Taking Root (Stardew Valley - Shane)

Chapter Thirteen

Usually in the valley, you wake up in the morning to the beautiful sounds of nature. The sweet chorus of a robin perched outside of your window, the pattering of rainfall against the wooded areas of maple trees - the soft chirping of crickets lying in the undergrowth. Today, however, I was stirred from sleep by the door taps of a determined old man and his trusty walking stick.

"Lewis." I half-greeted as I swung the cabin door open, rubbing at my eyelids and blessing my visitor with a big yawn.

"Good morning, Sophie. Still not an early bird I see-" Lewis started with his usual words dripping in judgement - but then his moustache twitched a little and his eyebrow raised. "-That's fine, of course. Maybe I am the strange one for always being up so early."

I didn't really know how to respond with anything other than an awkward laugh. I was still half asleep. My mind was still anchored in the dream I was having five minutes ago, about my childhood school, and the pigeons that lined the canteen roof, and the taste of batch-made sticky toffee pudding with lumpy custard.

"Well. I came over here to discuss something with you. Have you seen the old community building north from the town centre?"
"No... I don't think so. Maybe I have- I don't really remember."
"You mustn't have visited that way yet, because if you had seen it, I'm sure you would remember. Unfortunately, it's fallen into disrepair as of late. I can't believe we even let it get this far - it used to be a place for community, for town values - I'm sure you'll laugh when you see it."

The community centres back in the city were places where they sent troubled children, teenagers with criminal backgrounds. Where they would hold weekly group sessions for the local drug addicts to bond and work through their problems. I couldn't imagine what one would look like in a place like Pelican Town - although, there were one or two people here who could benefit from Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Why, what's so bad about it?" I questioned, wondering if Lewis was exaggerating to an extent, or whether it really was some kind of town disaster.
"It's completely run down! Nobody has set a foot inside of that building for a long time. I've got Jojamart pressurising me about the land - they can have it over my dead body, of course - but we simply don't have the budget to carry out any worthwhile repairs."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear it- another Joja building would be awful." I spoke my thoughts aloud as quickly as they entered my mind. "One is enough, right?"
"Well I'm glad you have that attitude. You've got your grandpa's morals in you, girl." Lewis chirped, digging the end of his cane into the soil in repetitive motions. "I just knew you'd be willing to help."

My eyes widened. "Help?"

"Yes- you're up for it, of course? You don't have to commit to anything right now, Sophie. But I'd like you to at least take a look at the place."
"But what can I do about it?"
"Well it's bordering on being more of a mess inside than out. We need clear access to all doors, but some of the rooms are barricaded with old boxes stacked sky high, and that's not mentioning some of the stuff that's been dumped there."

"I don't know how strong you think I am, Lewis, but I think you're overestimating." I laughed nervously, scratching at the back of my head. I was no longer drifting in and out of sleepiness. I was awake and sharp as a pin, honed in on Lewis' words like they were fleeting subtitles to a foreign film.

"I've seen you lugging about the wood on the farm, setting up all of these planters. Besides, you obviously won't be alone. You'll have Marnie's nephew to help."

"Shane?"

"Yes - he's got a good set of shoulders on him, that boy." Lewis laughed to himself.
"Are you joking? Lewis, there is no way in hell that Shane is going to help."