Sunday, 7th of Summer

When Alma heard Marnie's rooster crow and opened her eyes, she was genuinely amazed. This week, she had four nights without nightmares. Four nights - more than half of the week - with peaceful sleep. The nightmares still happened, and they probably would for a while; but to know they were becoming fewer and fewer made her smile and cuddle her blanket a little closer. "Thank you, Yoba," she whispered.

She looked ahead of her and saw the TV on the opposite side of the room. She remembered that The Queen of Sauce should be on today. She got up to turn it on and watched the episode that was on. "Greetings! It is I, the queen of sauce, here to teach you a new mouth-watering recipe from my secret cookbook. This week's dish … Baked Fish!"

"Ooh!" Alma said, grabbing her notebook. She watched carefully and took notes to learn how to make the dish. She needed sunfish, bream, and flour; and she remembered what Pierre said about a mill. Maybe that would be a good idea. She'd ask Robin about it sometime soon.

Alma got dressed in her overalls and went outside to see a crow pecking at her radishes. "Hey!" she yelled. Bisclavret came running, chasing the crow away. "Good boy, Biz." She looked over at her scarecrows. There were too many crops to protect; she'd need to make some more. As she looked over the crops, she did see that her radishes were ready to pick, but she also saw that some more plants from the summer seeds had died. "What am I doing wrong?" she asked as she came down the stairs to inspect the dead plants. She thought of Evelyn; she was a great gardener, and maybe she could give her some advice. But for now, she picked her radishes and watered what was left. She went to take care of Bisclavret and the chickens, and she gathered up the mushrooms too.

As she put her watering can back in the chest, Alma saw she had mail. She went and opened up the envelope.

"Alma,

I found this recipe in a magazine and I thought it sounded interesting. Feel free to give me a taste if you make it. Hehe.

-Shane"

Attached was a cutout from a magazine for pepper poppers. It was just peppers and cheese. "Maybe next year, Shane, after I've got some cows to get cheese from!" For now, she stuck it in her pocket. She stored some radishes in her fridge and then went into town to sell her other produce to Pierre.

When she left Pierre's, Alma decided to go see Evelyn to ask about her plants. She went to the Mullners' and knocked on the door. After a moment, Mrs. Mullner came to the door. "Alma! What a pleasant surprise! Oh, we read your lovely article in the paper," she said, putting a hand on her chest. "What a lovely tribute to your grandfather Phillip. You know he's pleased with you. Please, come in, come in." Alma stepped inside and put her bag by the door. She saw Mr. Mullner watching TV in the living room. "You must have come because you smelled the cookies, hm?" Evelyn said as she walked into the kitchen. "It seems we always have more visitors when I start baking cookies. My mother taught me the recipe." She held the plate of cookies up to Alma.

"Oh, you know I'd love to have one of your cookies, but, no, that's not the reason I'm here."

"Well, you help yourself, honey," she said, placing the plate back on the table. "What can I do for you?"

"I have a gardening question, and I could think of no one better to help me out," Alma said, sitting at the table.

"Yes, yes! What's the problem then?" Evelyn said, getting a glass down.

"I planted some seeds from wild summer plants, and a handful of them have suddenly died. I've been watering them every day, I've fertilized them with basic fertilizer made from sap, and I think they're getting enough sun. I'm not sure what's caused them to die. I wondered if you might have some ideas."

Evelyn gave her a glass of milk and sat down at the table with her. "These are seeds like foraged plants? Sweet pea and spice berry and that?" Alma nodded. "Did they look brown and withered? A bit dry?"

"Yes!" Alma exclaimed through a bite of cookie.

"And it was very sudden? Overnight maybe?"

"Yes, exactly! Fine one day, dead the next."

Evelyn nodded. "Keep watering them. Sometimes they appear dead but are actually saving their energy. The roots are still drinking up and building up their reserves. They should still produce when time for the harvest comes."

"Really!"

"Mm-hm. Have you been watering them?"

"Well, no, but it's only been a day or two."

"Get back to it and keep it up. They'll be right. You listen to Granny; they'll be right."

Alma finished her cookie and washed it down with milk. "Should I use the water retaining fertilizer or something else?"

"No, that's not necessary. Just keep letting them drink, keep at it."

"All right, thank you, Mrs. Mullner," Alma said as she took the last gulp of milk. She scooted her chair out and stood. "I'll try that and let you know how it goes."

"Are you on your way out already?"

"Yes, I think that's all I needed for now. I don't want to take any more of your time."

Evelyn looked at their cuckoo clock on the wall and saw it was now one o'clock. "Oh, actually, it's about time for me to go tend to the town gardens too. I'll walk out with you. George!" she called. "George, I'm going out to do the gardening, dear!" She picked up her bucket of gardening tools on her way to the door.

"Let me get that for you," Alma said, carrying it for her. "Bye, Mr. Mullner!" she called as she pulled her bag on her back again.

"I can't talk now, miss," he answered from in front of the TV, "my favorite program is on!"

Evelyn shook her head as she opened the door for Alma. When they stepped outside, she took a deep breath. "The fresh air never disappoints, does it? I love to get outside. And I don't mind getting a little dirty."

"Good because gardening will do that to you," Alma laughed, indicating her overalls.

"It feels good to get dirt under your fingernails. I've got sore knees, but I still don't mind sitting on the ground to tend to the flowers. It brings me joy."

"That's the secret to why your flowers always look so beautiful!" Alma giggled.

"Yes, love and joy are the most important tools for gardening - and almost anything else, I suppose." They arrived at the raised flower beds at the entrance to the town, and Alma laid down the bucket for Mrs. Mullner.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked as she helped her get on the ground in front of the garden.

"No, honey, you go enjoy your day. And let me know how your plants do!"

"I certainly will. Thank you again." Alma looked up the path toward the fountain and saw Harvey standing there, using his hand to shield his eyes as he looked up to the sky. She made her way up the steps and toward the fountain.

He turned and looked when he heard someone approaching. "Alma, h-hello!"

"What's in the skies today?" she said as she came up next to him. She tried to look up and see what he was seeing.

"Not a lot," he said, looking up again, "though it's a beautiful day for flying. Just a little wind, clear skies …." He looked back down, pressing his eyes shut. "Bright sun, though."

"Yeah, no kidding."

"Why don't we go stand in the shade? You don't have a hat or any sun protection." She followed him toward the big tree that was between the park and the community center.

"You forget that I've been outside working nearly all day," she said with a laugh.

"Without a-any protection?"

"Not really," she shrugged.

"Well, it's okay to get a moderate amount of sunlight. Just don't get burnt. It might be a good idea to wear your straw hat on sunny days like this. It will help keep you cool too."

"Coming from the man wearing a coat!"

Harvey laughed a little. "Yes, I am, uh ... well protected from the sun."

"Well, I'm sure you're scorching too. Anyway," Alma said, pulling at her bag, "I brought something for you."

"Oh?"

"Nothing major. Just some new produce." She pulled out the radish she saved, her best-looking one.

"That's such a nice gift. Thank you!" he said as he took it and looked it over. "It's so big! And such a beautiful shade of red! Isn't it a-amazing how colorful produce can be? Not like the, uh, the multiple shades of brown mush I often eat."

"There are a lot of beautiful foods, yeah. Did I tell you I'm growing a starfruit?"

"No, you didn't!"

"Yeah, I got it from Gunther! It's just one, though. I hope it lives because I want to see what that looks like."

"I think I've seen them before but, yes, I'd like to see it too." Harvey looked toward the community center. "Have you had any more luck with the, uh … what are they called again?"

"Junimo?"

"Yes, Junimo. Any more … presents or anything from them?"

"No, not since you were there. But I'm still working on it."

He shook his head, looking at the building. "I still just ... can't believe something like that would be here, in little old Pelican Town."

Alma shrugged. "Maybe that's why they're here; no one would suspect them. Grandpa always said this place was magical, and he wasn't kidding."

"Do you think he knew about the Junimo?"

Alma looked at him with a puzzled look. "You know, I never thought of that. Maybe he did! Now there's a thought."

"And maybe that's why they chose you - because you're his granddaughter."

Alma looked down at the ground in thought. "That ... explains a lot, actually." She looked at him again, the wheels turning in her head. "You may be on to something."