Dream About Me: An HM64 Fanfic
Chapter Four: Sweet SerenityIt took Popuri's a moment to adjust to the gloom of the barn, but once she could see she scanned the room anxiously. She noticed Gray standing next to one of the cows, and guess that that was the cow she had heard. A moment later the creature mooed piteously, and she knew it was in fact the one she had heard. She crept closeer. The cow was standing with its legs wide apart, bracing itself, and her sides were heaving. Poor thing, Popuri thought.
"Is she sick?" Popuri said to Gray. He shook his head no. "Aw, then she's hurt?"
"...no," Gray replied. At least this time he answered out loud.
"But...it seems like she's in pain!" Popuri cried.
"Labor," Gray explained.
Popuri was stunned. Labor?!
"You-you mean this cow is in pain because you made her work?!" she exclaimed. "What kind of work can a cow do anyway? Do you hook her up to a plow or something?"
"She's having a baby,"Gray said shortly.
"Ohhh. Oh!" Popuri clapped her hands. "That's great! Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Don't know yet,"
"Gray!" He looked up, startled. "Can I name the baby cow? Can I? Please? Please?"
Gray didn't get what was so special about naming a cow, but he decided to humor her. "Ok."
"YAY!" Popuri jumped for joy. "I get to name a cow! What sort of name should I pick?"
If Popuri had looked at Gray at that moment,she would've seen a tiny smile flicker across his face. But she was too busy bouncing around, and by the time she faced Gray again, the smile had been replaced by a more serious expression. It wasn't his trademark scowl though, that expression.
"What's the mother's name?" Popuri asked.
"Celia,"
"Then...You must name the baby Serena," Gray didn't quite follow her logic on that one, but he nodded. "Yay!" Popuri cried again.
She stopped jumping, and took a closer look at Celia. The Popuri turned towards Gray. "How much longer?" she asked.
"Dunno...not for till morning, probably," This was likely the longest sentence Gray had ever said to Popuri.
"I wanna see Serena be born!" Popuri declared.
"No, you don't," Gray replied. He gave Celia a quick pat on the head and motioned with his head for Popuri to walk with him. She followed reluctantly, casting several glances back at Celia.
The pair walked in silence back to the house. It was kind of funny though. Jack was so nice and friendly didn't walk her home, but Gray, who was surly and mean did. Popuri wondered why that was.
"I'm almost done cooking dinner!" Ann greeted them as they walked in.
"Uh...I ate at Jack's...." Pouri said, fidgeting.
"Not hungry," Gray mumbled.
"Geez, you give your family food poisoning one time..." Ann mumbled. "Anyway, I was kidding. Dad cooked again.
"Yay!" Popuri cried.
'I thought you already ate," Ann grinned.
"I, um, still hungry,"
"And you, big brother? Are you hungry now?" Ann teased.
Gray grunted in reply, but Popuri noticed that when he walked past Ann, he gave his sister's hair a quick ruffle.
~*~*~*
Popuri rushed downstairs the next morning. Ann was already awake, but there was no sign of Gray.
"Hope you don't mind cold cereal," Ann said. "Gray's taking care of the new calf.
"You mean Serena's been born?!" Popuri rushed to the barn. Gray was standing by Celia's stall and when she looked in, Popuri saw a wide-eyed, wobbly-legged calf.
"She's sooo cute!" Popuri breathed. "Her name is Serena, right?"
Gray hesitated, then nodded yes..
"Yay!" Popuri cried softly.
~*~*~*
Later that day Ann confronted her brother.
"Gray," she said. "...why did you name our new bull calf "Serena"?
Author's note: threw in some Sprite Station refernces. ^^;