, one yam, two apple seeds and I think that should be enough."
"Very well Chelsea. Here are your orders." Chen hands Chelsea a large bag of seeds. She smiles and leaves the small shop as the bell on the door jingles.
…
Chelsea strolled through the streets humming jingle bells and swinging her rucksack by its shoulder straps. Kicking a small rock with her rubber boots, a low smile rubbed Chelsea's mouth only to fall when the song ended.
Kicking the rock into the long weeds by the shipper's house, Chelsea's hand stopped swing the rucksack and her head titled to stare up at the crystal clear sky. Soft fluffy clouds skip on the wind current.
Oh god. I can't believe Charlie knows more than me. Is that even legal? God damnit Recha why didn't you send me to school? Or at least teach me to read? Damnit how can I buy seeds or order food if I can't read the menus or the logbooks. Damn this world fro creating a language! Thoughts swirled around her head as a light tap on her shoulder caused her to spin around to face Taro.
His wrinkly face smiled up at Chelsea's. His held his long staff in his left hand as the other dug into his oval pocket.
"And what would you need my dear mentor?" Chelsea placed her hands on her hips and sassed them out.
"Well Missy, I was thinking about starting a town council."
"Town council? What for?" Chelsea's hands dropped as she adjusted her rucksack to her shoulders and listened to taro tentatively.
"Well, the town is becoming so large. I thought all of the businesses should meet up at least once or twice a season and discuss our new ideas and things like that. Help promote the island. You know that stuff."
"Well it sounds like a fantastic idea. But where do I fit in?"
"Your our town farmer your our largest income."
"What 'bout Mark?"
"Mark? Oh! Mark. He's just staring out and probably won't last long. He doesn't seem to interested in farming."
"Really? He seemed more into it than…" Chelsea trailed off before saying her name in front of Taro. It isn't like I'm not into farming. I just never thought of myself as a farmer.
"Than who?"
"Oh no one."
"Well, our first meeting will be next Tuesday. I'm thinking about the third and fifth Tuesday in every season. We'll meet at the hall in the inn."
"Ah. Ok."
"Good. I expect to see you there." Taro patted Chelsea's shoulder and smiled warmly up at her, "This really means a lot to the whole island."
Taro turned away and walked back into his house. Chelsea sighed and began to walk up to her farm. Damn I really need to plant these seeds.
…
Several days later.
Pulling her bright green watering can, Chelsea dusted off the dried mud that clung to the sides of the water can. She passed the tiny sprouts of plants growing from the dirt.
Slowly stepping down the railroad ties that she used as steps, Chelsea bent down and dipped her watering can into the fresh water river.
Slowly lifting up the watering can a tiny bit sloshed out of the top as she brought it over to the nearest plot of till land with small spouts pecking out of the spoil. Smiling to herself, Chelsea slowly moved over all of the plants till there was no water left in the can and looked down at her watch.
Gasping she tucked her watering can in her rucksack and sprinted out of her farm and into the town.
…
Bursting through the hall doors. Most of the business owners were seated at a long table with Taro seated at the head. Painting, Chelsea slid into the seat next to Mirabelle down by the end of the table.
"Sorry- watering crops- late- no water- sorry." Just barely making out words Taro sighed and handed her a small binder of papers.
"These are some items we will be discussing and all of the business in the town."
"Ok, thanks. You can continue. I'll catch up." Chelsea opened up the binder and skimmed through. Or really only made it seem like she was doing it. There were no pictures except for the photo of the shop.
Chelsea squinted at the first sheet of paper when someone tapped her softly on her shoulder.
"Chelsea dear?" Mirabelle whispered into her ear.
"Huh? Mirabelle? What is it?"
"Chelsea we were just discussing what other crops Chen should order for the next season. He said he is in contact with a few towns that sell seeds for the winter."
"Oh. Well, I can't really say what seeds I may need. Though I can say the tree seeds need a wider variety. I was thinking about staring an orchard now since they take so long to grow. Other than that, I can't really say." Chelsea turned to the old Chinese man across from her and smiled, "Get them if you like. If you have them I'll grow them. If not I won't."
"Oh. Well, thank you Chelsea. And would you try to keep up with the discussion." Taro said with a huff.
"I'll try." Taro flipped his page along with everyone, except Chelsea as she poked Mirabelle in the arm, "Mirabelle." Chelsea whispered.
"What is it dear?"
"What's this word right here?"
"Dear that's the table of contents."
"What's that?"
"That's the list of all the names of the shops or chapters."
"Oh. Thanks." Chelsea remained quiet and flipped to the page everyone else was on and peered hard into the paper.
"Well EVERYONE!" Taro yelled, "I think that's a wrap for the first meeting. I'll see everyone back here in two weeks."
Everyone began to file out of the room. Chelsea shuffled around the binder in her rucksack, trying to get it comfortable in the surprisingly large bag.
"Here. Let me help dear." Mirabelle shifted the binder and closed the top of the bag.
"Thanks Mirabelle." Chelsea sighed and both women exited the hall behind the crowd of villagers.
The fresh afternoon air caught Chelsea's bandana and slipped it slightly off her head. Grabbing her before it slipped off her head, Chelsea retied the bandana to her head.
"So Dear…" Mirabelle trailed off as Chelsea smiled and cocked her head to the side as they passed through the break in the mountain and came into the east side of town.
"Um… This may be awkward to answer, but dear… can you read?"
"What?" Chelsea blushed and ducked her head.
"I'm sorry dear-"
"No. It's ok."
"So it is true. Chen and I were talking about it a couple of days ago and he said little Charlie knew more words than you."
"Yeah. My parents never got around to teaching me." Chelsea chuckled and scratched the back of her head.
"Well, dear Vaughn used to be top I his class. He was at the top of his courses his college. He could teach you."
"I'd rather not. Really."
"Chelsea. You can't just live your life without knowledge of your language. Really Vaughn could teach you on his off days."
"Mirabelle." Chelsea whined as the two women walked into the animal shop and into the small kitchen.
Seating herself in the chair by the back corner, Chelsea sighed and dropped her head to the table. "Fine."
"What dear?" Mirabelle turned her head slightly backward from where she turned the knob on the stove and lit the burner.
"Fine."
"Dear you must enunciate. There's a problem right there."
"Fine!" Chelsea's head shot up and yelled at Mirabelle as Julia slowly peeked her head into the kitchen.
"I'm home Mom."
"Oh! Hello Julia! I was just having some tea with Chelsea. Would you like to join us?"
"Sure." Julia slowly shuffled over to the seat across from Chelsea and knotted her fingers together and stared at Chelsea; who dug her head back into her arms again.
Setting three mugs on the table, Mirabelle brought over the kettle and filled each mug to the tip with boiling water. Dipping a neatly folded tea bag into each mug, a small splash of water swam over the edge of the mug as Chelsea blinked and looked at the water run down the sides of her mug.
"What type is it Mom?" Julia said as she brought the mug to her lips.
"Earl Grey with a hint of flower honey. Fresh from Echo Ranch." Mirabelle with a warm tone in her voice.
"Oh." Julia smiled and took a long drink of the hot water.
Mirabelle placed her mug on the table and shifted the mug to be perfectly in front of her as her gaze met Chelsea's.
"Chelsea, dear, drink your tea. It's good from your stamina."
"Fine." Chelsea grumbled and started to pull her mug closed to her face when a chubby hand stopped her from pouring it on her face.
"Sit up and drink it properly Chelsea."
Straightening her back, Chelsea grumbled and brought the mug to her lips and chugged the southing liquid.
"Don't chug your tea. Drink properly. With small sips." Mirabelle glared at Chelsea as the young farmer brought the mug down to the wooden table with a small slam.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Chelsea immediately got up and exited the animal shop. The door slammed and Chelsea stomped towards the beach.
The wind played with her hair as she tightened her bandana. Plopping down on the chilled sand, she brought her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on them too. Dropping her chin to her arms she grumbled. "I can't believe she's making me-No! –ordering me around like I'm her own kid. I accept the offer for being teached but to lecture me on my way of life. UN-SPEAKABLE!"
The soft crunch of sand rustled next to Chelsea as a certain tanned seaman positioned his butt nicely in the sand. "Yo."
"Hi." Chelsea stared at him. He was tan and his hair was the color of mud and he liked Lanna. That was all the details Chelsea really cared to know about this dude.
The pause was long and boring as Denny just lied back on the sand and stared up at the sky. The soft royal blue and orange blending together warmed the cool fall evening.
"Sooooooo." Chelsea trailed on as she tried breaking the ice.
"What?"
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Wow. Slow down there cowgirl. What's up?"
"What's up with me? What are you doing sitting next to me?"
"Can't a man sit down on the beach without being disturbed?"
"Sure. But why are you next to me?"
"I was lonely."
"Go hang with your bitch of a girlfriend."
"Ok, look Chels, I know she may seem like a bitch-"
"Seem is and understatement."
"Well she is a bitch, but just dig a little deeper and she is really a kind hearted person underneath alllllll of that flesh. Oooo and what lovely flesh that is."
"Right. I don't want to hear about your sexual life so spit out what you wanted to say in the first place."
"Chelsea Mirabelle didn't want to force you into doing something you didn't want to do. She just wanted to make you a better person. She really just wants the best for you since goddess knows what's your parents are doing for not teaching you. But she just treats you like every other young adult on the island- like her own flesh and blood."
"But-"
"Chelsea do us all a favor and let Vaughn teach you. He really is-next to Sabrina- the smartest person on the island. He can really help you. I doubt he'll have patience, but stick with him and he can last a long time."
Sighing a long sigh, Chelsea pulls off her bandana and runs a hand patience her hair. "Fine. But you tell Vaughn that he's teaching me. Not me. I don't want some angry ass cowboy on my heels any more than I need too."
"Fine." Chuckling, Denny slowly got up and brushed off the sand from his butt and hands, walking over to his run down shack, he wave slightly in the young farmer's direction.
Sorry this took such a long time to up load... but here it is! What do you think about Chelsea's knowledge? Or how smart Vaughn is? ALso i always found it odd how there was no like town council. Well, here's my version. REview!