Chapter 01: Brand New Day
Jazz wakes up a different, better sort.
Forget-me-Not Valley was beautiful in the spring. The grass was green, wet with fresh dew as birds merrily chirped in the trees. Sunlight creeped in from the window, Jazz grumbling as he sat upright, rubbing his eyes. Was that... knocking?
Actually, where the hell was he? He could've sworn that yesterday.... whatever. He got out of bed - at least he was wearing pants for once - and walked over to the door, opening it and staring at his guest with tired, bleary eyes.
"Goooood morning!" the guest chirped. He was a short, round little man; his bright red hat brushing against the tip of Jazz's nose. "You must be Jazz."
"Um... Yeah. You are...?"
"Name's Thomas, I'm the mayor of Mineral Town. It's a pleasure to meet you!" He extended his hand, and Jazz tentatively shook it. "Of course, you must be new to farm life; if you ask around, I'm sure the others will be able to help you. Failing that... well, you could always pray."
Helpful. Really. Jazz thought. "So why am I getting a personal greeting from the mayor?" He asked.
"Well... because I'm in charge of shipments." He sighed, "The previous person moved away yesterday, and nobody's had time to fill out the paperwork to find a replacement, and... well. I should have chosen scissors."
"You became the shipment manager... over rock-paper-scissors."
"Mineral Town is nothing like Eagles, mister." Thomas rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you should have everything you need to get yourself started out here. Farm life's tough, but... well, that's why I went into politics!" He let out a big belly laugh. "Good luck, son."
"Thanks..." Jazz mumbled as Thomas turned around, walking down the path and down the hill. Jazz walked back inside, looking at the room now that he was a bit more awake.
There was a small table in the center, with his old laptop placed neatly on top; his bed was pushed up against the wall, a window right above the headboard. Along the back was a TV and a small kitchen, the bathroom door next to the kitchen.
He walked towards the bathroom, opening the door and finding a note on the countertop.
Jazz,
Told you I'd find something, didn't I?
You'll like it here. I'm down the hill and over west...
Mom.
He brought the note back out with him, tossing it on the kitchen counter and then walking outside, looking up at the clouds in the sky. Maybe he should go introduce himself to the townsfolk.
The breeze felt nice in his hair as he walked down the hill, hands in his pockets as he looked up at the trees.
"You new here?" A voice asked from behind him. He jumped, turning around to find the culprit. He was a lean fellow, slightly hunched over with his hands behind his back. He had short black hair, and his thick eyebrows obscured his eyes. "My name's Takakura."
"Jazz. I live at the top of the hill."
"I saw that." His brow furrowed. "My... partner's son was living in there, not too long ago."
"What happened to him?"
"He moved to Mineral Town a few weeks ago." He said, a fatherly smile creeping across his face, "Found himself a little lady and just like that, he was gone."
"Must be rough for you." Jazz replied, pace slowing. "I mean, the way you look, seemed like he could've been your kid, too."
"Well, I've certainly helped him along the way." Takakura chuckled. "Why don't you come with me? I can introduce you to the folks around the valley."
"Sure, that'd be fine." Jazz agreed, following Takakura as he led him into town proper. They passed by folks heading east; everyone glancing over and waving at Takakura and Jazz.
"That'd be Grant and Chris over there..." he pointed at the two seemingly leading the group. "And then their respective kids, Kate and Hugh. Their parents go work in town and the kids play by the spring."
"Wonder where..."
"Office jobs, mostly; faceless pawns in cubicles and all that." Takakura chuckled. "C'mon, follow me."
He led Jazz to the Inn, opening the door. Two women were chatting idly across the coutner from each other, the one behind it peeking around the other woman to wave. "Morning, Takakura!" she called out.
"Mornin', Ruby... how goes things?"
"Good as ever; just having a chat with Nami before she sets out for the day."
Nami, the one in front of the counter, gave a small wave. "Hey."
"Well, before you go - Nami, Ruby, this is Jazz." he gestured to him, who nodded and waved, trying desperately to look polite. Ruby clapped her hands and smiled wide.
"A fresh face! Did he happen to take over Pete's...?"
"Indeed he did. Not that I think he'd mind." Takakura chuckled, "He's got his hands full with Ann, anyway!"
The three of them laughed, Takakura motioning for Jazz to follow again.
"So that's Nami, Ruby, Grant, Chris, Kate, and Hugh..." he mumbled to himself, counting on his hands. "Let's head .... this way."
Jazz looked at the sign at the next building - a bar? "I didn't think Forget-me-Not Valley was big enough to..."
"Hey, even a little community like this needs a pub." he replied with a laugh, "Everybody knows everybody - that's enough reason to drink depending on who you ask." he said, opening the door.
A woman sat on the counter, curly blonde hair tumbling down her back as she kicked her feet idly, chirping about something to the ponytail-wearing man in front of her.
"And that's when I said--"
"Customers." He pointed out, grinning and pointing as she turned her head. "Or at least, guests."
"Heya!" she said, spinning around and waving. The man nodded.
"Griffin, Muffy, good morning!" Takakura greeted. "Today off to a good start?"
"Naturally." Griffin chuckled, "Muffy was just tellin' me about her latest trip to Mineral Town..."
"I got to see someone I haven't seen since high school, Griff..." she sighed, twirling her hair in her fingers. "Not that he was particularly excited to see me again..."
"Old flame?" Takakura asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe a little." She shrugged. "Anyway, who's this cutie you've got with you?"
"Ah, right - this is Jazz. Jazz, Griffin and Muffy."
Jazz smiled and waved as Griffin and Muffy nodded. "Morning."
"Always nice to see a new face in town. Hopefully he sticks around, eh?"
"Mhm." Takakura nodded. "Far as I know he's gonna, anyway."
"I'm still thinking about it..." Jazz scratched the back of his neck, chuckling. "I still need to name my farm, don't I?"
"Well, not officially, but it wouldn't hurt!" Takakura replied with a laugh, "Come on, there's some more people south of here."
"Bye!" Muffy called out with a wave. "Don't forget to stop by tonight, you two!"
"We won't!" Takakura replied,
"I make no promises!" Jazz half-protested as the door closed behind them.
To the south was a smaller part of the valley, with more... varied houses.
"This is... sort of the 'weird' part of town; they're all fine folk, just not the sort you see all too often." Takakura explained, shrugging. "Some fine friends, at any rate."
"Anyone else I should know about?" Jazz asked, looking up at the sky. "We'll probably wanna hurry up if I wanna actually get anything planted today..."
"Oh, yeah, there's another farm this way." he replied with a wave.
The two walked over to a larger farm, rows of turnips neatly planted in the ground. A heavyset, muscular woman was knelt on the ground, pulling weeds out as two younger people chatted among themselves.
"That's Vesta down there." Takakura said, pointing at her. She looked up, waving as she got to her feet. "Over there is Marlin and Celia."
"Now, when did you get here, huh?" Vesta asked, grinning from ear to ear as she effortlessly pulled Takakura into a hug. "You never come this way unless you're heading into town!"
"Ah--! Well, no, someone new moved in, and--"
She set him down, turning her focus to Jazz. "A new resident? Not a passerby?"
"I moved in yesterday." Jazz chuckled. "My name's Jazz."
"Vesta." She held out her hand, and Jazz took it; she gave his entire arm a firm shake and promptly put her hand back on her hip. "The two over there - that's my brother Marlin, and his friend Celia."
They waved, and Jazz nodded. Marlin didn't seem to smile much, only barely taking a hand from his pocket to gesture every now again as he and Celia talked. She laughed, shaking her head.
"Showing him around town, then?" Vesta asked as Takakura nodded in reply, "Don't forget to show him the spring, okay?"
"He's been there already!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm about finished, anyway. Jazz, c'mon, let's wrap this up."
Jazz nodded as Takakura pointed in front of him. "That way's the path to Mineral Town - that's where all of us shop, and over there--" he pointed over to the side. "is the waterfall. There's some sorta excavation thing going on too, but most people just go to the waterfall; it's healing."
Jazz nodded, looking over at him. "And that's that?"
"Far as you'll need to get started, anyway. C'mon, let's head back to the farm."
They walked back to the farm, watching the clouds drift in the sky. "Hopefully you decide to stick around and settle down." Takakura chuckled, "You've got a lot of stuff to your advantage; Pete didn't really take a whole lot with him."
"Oh yeah?"
"Well, all his tools are still in the horse barn, and he's got a box full of seeds in the house somewhere..."
They finally arrived at the famhouse, Jazz looking at Takakura curiously. "So what do you do, then? Everyone else has something to do in town or in the valley."
"Well... I wander. Help where I'm needed. Usually, I'm not needed - so I take in the ocean air at the beach." he replied, smiling as he turned the knob to his home's door. "Come knock if you have any questions, alright?"
Jazz nodded. "Of course. Thank you for showing me around."
Takakura nodded, "Of course. Good luck with the farm, Jazz."