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There were many festivities to be enjoyed in Starlet Town, but without a doubt, when it came to winter, the New Year’s party was the celebration to attend. After all, the vineyard soiree was a great opportunity to taste some amazing food, enjoy the fireworks, catch up with friends and most importantly, say goodbye to the year in the classiest fashion possible.
Maybe it was vain, but farmer May could not wait to finally swap out her usual work clothes for something a bit more elegant. Admittedly, the town didn’t present many opportunities to go full glam and her cocktail dress was just too pretty to stay seated on the sidelines. Tonight though, it would finally enter the playing field and have its big moment to shine.
But first things first, some important repair work was still awaiting to be finished. Indeed, the farm itself was in the middle of its own dress-up montage, with brand new fencing already half set-up alongside most of the pathways.
So, eager to get the rest of the hardwood posts installed and jump straight into the fun part of the day, May stepped onto the porch and took in a deep breath of crisp morning air. Smiling to herself and feeling ready to seize the day, she put on a pair of sturdy leather gloves and walked down to the tool crate. With a little satisfied nod, she pulled out a shovel, giving it a quick turn as she inspected the shiny metal of the blade.
She then approached the pathway and, having confirmed all the measurements were done correctly, pushed the shovel into the ground, pressing onto the blade with a heavy boot. With a confident swing, she let the freshly dug soil rest on the side, repeating the process a few more times. Out of nowhere, a mysterious voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Hmm, interesting technique,” said the stranger. “Wouldn’t have done it quite like that.”
May pulled out the shovel and frantically looked around the farm, searching for the source of the baffling statement. Hearing a sound of steps echoing from afar, she looked at the shed behind her and squinted, spotting a familiar silhouette. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
“Walter?”
With one hand holding a glass of red wine and another tucked in his pocket, Walter slowly emerged from behind the building and stopped, flashing his signature self-assured smile.
“Working hard as always, I see,” he said, swirling the liquid with a well-practised motion. “Even on a holiday.”
“Oh… hello! Didn’t expect to see you until the evening,” she said somewhat enthusiastically, despite her deep confusion. “And yeah, you know how it is. Always something to do around the farm!”
Walter nodded, but didn’t spare a reply. Both now stood facing each other, a heavy, uncomfortable silence settling between the two.
After a few beats that felt like hours, May glanced down to the ground and kicked a tiny stone, whistling a small tune and subtly bobbing her head to match the rhythm. Still not hearing anything back, she looked back up at Walter, spotting his eyes scanning the perimeter of the farm, clearly focused and engrossed in a deep analysis. Realising she would have to take the reins, she awkwardly scratched her temple and said, “So uh…How long have you been standing there?”
Suddenly, Walter shot May a sharp look, causing a shudder run down her spine.
“Sprinklers,” he said simply.
May blinked twice, immediately furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. “What?”
Walter walked right past May in an agonizingly slow manner and approached the allocated-to-crops soil patch, leaning over and inspecting the soft ground beneath.
“Your sprinklers, May,” he repeated. “Gold coating, isn’t it?” Walter looked back at May and took a long, sweet sip of a burgundy liquid, exhaling afterwards with a silent ahh. “Not bad…Not bad.”
“Thanks?” she said hesitantly, but smiled, secretly dreading where all of this was going. “I - uh. I’ve been thinking about upgrading. You can make some really neat stuff with osmium and - “
“This land,” he interrupted. “This soil…You’ve got yourself a real treasure grove here.” Walter took a step forward and nodded appreciatively, adding with a smirk, “You and I. We’re not so different, kid.”
May blinked rapidly, barking a nervous chuckle. “Are we?”
“Oh yes.” He took another sip of wine. “You’ve really got your finger on the pulse of the market, just like me.”
May nervously glanced to the side and back at him.
“I guess? To be honest, I’m just trying to focus on growing crops I would have bought myself and - ”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” he said and wagged his finger. “It’s called an opportunity and you, my friend, seized it.”
Walter moved to stand at May’s side and with a muted thump, landed his wide hand on her shoulder.
“You see, this world is a mine of untapped potential. There's lots to discover, but you have to know where to look.” He leaned in conspicuously. “And we know.”
May furrowed her eyebrows, unable to stop herself from side-eying his hand. “We do?”
Walter nodded knowingly and smirked. “You know what we are, May?”
“What?”
“We,” he said and gestured between them, “are hustlers.”
May repeatedly opened and closed her mouth, replying shortly after, “I’m not following? Also, did you carry this glass all the way from - ”
“Like Sisyphus.”
“Ha?”
“Sisyphus, May!”
“Are we talking about rocks now-”
“The man rolled that boulder every day, and did not even think to give it up. Everyone doubted he could do it, but did he listen?” He moved to face her and proudly raised his glass. “My point exactly.”
“That’s not the story? Walter - ”
“No, just like him - we rolled and rolled. No breaks, no excuses! Rolled for that sweet win, keeping our eyes on the prize.”
“Listen I-”
“In this life, you’ve either got it or you don’t. And some might say, ‘you just got lucky!’. But that’s not luck. That’s called being a winner!”
“Wa-walter,” she stuttered. “You really need to slow- ”
“This town just doesn’t see the true potential of this island. But that’s their loss! Not everyone is cut out to do this, not everyone deserves this either. If you want to be at the top, you gotta show up and do the damn work.”
“Ha? No! Walter-”
“Yes, May! It’s as if Free Market herself held out her clammy hand, expecting us to shy away, but no, not us - we gave it a firm shake and squeezed it, damnit.” He stomped. “HARD.”
“Clammy!?” she gasped in horror. “Walter you need to-”
“Eyes on the prize, eyes on the prize, do not even dare to look away! Hustle is a state of mind, so you gotta keep your eyes on the prize and -”
As Walter rambled on, May stood with mouth agape, simultaneously appalled and impressed with just how many metaphors for winning a man could conjure in one go. No longer able to take any more of it, she shut her eyes and inhaled hard.
“ENOUGH!”
The sound of her desperate yell rippled like shock waves all the way through the farm, rendering everything around them completely still. Wide eyed, Walter stood and watched May gasping for air, the shovel in her arm long abandoned and laying on the ground instead.
May caught her breath, straightened up and awkwardly cleared her throat a few times. Having adjusted the collar of her jacket and tucked a loose lock of hair back behind her ear, she looked back at Walter and crossed her arms.
“Walter,” she said sternly. “Why are you here?”
A beat passed in silence.
“Bree sent me out to buy detergent.”
May raised her eyebrow.
“Sam’s won’t be open for another hour,” he added.
“And?”
“I’ve never bought one,” he said as if it was obvious. “What does it look like anyway?”
May’s face did not flinch.
“Wait here.”
May clenched her fists and stormed off, swiftly moving up the stairs of the porch and disappearing into the house. After a few minutes had passed, she then flung the door open and walked back to Walter, holding an orange carton box of powder in her hands.
“There.” May shoved the box into his arms and shooed him away. “Go.”
“Actually,” he said without even glancing at the box, “Bree told me not to come back until the party is set up.”
May stared blankly at him.
“I was in her way.” He rolled his eyes. “Apparently.”
Another quiet beat passed.
“Can I sit on your porch until afternoon?”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine.”
May leaned down towards the ground and snatched the wooden shovel handle into her hand, walking back to the pathway without sparing Walter a single glance. She stopped and closed her eyes, taking a deep meditative breath and slowly exhaling afterwards. Pressing the shovel blade back into the soil, she -
“You don’t happen to have any Chardonnay on you, do you?” Walter pointed to the empty glass in hand. “I’d even settle for a 1998. Although, if you ask me, the year was dreadful for - ”
“Walter.”
Walter shrugged and turned around, slowly approaching the porch and propping himself down to sit next to the wooden post. Shaking her head and muttering some words of profound disbelief, May pushed her shovel further into the ground and continued digging.
Perhaps the day had a rough start, but at least soon she’d dress up nicely and do her make-up just as she’d planned. And if later at the party Walter saw a wine bottle or two land in May’s bag, so be it.
She’d just call it hustling.