Chapter Text
Robin looked at her watch, debating if she should move to a shady tree to get out of the sun. She would have been at her shop, probably eating lunch too, but Lewis wanted to meet the new farmer at the old house.
“Really, the buses are always late nowadays.” Just as Robin finished her thought she heard the tale tail rumbling of the bus. “Finally! Well let’s get this show on the road!” As Robin put on a smile she remembered Lewis’s description of the farmer: Black hair, round glasses, kind of short, and a wearing silver amethyst necklace.
The only person to get out fit that bill.
“Hey! Your Shawn right?” The man’s head jerked up as she called out. “Y-yeah, I am.” He quickly picked up a couple of suitcases and walked closer to her. “I’m Robin, the town’s carpenter. The mayor sent to me to show you where your house is. He’s cleaning things up there right now.”
“Nice to meet you. Thank you for showing me around.”
His body seemed stiff, and he fidgeted with the suitcases in hand. “I hope the people here won’t overwhelm him.” Robin thought to herself. She turned around and motioned for Shawn to follow. “Open Sky Farm is just 5 minutes away. It’s really just to the right from here.”
Shawn almost dropped a suitcase as he walked next to her. Robin almost chuckled but he looked too nervous about it for her. “You don’t have to be so jumpy, most folks around here are nice.”
“Thanks, I”ll keep that in mind. Shawn did look a little more calm. She”ll count that as a win.
As soon as Shawn saw the farm he couldn’t believe his eyes. The state it was in was horrible: Rocks littered the ground, shrubs came out irregularly from the dirt, trees blocked off much of the path.
The shock must have shown on his face for Robin to remark. “Don’t worry with some hard work this stuff place will be cleared out in no time. Besides, the soil here is great.” That didn’t really help his nerves.
The houses’s front door slamming open startled them both. A man, who Shawn remembers as the mayor walked out. It barely took a second for his attention to be drawn to them.
“Ah, you must be Shawn.” Lewis almost ran over to them, taking one of Shawn’s hands and shaking it.
“Welcome to Pelican Town! It great to meet you. It took a second for Shawn to get over his suprise. “Y-yeah, nice to meet you too.”
Lewis gave out a small laugh at his stutter. “You’re exactly how your grandfather said you were. Well, it’ll be alright. I checked over your house and everything is working fine.”
“You know everyone’s been talking about you. Not every day someone new moves in.” Lewis paused, taking a minute to look at the old house. “It’s good that someone bought this place. It has a rustic charm to it.” “Err,” Robin sweat-dropped “Rustic is one way to put it.”
“It’s got charm!” Lewis looked almost offended. “Pff” Both of them looked over as Shawn let out a snicker. Robin quirked her eyebrow at him. “Looks like the farmer agrees with me.” Lewis’s grumbling almost made Shawn burst out laughing.
Soon Lewis gave Shawn the house keys and went back to his office. “If you need to expand the house you can come by my shop anytime.” Robin left soon after, calling out a “good luck!” as she did.
The inside of the house was made of wood just as the outside. Almost nothing was in the single room of it. The only furniture was a chair and table with a bed in the corner. A fire place and tv set sat around the house. The only window showed that it was around late afternoon.
Shawn laid his luggage on the table. As soon as he sat on the bed he took out his phone and called a number he knows well. After two rings the other person picked up.
“Sweetie!” His mom’s voice always helped calm him. “How was the ride? Did you get to the house yet?” “Hey mom. The bus ride was good, I’m just about to unpack my stuff.”
“Good good. I’m a little sad that you moved so far away, but I felt the same way when you left the house.” “I know.” Shawn let himself have a small smile. “I miss you too. And don’t worry, you got through me moving before.”
His mom let out a yawn. “I’ve already taken my sleeping pills so I need to get off soon. Next time I’ll try to have your father here when you call.” They both hang up with a love you to each other.
Instantly Shawn started to unpack his clothes. As he did he realized that he didn’t even have a closet. “Looks like I’ll have to talk to Robin tomorrow.” He decided to just lay out clothes for tomorrow: A black t shirt, blue jeans, and his blue sneakers.
“That should be good enough.” By the time he was done his watch showed that it was about nine. “It’s early, but I need to wake up early.” Luckily he had a bathroom, after brushing his teeth he changed into a night shirt and pants.
As soon as his head hit the pillow did a pitter patter start outside. It kept on increasing in frequency until it was a cascade. “Should have checked the weather. Hope it won’t go on tomorrow.”His eyes closed as the sounds of the rain and wind lulled him to sleep.
*Next Morning*
Shawn’s sleep was the same as normal, peaceful. He was suddenly awoken by squawk. He shot up like a rocket at the sudden noise. After a moment he realized that it was his phone alarm. “Oh yeah, well it was funny at the time. Should I change it? Nah.”
He looked outside to see the weather. The rain left, but it was still cloudy. He put on his clothes and started his day.
The door hit something when he tried to open it. Not wanting to push it off the porch he barely opened the door and squeezed himself outside. Looking down he saw that a box was blocking the door.
On top of it was a note.
“Dear Shawn, You’re going to need some things to start your farm. Here are some seeds to help you. Robin has tools for you, all of them have already been paid off so you just need to get ‘em. You should see a large crate near the back. I’ll pay you for any crops or plants that you put in it, so make sure you plant lots of things.”
-Mayor Lewis
Shawn read over the back and looked over to the house’s side, sure enough there was a crate as long as a flat screen tv. “…pay me for my crops? Well hopefully the pay will be good.”
“I needed to talk to Robin anyway. Hopefully there won't be a lot people around right now.” Maybe his first day won’t be eventful.
That wish was thrown in the trash as soon as he got near the bus stop. A whimper took his attention, it’s source a brown lump. Curiosity overtook him as he tried to get close. Before he could it let out a whimper and a head poked out.
“Oh, a dog. I should tell Lewis, maybe he could talk to people and see if anyone is missing one.” Shawn was didn’t want to get involved… but then he looked into the dog’s eyes and his heart all but melted. “They look so sad.” He would be a monster to not at least try to comfort them.
When he tried to approach they scooted back and whimpered again. “Ok, remember what you read online.” Slowly, he walked over to the dog’s side, keeping a distance from it. When they stopped seeming scared he got down onto his stomach.
The dog tilted their head toward him, they were still cautious but also curious. Shawn slowly his hand palm up, toward them. It took a minute of tension before the dog finally made it’s move.
They ambled toward Shawn, more curious than scared. “Don’t look into a dog’s eyes, only pet the chest or sides, try to keep calm.” The advice Shawn heard before scrambled in his head. The dog sniffed at his hand. They kept sniffing around his arm before putting their nose in his palm.
Shawn rubbed their nose before moving his hand to their side. The dog started to pant and moved closer to him. “Such a good boy, such a nice boy.” He openly praised the dog as he stroked their fur.
He was almost rolled over when they sat next to him. A laugh forced itself out of him. The dog started to lick him, asking him to keep petting, he complied of course. They stayed like for Yoba knows how long. All worries away from their minds. If this dog was a stray Shawn was going to adopt him in a heartbeat.
Neither noticed the frantic man running from the road behind them. Said man noticed them. Said man was focused on the dog by Shawn’s side.
Shawn was pulled out of his bliss by a cry of “Dusty!” And no he didn’t jump out of his skin, no matter what anyone thinks.
A green blur rushed past Shawn and kneeled next to the dog. “Dusty? Is this his owner?” Shawn didn’t get a chance to voice his questions before the guy turned to him.
Shawn managed to get a better look at him now. He was brown haired and wearing a bright green jersey jacket, tan, and a good deal taller than Shawn. He squinted at him before standing straight. “Hey, your that new farmer right?” “I am.” Shawn was considering going back home at this point.
The guy stopped squinting and gave him one of the brightest smiles Shawn has ever seen.
“I’m Alex, Dusty’s owner! It’s nice to meet ya.” “It’s nice to meet you too. Is Dusty an free range dog?” “No.” Alex scratched Dusty’s ear, making the dog lean into his hand. “His gate’s lock was old. I woke up to find it broken, I guess the thunder spooked him away from the house.”
Alex pat Dusty’s head head before turning back to Shawn. “Thanks for keeping Dusty company. How about we meet again later, my grandma would love to thank you.” Shawn thought about it, he didn’t seem like a bad person and he could probably see Dusty again. “Sure.”
“Sweet! See ya around town!”
As Alex ran back with Dusty next to him a single thought ran through Shawn’s head. “Maybe this town won’t be so bad after all.”