Chapter 46: It's my birthday and I cry if I want to
Autumn has come and with it Harmony's last term of High School. Soon Harvestfest will end the term, and then Harmony will age up and leave school. She can't wait. While having managed to become an A-student, she doesn't have as easy a time with it as Link did. Maybe because what she does when she gets home is write instead of doing her homework?
But that too has paid off, as she has finished her first collection of short stories. "A Beachy Romance" she calls the collection, as she asks her father to read it and give her feedback.
It's so hard not to interrupt him with a "what do you think?" every five minutes.
When he's finished reading, Jamie gives her some pointers on how to improve it, while an eager Harmony takes notes.
The next day she sends her stories in to be published in a magazine.
She's less than impressed when she gets the payment.
"How am I going to live on that!?!"
"When you improve, so will the size of your payments," her father tells her. "Just keep working, and remember, few authors are only authors. Until they've made a name for themselves, they need other jobs too."
That wasn't really what Harmony had hoped for.
"But it was good, wasn't it?"
"It had a lot potential," Jamie answers diplomatically. "You just need to find your style, and that takes time for everyone."
Harmony complains to Claudia, who doesn't really seem sympathetic. "You got your very first story published, how horrible."
"But I made so little."
"It made something, how many people can say that about anything they do? Come on!"
It's good to have a friend that keeps you grounded, and who supports you. "You'll be an amazing author one day, I just know it." Harmony feels tingles going down her spine, very aware of how close Claudia is at the moment, and is both disappointed and relieved when Claudia announces that she wants to see the room where the unappreciated master piece was written. "It's really not much, just this," Harmony says, but there is something new in Claudias beautiful green eyes, and suddenly the two girls are very close again. And then suddenly Harmony decides to take a leap of faith.
Which turns out to be a very good thing as Claudia pulls her closer. "About time," she whispers. Harmony's heart is soaring in the air.
Harvestfest starts the next morning, with Amity angering one of the gnomes. Christmas is quickly there, telling Amity to back away while putting the offending gnome into her inventory and promptly selling it. "Gnome for sale, comes with extra flame attached."
"I gave it a toy!" Amity complains over breakfast. "How can that make it angry?"
"Gnomes only likes sallad, everyone knows that," Harmony says confidently.
She might have spoken with a bit more confidence that she should have. Apparently not all gnomes likes sallad.
"Told you so!" Amity calls from a safe distance, as Christmas hurries up and pockets this gnome too. "Green gnome for sale, complete with flame and a temper. Lots of personality on offer."
The guests arrives a few hours later, and soon the little house is filled to the brim with people.
Everyone has arrived, save for Valentine, who has sent his best wishes. Link broght Daisy too, as her family is celebrating in Tartosa and she didn't want to go there.
"No one should spend Harvestfest alone," he said, insisting she'd come.
Harmony tells her grandmother all about her published stories.
It's a great holiday, and for Harmony, the best part is that it's not even over yet. Everyone stays in San Sequoia for the night, as the next day, she celebrates her birthday. Finally a YA! No more high school, real life here I come!
Harmony's birthday is not the only one in the family. In complete surprise, Sunny has invited the family to Oasis Springs to celebrate his, even though the real date is way off. Maybe he wanted the family around, maybe he thought the late night in autumn would bring his son, or maybe he just started feeling old*. Fact is, he misses his son so much it hurts, and to be honest, the ordeal has left it's mark on him. He no longer has the same spring in his step, and he feels as old as he now looks.
Still the party itself is nice, he supposed, even if he'd trade it for a moment or two with his son in a heartbeat. It's night time, so there is little reason for Valentine not to be there. He's just not. At least he gets a nice painting from Christmas for a birthday present.
For Harmony, the party was a better success. As she speaks to her brother about her dreams of exploring as many worlds as she can, Sandy hears her and offers her Sunny's old room so she can explore Oasis Springs. Harmony jumps at the idea, and Christmas and Jamie is relieved that her venture out into the world will be with someone they trust, even if they'll miss their daughter as she moves away.
* Sunny's birthday party was an in game invite, that took me a bit by surprise as he really wasn't due to age up yet, but it fit the story so why not? As a result the guests were also game generated, and Valentine was very notably not one of the guests.
But that too has paid off, as she has finished her first collection of short stories. "A Beachy Romance" she calls the collection, as she asks her father to read it and give her feedback.
It's so hard not to interrupt him with a "what do you think?" every five minutes.
When he's finished reading, Jamie gives her some pointers on how to improve it, while an eager Harmony takes notes.
The next day she sends her stories in to be published in a magazine.
She's less than impressed when she gets the payment.
"How am I going to live on that!?!"
"When you improve, so will the size of your payments," her father tells her. "Just keep working, and remember, few authors are only authors. Until they've made a name for themselves, they need other jobs too."
That wasn't really what Harmony had hoped for.
"But it was good, wasn't it?"
"It had a lot potential," Jamie answers diplomatically. "You just need to find your style, and that takes time for everyone."
Harmony complains to Claudia, who doesn't really seem sympathetic. "You got your very first story published, how horrible."
"But I made so little."
"It made something, how many people can say that about anything they do? Come on!"
It's good to have a friend that keeps you grounded, and who supports you. "You'll be an amazing author one day, I just know it." Harmony feels tingles going down her spine, very aware of how close Claudia is at the moment, and is both disappointed and relieved when Claudia announces that she wants to see the room where the unappreciated master piece was written. "It's really not much, just this," Harmony says, but there is something new in Claudias beautiful green eyes, and suddenly the two girls are very close again. And then suddenly Harmony decides to take a leap of faith.
Which turns out to be a very good thing as Claudia pulls her closer. "About time," she whispers. Harmony's heart is soaring in the air.
Harvestfest starts the next morning, with Amity angering one of the gnomes. Christmas is quickly there, telling Amity to back away while putting the offending gnome into her inventory and promptly selling it. "Gnome for sale, comes with extra flame attached."
"I gave it a toy!" Amity complains over breakfast. "How can that make it angry?"
"Gnomes only likes sallad, everyone knows that," Harmony says confidently.
She might have spoken with a bit more confidence that she should have. Apparently not all gnomes likes sallad.
"Told you so!" Amity calls from a safe distance, as Christmas hurries up and pockets this gnome too. "Green gnome for sale, complete with flame and a temper. Lots of personality on offer."
The guests arrives a few hours later, and soon the little house is filled to the brim with people.
Everyone has arrived, save for Valentine, who has sent his best wishes. Link broght Daisy too, as her family is celebrating in Tartosa and she didn't want to go there.
"No one should spend Harvestfest alone," he said, insisting she'd come.
Harmony tells her grandmother all about her published stories.
It's a great holiday, and for Harmony, the best part is that it's not even over yet. Everyone stays in San Sequoia for the night, as the next day, she celebrates her birthday. Finally a YA! No more high school, real life here I come!
Harmony's birthday is not the only one in the family. In complete surprise, Sunny has invited the family to Oasis Springs to celebrate his, even though the real date is way off. Maybe he wanted the family around, maybe he thought the late night in autumn would bring his son, or maybe he just started feeling old*. Fact is, he misses his son so much it hurts, and to be honest, the ordeal has left it's mark on him. He no longer has the same spring in his step, and he feels as old as he now looks.
Still the party itself is nice, he supposed, even if he'd trade it for a moment or two with his son in a heartbeat. It's night time, so there is little reason for Valentine not to be there. He's just not. At least he gets a nice painting from Christmas for a birthday present.
For Harmony, the party was a better success. As she speaks to her brother about her dreams of exploring as many worlds as she can, Sandy hears her and offers her Sunny's old room so she can explore Oasis Springs. Harmony jumps at the idea, and Christmas and Jamie is relieved that her venture out into the world will be with someone they trust, even if they'll miss their daughter as she moves away.
* Sunny's birthday party was an in game invite, that took me a bit by surprise as he really wasn't due to age up yet, but it fit the story so why not? As a result the guests were also game generated, and Valentine was very notably not one of the guests.
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