Tiger Eye - Sam (Stardew Valley)

5

Spring 19

Wren fiddled with the pen in her hand, sitting at her kitchen table. She'd told her parents she would write to them by the end of the month, but every letter she tried to draft turned nasty and bitter.

She wanted them to think she was doing good. She was doing good, but she needed them to know just how good. She wanted them to eat their words.

'You can't handle it! Plain and simple Wren. I grew up there. I worked, not how you did when your grandpa pulled you around in a wagon. I worked. I got blisters, sun burns, cuts and bruises. It is not something you can handle!' Her father had shouted from the bottom of the stairs as Wren threw the few belongings she'd brought back from Peters into a bag.

'I am nothing like you.' she yelled back, throwing it over her shoulder. She'd finally heard back from Mayor Lewis that morning, that the farmhouse was still standing, power turned on and hot(ish) water running. She didn't want to waste a second.

Shooting down the stairs and past her father, she saw the tears in her mother's eyes.

'Wren, please. You have options.'

'That 'option' is going to end up beating me. It's no longer an option.'

She threw the pen across the kitchen before turning to the door. Maybe tomorrow will work.

After slipping on her rubber boots, she opened the door to see Elliott at the bottom of her steps.

"Miss Vale." He smiled up at her. She couldn't help hearing Sam's voice as he spoke.

"Elliott. Hows the book."

"I've struck gold. I had to tear myself away from the paper to come visit you."

"And what do I owe the pleasure?" She smiled, stepping down to him.

"I've come to inquire about duck feathers." He smiled, looking out to the farm.

"You heard I got a coop, huh?" She looked out at the farm, proud of the progress she's made. The coop was finished two days ago, and she was at Marnie's door as it was unlocked to grab some chicks.

"They're still little. But, I'll be sure to deliver you one when they're grown. What uh... what do you need a feather for?"

"Call me old fashion, but they make wonderful quills." Elliott said, seemingly proud.

"What a distinguished gentleman you are!" Wren giggled, pushing his arm lightly. She could not wait to get to the Saloon to tell Sam.

**

"A duck feather?!? As a quill? Is he writing on a scroll too?" Sam's face was red from laughing. He leaned against the billiards table, rubbing chalk on the end of his cue.

"Yes! I am to deliver one to his cabin as soon as they're ready for plucking!"

Sam's eyebrow raised, "Maybe he'll thank you with a good plucking."

"Jealousy isn't a good look on you, friend." Wren teased, taking the cue from his hands. She and Sam had gotten into the habit of getting to the Saloon early to play a round of billiards before Abby and Seb joined them.

Leaning over the table, she sank her last ball. Looking to the rest of the table, Sam still had 5.

"How can you play weekly and be this bad?"

He paused, a smirk slinking to his lips.

"I'm bad, huh?"

"Yes, like criminally bad."