Chapter 24: The PoPoultry Farm!

"Rick! Mom!" Popuri announced her presence as she entered her house. "I'm back!"

"Popuri, welcome back." A motherly voice replied. "I hope it wasn't a lot of trouble catching Chickie."

"No, of course not, mom." Popuri shook her hand. "Actually! I didn't catch Chickie alone! There were these two—…. Wow!"

Popuri was about to explain how she caught Chickie, but that thought soon left her mind the moment she laid her eyes on the table packed full of eggs.

"Oh, wooow!" Popuri skipped to the table and clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling with stars as she took in the sight of the practically gleaming eggs. "Look at them all!"

"Yep. We've got a lot of eggs again today. That's a good sign that our chickens are all happy and healthy." Rick placed a container of eggs on the table; the eggs were a slight brown shade darker compared to the other eggs on the table. He picked up one of these eggs. "I soft-boiled a few of them to munch on while I was working. Want one, mom?"

"My, my! Thank you so much, Rick." Their mom walked to the table with a smile spread across her lips. "Soft-boiled eggs make such a yummy snack."

"Let me have one, Rick!" Popuri took one of the soft-boiled eggs. Something buzzed in the back of her mind; she couldn't help but feel she should tell her family something important. Oh well, I'm sure I'll remember it soon!

But she didn't have to worry as the important matter in question would soon enter their house.

…

..

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"So this is the PoPoultry Farm…?" Pete asked, reading the sign standing in front of the house. The sign read:

PoPoultry!

Closed Sundays.

We're open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM!

"There are a lot of chickens roaming around," Claire observed the many chickens frolicking in the fenced area to the left side of the house. They look peaceful compared to that ruthless… Chickie? Was that its name?

"This must be… the chicken farm!" Pete deduced from the chicken, chick, and eggs plastered on the logo and the chickens Claire saw. I mean, what else could it be? "If we needed a reason to fill the chicken coop, I think this is the place to be."

"Wow, I wonder what gave you that idea?" Claire chuckled at this obvious deduction, then faced the entrance. "Let's head inside and greet Popuri's family!"

"All right." Pete nodded, taking the first step and gently pushing the doors into the house which alerted its residents.

"Hm?" Rick turned around, noticing two unfamiliar people. He adjusted his glasses. "Hello. I haven't seen you two around here before. Are you travelers here to scope out our local sights and sounds?"

"… Oh!" Seeing the two farmers, Popuri lifted a finger in realization. The thought that slipped her mind soon returned. "Right, this is what I wanted to tell you!"

"Hmm?" Rick turned to her, confused. "What do you mean, Popuri?"

"They're the two farmers who recently moved into the farm," Popuri explained and waved to them. "They also helped me catch Chickie!"

"Oh, wait. Now that I think about it…" Rick stroked his chin in deep thought, staring at the two new people. "I DID hear that someone would be moving into that farm. I guess that's you… two, huh?" He inquired, a bit confused that there was not one, but two farmers.

"Yes, that would be us." Pete placed a hand on his chest and offered a warm smile. "My name is Pete."

"And I'm Claire!" She popped up beside him. "We recently moved into the farm."

"I see… you're Pete and Claire?" He smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Rick. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Rick!" Claire gingerly shook his hand.

"Hehe, and you've already met me!" Popuri grinned, leaning forward. She stepped to Rick's side. "Rick is my older brother!"

"Why, hello there." Their mother greeted them with a gentle smile. Popuri's hair color and dress resembled hers. "I'm Lilia. Rick and Popuri's mother. It's so nice to meet you. I believe Mayor Thomas told us all about you two." She bowed herself. "Thank you for helping Popuri catch Chickie."

Pete rubbed the back of his head. All I did was catch her. Claire did most of the work in being the bait. "Oh, it was nothing, really…"

"Such kindness shouldn't be set aside." Rick folded his arms; an idea popped up in his head. "Oh, I know. Hey… do you two like eggs?" He asked, his gaze instinctively resting on the blonde-haired farmer.

"… Sure!" Pete nodded, nudging his partner's elbow.

"Of course! Claire clasped her hands together. "They're most eggcellent!"

Eggcellent…? Pete stared at Claire, wide-eyed. Did she seriously answer with an egg pun?

"Glad to hear you think so! Hang on a sec…" Rick turned around to the container full of soft-boiled eggs. He grabbed two eggs, one in each hand, then walked to the two farmers. "Here. Our chickens laid a ton of eggs, so I soft-boiled some of them and ended up with a few too many to eat."

"Oh, that's really kind of you, Rick." Pete replied; they each accepted one egg.

"I don't want them to go to waste, so I figured I'd give them to a fellow egg lover." Rick drew his hands to his waist. "If you want, that is. And consider it as thanks for helping my sister catch Chickie."

"We'll be sure to savor them, Rick!" Claire declared, holding the egg close to her chest. "Thank you so much."

"Mhmm…" Rick nodded his head and smiled. "Good luck with everything on the farm."

"If you'd like to ask anything about chickens for your farm, please feel free to come to me." Lilia added. "I'll be glad to help you."

"Will do!"

And just like that, Pete and Claire met with three new residents of Mineral Town. Now that they knew where to get chickens, tending to crops wouldn't be the only farm activity on their agenda soon enough.

…

..

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"We got boiled eggs, Pete!" Claire beamed, staring at the boiled egg in her hands.

"Your mood sure improved quickly," Pete replied, amused.

"Of course!" Claire bobbed her head. She made a motion of shoving the egg into his face. "I can't be upset with free stuff!"

That, I have to agree. They wouldn't say no to free stuff. The residents have all been welcoming so far. Still, it amused Pete that Claire's mood swung to the opposite end of the spectrum so quickly, especially considering her encounter with the mighty Chickie.

Well, Claire being in a chirpy mood is much preferable. Although…

"… Did you really have to say eggcellent?" He asked, raising a brow. "I didn't think you'd say something like that."

"Why not?" She tilted her head, curious. "The opportunity presented itself, and I felt compelled to say it."

Felt compelled…? He scratched his head. "… Right."

"I'm quite eggcited to try this egg out." She giggled, peeling the eggshell away. "I'm eggspecting it will taste great!

"Okay, that's enough." Pete heaved out a heavy sigh. "Let's continue exploring the town."

"Don't you mean eggsplore?"

"Enough with your eggregious jokes."