The Goddess Pond

Beginnings...

Abruptly and dramatically I was awoke by the sound of a shrieking girl from the fields. Instantaneously I leapt out my bed, dashed to my dressing gown and ripped it off the hook. I put my arms through the sleeves, then quickly tied the strap around my waist.

I flung the door wide open and threw myself into the bitter January air. I ran around the farm, hunting for the source of the shriek, but I found nothing.

I returned back to the cottage, my heart beating out of my chest, my breathing accelerating. I lay down on the bed and began to drift into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, as soon as I shut my eyes I was jolted in my right arm by a unusual suspect, the Mayor.

"Up and at 'em now then Lloyd! Let's see what you truly know about running a farm." He exclaimed, "C'mon its 6AM! Time for you to get up!"

It was dark outside, being only January, it wouldn't be light for another 2 hours or more. Surely he was joking, right? We couldn't farm in this even if we wanted too. We can't even see what's in front of us. I respect his thought of me learning the 'farming ways' but this had no benefits.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower to freezing cold, just to give me that kick that finally woke me up. I jolted in the shower occasionally, when the freezing water pelted my back.

After washing my body and my hair, I turned off the shower and reached to find my towel. I grabbed it, patted my face and hair and stepped out.  I quickly dried my body, jumped into my clothes, (denim dungarees, crimson red shirt and thick, solid black boots), and ran outside to find Phillip tapping his feet impatiently on the wet mud floor.

"Took your time then!" he boldly exclaimed. 

To which I replied with, "I was only 20 minutes! You should expect nothing less from me, especially at 6AM!"

"That's part of the package as the new farmer. This time EVERY MORNING! You'll find yourself getting in the swing of things soon."

"But what if I don't?"

"Well you'll suffer the consequences then! Haha! C'mon then, let's get too it!"

He showed me around the farm firstly, which seemed quite pointless considering it was still dark out. Mayor Phillip was so eager though, (as was I, but not this early in the morning), I couldn't stop him from showing me around. Then it hit me...

This is a major responsibility. This isn't just a hobby or a bit of fun, this will be my life from now on. It clicked. I needed to get my brain into gear quick. 

Like a blur, Mayor Phillip was gone and left me with a bag of turnip seeds, basic tools and some bread. It seemed a bit unique to be given these, but it's what I required to begin this new life as a farmer.