Blooming

Friendships and love may be blooming in this chapter.

   Gustafa was right, I felt much better the next morning.  Things didn't seem so bad in the beautiful morning light.  Most importantly, I had poured my heart out to someone and he hadn't rejected me.  I considered Gustafa my best friend, even though I missed Julius.  But, I didn't feel the same way about Julius.  My thoughts returned to last night.  I had felt so safe and warm in Gustafa's arms.  He was so sweet and kind and gentle.  I blushed hotly as I remembered accidentally tangling my fingers in his beard, which felt surprisingly soft.  I suddenly felt warm all over and wished I was back in his arms.  It took a sharp nudge from Daisy to bring me back to reality.  I realized I was standing next to my cow with the brush half-raised.  She wanted to be brushed and her human wasn't cooperating!  Daisy 'mooed' and leaned into me, almost mashing me into the side of the barn.  "Whoa girl!  Settle down." I told her as I quickly finished brushing her.  I hurried through my other chores because I was determined to see Gustafa as soon as possible. 

    I decided to gather wildflowers before going to visit Gustafa.  I needed the extra income from selling them, plus Gustafa loved flowers.  I went across the river to a place I had nicknamed Bald Hill.  It was a rocky little outcrop just south of Vesta's farm that was bare on the top, but had an abundance of grass and wildflowers growing around the base.  It reminded me of a bald man with just a fringe of hair growing around his head.  As I stooped to pick the beautiful flowers, I was reminded of the first time I met Gustafa.  I was picking flowers and he walked up behind me to see what I was doing.  When  he said "Those flowers are called Mist Moon.  Aren't they pretty?" I had nearly wet my pants!  I told him not to sneak up on me like that.  He appologized, but was grinning the whole time.   He told me more about the local plants and I was intrigued by his vast knowledge.   When I asked him why he knew so much about plants, he simply replied, "I love nature.  It inspires my music."  I was smiling at the memory when I heard someone calling my name.  I turned to see Celia running toward me from Vesta's farm.  "Angela, I need your help!" Celia gasped, out of breath.  "What's the matter, Celia, is someone hurt?"  I asked, extremely worried.  There were a lot of ways to get hurt working on a farm.  "No, it's nothing like that." she reassured me, "Come on, I have to show you something."

    I followed Celia to the farm and upstairs to her room in the loft. She reached under her bed, then surprised me by shoving a fluffy, tan ball into my face.  The "ball" started to squirm and I realized it was a puppy!  It stretched its mouth in a huge yawn, then opened its eyes and blinked owlishly at me.  "Oh Celia, he's so cute!  Where did you find him?" I asked.  "I went to the city this morning to run errands for Vesta and I found him in a ditch by the side of the road.  The poor little guy was filthy, but I gave him a bath."  Celia replied with a sweet smile on her face.  "I bet he'll make a great farm dog.  You're so kind hearted, Celia." I told her as I cuddled the warm little puppy.  "Marlin is allergic to dogs, so Vesta won't let me keep him." she said, as sadness clouded her pretty features.   "Do you think you could give him a good home?" she asked hopefully.  I knew mother would have a fit if I brought a "dirty, flea-ridden, farm dog" home with me after the summer was over, but I didn't care.  Mother was miles away and Celia was my friend.  I cared about her and I didn't want to disappoint her.  Besides, the puppy was so cute, and I was lonely.  "Sure Celia, I'd be happy to give him a home." I replied. 

    I carefully carried my new puppy back to my farm, wondering what I should name him.  On the way home, I saw Nami coming across the bridge.  Hmmm, if she likes dogs, I might get her to talk to me a little bit.  Maybe she will finally stop being so distant and rude.  "Hi Nami, look at the puppy Celia gave me." I shouted as I crossed the bridge.  Instead of a sarcastic smirk, a genuine smile graced her lips.  She reached out to pet his fuzzy little head and said, "His pointed ears and coloring look like a Corgi."  I didn't know Nami knew so much about dogs, quite frankly, I didn't know much about her at all.  She continued with a wistful smile, "Back home, we had Corgis.  My mother breeds and shows dogs."  Wow!  She actually told me something about her past.  It worked! 

    It was already noon and the sun was blazing in the sky above.  I suggested we take the puppy over by the park bench near the river.  There were shady trees and I was uncomfortably hot.  Nami walked with me and we sat the puppy down in the grass, then she sat down on the bench.  I sat in the grass in order to keep the puppy corralled.  I didn't want him to fall in the river.  We talked for a while, and played with the frisky little puppy.  Nami instructed me on what to feed him and how to train him.  I was fascinated by how much she knew about dogs, but the stifling heat was taking its toll.  My brain was starting to feel like it was full of cotton.  I was overjoyed that Nami was opening up to me and talking about her past, but the heat was making it hard to focus on what she was saying.  I didn't want to look like a jerk for not paying attention to her, but it was so hot.  I was suddenly distracted by a bead of sweat on Nami's neck.  I watched as it slid down her neck and disappeared between her breasts.  She was leaning forward to pat the puppy again and I could see a wealth of creamy-white cleavage.  I dreamily wondered if Nami would go skinny dipping in the river with me.  Playfully splashing cool water on each others' naked bodies... "Hey, are you paying attention?" Nami asked huffily.  I wrenched my eyes back up to her face and mumbled a pathetic "Sorry, it's just so hot today."  I could feel the heat of a blush starting in my cheeks.  Nami suddenly seemed concerned and said "Hey, you really look like you are overheated.  Maybe you should find a cool place to rest for a while."  She seemed surprised by her own concern and quickly added, "And it's not good for the puppy to be out in this heat.  You'd better take good care of him, or else!"  Nami walked off toward Gustafa's yurt, looking confused.  I was too hot to worry about her odd expression.  I headed home and plopped down on my bed with the puppy. A gentle breeze was blowing through the open window and we were both quickly asleep.

    A knock at the door jerked me awake.  Afternoon sun was slanting through the window.  What was I doing sleeping in the middle of the day?  I stumbled to the door and opened it to see Gustafa.  "I heard you got a new puppy." he said with a cheerful smile.  I showed him in and led him over to the now alert puppy.  We both sat on the bed with the puppy between us.  Gustafa's sensitive fingers found all the itchy places on the puppy, and the little dog seemed lost in ecstasy.  The puppy 'yipped' to get my attention, so I started to pat him too.  "Well, you certainly like a lot of attention, don't you?  I think you're going to be nothing but trouble." I said with a smile.  "Hey, that's a good idea for a name." Gustafa said.  "What do you think, boy?  Is your name Trouble?" he asked the little dog.  He got another 'yip' in reply.  I smiled and said, "That's a perfect name, Gustafa.  Especially since my mother is going to freak out when she discovers I adopted a puppy."  Gustafa suddenly looked more serious.  "Are you really going to leave after the summer?" he asked sadly.  I was surprised by his reaction, and by my own.  I didn't want to leave. I was happy here.  I was making friends, I was becoming a successful farmer, and I was unsure about my feelings for Gustafa.  While I was lost in thought, still patting 'Trouble', my hand brushed Gustafa's hand.  A warm, wonderful feeling flowed up my arm from that gentle touch.  I suddenly didn't want to go home.  "Do you think I could really stay here and become a farmer, Gustafa?" I asked hesitantly.  "That would be groovy, man.  You are already a great farmer." he said encouragingly.  "Besides," he continued in a whisper, "do you really want to go back to a home where no one accepts you for who you really are?"  He was right.  My mother told me not to come home until I got this "odd, experimental behavior" out of my system.  She didn't accept me, most of my "friends" back home didn't accept me, and the rest of the townspeople just gossiped about me.  My only true friend in Castanet was Julius. But, I was supposed to go home after the summer and go to college, then take over dad's shipping business.  Did I really want to make that my life?  Could I really live in a town where everyone talked about me?   "You're right, Gustafa.  You are pretty perceptive, you know that?" I gave him a shaky smile, suddenly unsure of my future.  "I just pay attention to the people I care about." he said with a gentle smile.  He cares about me!  "You know, I think Nami cares about you too.  She told me you were having heat stroke or something and ordered me to check on you.  She must have really been worred about you." Gustafa said gently.  I was speechless.  Had Nami really been concerned about me?  Was there a possibility of more than just friendship there?  Gustafa cut into my confused thoughts by saying, "I think your future is here in Forget-Me-Not Valley."

Author's Note

Things are getting complicated. Who will Angela end up with?

Reviews

[Emunah June.]

Nami or Gufasta? Gufasta or Nami? @__@ Woah my head is spinning...better keep reading to find out.