Episode 20: Be Happy Forever

Saturday, 30th Of Summer, 1978

Ellen, Pete, Jack and I were in the living room, waiting for my parents to knock on the door. It is 8:00 a.m., and Ellen and I were sitting at the dinner table, while Pete and Jack were on the floor playing with their toys. I looked over at Ellen with anxiety written all over my face.

"Nervous?" I asked her, trying to look calm and confident.

"Nervous? No. More like excited." Ellen replied.

"Good." I nodded.

Just then, we heard the door knocking!

"Oh! That must be them!" I got up and headed for the door, then I opened it... And there they were... My parents.

"Hello, son." My Dad said.

A smile formed on my face and I let them come inside.

"Tony! Oh, Tony, my baby!" My mom cried, and I noticed there is a hankie held in her hand.

"Mom!" I gave her a hug.

"I'm so glad to see you!" My Mom cried.

I stopped embracing her.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm okay, see? Oh, Mom, this is my wife, Ellen. Ellen, this is my Mom and Dad." I introduced them.

Ellen stood up and walked over to greet them.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." Ellen shook her hand, then my Dad's hand while they looked dumbfounded.

Its very funny, I clearly remember how funny they looked. Mom and Dad looked utterly speechless.

"Y... you... you're married..." Dad managed to say.

Then my parents took notice of my kids playing with their toys.

"Oh, and these are my sons. The oldest one is Pete, and the youngest is Jack. Kids, meet your Grandma and Grandpa." I said.

Mom started crying again. "My baby... has babies of his own..."

"Tony... I... I don't believe it... You've matured much more than I expected you to." Dad said, still in shock.

"Well, I am your son." I smiled, patting him on the shoulder.

"And the ranch... You've done a very good job in keeping it in shape... Tony... I'm proud to say this... You've come of age! I'm proud of you." Dad smiled at me.

"I didn't expect you to accomplish so much in three years. Not even get married and have kids of your own." Dad added.

Ellen walked up to my Dad with a warm smile on her face.

"Sir, your son is a hard worker. He's no slacker. He is a great farmer!" She told him.

My Mom continued crying, wiping the tears from her eyes with her hankie.

"Wow... Tony... You've become an adult." Dad smiled.

"Um, Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it, son?"

"About why you brought me here... Was it because you wanted me to take over grandpa's farm or what?" I asked.

Dad chuckled and shook his head slowly. "No, Tony. The real reason why I sent you here is to build your character," he told me.

"What...?" I frowned in confusion.

"Before I sent you to this farm, you were practically lazy and dependent on me and your mother. I sent you to this farm so you can mature as an adult, that's all. And now you've proven to me that you've become an adult," Dad said.

"So... that means..." I slowly said.

"It means that you, your wife and sons are free to leave this farm and choose whatever it is that you want to do. If you want to stay in this farm, do it. If you want to move out the ranch and into a city, do it. I don't care. You control your life. Not me." Dad finished for me.

All this time I believed that I was doomed to stay in this farm for the rest of my life and pass it down to my children. Knowing that this is just a trial to build my character eased all the weight that was once on my shoulders.

"Thank you Dad... I'm glad to know that I didn't let you down." I broke into tears.

Ellen comforted me by embracing me in a soft hug.

Epilogues, 1979 (Prize Cow ending)

Later next year, in the spring, in the southeast corner of my ranch, some of my livestock were interacting with each other in the grass field- my 8th chicken, my newly hatched chick, and Jade. I approached Jade with the milker and bottle in my hand.

"Hey, Jade. Mind if I milk you, please?" I asked.

"Moooo!" was Jade's reply. I knelt down and started milking, filling the glass bottle up with milk. As soon as I filled up the bottle, I turned around and saw Koro appear. Koro was jumping around and rolling in the grass.

"Yeah, feels good, doesen't it, Koro?"

"Woof woof!"

Then I walked off to put the bottle in the shipping box. Then I came back and brushed Jade's body.

"Mooooo!" Jade mooed happily.

When I was done, I took the time to stretch my body out by leaning my torso left and right.

"Oooh yeah..." I said as I felt my joints burn a little as I excercised.

(Chicken Coop ending)

Another day later, I was putting the eggs all my chickens laid into the little red shipping box in the southwest corner of the room. When I was about to grab the 5th egg, it slipped out of my gloves!

"Whoops!" I yelped.

The egg fell out of my hands and cracked as soon as it hit the ground! The egg shell shattered in half on the ground, revealing the yolk! Then before I knew it, all of my chickens immediately started crowding around me angrily!

"Hey! I'm sorry! It was an accident!" I pleaded, backing up until my back is up against the take out spot where I get fodder from.

"It was an accident! I'm sorry!" I kept on apologizing to the chickens. Fortunately, none of them pecked or bit me.

Another day later in the spring, in the southeast corner of my ranch in the grass fields, Ruby, who is now an adult cow and Nova's calf, who I named Flo, were relaxing near a tree with Koro. I came up to them.

"Hey, guys! How's it going?" I asked them cheerfully.

Koro barked, and Ruby and Flo mooed.

"Great." I replied.

I took out my milker and milked Ruby, getting a jug full of milk. Then i walked off to put it in the shipping box. When I came back I decided to lay down on Ruby who was sleeping under the tree branches, using her body like a pillow. Not only me and Ruby were sleeping, but also Koro and Flo!

(Turnip ending)

A few days later, in my turnip garden, to the east of my tool shed next to the biggest pond in my ranch, I was sprinkling water on some of the growing turnips. Just then, Koro, who is next to me, barked.

"Huh? What is it boy?" I looked to where Koro was facing and I saw Nik and Nak approaching us!

Before they could get near us, Nik tripped and fell on his face!

"Nik!" Nak cried.

"Oh no!" I gasped.

I knew that I better do something, and fast!

"Tony! give him a turnip, quickly!" Nak urged me.

"Okay, okay!" I went and picked a ripe turnip and gave it to Nak.

"Ha-ha! Just kidding!" Nik got up on his feet and dusted the dust off his clothes.

"Hmph. You got a sour sense of humor. All you had to do is ask for a turnip," I said, crossing my arms.

Then Nik and Nak carried off the turnip.

Sorry about that, I couldn't resist. Thanks, Tony!" Nik called.

"No problem!" I called back.

(Potato ending)

Later, in my potato garden in the southeaster corner of my ranch near one of the ponds, I was just carrying a potato to be shipped in the shipping box. Koro was minding his own business and a mole was running around frantically. It burrowed underground when I came back to pick up another potato to put in the shipping box. Little did Koro and I know that the mole is beginning to steal our potatoes, pulling them underground! Even in front of Koro's face! Koro looked in confusion as if he was thinking: "What the? Where did the potato in front of me go?" Then the mole appeared in front of him and Koro started chasing it around the potato field until it burrowed back underground, and Koro tried to dig after it, but unfortunately his paws are not made for digging.

(Corn ending)

Sometime in the summer, in the southern part of my ranch, I had two extra rows of corn ready to be harvested!

"Yeah! This is it!" I said as I ran up to one of the corn stalks, tore off corn and ran off to put it in the shipping box.

I didn't notice that Koro was resting among the rows of corn stalks. I came back, grabbed more corn then ran off to the shipping box. Then I came back again, doing the same thing. Then when I came back the fourth time, I used my sprinkler to water the corn stalks that aren't ready to be harvested. When I noticed that my sprinkler is out of water, I took it with me to the nearest pond to refill it. While I was gone, Koro woke up and started sniffing some of the unripe corn stalks, then... then he started peeing on them! I wish I caught him doing that!

(Tomatoes ending)

A few days later, near the shipping box and gates of my ranch, Zara and Koro were hanging out around the tomatoes section of the field. I came by to pick up some of the ripe tomatoes.

"Sorry, guys. Excuse me," I said as I walked by Zara and Koro and picked up one tomato and stuffed it in one of Zara's bags.

Then I went back picked up another big tomato ant stuffed it in Zara's bag. Then I used my sprinkler to water the tomato plants that don't have any ripe tomatoes. After I was done, I wiped my sweating forehead with my white towel. Then when I was heading back to where the ripe tomatoes are, I ate a rice ball as I walked over there. Before I picked up a tomato, Koro approached me and barked at me, and I assumed that he wanted the rice ball I ate.

"What? I only had one rice ball left, so begging won't work." I told Koro indifferently.

(Ellen ending)

A couple days later, Koro is by himself in the southeast corner of my ranch in the grass fields. I arrived there with my super sickle. I finally learned how to master it! I've figured out how to use it normally, and how to spin aorund with it!

"Stand back, Koro!" I said.

I then began cutting up the grass without going into tornado mode. A few minues later as I was cutting, I thought I heard Ellen go: "Whooo hoooo!"

I looked around to see if I'm hallucinating. Turns out I wasn't! I spotted Ellen riding Zara finally! "Yahooo!" Ellen cheered, the wind making her long hair wave in the breeze.

"Whooo! Go, honey! You are awesome!" I cheered.

"Woof woof!" Koro barked in agreeement.

Ellen continued riding Zara around the field.

"Yeeeaaahhh! I did it, honey! I'm riding Zara!" Ellen called.

I clapped my hands. "Great job! Great job!" I cheered.

Soon Ellen and Zara came to a stop in front of me and Koro. Ellen climbed off Zara. When her feet touched the ground, she was waving her right arm in excitement!

"Whooo! Yes! I did it, darling!" She cheered.

I approached her and gave her a hug.

"Great! That's great! I'm proud of you, honey! Yaaaa!" I yelled as I spun around with Ellen, making the long skirt of her dress flutter in the air.

(Ellen ending part 2)

A few days later, Ellen, Pete, Jack, Koro and I were next to Luke's house tree, just relaxing.

"It feels good to be out here in the middle of the forest, doesen't it?" Ellen asked me.

"It sure does." I replied.

"Tony."

"Yes, dear?"

"Remember what happened in this exact spot?"

"... Yes! This is the spot where you kissed me for the first time! When P-Chan left!" I remembered.

"Yes! you remember! But... Where is P-Chan?" Ellen asked me.

I shrugged cluelessly. Just then, Ellen's uncle appeared.

"Tony, Ellen, Pete, Jack! What a coincidence to see you all here!" He said.

I gasped! "Hey! What're you doing here?" I asked him.

"Oh, I'm just out for a little walk in the woods, that's all. I don't want to be behind the desk at my shop avery day, know what I mean?"

"Yes, sir, I do." I replied.

I turned around to say something to Ellen, but when I looked up, I saw a blue bird coming towards us.

"Hey... Isn't that...? Ellen, behind you, on top of Luke's house tree! Look." I pointed up.

Ellen looked into the direction I was pointing. That bird... There's no mistaking it... It... It's P-Chan! P-Chan is back! A big smile formed on Ellen's face as she slowly recognized the bird.

"... It's P-Chan! She's back!" Ellen cried.

"Cheep-cheep-cheep!" P-Chan chirped.

"P-Chan is back! Yes!" Ellen and I jumped in joy.

"I knew it! Somehow I knew she would be back!" Ellen couldn't contain the happiness in her heart.

"Cheep-cheep-cheep-cheep!" P-Chan chirped happily.

(Children ending)

Three days later, in front of my tool shed, Pete and Jack were watching me till the ground with my super garden hoe, and Koro and Zara were with us.

"Unf! Unf! Unf!" I grunted every time I slammed the hoe into the ground, softening up the soil.

After tilling the ground around me, I dropped the handle of my garden hoe and took a break. When I took a quick break, exercising by stretching, Jack crawled up to me while Pete sat there in his overalls and cap, in a staring contest with Koro. Zara was nearby, minding her own business. When I turned around and saw Jack crawling towards me, I walked up to him and crouched down.

"Hey there, champ. Wanna learn how to use a garden hoe?" I asked him.

Jack looked up at me, smiling. I couldn't help but smile back. I rubbed his head. Jack is just so cute, Its irresistible! Then Ellen stepped out of the house, wearing a cyan colored dress.

"Hey, what are you boys doing?" Ellen asked me.

"Oh, nothing, just showing Jack and Pete how to work out here." I replied.

When Jack heard Ellen's voice, he turned around and started crawling towards her, muttering: "Dah... Do-dah... Ma... Mah..."

Ellen smiled warmly and picked up Jack.

"You are such a cutie pie!" She said and rubbed her nose against Jack's, making him giggle.

(Mountain ending)

Later that noon, I was in the forest, near the foothills of the hill that has that breathtaking bird's eye view of the land. I carried my golden ax and wheelbarrow with me, gathering up wood from tree stumps that I cut. I found five tree stumps 32 yards north from the hot spring. I stopped near one of them, pulled my golden ax out of the wheelbarrow and started chopping it up. In a matter of seconds I've made lumber out of the stump and I put two of its logs in my wheelbarrow. After I cut up the third tree stump, I already became fatigued.

"Whew... I need a glass of water..." I panted.

As soon as I said that, I heard bushes rustling nearby. I turned to my left to see a rabbit hopping towards me, with a power berry between its front legs! The animal stopped in front of me, dropped the power berry, and hopped a few feet away and turned to look at me.

"Wait. What?" I pulled off my cap and scratched my head.

Animals never come up to you and give you a fruit, it just does not happen often. The rabbit is actually waiting for me to take the power berry. What the heck is going on?

I picked up the power berry, knocked off the grains of dirt under it, rubbed the berry against my shirt for a few seconds to make sure it is clean, then I ate it, and after I ate the berry, the rabbit that offered it to me finally departed. I still couldn't believe it. That rabbit gave me the power berry knowing I am too tired to continue working. How can that be?

After the rabbit left, I saw a squirrel approach me casually, then three birds, and a fox, too! I couldn't help wondering, is this the Harvest Goddess' doing, or someone else?

A lot of great stuff has happened since the year when my parents visited me. Ann married an old friend of hers from her high school days who lives in an apartment at Baton Rouge, so even though Ann had to move out away from her father to be with the love of her life, Michael has nothing to fear about Ann being single all her life anymore simply because she isn't feminine enough. Maria has gotten married to some other guy I know very little about, Nina got married to someone too... I don't know what happened to Eve, a lot has been going on lately. To separate myself from all the excitement, I traveled through the forest and made my way up to the hill's peak. There, I stood at the nose of the cliff, staring out at the mountains far, far ahead, glowing in a orange hue because of the setting sun. I took a deep breath and sighed. I can't help but wonder: Where do I go from here? What should I do? I recalled what my dad told me.

"You are free to make your own decisions. If you want to stay here, do it. If you want to move to a city, do it."

I don't know what I'll do right now, but the answer will come to me sooner or later. all I have to do is trust my instincts. I looked up into the orange sky, as if I was searching for a sign. I took a deep breath and let it out. I got my answer. And I like my answer. I stayed on the peak of the mountain, watching the sunset as it slowly disappeared, making the sky dark blue. The other mountains far in the distance still looks beautiful at night.

It is such a wonderful sight to see. Little did I know that my wife, Ellen is coming up behind me. She surprised me a little when I noticed her coming up next to me to my right. "Hi darling." I smiled.

"Hello, sweetie." Ellen smiled a warm smile.

(She looks so beautiful in the moonlight...) I thought to myself.

"So what are you doing out here?" Ellen asked me as she sat down next to me.

I looked up at the rising moon. "Reflecting on my achievements and wondering where will I go from here." I replied.

"I don't have much clues to go on, but I'm excited to plan about it." I said, barely containing the excitement in my voice.

Ellen nodded. She understood what I'm saying. She then rested her head on my shoulder.

"Sweetheart..." She said in a sweet voice.

"Yes, honey?" I looked into her eyes.

"... Stay happy forever... I love it when you're happy," Ellen concluded.

"Feeling's mutual, darling. The feeling is mutual." I said as I embraced Ellen in the shade of the moonlight.

Then we looked up at the moon for about 6 seconds, holding each other close, then we stood up on our legs, turned around and left the peak of the hill, heading back down to the forest foothills.

The End

To Be Continued In...

Harvest Moon 2: Back To Nature