The Barkeep

The New Farmer

        Spring in Forget-Me-Not Valley was always quiet. People were caught between wanting to leave their houses and staying inside, residual feelings from winter forcing them to take shelter. The trees were not yet in full bloom, and only the hardiest of flowers dare yet take root. It even seemed as if birds were holding their breath, not quite ready to burst into song.
        He stood in the bar wiping out a glass with a clean rag and sighed to himself, lost in thought.  He'd been just a young boy when Galen and Nina got married.  He remembered even as a child being jealous of the love they shared.  Many people have come, married and left Forget-Me-Not Valley but it seemed as those who stayed never married.  Cody, the artist, spent all his time working on his metal sculptures and the firework makers Patrick and Kassey had once said they weren't interested in wives as it would take them from their work.  Vesta had been married to a city man once but Forget-Me-Not Valley was too slow paced for him and in time he left the valley as well. Marlin had moved to the valley shortly thereafter. There had been two farmers that had moved here some years ago, the younger of the two would have been the same age as him.  The farmer had intended to send a letter to the wife he had left back in the town but before the end of one season he had become ill and died.  The older farmer, Takakura stayed on the farm but never farmed the land.  It had been about twenty years since they had come, recently he had gotten word that the younger farmer's daughter wanted to come to the valley.  He knew that newcomers never stayed long but he was genuinely interested to see how long she'd last.
        "Griffin?"  Muffy's voice drew him away from his thoughts.
        "Yeah?" His voice came out more gruffly than he had intended.  He cleared his throat and spoke more softly.  "What is it, Muffy?"
        Muffy sat on the other side of the bar while Griffin wiped it down.  "Why didn't you ever marry?  I know there have been lots of women that have come and left the valley." She crossed her arms keeping her pale blue bathrobe tight wrapped around her.
        "Yeah, young women that wanted to live in the city.  They want an adventure and I'm just an old man." He scoffed, turning away from her to put the last of the mugs on the neatly organized shelf.
        She frowned slightly but before she could respond the door behind her opened.  A girl with brown hair pulled back into a messy ponytail shut the door quietly behind her.
        "Uh, hello." She spoke softly, her voice shaking as she caught her breath.  "Takakura suggested I meet everyone, and I've met everyone else so this is my last stop."
        Griffin still faced the shelf away from the door.  "We're not open." He stated bluntly.
        Muffy glared at Griffin before turning kindly to the stranger.  "We aren't open yet so we can't serve you anything but feel free to rest here." She smiled at her.
        "Thank you." She smiled and sat on the stool next to Muffy.  "My name is Lily." She introduced herself.
        Muffy stood and walked to the other side of the counter and filled one of the clean glasses with water and set it in front of Lily.  "My name is Muffy, I am the waitress here." she gestured to the man with his back turned.  "And this is Griffin, he is the bar tender and owner of the bar."
        Griffin rearranged bottles on the shelf, seeming to ignore the conversation.
        Muffy smiled apologetically. "Well feel free to rest before heading out again, I have to get ready."
        "Nice meeting you." Lily smiled as the other woman walked into the back of the bar.  Once she was gone Lily took a sip of water from her glass and sat in an awkward silence.
        Griffin looked at a few of the unopened bottles on the shelf. "Have you seen your farm yet?" He asked suddenly.
        "Oh yes, its uh…nice…I guess."  Lily tried to fake enthusiasm.
        "Takakura hasn't really kept up with the place has he." He inquired.
        Lily shook her head.  "No, not at all.  He only has one cow and the fields are overrun with weeds.  But I'm sure I can handle it."  She added quickly.
        "Hm." Griffin turned his back to her again.  "Since you're here, would you like to try a new juice?"
        Lily looked bewildered.  "Sure, if it's no trouble." She said apprehensively.
        He only took a moment to mix the juice together then set the pink drink in front of her.  
        She picked the glass up gently and smelled the drink.  It smelled fruity, taking a sip she smiled.  "It's fantastic."
        Griffin leaned against the opposite wall facing her, smiling softly. "Well drink up."
        They continued making awkward small talk until Lily finished her drink, all the while seeming genuinely interested in everything Griffin told her about the valley and its inhabitants.  Checking the clock, Griffin walked around the side of the bar to the door, catching the scent of roses as he flipped the closed sign on the door to open.
        Lily frowned slightly.  "Is it that late already?"  
        "Five pm."
        "I should be getting home.  I need to milk the cow and get ready to clear the fields tomorrow." Lily stood.  "Thank you for the drink." She smiled up at him before walking out the door he held open for her.
        "Welcome." The scent of roses filled his head as watched her walk down the road toward her farm.
        From the other side of the bar Muffy giggled.  "That seemed like it went well"
     "Hm." Griffin drew his attention away from the girl walking down the road.  "Get ready, we're opening." He shut the door.
        Muffy put a hand on her hip, biting her cheek while watching him.  "You really need to get out more if a girl like her flusters you."

        Takakura leaned over Lily's shoulder teaching her how to milk the cow.  "Takakura? What do you know about the bar keeper?"
        He pondered for a moment carefully pulling the bucket out from under the cow.  "He is a lonely man, never married.  He's younger than me and he spends all his time in the bar Except for Wednesdays when he goes into town.  Why do you ask?"
        "He seemed nice is all." Lily took the bucket from him as they left the barn and went to the shipping building to put the milk in the cold storage.
        "He's a little younger than your father would have been."
        She nodded straining to lift the bucket up into the fridge.
        Takakrua patted her on the back with a gruff chuckle.  "You will get used to this in time.  Get to bed."
        Lily nodded again, yawning as she headed toward her house.