Promises

[Pickle]

I'm not arguing, don't worry.

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 59

“So this is the hot spring?”

Ann nodded, “Yes.”

Sliding the door open Ann let Claire step into the changing area.

“There’s just one changing area?”

Ann blinked her eyes, “Yes. Is that a problem?”

“Oh, no, I’m just surprised.”

Ann grinned, “I guess that you and Pete have seen each other naked.”

Claire grinned back, “Yes, in fact we share an apartment together.”

A few minutes later they were sinking into the bubbling water.

A wide smile spread across Claire’s face, “Ahhhh! This feels good.”

Ann grinned, “Yup. This is why I like to come here to bathe.”

“So what were you going to tell me about Stu and May?”

Ann sighed, “Stu is Elli’s younger brother. Elli has been taking care of him, after their grandmother’s legs went bad.”

A concerned look crossed Claire’s face, “Is their grandmother in a hospital?”

“No, she still lives here. But Elli and Tim are looking through all of their medical books to find out why Ellen’s legs are getting weaker more quickly then normal in aging. Stu stays at Ellen’s house, because he doesn’t want to share the bedroom that Elli sleeps in at the Clinic. As Elli puts it ‘Stu doesn’t want to sleep with his ‘big dumb sister’’.”

Claire chuckled.

Ann continued, “Now about May. She stays with her grandfather. Her mother left her here about three years ago. The guy Joanna was in love with dumped her, after finding out that he made her pregnant. Joanna for some reason felt she wasn’t ready to be a parent. So after raising May for three years, she came back here and left May. May gets sad about this, she thinks that her mother doesn’t love her.”

Claire shook her head, “I wouldn’t abandon my kid like that, if I had one that is. So are May and Stu the only kids here?”

“Yes.”

“Are they bothered that they are not the same sex?”

Ann shook her head, “No, and I have the feeling that they like each other very much, but they don’t want to admit it out loud to each other.”

Claire laughed, “So when you were that age, were there any other boys besides Rick to play with?”

“Not all year-round. Gray only came in the summer to visit his grandfather. Cliff and Kai didn’t grow up here, or have any family to visit here.”

“Do you know why they came here?”

“I’m not sure why Cliff came here. He hasn’t talked about it. When anyone asks him, he says ‘I don’t want to talk about it’. As for Kai, what I can tell you is, he likes how peaceful it can be here in the summer.”

“I have this feeling that Kai only tells people he can trust, the real truth why he comes here.”

Ann nodded, “Yes, if he feels that he can trust you to know the whole truth, he will tell you.”

“Well I will wait for him to tell me, if he feels he can trust me.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

“You’re welcome. From what you told me yesterday, it sounds like you care for Cliff, as well as Jack.”

“Yeah, and I find it a little strange. I never had romantic feelings for guys. Now while I do like guys, I just never thought about dating.”

“Well since you jokingly thought of me as a ‘big sister’, and I don’t mind if you think of me that way. Take this as advice from your ‘big sister’. Maybe the romantic side of you has decided to stop hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock and finally wake up.”

Ann burst out laughing, “Yeah, that could be it. So thank you ‘big sister’.”

An hour later, Claire and Ann were at the south side of Jack’s farm.

Approaching closer Ann waved, “Hey Jack, did you find out why Stu was crying about his pretend son wetting his bed?”

Standing and stretching Jack said, “Yes. It was because when Stu was younger, he wet his bed a lot. So he thinks people are making fun of him when they mention bedwetting.”

The girls shook their heads.

Ann said, “Stu should know better, I know that May likes him.”

Jack nodded and grinned, “Yes, she does like him.”

Claire raised an eyebrow, “Why do I get the feeling that she likes him a lot.”

Jack chuckled, “Well May did whispered to Elli and me her true feelings. She did say that two can know, but you’ll need pinky swear not to tell anybody else unless she says you can, which would be only other girls. She felt I was the only boy that could know.”

Claire and Ann giggled and said, “She loves him.”

Jack grinned, “Well she worded it as ‘I really, really like Stu.’ So please don’t tell anybody else.”

Claire and Ann raised their right hands, “We promise not to tell anyone.”

[Rozewater]

Ah, the ways and minds of six year olds...

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 60

The next day Jack descended down the stairs with his rucksack slung over his shoulders.

“Good morning Jack. Would you like some breakfast before you leave?”

“Good morning Ann. Yes, some breakfast would be great.”

“Ok, I’ll fix something good for you.” Seeing Jack’s surprised look, Ann said, “Just because I’m a tomboy doesn’t mean I can’t cook. You did miss the Cooking Festival that was in the spring. I came very close to winning, but my dad beat me.”

“Don’t worry Ann, I was surprised because you father has cooked all the meals I have eaten here. I had a feeling that you can cook just as good. After all when you take over running the Inn, you would do most of the cooking.”

“Thanks Jack. I do want to take over for my dad. I hope I can do as great as him.”

“You will Ann, you will.”

After finishing the good meal, Jack headed to his farm to meet with Gotz. Standing by the gate Gotz waved to Jack, while Hero came bounding over giving several yips.

“Good morning Jack. Are you ready to see your new bathroom?”

“Good morning Gotz. Yes, I would like to see the great work you did. Oh, did Hero behave while he stayed at your place?”

“Yes he did. Now let’s go inside.”

After looking at his new bathroom Jack turned to Gotz, “Thank you Gotz, I can’t wait to see the repairs that you will do for the chicken coop.”

Chuckling Gotz replied, “You’re welcome Jack. From what I can tell, all that needs to be fixed is the waterwheel.”

“So should I pay you now for the work you did on my house, or wait until the repairs on the chicken coop is finished?”

“You can pay now, if you want.”

After paying Gotz, Jack headed out to work in his field.

Gotz called out as he was headed to get the materials he would need for the repairs on the chicken coop, “Oh, Jack, you might have Karen and Ann show up at your door, so that they can try out your new bathtub. Since they helped get the deal made.”

Laughing Jack replied, “Ok, I’ll make sure to have extra clean towels for them.”

Gotz laughed and then left.

After watering the crops and harvesting the third harvest of corn, Jack headed into his house to try out his new bathtub.

Sinking up to his neck, Jack gave a sigh.

*Karen is right. This will be wonderful when winter comes.*

After his bath, Jack headed out to do some forging. As he was looking around for some items, he heard someone call out.

“Hi Jack, how are you?”

Looking around he saw Elli lying on a towel sunbathing.

“Hi Elli, I’m feeling great. How are you? You’re not secretly studying medicine are you?”

“I’m fine, and you can see that I don’t have any books with me.”

“Not wanting to risk getting a medical examination?”

Grinning Elli replied, “No, but it wouldn’t be that bad if I had another one for this year.”

“Another one?”

“Yes, Tim likes people to have their yearly examinations on their birthday. If we are closed that day, then the examination is done the day before or after.”

“Let’s see, my birthday will fall on a Thursday this year, so you will be open.”

“Yes, that’s right. You and Karen have the same birthday.”

“Not meaning to change the subject, but do you sunbathe very often?”

“Sometimes in the summer. Most Wednesdays I help around my grandmother’s house. But today she said I should go out and enjoy the sunshine. By the way, has Gotz finished the work on your house?”

“Yes, and yes I did try out my new bathtub. Gotz did joke that I might have Karen and Ann show up to try out the bathtub, since they did help me get a good deal.”

A mischievous grin spread on Elli’s face, “I hope that you will not try to sneak a peek at them if they did show up.”

Grinning back Jack said, “I won’t, since I don’t want my nice guy status revoked until further notice.”

Elli laughed, “I don’t think they would do that. Besides, Ann did say you are to be the backup bathing friend if Karen or I can’t go with her.”

“True, but I have a feeling that if I go with her, she will be nervous about bathing with me.”

“You did say that you went to other places where the bathing areas are shared by men and women. So you can remind Ann about that, or maybe suggest that when you two bathe together, you could sit with your backs to each other.”

Jack nodded, “That’s a good idea. Though you might tell her that, since it might sound better coming from….”

Elli grinned, “A fellow female?”

As Jack and Elli were laughing, Claire came walking up the path.

“Hi there Jack, Elli, what were you two laughing about?”

Jack glanced at Elli, “Maybe you should tell her.”

Chuckling Elli said, “Well Jack suggested that I should be the one to tell Ann a suggestion I had.”

Claire asked, “Which was?”

“That when Ann asks Jack to go to the hot spring to bathe, that if she is nervous, that they sit with their backs to each other.”

Claire widened her eyes, “Whoa. I suggested that to Ann when we were changing into our swimsuits the other day.”

A curious look crossed Elli face, “How did Ann respond?”

“She sounded ok with the idea. Ummm, I don’t want to sound rude to you Jack. But I would like to talk to Elli, as in a girl to girl conversation.”

Jack smiled, “It doesn’t sound rude. You want to talk about guys, most likely one guy, me.”

Claire raised an eyebrow, “How do you figure that?”

Jack raised a hand and extended a finger for each comment, “First, after I helped my cousin Sara when a friend of hers died, she let me in on some of the ‘girl’s playbook’. Second, Pete told me the real truth that you feel like being a ‘big sister’ to me, instead of a friend. Third, you most likely want to know how my friends that are girls feel about me.”

Claire looked alarmed, “Jack please don’t me mad at me for wanting to know how Elli, Ann and Karen feel about you.”

Jack looked shocked, “I’m not mad. If you think of me as a brother, I’m honored by that thought. On wanting to know what Ell, Ann and Karen think of me, that’s fine as well. I do know that they like me, to where if I happen to see more then I have been privileged to see. They wouldn’t be mad at me to where they would hate me for a long time.

Claire scratched the back of her head, “I guess I jumped to the wrong idea, I’m sorry I did.”

“Don’t worry Claire, I didn’t mean to sound like I was getting mad.”

Jack walked over a hugged Claire, “So have a good girl chat with Elli. You most likely know how Ann feels about me. Just keep the information to yourself. Well maybe tell me on New Year’s Day, that is if I haven’t figured out who the little girl I made the promise to.”

“Why do you want to know who she was?”

“First to say I’m sorry I forgot about you. Then if she forgives me, if she isn’t seriously dating someone. Could we start dating and maybe even marry.”

Elli said, “Jack, don’t forget that Karen and I said we forgive you.”

Jack smiled, “I still would like to know for sure if it was you or Karen.”

Elli shook her head, “That’s sweet of you to want to do that, but I think that it is not needed.”

“I guess that is true, but it feels like something important that has fallen behind a heavy counter that is to hard to move by yourself, but there is enough of a gap that you can reach an arm through. The item is just enough in fingertip range. That it is best to not hastily grab the item or it will end up getting knocked farther out of reach.”

Claire and Elli had thoughtful looks on their faces.

Then Elli spoke up, “Interesting view you have Jack. So you feel that it is important to know if it was Karen or me.”

“Yes, and for some odd reason, I get the feeling that I’ll know who it is before the year is over.”

Claire asked, “Then why have me tell you who is the most in love with you on New Year’s Day?”

“Just incase my feeling about finding out before the years is over is wrong. I get so frustrated not knowing, and that I’ll wear out the patience of….”

Elli stood up and walked over to Jack and said, “Jack, don’t worry. Karen and I know you will figure it out. We would never give you the cold shoulder if it takes you longer to figure it out. I’ll need to check with Karen about this. But, since Gotz will let people go to the top of Mother’s Hill on New Year’s Eve. How about you, Karen and me go to the hot spring and bathe together? To answer your question in advance, yes I’m sure I want to do this. I’m getting comfortable enough to where you can see more of me then you have seen already. So do we have an agreement?”

Elli then stuck her hand out.

Jack blinked his eyes but didn’t shake Elli’s hand, “I guess that’s ok.”

“Then let’s shake hands in a sign of agreement.”

Jack shook Elli’s hand.

Elli turned to Claire and said, “You’re a witness to this deal Claire. So if you could back here for New Year’s Eve, please help me by making sure Jack keeps his end of the deal.”

Claire looked a little unsure, “Alright, but what if Karen doesn’t want to go along with this deal?”

Jack said, “She might. Six days ago when I told her about the dream of the second part of the first meeting. I made the comment of the joke she made about what would happen if I hadn’t gotten the bathroom upgraded before winter.”

Elli grinned, “That’s right! She said that she would get Ann and me then the three of us would drag you to Karen’s house, undress you and ourselves, and then forcefully bathe you in her bathtub.”

Claire burst out laughing, “Are you mad that he did get his bathroom upgraded?”

With a mischievous grin Elli answered, “Yes. So maybe when I become a doctor, I’ll ask for Jack to be one of my patients. Sorry if I interrupted you Jack, you were going to say?”

Jack smiled, “well she told me that I should know that it was a joke she made. Which I replied I did know, but I get the feeling that she is getting comfortable enough that I could see more of her ‘birthday suit’. She said that I was correct on that feeling, so maybe when winter comes she will show me her ‘birthday suit’.”

Elli nodded, “Then on New Year’s Eve, you’ll get to see my ‘birthday suit’ as a bonus.”

“I have to say that is a bit bold of you to suggest this deal.”

“True, but when you and Karen went to the hot spring wearing your swimsuits. I was doing some studying at my grandmother’s house. She saw I was taking longer to read a page. I told her I was trying to remember if it could have been me that you made the promise to. I also told her that if it was me that you asked to go to the hot spring wearing swimsuits. I said that we could have sat in the deeper area where the water bubbles enough, that we could have removed our swimsuits and just sit and talk.”

Jack had a concerned look on his face, “Wouldn’t you have been embarrassed?”

Elli shrugged her shoulders, “A little, but since I’m in the medical profession, I know what guys look like naked. Also I did help my mom out by changing Stu’s diapers once and a while. If I am the girl you bathed with, then you already know what my ‘birthday suit’ looks like. Well from the shoulders up and the stomach down.”

The trio chuckled.

Elli continued, “Then again, if it was Karen you bathed with, well as I said, you’ll get to see more of me as a bonus.”

The trio then burst out laughing.

Wiping away the laugh tears Jack said, “Well I’m going to continue with the forging I was doing, so you two go ahead and have that girl talk.”

Jack waved and walked away.

Claire glanced at Elli, “Elli, if you don’t mind my asking, what are your feelings for Jack? If you don’t want to tell me, I’ll understand.”

With a rueful smile Elli said, “I think I’m falling in love with Jack.”

[May]

Awesome story! I can't wait to read more!

One suggestion though- I think your story gets a little competitive at times..Like if Jack expiriences a dream, then he goes and explains it to another person alll over again.. Maybe instead you could say, 'Jack explained the dream to Karen' or something. Just a suggestion though ^_^

Its a really great story, I can't wait for more!

[Rozewater]

I have to say I agree with Harvestlove. And...ummm...what is this "girl's playbook" of which you speak? 'Fraid I've never heard the term in anything other than your story.

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 61

Later in the afternoon, as Jack was working in his field he looked up and saw Claire and Pete at the South side of his farm. He waved to both of them and they came over.

“Afternoon, how are you two doing?”

Pete nodded and grinned, “Afternoon, I’m doing great.”

Claire smiled, “Afternoon, I’m ok.”

Jack raised an eyebrow, “You don’t sound like it. Are you concerned about your ‘kid brother’?”

A smile crept on Claire’s face, “Yeah, I am. While I haven’t talked with Karen on a one on one conversation, and I know you said to wait until after New Year’s Eve to talk about who is the most in love with you. It looks like Ann, Elli and Karen while they would like to date you, they feel that you should choose someone other then them.”

Jack rubbed his chin, “Let’s see, I have this feeling that Elli would like me to date Karen, because of Rick not seeing Karen as a woman, but the girl he played with as kids.”

“Who do you think that Ann would want you to date?”

“She would probably say Karen, for the same reason that Elli would give.”

“Karen’s choice would be?”

Jack shrugged his shoulders, “I have no idea.”

“Jack I hope you are not mad at me for not waiting, but I’m really concerned not only about you, but for Ann, Elli and Karen. They are very nice friends.”

“Don’t worry Claire, I’m not mad. I kind of have the feeling that they have strong feelings about me.”

Claire smiled, “Yeah. Elli did tell me more about why your cousin let you in on the ‘girl’s playbook’, as well as you letting her in on the ‘boy’s playbook’ since you felt that was way too much of a ‘thank you for the help’.”

“I really do want to figure who was the girl I made the promise to. For some reason I want to apologize for forgetting her.”

“Jack, you are an unusual, but wonderful and kind gentleman.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome Jack. There are not that many people who would seek out a childhood friend they forgot about for several years.”

“I know, after all, meeting someone in a bathing area when both of you are not wearing anything, is something you shouldn’t forget.”

Pete and Claire softly laughed.

Claire grinned, “Plus the girl glare at you with the look of ‘you better say yes that you find me cute, or else I’ll beat you up.’, is something you also can’t forget.”

Pete gave a polite cough, “I don’t mean to change the subject, but this is a nice farm you have Jack.”

“Thanks Pete. I was surprised that Joe left it to me. But since he never had kids, or any other relatives that are alive, I was the one friend that he felt was worthy of taking over this place.”

Claire said, “It’s a bit funny that the dream I had of buying a farm here, was this very same one, and the Mayor looked just liked Mayor Thomas. Come to think of it, it is also funny that he had the same dream with me being the one buying it. I’m just glad he wasn’t frightened of me. I wouldn’t have hit him with a hammer, I would just loudly complain.”

“I’m sure after you pointed out that you had to sell all but the clothes on your back to buy this place, Thomas would have talked with Sasha and Jeff into giving you some bags of seeds for free.”

“You think they would have done that?”

“Yes, in fact if Karen was there as well, she would definitely give you the bags of seeds, since you are both girls and blondes.”

Claire burst out laughing, “Jack, I like the way you think.”

“Thank you.”

“If I had a farm, do you think that I would have done as great as you have done here?”

“Yes, I think you would have.”

“Thanks Jack. Well Pete and I are going to go back to the Inn and rest up for the Fireworks Festival.”

“Ok, I’ll see you later.”

[May]

Great chapter! I really can't wait for more! But take your time..

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 62

As the sun was setting in the west, Jack entered Rose Plaza on the South side. He spotted Ann, Ell, Karen, Claire and Pete entering from the North side. Ann and Karen were carrying a cooler.

Waving to Jack, Karen said, “Hi there Jack. Doug would only let us take root beer in this cooler. So if we want to have the alcoholic type of beer, we would have to have stayed at the Inn, which would mean we would have to miss seeing the fireworks display.”

“Not meaning to sound like a grown-up, but it does make sense to not have any type of alcohol down at the beach. After all, I think that Elli wouldn’t want her night to end badly with someone drinking too much beer and then go swimming and then drowning.”

Elli nodded, “That’s true Jack. It has happened a few times. So Thomas, Duke, Doug and Harris decided to make a rule banning drinking alcohol at the beach. Now let’s go find a good spot to sit down, the fireworks will be starting in thirty-five minutes.”

The group descended the stairs. Looking around they saw several other townsfolk sitting in groups or by themselves. Popuri leaned close to Kai. Kai had a look of he wished she wasn’t sitting that close. Rick was nearby with an angry look, as if Kai really wanted his Popuri to sit that close. A little farther away was Tim, he had a look of someone who is glad that he could sit down and not be bothered with work. At the end of the pier were Gray and Mary.

After settling down the group opened the cooler and passed around the bottles of root beer.

Jack said, “It looks like quite a turnout to watch the fireworks.”

Ann nodded, “Yeah, but this year it looks like with the exception of Claire and Pete, it is just us townsfolk that are here.”

“I don’t see Cliff, did you invite him to join us?”

Ann nodded again and sadly answered, “Yes, but he didn’t feel like watching the fireworks. I know that he is upset that he doesn’t have a job, but he should have some fun.”

Karen glanced over to where Rick was sitting, “Geez, I can’t believe Rick is being a jerk. So what if Popuri likes Kai. In two years she will be eighteen, which would mean she could leave with Kai.”

Elli voiced up, “I just have this funny feeling that Popuri might be using Kai to get back at Rick for being mean to her.”

Karen widened her eyes, “Really? She shouldn’t do that, Kai is a very nice guy. True he can be very charming at times, but if she is using him as a tool to get back at Rick, it could cause Kai to become more mistrustful of people.”

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow to see if she really likes Kai.”

Several minutes later, the fireworks exploded in the night sky. Throughout the show, “Ooooh”s and “Aaaah”s were heard, as well as the sound of applause.

With an excited voice, Karen said, “Here comes the finale!”

The sky erupted with more explosions.

After the final bursts were dying in the sky, Claire said, “I’m seeing spots in my eyes. Maybe we should wait here for a few minutes, so our eyesight returns to normal.”

Several others replied, “Sounds like a good idea.”

A while later they stood up and dusted the sand off, then gathered the empty root beer bottles.

Claire said, “Pete, can you be nice and help Ann by carrying that cooler back to the Inn? I would like to talk to Karen about something.”

“Sure, I’d be glad to help.”

Karen glanced at Claire, “What do you want to talk about?”

Claire whispered, “I want to know how you feel about Jack. I kind of think of him as a ‘kid brother’.”

Karen whispered back, “Ok, let’s walk a bit slower.”

Jack said, “We’ll see you two in a bit at the Inn.”

Ann, Pete, Elli and Jack headed up the stairs.

Karen asked, “Why do you want to know how I feel about Jack?”

“I feel that I want to help Jack figure out who the girl was that he made the promise to.”

“So you feel that you want to be a ‘big sister’ to Jack?”

“Yes, I hope that you are not mad that I’m being snoopy.”

Karen shook her head, “Naw, I don’t blame you for wanting to help Jack. He is a nice guy.”

Claire relaxed a bit, “Thanks for understanding Karen.”

Karen smiled, “You’re welcome Claire. To answer your question, I feel that I have fallen in love with Jack. I don’t know if I’m the one he made the promise to. If I am, that would be great. If it was Elli he made the promise to that would also be great.”

“You’re hoping it could be Elli? That’s nice of you.”

Karen smiled, “Thanks, I view Elli as a sister. I know that Elli views me as a sister, and hopes that it is me that Jack made the promise to.”

“Has Elli talked to you about…?”

“About her, Jack and me, going up to the hot spring on New Year’s Eve and bathe together? Yes she has and yes I agreed. Back on Ann’s birthday, Elli first suggested that we show Jack a photo of her, Ann, Gina and me, when we were five years old. The photo was taken up at the hot spring in the summer. The four of us were pretending to be superheroes. All we had on were towels for our capes and big grins.”

“Who is Gina?”

With a sad smile Karen replied, “Gina was a friend. She and her mother died in a snowstorm later that year.”

“I’m sorry you lost your friend.”

“Thanks.”

“But, about the photo. Weren’t you embarrassed when it was taken?”

Karen shook her head, “No. When Elli suggested showing Jack the photo, I was a bit nervous. At first I refused, but then felt that maybe Jack could see it on New Year’s Eve. Earlier on Ann’s birthday, when I told Jack that if he doesn’t get his bathroom upgraded, he continued the joke I started earlier in the summer. The joke was of, since Gotz will not let anyone go up on Mother’s Hill in the winter except for New Year’s Eve. If Jack’s bathroom hadn’t been upgraded, I would get Ann and Elli, and then the three of us would drag Jack to my house. Then we would strip him and ourselves of our clothing and force Jack to take a bath.”

Claire laughed.

Karen grinned, “Jack even countered with a joke of that it is an interesting threat. Anyway as I was saying, on Ann’s birthday when Jack brought up that joke, and said he knew I was joking. He did say that he felt that I trust him enough, that if he did see more of me then he has seen. I wouldn’t be angry at him. I said that maybe in the winter he could see my ‘birthday suit’. So in a way, that could be considered a promise.”

“Wouldn’t your parents be upset if Jack does see you naked?”

Karen shook her head, “No, at least I know that my mom wouldn’t be upset. She has said that I’m an adult. She didn’t get upset at the bikini I wore, as well as hearing me talk about bathing with Jack.”

“So should Pete and I come here for New Year’s Eve, just to make sure that this deal does happen? Elli did say that I was a witness to when she made the deal with Jack.”

Karen rubbed her chin as she thought, “Hmmm. I guess so. Right now I’m still just a tiny bit nervous about this deal.”

“You feel that you might chicken out?”

Karen gave a rueful smile, “Yeah.”

Claire laid a hand on Karen’s shoulder, “I don’t think you would, you like Jack enough that you trust him. If he didn’t take advantage of Ann when she was naked and unconscious, he wouldn’t do that when to you and Ell, when both of you are awake.”

Karen burst out laughing, “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks ‘big sister’.”

Claire raised an eyebrow.

Karen smiled, “Ann told me the advice you gave her. So please keep on being a ‘big sister’ to Jack, Ann, Ell and me.”

Claire smiled, “Ok, I will.”

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 63

Four days later, there was a knock on Jack’s front door. Rolling out of bed, Jack shuffled over to the door. Yawning he opened the door.

“Good morning sir, can I interest you into having breakfast with a beautiful, brilliant blonde and her boyfriend before they leave town today?”

Jack grinned, “That depends, is she buying my breakfast?”

Claire smiled, “Well I guess she could, for a price.”

“And that price is?”

“A ‘Yes please ‘big sister’, that would be great’.”

Jack cleared his throat, “Yes please ‘big sister’, that would be great. Come on in so I can get dressed.”

Claire raised an eyebrow, “You don’t mind?”

“No, since I have traveled with my parents. Some of the places we went to, the bathing areas were shared by men and women. So I’m not that nervous if a girl sees me naked.”

“Well when I talked with Karen, she did tell me what happened back on the third of summer. She did joke that she might have joined you if you had taken a shower at her place to remove the sweat from carrying those wine cases, you were a bit nervous.”

“True, but I never had a friend that was a girl and close to my own age, wanting to join me while I was bathing.”

“But….”

“Also since Sasha and Jeff were there and heard Karen say that, I wasn’t sure how they would have felt if Karen had joined me.”

“Well…I guess that I can’t blame you. If she were to join you if you ever do bathe there…”

“I would not freak out.”

Jack pull open a drawer in his dresser and pulled out some clean clothes, then walked into the bathroom and closed the door enough that he could still talk to Claire and get dressed at the same time.

“You know Claire, how you and Pete met, is slightly similar to how I met that girl I made the promise to.”

Claire chuckled, “Yeah, in a way it is. But it was in the brick apartment building I lived in with my parents. Why the designers built the building in a u-shape instead of a square-shape I’ll never know. I forgot that the nice lady who lived in the apartment across from ours moved out. When Pete’s parents moved in, he was still at a summer camp. Then when he did arrive, I didn’t know that they gave Pete the bedroom that looked into mine.”

“Then on the hot summer night, both of you opened the windows facing each other to cool off your bedrooms…..”

“While we were wearing the ‘clothing’ we had on, on the day we were born. I still am surprised that Pete was just as embarrassed as I was. You would think a fifteen year old boy wouldn’t be that way, when he sees a naked fifteen year old girl.”

“Well some can be.”

“How would you have reacted if it was you that moved in?”

“Well…..If we were the same age, and I was world traveled. I think I would have waved ‘hello’ then gone back to bed.”

“If we were our respective ages, would you have done the same?”

“Yes. But it is nice that you two became friends.”

“Well after we got over the blushing the next day, Pete did want to know all about the fun places to hang out at in the neighborhood. So, why shouldn’t I help out?”

Jack stepped out of the bathroom and placed the pajama bottoms on his bed, “Ready to go have breakfast?”

“Yes.”

Upon arriving at the Inn, Jack saw that Karen and Elli were sitting at a table.

Karen waved, “Hey Jack, so you came to have breakfast with our ‘big sister’?”

“Yes, I didn’t want to miss saying good-bye to some friends who are leaving today.”

Pete came down the stairs, “Ok, my stuff is packed and ready to go. So let’s eat, I’m hungry.”

Ann came out of the kitchen with a tray containing six plates of food, “Here it is, a wonderful, stick to your ribs breakfast.”
Doug came over with six cups of coffee, “Let’s see. Claire you take yours sweet, Pete you take yours black, and I know the rest of you take yours light and sweet. Ann I can take that tray, so you don’t keep these nice people wait.”

Ann laughed, “Thanks dad.”

Claire picked up her coffee mug, “This might be a silly thing to toast with, but……”

Claire waited for everyone to pick up their coffee mugs.

Smiling Claire said, “Here’s to a group of good friends.”

Then everyone carefully clunked their mugs together.

After the meal was over, Claire dug out four pieces of paper out of a pocket, “Ann, Elli and Karen, here is my address as well as my phone number. I see that there is a phone here, so give me a call now and then. Jack, since you already have my address, here is my phone number. If you do have any more dreams about that girl you made the promise to, call or write to me.”

“I will, because I wouldn’t want my ‘big sister’ to come back here and scold me face to face.”

Everyone laughed.

Grinning Claire said, “I wouldn’t be that mean.”

Karen said, “There has been talk now and then, that we should add more phone lines here. So maybe we should start adding them in.”

“Yeah, having to use a payphone every time you wanted to make a call, would make for very short conversations.”

An hour and a half later, the group was standing by the ferry.

Claire gave a big hug to Ann, Elli, Karen and Jack, “Take care you guys.”

Smiling Ann, Elli, Karen and Jack said, “We will.”

Claire and Pete walked up the ramp. A few minutes later they were on one of the decks. As the ferry pulled away, Claire and Pete waved good-bye.

“I see why you like him.”

Turning Claire said, “Hmmm?”

“Jack.”

“You’re not jealous?”

“No, I happen to be a nice guy. I know that Jack would not try to woo you away from me. I just hope you are not still mad at me for telling Jack how you and I met.”

Claire shook her head, “No, Jack pointed out that in a small way, it was similar to how he met that girl he made the promise with.”

“That’s why I told him. So, what’s this with us needing to come back here for New Year’s Eve?”

Claire grinned, “Well, I need to be here to make sure Elli, Karen and Jack don’t chicken out of a deal they made with each other.”

Pete raised an eyebrow, “Deal? What kind of deal?”

Claire chuckled, “Well….Elli suggested to Jack. To help him figure out who the girl with the birthmark on her chest was, that she and Karen go bathe with Jack up at the hot spring. Since I witnessed the deal being made….”

“You need to be here.”

“I hope you aren’t mad, I know we were thinking about going somewhere else for New Year’s, but…”

“I’m not mad, besides this is a perfect place to spend New Year’s Eve at. But I have this feeling that you might need to go with them when they bathe.”

“I just need to see that they go into the hot spring wearing only their ‘birthday suits’. I don’t need to bathe with them.”

“Go ahead and bathe with them.”

Claire widened her eyes, “What?!?”

Pete smiled and chuckled, “I trust you as well as Jack. Besides if the Inn did have individual rooms for people to sleep in. If Jack had bunked with us, then you two would have seen each other naked.”

Claire smiled and chuckled, “That’s true. Ok, I’ll bathe with them.”

Back on the pier, Ann, Elli, Karen and Jack waved to Claire and Pete until the ferry was far enough away that they could stop waving.

Ann asked, “So it’s true that Claire and Pete are coming back for New Year’s Eve?”

Jack nodded, “Yes.”

“Can I ask why? Not that it would be bad. It would be nice for our ‘big sister’ to come back and visit.”

Jack, Elli and Karen exchanged glances.

Jack said, “Well……..”

Karen said, “Ummm……”

Elli said, “It’s because of a deal I suggested, that Claire happened to hear.”

Ann raised an eyebrow, “What kind of deal? Jack, Karen why were you two hesitant to answer?”

Jack, Karen and Elli blushed slightly.

Elli answered, “The deal I suggested is for Jack, Karen and me to go up to the hot spring and bathe together. So that Jack can see both Karen’s and my birthmark.”

Ann grinned, “I see. Maybe I could join you.”

Jack, Karen and Elli chorused, “What?!?”

Ann smiled, “I did tell you three and my dad most of the dream I had of where I told Jack what my birthmark looks like, back when he and I were six. But I only told my dad one thing, the part was that my mom joked that maybe I could let Jack see my birthmark someday. So, I will join you on New Year’s Eve. We are friends, aren’t we?”

Jack glanced at Elli and Karen.

Elli said, “Jack I don’t mind if she joins us.”

Karen nodded, “Same here, besides you did briefly see her naked.”

Jack looked at Ann and smiled, “Ok Ann that would be great.”

A mischievous grin appeared on Ann’s face, “Alright, but if you chicken out. I’ll ask my dad to cancel the deal of your every fourth meal being free and every drink is half price.”

“You don’t want to be that mean.”

“Well….since you said that my birthmark is nice, I won’t be that mean. But…..if you had seen it, instead of being told what it looks like. Would you have made fun of it?”

“When we were six, with or without your mother, I don’t think I would have.”

“If you had seen it after you saved me on my birthday….”

“Since I know you have a sense of humor, I would have asked what her name is.”

Ann raised an eyebrow, “What her name is?”

Jack grinned, “Well since you are a girl, it would be reasonable that you would have a girl bunny on you and not a boy bunny.”

For a few seconds Ann glared at Jack, and then giggled before bursting out in laughter, “You’re right Jack, I would have a girl bunny on me. But she doesn’t have a name, so will you give her a nice name.”

Jack rubbed his chin, “Let’s see…..how about……Bonnie?”

Ann rubbed her chin, “Hmmm, that sort of rhymes with bunny, Thank you Jack.”

“You’re welcome Ann.”

[May]

Cute chapter, I love it ^_^

[Pickle]

And I am caught up now!

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 64

Three days later, Jack walked over to his field carrying his sickle.

*End of summer, so it’s time to remove the summer crops.*

After cutting half of the dieing crops, Jack saw Karen standing by the gate to his farm.

“Hi Karen, How are you this morning?”

Karen walked over smiling, “I’m feeling great. I came by to let you know my parents and I are going to let you buy some fall seeds a day early.”

“Why?”

“Well, since you grew that wonderful, delicious pineapple. We thought that we should do something nice in return.”

Jack smiled, “Thank you Karen. That is very nice, what would you recommend for me to get?”

“Sweet potatoes, they have multiple harvests.”

“Ok, could I also get another bag of grass seeds?”

“You’re thinking about a cow or two?”

“Yes, at least one cow.”

“Alright,” said Karen, then with a big grin added, “but you will need to pay for that bag.”

Jack frowned and snapped his fingers, “Darn, I thought that I could be charming enough to get another one for free.”

With a mischievous grin Karen said, “Sorry Jack. Besides that free one was a thank you for helping me make my uncle pay his tab.”

Hero came bounding over, barking and waging his tail.

Karen crouched down, “Hello Hero. You’re such a good boy. Hey! Jack, I think that Hero has grown into an adult.”

“You’re right. Now I’ll need to get a Frisbee and then start training him for the Frisbee contest.”

“Well unfortunately we don’t sell any doggie toys. So you’ll have to ask Zack about ordering one.”

“Ok, I’ll do that.”

“Ummm, Jack…..there has been something I’ve wanted to ask you since the third of summer.”

“How about we go in and get have a cup of coffee.”

Karen looked up at Jack, “You could tell that it’s something that I don’t want overheard by anyone else?”

“Yes.”

A small smile crossed Karen’s face, “Thanks Jack.”

Upon entering his house Jack said, “So what is it that you want to ask me?”

“It was about the comment you said to me when I was about to cry again, while I was telling my uncle about Rick’s comment of my bikini.”

“Let’s see……I think I said, ‘If Rick can’t see you for the mature, lovely woman you are now, instead of the flat-chested, beet-the-snot-out-of-him girl you were. Then he doesn’t deserve any more tears’.”

Karen nodded, “Yeah that was it.”

Jack hit the switch to start the coffee maker, “Are you upset that I said that? If you are, I’m sorry it upset you.”

“No! I’m glad that you said that. It’s just that……..well…….it sounds like you know that…….”

“You wrestled Rick when you were younger?”

Karen was quiet for a minute, “Yeah.”

Jack turned and walked over to Karen, and laid a hand on Karen’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, I will not tell anyone else. It is something that you don’t want to remember.”

Karen chuckled, “So your cousin told you that we girls sometimes don’t want to remember certain things?”

“Yes.”

Karen rubbed the back of her head, “You’re right that I wrestled Rick. I always won…..can I ask how you found out?”

“Yes. It was later on the day I met you. When I was introducing myself to Lillia and Popuri, Rick came along with a noticeable slap mark on his face. Lillia asked. Rick said that you two talked of the games you played as kids, which he added the wrestling. He was puzzled why you didn’t remember it, since you beat him every time. Then he said you slapped him and stormed off.”

“So, that comment about if Rick can’t see me….”

“As an adult instead of the child you were, it was a compliment. If you are the girl I made the promise to, well you have definitely have grown into a beautiful woman.”

Karen blushed, “Ummm, thank you Jack. But what if it was Elli that you made the promise to?”

“Just like you, Elli has grown into a beautiful woman. So has Ann.”

“But you didn’t make the promise to her.”

Jack poured the coffee into two mugs and fixed them with milk and sugar, “True, but when she told me about the dream she had. I suddenly remembered that she told me what her birthmark looks like. When she was six, she had her hair in that pony-tail she normally has, but the ribbon was yellow instead of white.”

Karen nodded, “Yeah, she did wear yellow ribbons. Why would you remember that?”

“Because…,” said Jack, then staggered back dropping his coffee mug which shattered on the floor.”

Karen dropped her coffee mug and dashed over to Jack, “Jack! Jack! Are you alright? Speak to me!”

Jack slowing shook his head, “I’m….just a bit dizzy. Help me to a chair.”

“Sure Jack.”

Karen guided Jack to a chair and helped him sit down, “Please tell me what happened.”

“All of a sudden, I had this quick vision of the girl I made the promise to standing next to Ann. The girl was in black and white while Ann was in color. The girl I made the promise was differently looking then Ann.”

“So then it really was Elli or me that you made the promise to.”

Jack looked at Karen, “Yeah, it looks like it. But I don’t know why Ann was in color.”

“I hope you figure it soon.”

“I hope so too. I told this feeling to Elli and Claire. I feel that what I’m trying to remember is like an important item that has fallen behind a heavy counter with just enough of a gap to reach your arm through, and the item it just barely in fingertip range.”

“Then if you try to hastily try to grab it, you could knock it farther out of reach.”

“Yes.”

Karen hugged Jack, “I don’t blame you for being frustrated. It looks like in addition to the bags of seeds, you will need two new coffee mugs.”

“Do you sell them at your store?”

“Yes, but you can have these new ones for free, seeing how I broke one of them.”

Jack grinned, “Ok. Let’s clean up this mess before we head to your store.”

“Let me clean the mess, you rest a little more.”

Jack chuckled, “Ok, ok. I know better then to argue with a caring, beautiful friend.”

Karen blushed, “Thanks for the compliment.”

As Jack was watching Karen clean up the mess, he noticed that there was something different about Karen.

“Hey! What happened with the highlights you had in your hair?”

“Oh. I washed them out. I talked with Claire, she commented that she liked the natural color of my hair. She felt that….well…. you would find me just as beautiful with or without highlights.”

“She’s right. Part of what makes me like you is your personality.”

“My personality?”

“Yes. You are kind, strong, smart and have a good sense of humor.”

“So what is the other part?”

Jack blushed slightly, “Well, ummm, you’re beautiful.”

Karen giggled, “Thank you Jack. I have this feeling that those are the same traits that makes you like Elli and Ann.”

“Yes, I hope you don’t mind.”

Karen chuckled, “No, I don’t mind. I’m guessing that when you say strong it doesn’t mean lifting heavy things. It means I can stand up to people that like to bully other people. Like my uncle does at times.”

“Ummm, yeah.”

“Jack don’t worry, I don’t blame you. But I think my uncle liked how you helped me with carrying those cases of wine.”

Jack blinked his eyes, “Really?”

“Yes. Also while he was mad that you suggested he pay his tab, I think that he liked how you cared for my family.”

Jack smiled, “Well the way your mom was chewing out your dad for letting Tim walk out without paying his tab, I didn’t want to see him get chewed out again.”

Karen chuckled, “My mom wouldn’t have chewed him out as hard as she did with Tim.”

After the mess was cleaned up, Jack and Karen headed to the supermarket.

“So sweet potatoes would be the best crops to get?”

Karen nodded, “Yup. That’s what Joe always went with in the fall. From wht Joe said, after the first harvest, the new ones come in every other day.”

“Whoa! Every two days?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

“So what will you use the money from the harvests on, if you don’t mind my asking.”

“I don’t mind. I think I’ll buy a few extra towels for the bathroom.”

Karen glanced over at Jack, “Why?”

Jack glanced at Karen and grinned, “In case if the two lovely ladies that helped me get that good deal on my bathroom, come over at try out the bathtub and they forget to bring their own towels.”

Karen grinned, “Ohhh, now that is a nice idea. But Ann and I don’t need to do that.”

“Well I’ll still get some just in case if I do get some houseguests.”

“Claire and Pete?”

“As well as my cousin Sara.”

“Do invite her to come here Jack. I would like to meet her, as well as buy her a beer to thank her for helping you understand us girls.”

“I guess I can invite her here.”

“Good, so after you get those bags of seeds and the coffee mugs. Let’s go to the Inn so you could use the phone, then I’ll buy you a beer.”

“Ok, thanks.”

[BorderWolf]

Chapter 65

Third of fall, Jack felt the coolness in the air. After watering the new crops, Jack paused to look around at his farm.

*I think that Joe would be pleased at how well I’ve done with running the farm.*

“Hi Jack, are you daydreaming?”

Turning to the source of the voice, Jack saw that it was Ann.

“Naw, I was thinking that Joe would be pleased with what I’ve done here.”

Ann smiled, “Yes, I’m sure he would be. Oh, I heard that you will be joining Karen, Elli, Mary and me in the music festival tonight.”

“Yes. Karen told me about it, when she and I went up to the hot spring to soak in our swimsuits. She also said that you asked the other guys to join you but they all made some excuse to not show up.”

“Yeah, Gray, Tim and Cliff just didn’t want to show up. I can forgive Tim for not being there.”

“True, doctors do sometimes have emergencies that would make them miss festivals. But if Tim had to respond to an emergency, that would mean that Elli would also have to miss the festival.”

Ann nodded, “Yeah, which would mean that if I were to make a mistake or two, it would be more noticeable.”

“They couldn’t be all that bad, since you play every year.”

Ann smiled, “Thanks Jack. That makes me feel better. Did Carter say what instrument you will be playing?”

“Yes, an ocarina.”

“Can you play it?”

“From what Carter tells me, it is very easy to play.”

“It is.”

“So what is the excuse that Rick has for not being at the festival?”

“Well he isn’t welcome to play with us. His choice of a musical instrument was not all that great.”

Jack raised an eyebrow.

Ann grinned, “His choice was making noises with his armpit.”

“I’m surprised that he is still alive.”

Ann laughed, “Karen came very close to throwing a punch in Rick’s face. But Elli, Mary and I stopped her.”

“That’s good. Oh, what are the songs do you play?”

“Several happy songs and Karen likes to sing a childhood song. Karen, Elli and I had taught the song to a few people, maybe one of us taught you the song.”

“Alright, I’ll ask the names of the songs later.”

As Ann left, Jack pulled the weeds that were in the field.

*A childhood song? Which one could it be? Wait, it might be the one about a boy and a girl who became friends, and then sang about their new friendship from the top of a hill.*

Later in the day, Jack approached the church. He saw that Carter was waiting outside.

“Ah, Jack. I’m glad to see that you showed up. Some of the ladies were joking that you would chicken out.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I’m not sure why Gray, Tim and Cliff would pass on making music with four lovely ladies.”

“I don’t know either. The ocarina is with the other instruments on a table.”

“Ok, thanks. I’ll go in and talk with my partners.”

Jack entered the church. He saw Karen, Ann, Elli and Mary standing near the alter.

Elli waved, “Jack! You’re here. We were joking that you might not show up.”

Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t dare do that. I don’t want to earn the wrath of four ladies.”

The girls chuckled.

Jack continued, “Plus I’m playing a better musical instrument then the one Rick thought would be ok to play.”

Karen rolled her eyes, “Yeah, if it wasn’t for Elli, Ann and Mary, I would have knocked him flat on his back.”

“I hope that I know all of the songs that we are going to play tonight.”

Karen smiled, “Don’t worry, if you do a little improvising if you don’t know the song, everyone wouldn’t get too upset. Just don’t get too carried away with the improvising.”

“I won’t. But I’m wondering about the childhood song that you sing.”

“That’s right, Ann told us that she told you. The song is about a boy and a girl who met and became friends. They climbed to the top of a hill and sang about their friendship from atop a hill.”

“I think I might know that song.”

Some of the townsfolk had come in and sat down. Elli spotted her brother sitting in one of the pews.

“Hey Karen, it looks like your number one admirer is here.”

“Huh?? Oh, you mean Stu. Doesn’t he know that I’m too old for him?”

The girls giggled while Jack grinned.

Ann stepped closer to Elli and whispered, “Stu should know better. If May has let Stu know that she really likes him, she might get mad.”

Elli whispered back, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him later.”

Karen saw Elli and Ann whispering to each other and asked, “Hey, what are you two whispering about?”

Ell blinked her eyes, “Oh, I’ll need to talk to someone to see if I can tell you this information.”

“Who is this person?”

Jack leaned over and whispered to Karen, “May.”

Karen looked at Jack, “May? ..... Ooooh, I think I know what it’s about. So you know this information as well Jack?”

Jack nodded.

Karen winked an eye, “Ok, I’ll wait for the full information that is if I’m allowed to know it.”

Mary spoke up, “Let’s start playing.”

The group nodded.

Jack found that he knew the songs that they played. When Karen was singing the childhood song, a feeling that he was taught the song when he was six years old crept over him.

*Did Karen teach me this song? Or was it Elli? Or even Ann?*

After the final notes were played, Jack lowered the ocarina with a slight dazed look on his face.

“Jack, are you ok?”

“Mmmm?”

Karen placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder and lightly shook him, “I said, ‘Are you ok’?”

Jack lightly shook his head, “Oh, sorry. Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that song we just played, I think that I learned it when I was six.”

Karen widened here eyes, “You think that Elli or I taught you the song?”

“Maybe.”

Karen smiled, “Well, which one of us who taught you the song, you remembered it well.”

Elli nodded, “Yes, I agree. You played it well.”

Jack saw that Ann and Mary were nodding as well.

Jack smiled, “Thank you.”

As Jack was walking home, an image of him and the girl he made the promise to, were standing on top of a hill.

*It must have been Karen or Elli who taught me the song. I just wish that the image of that girl was in color instead of black and white.*

[Rozewater]

Poor Jack! When will the girl be revealed?!