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Description
Chapter Two- Memories of the Past

The sun glistened, reflecting its beautiful colors in the ocean waves. This valley was so still compared to my old home in the city. I felt a cool wind dance around my body, finally I was home. Above me a baby blue sky covered the Earth without one cloud in sight. Below a refreshing ocean spray made its way to my pale face. This is where I wanted to be, but it seemed all too easy. Could it be possible I feel asleep? Am I still asleep on the ship with my book by my side? Quickly I pinched myself. Nope I'm wide awake.

At the end of the dock stood a petite plump man wearing a crimson top hat and matching color suit. The top of his head was bald yet the bottom was covered in curls. I desperately wanted to let a laugh slip past my lips but instead I swallow hard.

My eyes slowly made their way across the dock and back to the crush waves below me. I began to miss my mother's sea green eyes, auburn brown hair and sweet voice.

A bright faced, thin woman was sitting in the grass of my back yard, having a picnic on a multi-colored beach towel. On the cloth was a woven picnic basket overflowing with our favorite dishes – Stir Fry, Blue Curry, Raisin Bread, fruit sandwiches and my personal favorite Cheesecake – that my mother spent all day preparing. My mother was bursting into half-snorting half-howling laughter as I took too large of a bite of my sandwich.  My face began to turn beet-red in attempt to swallow. In response my mother laughed louder. Slowly I was able to chock down the mashed up food down my now dry throat.

I grab a roll from the plate and toss it at my mother's face. "You meanie!"

"Dork" says my mother sticking her tongue out.

I return the gesture by sticking out my own tongue. And knowing my mother, this meant war. What felt like being put into slow motion, both our hands darted to the plastic plate piled with eight hot rolls. I manage to grab three of the rolls. Unfortunately my mother –being more cleaver then me- stole the plate with what rolls were left. Why didn't I think of that!

Before I could blink, a roll whacks me on the forehead. "You're going down!" I yell.

"In your dreams!" She smirks.

Just then rolls went flying from end of the picnic blanket to the other. Surrounding me was the sound of the two of us laughing. My mother's face was so cheerful, so calm. She was herself again.

"Good day Miss," my mother's lips say but the voice is not hers. Confused I shut my eyes tight hoping to hear the right voice, her voice. Fluttering my violet eyes open not only is my mother's voice not there, a short plump man with brown hair stand in her place.

"Welcome to Forget-Me-Not Valley!" the stranger exclaims tipping his hat, "I'm Thomas, the Mayor."

"Pleased to meet you," I say as he shakes my hand unexpectedly.

I jerk my hand away. "You must be Nicole. We don't get new faces around here often, so everyone is quite excited to see you," He grinned from ear to ear.

"Umm yeah, I thought this might be a great place to settle down," I say.

The town was much more open then compared to the city. Apartments and parking lot covered every ounce of life back home. Here, the sounds of the rivers gently rolling past and the rustling of leaves played in the background. Dad would have loved it here.

Thomas leaves my side as he strolls off following a dirt path. "Well follow me and I'll show you your new home."

The path from the town's square to the farm looks like it gets little use. On both sides tall hills towered above me as we continued to walk. To my surprise, the farm was far superior then she expected but still run down. I had worked on a farm with my family for years but the land size was wonderful.

I feel a slight swing of happiness. "This will take a lot of work but I think I can make it work."

As I trudge through, I could feel the blades of grass tickle my ankles. The mayor stops in front of a shabby cabin. The place only had one small window, a beautifully carved oak door an unusual arched roof. The whole structure was painted a light pink shade to match the mailbox placed to the left. The sight of the pink color made me want to barf. Note to self: tomorrow go buy paint.

"The place comes with a vacant stable and a small pond. Unfortunately, this place is a mess so you will have to work hard to get it going.  Why anyone would want this land is unknown to me; kind of stupid. One more thing," he takes off walking and I follow a few paces behind. "This is the shipping bin where you can put all your harvest crops or anything you collect.

I could feel my blood boiling underneath my skin. I clearly had no intention of being rude on my first day, but this man just crossed the line.

"Right thank you Mayor Thomas for your help but this stupid person has a lot of work to do. So if you don't mind, I would like if you would leave now before I get my hammer out," My tone was falsely bright with an equally fake smile creeping its way across my face.

"Of course, well good luck!" Thomas says trembling while he tipped his top hat then vanished.

"Whoa! Where did he go?" I ask suddenly covering my mouth, realizing I said this out loud.

"No one really knows," a strongly familiar voice behind me.

"Why does this voice sound so familiar? Did I know him from the city back home?" I wonder.

I swiftly turn around to find a similar cottage, but not the man. Man, no more mind tricks. I thought I moved to a valley not Hogwarts!

"Come out where I can see you!" I order.

A man steps out of the shadows of the house. "People rumor that Thomas is secretly the Harvest King, but he is just make-believe."

"Ooh my goddess! You startled me" I say.

He was a thin well fit man with incredibly bushy eyebrows and a tattoo on his left arm.

I'm so tong-tied my words rush out before I could think." I have heard of the Harvest King. My father used to tell me stories about him."

"I'm sorry about your father," he says with a sympathetic tone.

I'm completely taken back by his response. I haven't told anyone! "H-how did you know?"

"I was close friends with your father. We graduated high school together." he replies.

This all flashes through my head. He seems old enough for this to be true. My father did mention a buddy of his in high school that he hung out with everyday.

"My name is Takakura but everyone here calls me Tak for short. Your mother actually asked me to move into the valley and keep watch on you." he continued.

My blood began to boil again but this time I could feel my hands heat up with rage. "My mother sent you to spy on me!"

"Yes and no," he replies setting his arm on my shoulder.

"What do you mean 'yes and no'? I blurt out.

"She cares deeply about you and wanted me to make sure you were alright, but-" Tak begins.

"She doesn't trust me!" I yank his arm away as I stomp off toward a tree a few paces away. "She never let me make any of own choices! Just because she screwed up her life doesn't mean she gets to control mine!"

An adrenaline rush finds its way to my hands and I punch the tree as hard as I can. A wave of vibration flows from where I punched to the limbs. Leaves begin to fall and slowly land on the ground around me. My rush is over but now I'm overcome with sadness. My eyes turn red as tears well up in my eyes. With a final punch at the tree I collapse to the ground.

This was the first time that I ever yelled at someone that wasn't family. Usually I would run from the scene and cry in private. Why now. Why with this man?

I feel a sturdy hand on my shoulder. Another flash enters my memory. It's Tak but he looks younger and less exhausted. I'm crying in my room alone with my stuffed pony wrapped in my arms. I was mourning my father's name and begging for him to come home. Tak walks up behind me and places his hand on my shoulder the same way he did just recently. Unhappy and scared, I push his hand away and quietly ask him to leave me alone. He doesn't move but stands there smiling at me somehow. Slowly he bends down brushes my hair away from my face like my father used to. With a burst of tears I turn around burry my face in his chest.

"Everything will be alright kiddo," he comforts me. "I'm here now."

The next day after my father's funeral Tak left and I never heard from him again. The last person I trusted...gone. A year pasted and the loss of my father and good friend Tak, made me feel more alone then ever.

"Uncle Tak?" I ask remembering. He actually isn't related to me because that would be just weird, but he came to visit so often I called him Uncle Tak.

"That's right kiddo," he says.

He showed me inside where we talked and actually caught up. It seems that after my father's funeral, Tak felt like he needed to give our family a break to cope. As it turns out my mother was so ashamed of my shy behavior that she lied saying I was feeling better. Tak desired to come and visit me but my mother urged him not to, so he didn't. What he thought was suppose to help me grow up and be a mature women, actually lowed my self-esteem to nothingness.

I was in high spirits to see my Uncle Tak again. Only something kept pulling me back. All those years I wished him and my father could have been at my side.

Pulling strands of hair from my face he kissed my forehead. "I'm here now and this time I won't let go."

At this a shiver went down my spine, was this all a dream. In one day I was able to get back the father figure I thought had left me many years ago. If he truly wants my trust, he is going to have to earn it back.

Description
Chapter Two- Memories of the Past

The sun glistened, reflecting its beautiful colors in the ocean waves. This valley was so still compared to my old home in the city. I felt a cool wind dance around my body, finally I was home. Above me a baby blue sky covered the Earth without one cloud in sight. Below a refreshing ocean spray made its way to my pale face. This is where I wanted to be, but it seemed all too easy. Could it be possible I feel asleep? Am I still asleep on the ship with my book by my side? Quickly I pinched myself. Nope I'm wide awake.

At the end of the dock stood a petite plump man wearing a crimson top hat and matching color suit. The top of his head was bald yet the bottom was covered in curls. I desperately wanted to let a laugh slip past my lips but instead I swallow hard.

My eyes slowly made their way across the dock and back to the crush waves below me. I began to miss my mother's sea green eyes, auburn brown hair and sweet voice.

A bright faced, thin woman was sitting in the grass of my back yard, having a picnic on a multi-colored beach towel. On the cloth was a woven picnic basket overflowing with our favorite dishes – Stir Fry, Blue Curry, Raisin Bread, fruit sandwiches and my personal favorite Cheesecake – that my mother spent all day preparing. My mother was bursting into half-snorting half-howling laughter as I took too large of a bite of my sandwich.  My face began to turn beet-red in attempt to swallow. In response my mother laughed louder. Slowly I was able to chock down the mashed up food down my now dry throat.

I grab a roll from the plate and toss it at my mother's face. "You meanie!"

"Dork" says my mother sticking her tongue out.

I return the gesture by sticking out my own tongue. And knowing my mother, this meant war. What felt like being put into slow motion, both our hands darted to the plastic plate piled with eight hot rolls. I manage to grab three of the rolls. Unfortunately my mother –being more cleaver then me- stole the plate with what rolls were left. Why didn't I think of that!

Before I could blink, a roll whacks me on the forehead. "You're going down!" I yell.

"In your dreams!" She smirks.

Just then rolls went flying from end of the picnic blanket to the other. Surrounding me was the sound of the two of us laughing. My mother's face was so cheerful, so calm. She was herself again.

"Good day Miss," my mother's lips say but the voice is not hers. Confused I shut my eyes tight hoping to hear the right voice, her voice. Fluttering my violet eyes open not only is my mother's voice not there, a short plump man with brown hair stand in her place.

"Welcome to Forget-Me-Not Valley!" the stranger exclaims tipping his hat, "I'm Thomas, the Mayor."

"Pleased to meet you," I say as he shakes my hand unexpectedly.

I jerk my hand away. "You must be Nicole. We don't get new faces around here often, so everyone is quite excited to see you," He grinned from ear to ear.

"Umm yeah, I thought this might be a great place to settle down," I say.

The town was much more open then compared to the city. Apartments and parking lot covered every ounce of life back home. Here, the sounds of the rivers gently rolling past and the rustling of leaves played in the background. Dad would have loved it here.

Thomas leaves my side as he strolls off following a dirt path. "Well follow me and I'll show you your new home."

The path from the town's square to the farm looks like it gets little use. On both sides tall hills towered above me as we continued to walk. To my surprise, the farm was far superior then she expected but still run down. I had worked on a farm with my family for years but the land size was wonderful.

I feel a slight swing of happiness. "This will take a lot of work but I think I can make it work."

As I trudge through, I could feel the blades of grass tickle my ankles. The mayor stops in front of a shabby cabin. The place only had one small window, a beautifully carved oak door an unusual arched roof. The whole structure was painted a light pink shade to match the mailbox placed to the left. The sight of the pink color made me want to barf. Note to self: tomorrow go buy paint.

"The place comes with a vacant stable and a small pond. Unfortunately, this place is a mess so you will have to work hard to get it going.  Why anyone would want this land is unknown to me; kind of stupid. One more thing," he takes off walking and I follow a few paces behind. "This is the shipping bin where you can put all your harvest crops or anything you collect.

I could feel my blood boiling underneath my skin. I clearly had no intention of being rude on my first day, but this man just crossed the line.

"Right thank you Mayor Thomas for your help but this stupid person has a lot of work to do. So if you don't mind, I would like if you would leave now before I get my hammer out," My tone was falsely bright with an equally fake smile creeping its way across my face.

"Of course, well good luck!" Thomas says trembling while he tipped his top hat then vanished.

"Whoa! Where did he go?" I ask suddenly covering my mouth, realizing I said this out loud.

"No one really knows," a strongly familiar voice behind me.

"Why does this voice sound so familiar? Did I know him from the city back home?" I wonder.

I swiftly turn around to find a similar cottage, but not the man. Man, no more mind tricks. I thought I moved to a valley not Hogwarts!

"Come out where I can see you!" I order.

A man steps out of the shadows of the house. "People rumor that Thomas is secretly the Harvest King, but he is just make-believe."

"Ooh my goddess! You startled me" I say.

He was a thin well fit man with incredibly bushy eyebrows and a tattoo on his left arm.

I'm so tong-tied my words rush out before I could think." I have heard of the Harvest King. My father used to tell me stories about him."

"I'm sorry about your father," he says with a sympathetic tone.

I'm completely taken back by his response. I haven't told anyone! "H-how did you know?"

"I was close friends with your father. We graduated high school together." he replies.

This all flashes through my head. He seems old enough for this to be true. My father did mention a buddy of his in high school that he hung out with everyday.

"My name is Takakura but everyone here calls me Tak for short. Your mother actually asked me to move into the valley and keep watch on you." he continued.

My blood began to boil again but this time I could feel my hands heat up with rage. "My mother sent you to spy on me!"

"Yes and no," he replies setting his arm on my shoulder.

"What do you mean 'yes and no'? I blurt out.

"She cares deeply about you and wanted me to make sure you were alright, but-" Tak begins.

"She doesn't trust me!" I yank his arm away as I stomp off toward a tree a few paces away. "She never let me make any of own choices! Just because she screwed up her life doesn't mean she gets to control mine!"

An adrenaline rush finds its way to my hands and I punch the tree as hard as I can. A wave of vibration flows from where I punched to the limbs. Leaves begin to fall and slowly land on the ground around me. My rush is over but now I'm overcome with sadness. My eyes turn red as tears well up in my eyes. With a final punch at the tree I collapse to the ground.

This was the first time that I ever yelled at someone that wasn't family. Usually I would run from the scene and cry in private. Why now. Why with this man?

I feel a sturdy hand on my shoulder. Another flash enters my memory. It's Tak but he looks younger and less exhausted. I'm crying in my room alone with my stuffed pony wrapped in my arms. I was mourning my father's name and begging for him to come home. Tak walks up behind me and places his hand on my shoulder the same way he did just recently. Unhappy and scared, I push his hand away and quietly ask him to leave me alone. He doesn't move but stands there smiling at me somehow. Slowly he bends down brushes my hair away from my face like my father used to. With a burst of tears I turn around burry my face in his chest.

"Everything will be alright kiddo," he comforts me. "I'm here now."

The next day after my father's funeral Tak left and I never heard from him again. The last person I trusted...gone. A year pasted and the loss of my father and good friend Tak, made me feel more alone then ever.

"Uncle Tak?" I ask remembering. He actually isn't related to me because that would be just weird, but he came to visit so often I called him Uncle Tak.

"That's right kiddo," he says.

He showed me inside where we talked and actually caught up. It seems that after my father's funeral, Tak felt like he needed to give our family a break to cope. As it turns out my mother was so ashamed of my shy behavior that she lied saying I was feeling better. Tak desired to come and visit me but my mother urged him not to, so he didn't. What he thought was suppose to help me grow up and be a mature women, actually lowed my self-esteem to nothingness.

I was in high spirits to see my Uncle Tak again. Only something kept pulling me back. All those years I wished him and my father could have been at my side.

Pulling strands of hair from my face he kissed my forehead. "I'm here now and this time I won't let go."

At this a shiver went down my spine, was this all a dream. In one day I was able to get back the father figure I thought had left me many years ago. If he truly wants my trust, he is going to have to earn it back.