Episode 6: Summertime Ups and Downs

Wednesday, 1st of Summer, 1976

Ah, yes! Summer! The hottest season of the year! In the final month of 1976's spring season, things have been going great. I've been shipping turnips, potatoes, cabbage and kale like there is no tomorrow! Plus, I made enough money to buy my first chicken from Ellen's uncle on the 29th of Spring! As for me and Ellen, things have been going great! We keep in contact, chatting and all that. There's one thing I noticed about Ellen. Ever since the day she kissed me, she looks at me in a similar way Eve used to. Anyway, this is my first day of summer here in the ranch. I ate a bread roll and watched the weather forecast.

"Hello, everybody, and good morning. Today marks the beginning of a long summer season. During the final three days of spring, the weather has been heating up recently, rising from 85 degrees to 98 degrees. Its been really hot recently, so expect the weather to get a bit hotter in the following days. It will be sunny tomorrow, no chance of rain or worse, a hurricane." The weatherwoman said.

Ugh. Hurricanes. They tend to happen sometimes in the summer season. And where I live is 43 miles north from the ocean, too! I stood up off my couch, headed for the front door and stepped outside rather than waste time watching a television show. When I got outside, I was greeted by the 96 degree heat wave from the sun, and somebody I wasn't expecting to see at my doorstep.

"Hey! How are you doing?" He called out.

"Hey there. Aren't you Ann's dad?" I asked him.

"Yes sir, that's me. I came here to tell you something. I just made a great invention! I'm still testing it, so I estimate it'll be completed on the 20th, so come see it at the shop then," he said and departed my ranch.

"Thanks! I'll mark it on my calendar!" I shouted as I waved bye.

"Great idea! Do that!" Ann's dad shouted back at me then waved goodbye as he passed through the open gates outside my ranch, then he jumped in his green Ford Cortina car and drove off down the road.

I fed Koro, then watered the turnip sprouts, then I remembered that turnips don't grow well in the summer season.

"Man... I shouldn't have bought turnips knowing that summer is around the corner." I mumbled to myself remembering the fact that turnips and potatoes don't grow very well in summer.

I walked into the chicken barn, put the chicken's egg in the shipping box and walked up to the hay container and pulled out a handful of hay for the chicken to eat and laid it in the feeding stall. Then I came back out to water the turnips. Boy, it sure is hot outside in the summer. Five minutes outside and I could already feel my skin heating up and producing sweat. I had to make sure that Koro drunk plenty of water, and me too, because I'm not used to working in 98 degree weather. I frequently took breaks in the house cooling off, I don't want to faint outside, that would be terrible. Then that night, it got a little cooler out, now that the sun is gone from this side of the Earth for the time being. I walked over to the town and visited Eve in the bar.

"What's up, Eve? How do you like the summer so far?" I asked her.

She fanned her face with her left hand, not replying to me immediately. "... Does that answer your question?" She asked me sarcastically.

I chuckled and nodded. It sure doesn't get any cooler around here. I also saw Mrs. Fortune in the bar! When I turned my head to the right, I saw her sitting right next to me!

"Mrs. Fortune? What in the world are you doing here?"

She turned her head and looked at me with a confused frown. "What? Is there a rule that fortune tellers can't visit bars?"

I clammed up once she said that. "...Not that I know of, no." I finally said.

Mrs. Fortune then took a sip of Eve's new berry juice special.

"Incidentally, boy, I'm also a midwife." She said.

I was shocked to know that. "You are?"

"That's right. You know, the mayor's daughter Maria, and the grocery store owner's Ellen, and even Nina and Ann, I helped their mothers deliver them all." Mrs. Fortune told me.

My mouth was gaping open in surprise. "Wow..."

"So, boy, have you been looking for a girlfriend?" Mrs. Fortune asked me then took another sip of Eve's "juice".

That question took me off guard. "What?" I asked her.

"My book. Did it help you?"

"Huh? Oh, ah, yes, it did. It was really helpful." I started blushing a little.

"That's good to know. Tell me, who's the lucky girl?"

I looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I can't tell you. I'll leave it up to you to figure out."

I said and left without saying another word to anyone.

As soon as the door closed shut, Mrs. Fortune glanced over at Eve, and she glanced over at Mrs. Fortune.

"So he never tells you his secrets?" Eve asked the elderly woman.

Mrs. Fortune chuckled and smiled. "A gentleman never reveals his secrets, young lady."

Eve frowned angrily. "Bummer," she muttered.

Thursday, 2nd of Summer, 1976

After eating breakfast. and watching a television show whose name I can't remember, I stepped outside to feed and water Koro. Then I stepped into the chicken house side of the barn to put the chicken's new egg into the incubator so I can have a new chicken to add to my collection. But I made sure not to forget about feeding the chicken I already have. Back outside, I watered the turnips. I'm still upset that I spent 27% of my money on turnips knowing that summer is just around the corner and that only tomatoes and corn grow good in summer. But there's no use in crying over spilled milk. I'll just have to make due with what I have for now. I noticed Koro close by watching me water the turnip sprouts. He always loves watching me do my work for some reason.

"You feeling okay, Koro?"

Koro barked back at me twice.

"Yeah, I hear you. This heat is something else. Tell you what, I'll let you stay in the house for a while. I don't want you to faint of dehydration." I said.

I picked up Koro, took him towards my house, and left him in there. After that, I walked off to Neighbor Town, but not before going into the forest to get a flower for Ellen.

I met up with Ellen in the grocery store as soon as I arrived. She was busy helping her mother putting the cakes she baked in the glass display cases. She noticed me after she placed a strawberry shortcake in the display case.

"Oh, hi, Tony. How are you today?" Ellen said to me.

I noticed that she sounds less and less shy talking to me each day.

"Oh, I'm doing fine, Ellen. I got you something." I gave Ellen the flower.

"Oh, Tony...! Thank you! Here's something else in return," Ellen leaned towards my face and kissed my cheek.

Oh, wow, I felt as if I would faint.

"I saw that!" Ellen's mom shouted out.

"*Hic!* Saw what? I didn't *hic* do anything wrong..." Ellen's dad muttered, sitting at the bar drinking whiskey.

"Oh, shut up, you! I was talking to them!" Ellen's mom scolded him, then she turned her attention to Ellen and me.

"Ellen! I saw what you did to Tony. There's no use hiding your feelings now. I've seen it all with my own two eyes!" Ellen's mom said with a sly grin.

"Mom...! I-I-I... Okay... I admit it... Tony is very special to me." Ellen said, her face blushing, but her voice above a whisper.

"It's true, ma'am. I feel the same way about Ellen." I also said, like I'm confessing to my own mom that I did something I'm not supposed to.

Ellen's mom laughed and came up to us with a warm, comforting smile and gave each of us a hug. "Children, don't be so down in the dumps! This is a good thing! Love is a special thing! You both know that!" she said with a lot of vigor and perk in her voice.

"Yes... But..." Ellen muttered.

"Uh-uh! No ifs or buts about it!" Ellen's mom retorted, wagging the index finger of her right hand at both of us as she shook her head in denial. "You both care for each other, that's something that should be celebrated! Wait here, Tony, don't go anywhere! I've got a special cake to give you."

Ellen's mom marched off to the display cases showing different flavors of cakes. She picked out the one with the frosting and strawberries on top.

"This is a special cake I just made a couple days ago. Its a cake with strawberries on top, and strawberry jelly in the inside."

The cake looked delicious, that's for sure. I looked up at Ellen's mom.

"You sure you don't mind?" I asked.

Ellen's mom put her hands on her hips as if she was offended, only she isn't. "Tony, why do you think I brought this cake to you? Dig in!"

"Dig? But I forgot my spade in the storage room." Ellen's dad said and hiccuped, then continued chugging his glass bottle of whiskey, bourbon or whatever is in it.

"I wasn't talking to you, thank you!" Ellen's mom shouted at him.

So I grabbed a plate, took a big slice of the cake and ate it all in no time.

"Your boyfriend sure loves to eat." Ellen's mom said to Ellen and winked at her.

"You have no idea, Mom," Ellen smiled back sheepishly.

"Ellen, you be sure to cook for him if you marry him. Remember, the way to a man's heart is his stomach." Ellen's mom said.

"Mom...!" Ellen looked at her mom all annoyed.

"Wrong! The way to a man's heart is berry juice! *HIC!*" Ellen's dad called form the other side of the room, holding his bottle in the air then drinking it.

"To you it is! Not to other men! Now zip it!" Ellen's mom yelled.

Friday, 3th Of Summer, 1976

As soon as I stepped outside, I noticed that the turnips are finally ready to be picked!

"Yes! finally! Tomorrow I can move on to tomatoes and corn!" I said as I raced on over to my garden and started picking up all the turnips and throwing them in the shipping container.

Then I went into the chicken house, picked up the egg my chicken laid and put it in the shipping box in the chicken house, then laid out a few straws of grass for my chicken to eat.

"Keep up the good work." I said to my chicken.

"*cluck-cluck-cluck*." The chicken went, wandering around aimlessly.

I checked on the egg in my incubator. It hasn't hatched yet.

"Hmm... Guess it needs some time." I shrugged and left.

Back outside, I went to my tool shed and grabbed my sickle and a new bag of grass seeds I bought a few days ago and I came back outside to cut up the fresh patches of grass for my livestock.

"Hyah! Hah! Yah!" I yelled as I sliced each piece of grass with my sickle.

After I was done, I put the straws of grass in the silo between the cow and chicken house. I have 40 pieces of grass in storage now. Not enough to last the whole winter season, but I got plenty time to prepare for that. I spent most of the day at my ranch, I didn't go to Neighbor Town today. In the evening, Derek came and picked up my turnips and egg, and left. I spent most of the evening in my house watching cartoons and thinking about Ellen. Ever since the day she kissed me for the first time, she's all I think about now. I can't put my mind on anything else anymore, not even food. Its unlike me. I wrote about it in my journal, how food isn't all I think about anymore. Its a major change in my character. Don't get me wrong, before I met Ellen, I liked girls in general, but mostly all I used to think about is food, which explains why I always carry a croissant, bread roll or rice ball with me every day.

Saturday, 4th Of Summer, 1976

The next morning is Saturday, which means that shops are closed, and that means I won't be able to by tomato or corn seeds until Monday. Which means the only thing I can do is feed my chicken, and chill out in Neighbor Town with everybody. So I went to the chicken house to feed my chicken. I put the egg in the shipping container, then dug out a few pieces for my chicken and its chick to eat. That's right! The egg finally hatched! The little yellow chick is in the incubator, surrounded by cracked egg shells, chirping nonstop. I slowly reached both hands into the incubator and picked up the little chick.

"*chirp-chirp-chirp!*" The little chick chirped frantically.

"Hey, little guy. I'm not gonna hurt you. Welcome to Tony's ranch- that's me," I said as slowly set it down on the ground and left I hoped that my other chicken won't harm the little chick, but I can't leave the little guy in the incubator.

As I was beginning to walk out of the ranch, Koro followed me. "Hey, Koro. want to race me to Neighbor Town?"

"Waff!" Koro barked once in excitement and jumped up twice.

"Great! Last one there is a rotten egg!" Me and Koro raced out of the ranch and ran down the long road to Neighbor Town.

When we got there, Koro won, because I was tired form running out in this summer heat.

"Okay... I give..." I sighed, wiping my forehead with a towel I always keep in my pocket.

I met up with Ann who was walking down the road near Ms. Fortune's house. She seemed kind of agitated and frustrated.

"Hey, Ann. Trying to brainstorm new ideas for a new invention?" I asked as I ran up to her.

She turned around and looked at me and smiled. "No ideas come in this heat!" She shouted so abruptly, it startled me!

"Sorry... Sorry I bothered you." I apologized.

"Waff waff," Koro barked.

"I'm sorry I yelled in your face, Tony. There's another thing that I hate besides rain. And that is summer. When you're out in the heat, it just tires you out mentally and physically." Ann said.

"I know what you mean. Well, take it easy." I went on my way and Koro followed.

"I will. And you too." Ann said.

I made my way to the public square. There, I saw Ellen and her mom, Ann's dad, Nina's mom, the little boy who once had a crush on Maria, and the red-haired little girl who hangs out with Mrs. Fortune a lot. I walked up to the boy.

"Hey there little squirt! I take it that you're on a date, huh?" I joked.

"Hah?! It's not a date! It's not a date! it's just a walk, that's all!" The boy protested in a flustered manner.

"Excuse me please! I've got a date." The girl said in a confident, "as-a-matter-of-fact" tone in her voice and pulled the boy away from me.

"It's not a date!" The boy vehemently protested again.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Kids will be kids, I suppose. I walked up to Ann's dad and Nina's mom who were talking to each other by the fountain, but Ellen and her mom caught up to me.

"Hi, Tony." They both said in unison.

"Hi, Ellen. Hello, miss. How are things?" I replied.

"We're just out walking, exercising." Ellen said.

I looked around. "Out in heat like this?" I questioned, then smiled. "Come on! Heat like this... we might as well be cooking in an oven!"

"It's good to bathe in the sun. Eat well and work hard. Good health is the foundation of happiness." Ellen's mom commented.

"Can't argue with that." I shrugged.

"Hey, um, Mom, can I walk with Tony for a while?" Ellen asked.

"Sure, honey. Be sure to come home before dark, though." Ellen's mom said.

Then me and Ellen started to walk off. Before we left the square, Ann's dad and Nina's mom spotted us and came over to greet us.

"Hi, Tony! Are you taking a walk too?" Ann's dad asked me, shaking my hand.

"Uh, yeah. I need to leave the ranch every one in a while." I replied.

"Tony knows best." Ellen smiled.

"That's good. It's important to get a few days off. Working till late at night can drive you crazy mentally and physically. Believe me, I've experienced it." Ann's dad said with a cheerful look on his face.

"I'll take your word for it. Thanks." I said.

"How are things at the grocery stone, Ellen?" Nina's mom asked.

"Oh, things are fine. But what about you? Tony really needs to buy some seeds right now." Ellen said, trying to give me some support.

"What? My shop is closed on Saturdays. So I'm bathing out here in the sun." Nina's mom said.

"Oh." Ellen sighed. She gave me the "oh well, I tried" expression on her face.

"Nice, huh?" Nina's mom asked Ellen, touching her pink hair.

"Yes. The sun is doing wonders for your hair. Right, mister?" Ellen asked Ann's dad.

"Uh... Sure... Yeah!" He slowly agreed.

"Come on, Tony, Koro. let's go." Ellen said.

"Right. see you later!" I called out to Ann's dad and Nina's mom.

So, Me, Ellen and Koro were walking down the brick road, just the three of us.

"So how are things over at the ranch? Not too stressing, I hope?" Ellen asked me.

I shook my head with a lopsided smirk. "Nah. I just bought my first chicken a couple days ago, and I just hatched my first chick." I replied.

"Waff waff waff!" Koro barked at me.

"Oh yeah, and I expanded the ranch a bit too. I still need to clear out more stones, weeds and tree stumps." I added.

"I see." Ellen nodded.

"And what about you?"

"Me? Well, as usual, I've been helping my Mom out with the store while my dad sits down on his tush and drinks Eve's berry juice all the time." Ellen said.

"Ugh! How can he drink that alcoholic stuff?" I gagged.

"My Dad? I don't know; I don't even want to know." Ellen said, shaking the thought out of her head. Then she sighed.

"Are you okay, Ellen?" I asked, concerned.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about how P-Chan is doing." Ellen said, looking up at the sky.

We walked down some stairs, we were't far from Ann's house.

"Hey, don't worry. I bet P-Chan has flown to Mineral Town by now." I said.

"You think so?" Ellen looked at me.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't even know how far Mineral Town is from here." I said.

"Oh... Tony, can I ask you a personal question?" Ellen slowly asked me, holding her head down a little and her eyes darting from me to the ground every 3 seconds like she's nervous or something.

"Sure. What is it?" I asked.

Me and Ellen sat down on the next row of stairs. "Um... Have you been thinking about me a lot?" She asked me, her face turning a little red. My face turned red too.

"Huh? Why do you want to know?" I asked, feeling all anxious.

"I just... Want to know..." Ellen said with a small smile.

I took a deep breath. Its hard to let words like this come out. I remembered what Ellen's mom told me.

I know you kids these days keep your feelings bottled up instead of letting them out.

I have to prove her wrong. I have to overcome my fears. I started to open my mouth.

"...Y...Yes... I have..."

"R-really...?" Ellen's eyes lit up.

"Yeah... E-ever since the day you kissed me for the first time... I've experienced feelings that I've never... experienced before." I said.

"...I had a feeling you felt that way." Ellen said, looking down at the last rows of steps below us.

"How..?" I whispered.

"Well... When you told me the possible reason why P-Chan flew off from me, I...I...I noticed how much you are like me... Only on a different level."

"Different... level...?" I was confused.

"Like I said before, I never considered P-Chan's feelings, but you did. That let me know that even though I have more experience in interacting with animals... I still have a lot to learn... You taught me that. And when I realized that, I... I had this feeling that you are perfect for me..." Ellen began blushing, slowly looking up at me.

"Then I got the urge to kiss you..." She concluded.

I was speechless. I had no idea Ellen felt that way. "I... I don't know what to say..." I was so touched, that I'm at a loss of words.

I took off my blue cap and used it fan air towards my face. Not only was the summer noon sun heating me up, but also my body temperature. Then I pulled out a bread roll and ate it. Ellen giggled.

"What?" I looked at her after swallowing the bread roll.

"You always carry food around with you, don't you?" Ellen smiled.

"Hm. It's a habit I developed when I was six years old. On days when my mom doesn't want me to get a cookie from the cookie jar, I always have an extra cookie with me, from a day when mom will let me get a cookie. She doesn't know that I always keep an extra one with me." I said.

Ellen started giggling.

"Hey! I love cookies! Come on!" I said.

"Waff waff waff waff!" Koro barked.

Ellen picked up Koro and began petting his head.

"So... Let me get this straight. The reason why you kissed me is because I helped you realize that animals have feelings of their own?" I asked.

Ellen nodded. "Yes, actually its because you and I got several things in common. We like animals, for example."

"That makes sense. Is there another example?"

"Yes, there is." Ellen leaned at me and kissed me on the cheek.

"Well, that makes two of us." I kissed Ellen back.

We both started blushing.

"Waff waff waff!" Koro started barking.

"What is it, Koro?" Ellen wondered.

"Shoot! I forgot! My favorite cartoon show is coming on in 2 hours! I can't miss it!" I stood up.

"What show?" Ellen asked me.

"What show? The new episode of Benjamin the Cottontail Rabbit! Its part 2 of the episode when he has to rescue his sister Rosie from Leio the Reticulated Python! I don't want to miss that episode!" I replied like a anxious kid.

"A python?" Ellen was confused.

"Yeah! See, in yesterday evening's episode, Leio and his mate Reptilia kidnapped Rosie to be food for their soon to be born hatchlings, so now its up to Benjamin to enter python territory, fight through Leio's friends, outsmart Leio & Reptilia and rescue his sister! You see where the plot is going now?" I asked with the enthusiasm of a kid boiling in me.

"Oh, I get it now... Sort of. Well, go on! I won't stop you," Ellen said.

"Thanks." I said.

"Oh, and thanks for walking with me. I really enjoyed it. And come to church with me tomorrow, okay?" "Okay!" I replied as I ran off, Koro following me.

I made it back home just in time to greet Derek as he picked up the single egg I had to be shipped, and I ran into my house and turned on the T.V. "Man, this episode is going to be great!" I smiled.

Sunday, 5th of Summer, 1976

The next morning, I ate breakfast, and got dressed into my overalls. I fed Koro and gave him water to drink, including the chickens in the chicken house. Instead of putting the egg in the shipping box, I took it with me to town.

I walked up to the church doors. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. In the church, I saw two rows of seats lined up towards the altar where priest Daniel was talking. I saw Ellen sitting in alone in the first seats in left row, Ann sitting alone in the second seats in the right row, Ellen's mom sitting ahead of Ellen on the next row, Mayor Stan and his wife sitting in the next row directly in front of Ellen's mom, and Ann's dad and Nina's mom sitting two seats ahead of Ann. I took a deep breath and took my first steps into the church. I took a seat next to Ellen.

"Oh, you're here." Ellen whispered.

"Yep, here I am. Oh, I got something for you, and for once, it's not a flower." I gave her the egg.

"Oh, wow...! Thank you, Tony." Ellen smiled at me and kissed me.

After that, me and Ellen stayed quiet, listening to the preacher. A few seconds later, I heard Ellen praying. She was saying: "I hope my dad stays healthy at all times..."

(Wow... Even though he's a drunk, Ellen still cares for her dad. I know how she feels, but I can't relate to her on that.) I said in my thoughts.

I then turned my attention to Maria, who was playing beautiful music on the piano. Then I shifted my attention to priest Daniel. He was talking about how sympathy and kindness can benefit people in many ways.

"... Have sympathy for people. When you are kind to people, they give you kindness in return. Animals are the same as us for sure."

Those words stuck to me like glue, but they remind me of someone who I'm having a hard time getting along with Ellen's uncle, the livestock dealer. I try to be polite to him, but somehow, in some way, he always thinks I offend him! How can I keep my promise to Ellen and be friends with her uncle? I just don't see how it is possible! I just can't! Those thoughts tormented me so much that I felt the urge to leave.

"Tony? Where are you going?" Ellen asked me.

"I'm sorry. I need to get outside and clear my head. I'll be back." I said.

I stepped outside and ran off to the forest in between the town and my ranch.

As I walked through the forest, I had vague thoughts about bashing my head against each tree I passed by. I don't know why I came out here, but thinking about Ellen's uncle got me so frustrated that I'm not even thinking straight anymore. I noticed a cave, but I don't feel like exploring it right now. I moved further up the hill, kicking rocks that are on the ground in front of me.

"...It's not going to happen... Have sympathy for others... How can I befriend a guy who won't even open up to anybody...?" I angrily grumbled to myself.

"Tony? Is that you?" I heard a sweet, feminine voice nearby say.

"Huh?" I looked around until I saw Nina approaching me.

She had a basket of flowers in her right arm, too.

"Oh. it's you, Nina. What are you doing way out here?" I sighed with relief.

"I'm out here picking flowers. The flowers we sell at my mom's shop, I pick them from the forest. I do this every Sunday in the spring and summer."

"I see. Well, I can tell you enjoy it. With the trees blocking out some of the sunlight, it feels pretty good out here, although I liked it better in the spring." I said.

"Yes, in spring and summer, everything is more vibrant and lively... And what about you? You look like something's troubling you," Nina said with concern.

"Oh... It's nothing..." I turned away as if ashamed.

"Maybe I can help. What is it?" Nina asked.

I turned to face Nina again. "Oh... Well, it's about Ellen's uncle. Before me and Ellen started dating, I promised her that I will try to be friends with her uncle, even though he can be very rough around the edges. Ellen said that deep down, he's very fond of me, but I don't see it. All I see is a grumpy man who brushes off friendly people. How in the world can I befriend somebody like that? I just don't know what to do!" I growled as I kicked up dirt and sat down on the ground. and buried my head into my hands in disappointment.

Nina knelt down to me.

"Tony... Don't ever give up. Developing a friendship with someone is like helping a budding flower bloom. You just have to be patient, don't rush it, and it will bloom eventually," she said.

I looked at her quizzically. "So what's your point?" I asked.

"Humans, animals, and plants are all alive. They may look different but we all have the same reaction. Show empathy to person or animal, and sooner or later they'll open up to you. Watering plants is a way of treating them with empathy, and their way of opening up to you is by blooming into a beautiful flower or growing into an amazing tree." Nina said.

I stood up. Some of what Nina is telling me is making sense. I looked up at a huge tree next to me.

"So... all I have to do is keep showing respect, empathy and sympathy to the livestock owner until he opens up to me? Is that it?" I asked Nina.

She nodded. "It might take a while, but its no different from watering a budding flower. Keep in mind that everything, including friendships start out like a seed. At first you might say: 'Ah, this seed isn't going to grow into anything useful', but if you nurture it long enough, it will grow. Just give it time," Nina said.

After she said that, I had this strange feeling that I'm beginning to understand what Nina is talking about now. The turnip seeds I nurture at my ranch... They're no different. Why didn't I see this before? "Thanks, Nina. I'm going back to town. See you later! And thanks for the advice!" I ran off. Nina waved bye.

I went back to church and sat next to Ellen, with a much brighter expression on my face than before, thanks to Nina. later that evening, Derek came to pick up my only egg that needs to be shipped, and then I went in my house to feed Koro and give him water. Then I sat down and watched T.V. before getting in my bad and writing in my diary.

Monday, 6th of Summer, 1976

That morning, I wasted no time getting outside and feeding my chickens and putting another egg in the shipping box. Not before taking a bath and brushing my teeth of course. Then I raced on over to Nina's flower shop to buy two red bags of tomato seeds and two yellow bags of corn, two lime green bags of cucumber seeds and one bag of grass seeds. Then I returned back to my ranch to plant them.

"Finally! Tomatoes, cucumbers and corn! Nina's mom said that these are the best selling crops a rancher can grow!" I said, thinking of all the money Derek will give me for shipping a dozen tomatoes and corn.

"Waff waff!"

"What is it, Koro?" I looked over at Koro, and I saw him walk over to the front door of my house, then he stood on his hind legs, clawing at the door, trying to open it. Apparently he wants to get back in the house. I guess he's not used to this heat either. "All right, all right. Hold on." I said. I walked up to the door, and opened it and Koro jumped inside.

Then I closed the door and went back to work, out in this scorching heat. Later, in the open field east from my house and barn, I got to work planting the cucumber seeds, tomato seeds and corn seeds in two separate rows. After watering the cucumber, tomato and corn seeds, I checked the perimeter of my ranch, making sure that all the wooden posts of my fences are sturdy. All this work, and it seemed like time flew by very quickly, because Derek just arrived.

"One egg again?" Derek asked me.

"One is better than nothing, I always say." I shrugged.

"True, true. Keep at it, Tony. You're making good, steady progress," Derek said and left with my egg and drove off down the dirt road.

Guess I'll be getting $50 more tomorrow. Later that night, when I was asleep, i thought I heard a lot of noise coming from my ranch. I thought it was my imagination and fell back asleep.

Tuesday, 7th Of Summer, 1976

I woke up and prepared myself for a new day as I usually do, bathing, brushing my teeth, eating a good tasty croissant with strawberry jam and watched the weather news. Great! It'll still be sunny! Then afterwards I watched a television show whose name I can't remember alongside Koro, who enjoyed the show as much as I did.

"Come on, Koro! Let's bask in the sunlight!" I said.

I picked up Koro and carried him outside. As soon as I opened the door and stepped outside, I saw Luke, the carpenter boss, coming in my ranch. I wonder what's going on?

"Hey, Luke. What's up?"

"Nothing. I just came by to see if you're all right." Luke said.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Why?" I asked.

"I heard an awful sound from here this morning. Are you all right?" Luke asked with deep concern.

"I said, I'm fine." I said, lifting Koro back under my armpits because he was slipping out of my grip.

"Okay. Well... Has anything strange happened in your ranch? I advise you to check it out," Luke instructed me.

I nodded. "Sure, Luke. Thanks for checking on me. And bye," I said, waving bye as he left.

"Take care of yourself, kid. As a rancher, you'll experience all kinds of strange things." Luke said as he left.

I frowned in confusion. What sorts of strange things could possibly happen to a boring, old-fashioned rancher?

"Hey! What does that mean?" I called to Luke as soon as he passed through the gates of my ranch.

He turned around and smiled at me. "All sorts of things. You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said then left.

I put Koro back to the ground.

"Okay, Koro, bark if you see anyone strange, okay? I'm gonna go get the watering can from the tool shed." I told my dog.

"Waff!" Koro barked.

I walked towards the tool shed and opened the door, stepping inside. When I got inside the tool shed, which is slightly hotter inside than outside because there are no windows, I picked up my watering can, went outside, headed east into the fields and watered the tomato, cucumber and corn seeds I planted before. When I looked up ahead after watering the last corn seed, I saw that the only tree outside my ranch that hasn't been reduced to a tree stump has been cut down and hollowed out. I clearly remember how it looked before.

"That tree stump wasn't like that before. What in the name of..." I muttered as I dropped my water can.

I ran for the fence, vaulted over it and headed for the hollowed out tree. I examined it. It appears that the tree wasn't just cut down. Someone made a tunnel out of it!

"What the heck...?!" I gasped.

I looked down the hole in the tree. I had a feeling I should climb down there, but I was nervous. What could be in there?

"Be brave, Tony. be brave..." I said, holding my sickle in my right hand. I took a deep breath and jumped in the tree's hole.

I slid down a tunnel big enough for me to slide into, and daylight quickly disappeared behind me, plunging me into total darkness.

"Auuuuuggh- oof!" I hit the ground seconds before I started to panic.

I stood up and looked up at the hole I fell through.

"Whew! I'm glad it wasn't a longer drop." I said to myself.

I brushed the dust off my overalls, then I looked around, examining my new surroundings. The tunnel I am in is dimly lit by torches on the wall. I am in an underground cavern. How is this possible? Suddenly, I head voices!

"Huh?!" I grabbed my sickle, ready for my attackers to appear.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" I demanded.

Then, from the exit of the room I am in, three little men came out to greet me. They are less than three feet tall and wore clothes resembling garden gnome statues that people decorate in their yard.

"Calm down! We won't harm you." One of them said.

"What the...? Who... Who..." I dropped my sickle.

I couldn't believe it. Small men. Who would've thought they actually existed?

"Hey... Are you from the ranch?" Little Man #1 asked me.

I nodded slowly, never saying a single word.

"Do you use the sickle in the shed? How's it working?" He asked me.

"How's it working? Well... fine, far as I can tell... It can cut grass and weeds like butter." I reluctantly said, still in minor shock over meeting these small men.

Little Man #1 smiled gleefully. "Wow! Really? That's great, because I am the one who made the sickle," he said.

"You are?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Why, yes! I'm so happy! I'll make it even better. Look forward to it."

"Okay. Well, here you go." I said, giving my sickle to Little Man #1.

I'm surprised a little guy like him made such a big and efficient tool, and he is stronger than he looks, able to carry the sickle with both of his hands.

"Much obliged! You won't regret it!" He said. I looked around.

"So, uh... How do I get out of here?" I asked.

"I'll help you with that! follow me!" Little Man #2 said.

He led me out of the room and guided me through a series of tunnels. I took my time, being careful not to trip on a rock. The tunnel he guided me through went like a zigzag pattern, and the ground seemed to slope upward a while for a few seconds until we stopped in front of a wooden door.

"You can go out form here." Little Man #2 told me.

"Thank you so much. I'm grateful for all of this," I said.

I wanted to shake his hand, but I don't know how fragile he is. He gave me a little salute and then I headed for the door.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I got the shock of my life! I'm in my tool shed!

"What the?!" I looked around in surprise.

I really am back in my tool shed! so my tool shed is connected to the underground tunnels all this time! The back door of the shed leads straight underground! Unbelievable!

"This is crazy..." I muttered as I left my shed.

I couldn't help but wonder... Did my grandpa know those little men back there since his tool shed is connected to the underground caverns? I don't know, and I'll never know. Luke was right. I had no idea what I was in for as a rancher. I decided to go to Neighbor Town and kill time there.

Wednesday, 8th of Summer, 1976

Later that morning, after eating some toast, I came outside and entered my shed to see if the small elf men are done upgrading my sickle. Personally, I don't see how tools can be upgraded. when I got in my ranch, I saw it. My upgraded sickle. The blade now appears to be gold plated instead of silver, but I can tell that the sickle blade has not been given some cheap upgrade, it looks... different. Sharper. More powerful somehow.

"Ooh, yeah! I like it!" I rubbed my hands together in excitement.

But unfortunately my grass isn't fully grown yet, so I can't use it yet, so instead I watered my sprouting tomatoes seeds, cucumber seeds, and soon to be sprouting corn seeds, and fed my chickens and set its egg up for delivery from Derek. I also had to clean up some chicken poop, unfortunately. After that, I went off into the forest and grabbed a flower for Ellen, and arrived at Neighbor Town to give her the flower and chat with her. The usual stuff. When we were done chatting later that evening, she gave me a kiss goodbye, and I returned the kiss back. It feels good being kissed by Ellen, but kissing her... That I'm not completely used to yet. Back at home, I wrote in my journal about my upgraded sickle, and my growing relationship with Ellen.

Thursday, 9th of Summer, 1976

As usual, I ate breakfast, watched the weather channel, fed my chickens and put the egg in the shipping box near the gates of my ranch, watered the sprouting tomatoes, cucumbers and corns, then I ran off to the forest to chop up more wood. Then at 11:46 a.m., I headed off to Neighbor Town to see how everybody is doing... Mainly Ellen. first, I stopped by Ms. Fortune's house. The red-haired girl who the boy was "dating" with a few days ago, came out of Mrs. Fortune's house mumbling something. She said: "Female psychology is complicated..." Before I opened up the door, I was wondering to myself: (Why is she saying that female psychology is complicated when she's a girl? I'm the one who doesn't know much about women.) Then I opened up the door. Inside, Mrs. Fortune was reading a book, sitting in front of her crystal ball. She looked up at me and set the book down as soon as she saw me.

"Ah! Tony! Good day! How is the ranch?"

"It's doing fine, Mrs. Fortune." I replied, scratching the back of my neck.

"Good, good! You're making a really decent living here, even though this is your first year in the ranch. So, tell me boy, have you found the girl who will be you soul mate?" Mrs. Fortune asked me.

I was upset that she brought it up again. "Ugh! Can we get off that subject, please?" I whined.

"No-no-no-no-no-no, this is a very important subject, my boy. So important, that it's good for your health." Mrs. Fortune countered, waving a finger at my face.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "How can a girl be good for my health?" I asked skeptically.

"In many ways you don't realize, child. Sit down." Mrs. Fortune instructed me.

I sat down, and she took a seat next to me.

"Boy, do you realize that working at the ranch without a wife can lead to a boring, depressing life?" Mrs. Fortune asked me.

I thought it over. "I never thought about it." I finally said. "To be honest, being a farmer is boring. I have to work every day for hours. I don't get the chance to watch my favorite cartoons as often as I used to anymore," I added.

"Well, having a wife in your life will make you happy. So happy that you feel richer than the richest person in the world." She said.

"Yeah righ.t you say it as if it is that simple," I sighed in disbelief.

"I'm serious, boy! I know you have a girl in mind. You just won't tell me. How long exactly do you plan to keep it secret? Will you tell it only to your father secretly? Which girl are you most interested in now?" Mrs. Fortune asked me with growing seriousness in her voice.

I knew now there's no chance in hiding my feelings. I better tell her now, because not only Ellen's mom knows, but the whole town will eventually.

"It... It's... It is Ellen." I reluctantly admitted.

Mrs. Fortune slowly nodded. "Ahhh, yes, I see... Ellen. She's a nice girl, very energetic and compassionate. Perfect for you. She usually visits her uncle livestock pen on most Saturdays. She's usually found in the public square on Star Night Festival night. For presents, flowers are nice for her, but cow milk or a chicken egg will please her too." Mrs. Fortune advised me.

I nodded. "I knew about the flowers already, but I didn't know about the eggs and milk." I admitted.

"Well, now you know. Incidentally, Tony, do you know what is used to propose to a girl?"

"...No," I said.

Mrs. Fortune grinned, showing her bright white teeth. "You're not very bright, are you? Read my book again, and look up the subject 'Marriage'!" She said and left outside.

After she left, I picked up the book of romance and read the chapter that explains marriage.

"...'Item for marriage proposal is a blue feather. In a time a long time ago before engagement rings were invented, blue feathers were once used as a symbol of engagement. Very few people know or remember this, but some places in the world uphold this tradition of giving a loved one a blue feather. Check the peddler on Sundays to find a blue feather. You will also need to enlarge your house to get married too. Having a wife and child in a small house is not ideal.'" That is it. After that, I left the house.

I chatted with everyone in town. The mayor, his wife and Maria, Nina, Ann and her dad, and last, but definitely not least, Ellen. We talked until late in the evening. Then I ran back to my ranch to write in my journal and get some shuteye.

Sunday, 12th of Summer, 1976

I woke up early to get things done in the ranch. The surprising thing is, it hasn't rained at all this summer. In fact, it hasn't rained since spring! Amazing! "Hey, Koro. Drink all that water. You're gonna need it." I told Koro as I walked by him as he was slurping up the water from his water bowl. I even noticed that the grass is now ready to be cut down by my new sickle.

"Okay. It's showtime," I smiled.

I entered my shed and picked up my watering pail and sickle.

"Time to see what you're made of," I said to my sickle, looking at its golden sharp blade.

I came back outside, watered my tomatoes and corns, and them prepared to give my new sickle a test run. I stood in the huge patches of grass. I gripped the sickle firmly in my hand.

"Here we go... Batter up!" I exclaimed enthusiastically.

I prepared to swing the sickle and I swung it! Then something unexpected happened! I was spinning out of control!

"Wah-wah-wah-wah-ah-ah-ah...!" I shouted, spinning like a tornado, my sickle cutting up all the grass in its way.

After all the grass was cut, I fell to the ground tired. I was dizzy, and looking up at the blue sky.

"Ohhh..." I moaned.

I sat up, looking at the sickle next to me to my left, and all the straws of grass cut down lying in a heap around me

"Did I do that...?!" I whispered to myself in shock.

Who cares? I put the cut straws of grass in the silo then I went back in the tool shed to get my ax and wheelbarrow, then I left the ranch to go chop some wood. I came back late afternoon I was thinking about visiting Ellen, but I decided not to do it. I'm too tired.