A Haven From the Storm
Chapter 11: Beware of Pink Haired Girls Bearing Gifts
Once again, the green figure on the other side of the waterfall was talking to me. The surroundings were more distinct than the previous night - I could see the waterfall pouring into a clear pond filled with small green fish; stands of bamboo to one side. All was luminous from mountain moonlight. I knew I'd seen this place before, somewhere.
"Jack, it's odd for me to say this, but you must resist natural beauty. What is drawing you is not right for you."
"But if it's beauty and kindness, where's the harm?"
"Your lot is not there, but with another. You would regret it the rest of your days."
The crowing of roosters brought me back - awake in my own bed. 'Six in the morning, old man, back to the life.' I answered myself, 'Yeah...this is really the life, too. This village is driving me bats - not only do I hear weird voices in my dreams, now I'm talking back to them!'
I started in the usual morning routine, rice ball breakfast, put aside a piece for Wowser, check the weather on TV - another fine day tomorrow, local news - Goddess Festival tomorrow in Mineral Village. 'That's here - yes, old man, that's your day. Your day with Popuri with Mary looking on with that blank and empty stare, Anna throwing daggers with her eyes and Duke waiting to pounce on your least misstep. F minus one. Who do I see to call a mission abort?'
There was nothing else to do but to get on with the day. I got three packages of turnip seeds from the tool chest and headed out. Wowser ran up to me, accepted the rice ball and jumped into my arms.
"Yes guy, you're all right. All you want from me is a snack and a hug and then you're my best friend! Here you are, down you go, it's work for me now."
I used a couple of hours harvesting eighteen more turnips and moving them to the shipping bin. 1080G closer to that knapsack, then we'd see about getting these tools upgraded. I started in planting three more patches of turnips when the familiar call of 'Hello Jack, it's me!' came from the townside gate.
"Good morning, Popuri. Please come on in. Ah, you're looking lovely this morning." She really did look beautiful, all smiles and spring sunshine. Perhaps she and Rick had stopped quarrelling?
"Thank you, Jack, you've always got something cheerful to say to me. I like that. I came early today because I've got something for you. You gave me so many gifts, now I've got one for you."
She reached into her blouse and brought out a large brown chicken egg. She answered my stare with an innocent expression. "I had to carry it there to keep it warm. It's alive!"
O fortunate egg.
"One of our prize hens laid it this morning, and I want you to have it. Of course, you could just eat it. But I remember you saying you wanted to keep chickens but you didn't have enough money to buy any. You could hatch this one, then you'd be started."
"Popuri, that's so nice of you. But don't you need a hen to keep the egg warm until it hatches?"
"That's the best way, but you have a chicken house. If there's an incubator in it, you can hatch the egg there."
"I haven't looked closely in there, I don't know if I have an incubator."
"Let's go and look, then. I know something about them."
We walked together to the chicken house. I opened the door and left it open as we entered.
"Yes, please keep the door open - it's close in here. What's under that oilcloth against the wall?" She pulled aside the cloth to reveal a straw-lined wooden box with a large shaded lamp hanging close above it. "That, Jack, is an incubator. A small one, good for one egg only.
"Let me clean the bulb for you. It gets really hot and it'll crack if there's dirt on it."
"OK, let me check the wiring while you're doing that."
She went on talking while cleaning. "Pa and Rick never taught me anything about the farm. But I'm not stupid; really I'm not. I watched them and learned some things anyways. Jack, you know, everyone in the village treats me like a little girl. You talk to me like an adult. I really like that."
"I don't think you're stupid at all. You sure know about that incubator. The wiring looks OK to me. You about done there?"
"Finished." She put the egg in the box.
"OK, let's see if this still works." I threw the switch and the bulb lit right up. "Success! You're right, that does throw off a lot of heat."
"Plenty enough to hatch it with." She leaned over and spoke to the egg. "All right, eggy-poo, you hatch into a healthy chickie-chick for our Jackie-kins there."
I couldn't imagine why people thought of her as a little girl.
"That should do it. Just leave it on all the time and it'll hatch in about five days. Oh, you should turn it over a couple times a day; otherwise the chick will stick to the inside of the shell."
"Popuri, I thank you so much for this. I don't know when I could have gotten started with chickens without your help."
We left the chicken house and walked outside together.
"I'm happy to do it for you. Friends help each other and you're a special friend to me." Our hands brushed as we walked. Then we were holding hands. Neither of us objected.
"Jack, you know that today is Sunday, right?"
"Is it? I'd lost track of the days of the week. It's easy to do here!"
"Yes, well I always go to church on Sunday unless I have to stay home and take care of Ma. Are you coming to church?"
"Why...sure. Eleven, right?"
"That's it. Would...would you like it if we went together?"
"Popuri, I'd love to. When should we leave?"
"About ten-thirty. You can come for me at our place then and we can go."
"Excellent. Well, let me get these turnip seeds into the ground before then. Thank you again for getting me started in the poultry business."
"Thank you for being a friend. See you at ten-thirty."
Well, I thought, Karen was right - she was nice and sweet. Going to church together, now what could be more innocent than that? My attitude towards her was more relaxed, thinking she wasn't dangerous after all. Why couldn't I be just friends with a girl my own age? And seeing how she got me straight on the incubator made me realize that she wasn't the airhead she sometimes appears to be. Remembering her encouraging words to the egg, however, reminded me that she did have that syrupy side. Well, I concluded, who is perfect?
Such cheery reflections carried me through planting. After church, the heavy lifting would commence - clear some more field and do the watering. I went inside to wash up, brush off the clothes, and I was ready for Sunday meeting.
I got to Chicken Lil's at ten-thirty. As I went in their gate, Rick came out of their hen-house carrying a crate of eggs. He looked a little preoccupied, but brightened up when he saw me at the gate. "Hey, Jack, good to see you. Popuri's just about ready to go."
"Fine business. How's things going with you today?"
"Ah, so-so. Farm work's taking too much time now. At least mom is pretty good today. Say, you going to church with Popuri is pretty impressive." He frowned. "You'd never catch that Kai there!"
"Who is this Kai anyways?"
"He's this cool guy who lives down south, comes here every summer and runs a snack stand at the beach. All the women go loopy over him - even the older ones! I don't see why, he's just a lot of slick talk with nothing behind it. I don't like his style one little bit.
"Last summer, Popuri had a big crush on him. She was at the beach with him every minute she could get away. I'd almost have to drag her home at night, and she sure got mad at me for that. He worries me. I bet if he could get away with it, he'd take Popuri off, use her and then just leave her stranded somewhere far from home.
"I'm sure glad she likes you, Jack. I hope you can get her to forget all about Kai. Who knows, you do well with Erehwon, you and her can...well, I don't want to get too far ahead there."
"Speaking along those lines, how's things with you and Karen? I've heard you two go way back."
"Yeah, we've been friends since we were kids. We're not actually engaged, but we've sorta got an understanding. Can't think about marriage while I'm trying to keep the farm and family together, be unfair to bring her into all this."
Then Popuri came out the door. "Hi Jack, you're right on time. I'm ready to go."
"Right, let's go then. Rick, you want to join us?"
"I'd like to, but there's too much work. Another time, OK? Oh, and you kids don't have to hurry back here after church." He winked at me. "Go ahead, take a long walk, and spend some time together.
"Oh, Popuri, did you notice anything wrong with Batak this morning? She didn't lay an egg today. I sure hope our number one hen isn't getting sick."
Popuri gave him an innocent look. "Rick, I'm sure I don't know anything about it. Are you sure you fed her yesterday?"
"I thought so...I fed them all, I think. Better give her double rations today." He was mumbling as he went back into the henhouse.
Popuri nudged me and giggled. "Don't worry, he'll never figure it out!"
Popuri was talking as we walked to town. "Gee, Rick's being really nice lately. Maybe he and Karen are getting along better. They used to spend so much time together, but lately not so much. People are changing this spring. I haven't seen Mary in the last couple of days either. Maybe she and Gray are getting friendly. They'd make a cute pair!"
Walking as Popuri chattered on about couples real and imagined soon got us to the church. We went in just as Pastor Carter was going up to the altar. There weren't a lot of people there - Jeff and Sasha, Saibara, a few others I didn't know well. In one of the pews sat Cliff and Ann. We went over and greeted them.
"Morning folks, this looks like the young people's section. These seats taken?"
Cliff answered, "Come on in, the water's fine."
We sat down as Carter started speaking.
"Good morning, people. I see right off that we've got a couple of visitors today. I'm sure we all want to welcome Jack and Cliff to our congregation. I'm sure we'll all be glad to see them here every Sunday.
"I know that everyone is excited about the festival tomorrow. Tell the truth, I'm looking forward to it myself. Our village has celebrated the end of the harsh winter and the spring's resurrection of life in this way for generations. Perhaps today we should also reflect today upon another springtime Resurrection..."
The pastor was well launched into a half-hour of charming and edifying observations. After he had finished, we joined in a couple of simple hymns that I remembered well from childhood. Then, everyone filed out the door and stood around talking.
"Cliff, I wouldn't have thought you were such a goodie-goodie, coming to church."
"Hey, living like I do, I can use all the help I can get! I go to church wherever I go. If the preacher is interesting like this one, it's good entertainment. If he's a bore, I get an hour's nap in a warm place!"
Ann playfully punched his arm. "Cliff, can't you ever stop joking? Jack, Pi, glad you came - you're such a pretty couple! You've been seeing a lot of each other, hmmm?"
I answered, "Not as much as you and Cliff."
She blushed. "Well...um...that's because he's staying at the Inn. We can't very well avoid each other, right?"
"Sure Ann, anything you say."
We all walked together chatting towards Rose Square.
"I've got to get back to the Inn and start getting the dinners ready. Cliff, you'd better come on too - I think Dad wanted you to look at that leak under the sink. We'll see you all later!"
We all said our good-byes, Cliff and Ann going on to the Inn and Popuri and I sitting on a bench in the square with nobody else nearby. She was exuberant. "Jack, aren't the cherry blossoms beautiful today! Listen to all the birdies singing up there! This is better than any other spring I remember.
"Thanks for being my friend and everything. With Ma and Rick like they are, I get so lonely. Oh, I've got lots of friends - Ann's my bestest - but it's different with you. You know, I really like you."
"And I like you, Popuri. You're a breath of fresh air in an otherwise hard spring for me."
"That's sweet, Jack." She moved closer to me.
"Well, you're sweet, Pi." I moved closer to her.
She smiled and closed her eyes. I leaned forwards and...
That harping critical voice in my head started up.
"Jack. Jack, old man. What are you about to do?"
"Why, I'm going to kiss this girl, you moron. Go 'way, I'm busy here!"
"That's marvelous, old man. We're supposed to be trying to get her to dump us and here you are about to turn up her burners!"
"But she really is nice. And she's gorgeous!"
"Yeah, but..."
"She's the most beautiful girl that's ever had any use for us and you know it!"
"Yeah. She's also goopy. Weren't you listening to the pastor? She's looking to get married. You want to be it? You're about ten centimeters from starting down that road!"
"Ahhh..."
"You want to wake up every morning the rest of your life hearing 'Morning, snookums. Does my Jackie-kins have some snuggle bunnies for his little Pi?'"
"Ahhh..."
"Want a house full of pink-haired kids brought up her way? Just like her? Hmmmm?"
"You've got a point there."
"Darn straight I do! Finally you're listening to reason. You'd better back out of this real quick, partner!"
Now, how to make a graceful recovery. I was admiring her perfume...yeah, that was it! I moved back saying, "Popuri, your scent is delightful! Like a spring garden."
She opened her eyes and looked disappointed. "That's because I put dried flowers in my clothes and my bed. I never use perfume - why waste the money when the flowers are just as good."
"Good thinking. It's so beautiful here all right, but we should really be getting back now. I've got so much left to do today."
She sounded annoyed. "Oh, all right. You just won't slow down, will you?"
"Can't afford to."
We started walking back to her house, passing by Barley's ranch. That cute little girl May was lying on the ground in the back yard looking bored.
"Jack, look at that poor girl. You know, she hasn't seen her mother in a couple of years.
Joanne - that's Barley's daughter - went off to the city some years ago to get a job. She came back with May, but no husband! Isn't that shocking. She went off again and left May with Barley.
"The poor dear, I want to cry when I think about it. Barley takes as good care of her as he can, but he doesn't really know how to raise a little girl. She looks so sad all the time. I don't think she even has a dolly - I see her playing with old cans and shoes!"
"That's unfortunate. I'll bet you're good with children; have you ever tried to play with her?"
"Yes, but she wasn't interested. I think she's scared of me a little."
"I can't imagine why. OK, Popuri, here we are. I had a good time. We'll meet again tomorrow."
"We sure will! The festival! You be ready quarter to ten now. We'll have a great time. Bye."
"Bye."
I went right back to Erehwon, it was past twelve and there was so much left to do. I chopped out the weeds, logs and rocks from another three patches, then watered the eight planted patches. I really had to get the watering can improved - that was about as much as I could handle in one day.
I reflected on my narrow escape with Popuri. That girl was just too beautiful to be alone with safely - she tested the limits of my self-control. It was just too bad she was so girly and not more like Mary...Mary! I'd forgotten all about her. It was only three-thirty, if I ran for it, I could get to the library before closing. Perhaps her mood had improved.
I double-timed it towards town, waving at Duke without slowing as I passed his house. I stopped at the library door to catch my breath then went in.
Gray was in front of Mary's desk, talking to her. She was wearing a forced, fragile smile and she looked terrible like she hadn't slept in days. Gray was complaining about how difficult it was for him to use Saibara's forge. Mary was nodding in response, not saying much. When there was a break in the conversation, I went up and greeted the both of them. Gray mumbled and Mary asked, "Jack, is there some book you came to read?"
"No, I just came to visit."
"Well, you know your way around the library by now. Feel free to look. Please excuse us." She asked Gray about how he liked the Inn, and they continued talking, ignoring me.
I went over to the newspaper rack, got yesterday's paper, sat down and glanced over it while listening to them talk.
Dow closes down 8.25 to stand at 732.71.
"Mary, what would you like to do after the festival tomorrow?"
Halibut Point's fish camp will have the grand opening of their new dining hall next Tuesday.
"We could go walking in the hills - that's always peaceful."
Canned goods sale at Allen's! Tuna - 2 cans for 50G! Limit, ten cans per customer.
"Jack? Jack?" Huh...Mary was talking to me?
I sprung up and went to her. "Yes?"
"It's four. I'm closing now; you'll have to go. Oh, and please put the paper back in its rack."
"OK, good evening. See you at the festival tomorrow."
"I expect we shall. Say hello to Popuri for me when you see her."
Her tone was bitter, perhaps more so than she'd intended. Nothing for Jack here. I left and walked towards the General Store.
Karen was sitting on the steps of the store when I arrived. She stood up and greeted me.
"Karen, were you waiting for me? How did you know I was coming?"
"You're a creature of habit, Jack. This is when you come every day. Did you need to go in and buy anything?"
"Not today."
She laughed. "Good - store's closed anyways! All right, should we go to our conference area?"
"Why not?" We walked together to the mailbox, Karen folded her arms and spoke sarcastically. "Well, Jack, I must say that was a touching display this noon. Almost brought a tear to my eye, it did."
"What?"
"Oh, don't give me that innocent look! You may have thought nobody was in the square, but I could see the two of you from the store."
"Well, then you saw that I didn't kiss her!"
"But it was sure close! It was funny - you were about this far apart, then you sprung back like you got scalded! What was that all about?"
"That's when I started thinking again. Thinking about a house full of pink-haired kids!"
She laughed. "Yes, but you should have started thinking about that before you sat down." Then her expression turned serious. "Are you changing your mind about her? I mean, if you really, really want her, so be it. I still think you two would be a bad match, but I don't know everything. If that's it, I won't give you any trouble about it and I'll do what I can to help Mary recover."
"Karen, when I'm in my right mind, I know that she and I would be no good. Problem is she's just so attractive to me that my better judgment goes fluttering away when she's close. She's the most beautiful girl who's ever liked me!"
"Yeah, I see you making those goo-goo eyes at her. I'm a little surprised she's having that effect on you, though. Oh well, you are normal, healthy and twenty-something. She's attractive and all that, but she's not exactly a beauty queen. What kind of women were you involved with back there?"
"Ones more or less like Mary. Such few as there were."
"That's your type, huh? Don't you think you'd be best off staying true to type, then?"
"Mary doesn't think so. I was just at the library. She was treating me like an unwanted stranger."
"Well, what do you expect? It's you and Popuri as far as she knows. If you try to get close to her now, she's just going to get disgusted thinking you're trying to play them both at the same time. I think you'd be better off just leaving her alone until you and Popuri have parted company. I'll keep trying to talk with her and I'll keep you posted."
"I suppose. I'm so tired of this whole thing! I don't want to think about it anymore. Let's talk about you and Rick for a change. I was talking to him this morning and he was explaining how he didn't feel comfortable bringing you into his family difficulties."
She looked annoyed. "Why are we even getting into that? What business is it of yours anyways?"
"You're a friend of mine, and he was telling me things of interest to you."
"He wasn't telling you anything I haven't already heard dozens of times! That's always his excuse! What is it with men anyways? Rick thinks I just want to sit on a couch and have him serve me up a life on a silver platter?" She was really going, pacing and waving her arms around as she spoke. I want to help him with his family! Doesn't he see that helping each other with troubles is part of making a life together! I could take the load of Lillia and Popuri off of him. Lillia likes me, for goodness sake! And Popuri respects me as if I were an older sister already, that'd just make it official!"
"Well then, why don't you just tell him you're ready to take it all on and for him to get off the stick?"
"The poor boy has too much trouble already; I don't want to pressure him into marrying me on top of everything else."
"Hmm...so you're not standing up for yourself and saying what you really feel to avoid causing trouble for others. Remind you of any Librans you know? Whose habits annoy you?"
She looked sheepish. "Well...I...but it's different! Rick knows how I feel."
"You sure about that? You've told him just like you told me?"
"Well...not exactly. OK, OK, I guess I'm a bit of a wimp too. When I see him all stressed out, I don't have the heart to add to it. I just want to smooth his brow and...well, you know."
"You want me to talk to him? Be a go-between for you two?"
"No! I mean...I appreciate the offer and all, but...not yet. Let me think about that for awhile."
"Sure. You remember this - I want to help you out like you're doing for me. I'm always here for you, also. Don't be shy about asking. What are friends for?"
"Jack, I'll consider all this, I really will. And thanks. Just talking about it helps." She gave me a sly glance. "Well, you two are all buddy-buddy now. I suppose guys tell each other things about their sweetie that they won't tell her...unless men are really totally different from us gals! If a little birdie whispered in my ear things he hears Rick say, I don't think I'd mind it."
"Said little bird shall sing like a choir to you!" We both laughed.
"You with Rick and me with Mary. Deal?"
"Deal!" We shook hands on it.
"I'd better be getting home now, my costume isn't quite finished yet. Rick said something about the four of us going to the festival together. I think it's a good idea. I sure don't think it's a good idea for you and Popuri to be alone together!"
"Copy that!"
"Such odd phrases you come up with. A college cheer?"
"No, aerospace jargon. Means I agree 200 percent."
"Well, see you tomorrow morning. Don't forget - come dance with the goddesses!"
"How could I forget? Tomorrow, then."
