Charlie's No Good Very Bad Day Part 2

Charlie made his way to the farm walking at a brisk pace and didn't make eye contact with anyone he passed. It would be more tilling today to prepare the fields for early spring planting. It was almost time for the wheat, oats, and peas to go in.

Before long Charlie arrived at the barn where the community tools were kept to pick up a hoe and be told where he'd be working today. Charlie had been walking fast so he arrived before the other children. The adult farmers had already been up and working for a few hours. Only Old Joe remained in the barn. He was rocking back in forth in an beat up wicker chair that was almost as old as he was.

Charlie picked up a hoe from that rack and approached the old man who appeared to be sleeping but with Joe you never could tell.

"Joe." Charlie grunted. No response.

"Joe!" Still nothing.

Charlie approached Joe and started tapping his shoulder, "Old man, wake up."

Joe suddenly stated awake and almost toppled over in his chair, "It wasn't me mother! A troll ate that pie, I would never!"

Joe was half asleep but soon came to his senses and squinted in Charlie's direction. "Who's there sneaking up on me?"

Charlie rolled his eyes, "I wasn't sneaking Joe, I need today's assignment." Charlie wanted to be well on his way before any other children arrived, especially Peter's gang.

"Sleep?" Joe replied and shook a long bony finger at Charlie. "Don't you tell me what I was doing boy. Just resting my eyes. You want an assignment? Ah, Charlie! Thought I recognized that mopey voice. Come closer, I don't hear so well these days."

Charlie reluctantly took a step closer, "Yes, it's Charlie."

Joe took a look at Charlie's face and frowned, "What in the nine hells happened to you!? That's one big shiner."

"I tripped."

Joe cocked his head, "Tripped huh? Has the doc taken a look, don't let that scrape get rotten. I've seen sour wounds kill more people then you've met in your whole life. Why, I remember back in my younger days before my family moved to Clearspring Village a stable hand got bitten by a horse and..."

"Sure! I'll make sure to get it looked at! Can I get my assignment, please!" Charlie interrupted what was sure to be yet another long rambling story.

Joe scoffed, "Someone sure is eager today? Fine, fine. Head over to the northeast and finish the tilling you stated yesterday."

Joe hadn't even finished speaking and Charlie was halfway out the barn door.

"Hey kid!" Joe shouted, "My granddaughter will be working out that way. Keep an eye on her! Make sure she takes plenty of breaks! And tell her to stay hydrated!!"

"Yeah Joe! Got it!" Charlie shouted back as he took off towards the northeast. 'Rebecca huh? That's fine, at least she minds her own business.'

Old Joe sat back in his chair after Charlie left. "Kids those days, always in a rush, no manners." He closed his eyes and started to rock. "I'll just rest my eyes before the other brats show up. All that shouting tired me out."

"Yup, just a little shut eye, Yawnnnnn." Soon the only sounds in the barn was a creaky rocking chair and Joe's deep snoring.

...

The sun was now well and truly up in the sky and Charlie used his dusty sleeve to wipe the sweat from his brow. He was halfway done with the morning's work and despite his cheek stinging every time he started to sweat his mood was much improved. The repetitive labor turned out to be a welcome distraction and loathe as he was to admit it to himself, Charlie took pride in that he could work that much longer and harder since he started farm chores a year ago.

"Time for a break." Charlie plopped down on the soil and took a long drink from what was left of his now cool barley tea. Had any drink ever tasted so good?

His eyes started to wander and landed on the only other person in the vicinity, Rebecca.

She was a little ways off, closer to where the farmland met the forest. She had her back to Charlie and the sun glistened off her braided auburn hair. It was like a bright jewel was suddenly exposed in the dirt and even from a distance Charlie couldn't help but be mesmerized.

She abruptly turned her head and her hazel eyes sparked in the sunlight. Her face was as covered in dirt and sweat as Charlie's but in his eyes she was radiant.

She shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand and caught Charlie's eye. Then smiled and waved in his direction with the other hand.

The parts of Charlie's face that weren't already colored by the bruise immediately flushed red. He sheepishly waved back and then quickly turned away. 'She caught me staring at her like a creep! What is wrong with me? We barely know each other!'

Rebecca was three years older than Charlie so they hadn't interacted much growing up. They'd only had a few pleasant interactions in passing. No one in the village had a bad word to say about Rebecca and even Charlie had to admit her only fault was having an annoying grandfather.

Charlie finished his drink in a hurry and decided to throw himself back into work. He raised his hoe into the air and it hit the dirt with a satisfying "Thunk!" Charlie took a step and held the high once again preparing to strike when, "Thunk". He heard the sound of hoe hitting dirt right beside him. Charlie turned his head toward the sound and went slack jawed.

The most splendid specimen of a human being Charlie had ever seen in his life was right next to Charlie pulling a hoe through the dirt. His hair was shocking white, disheveled and long, but the man was obviously young. He wore the same style of workers clothing that Charlie wore but on this man they could compare to a royal's vestments. The stranger stood up to his full hight which was almost double Charlie's and looked Charlie in the eye. His body was toned and lean and his skin looked tan and healthy.

Charlie looked into the man's piercing ice blue eyes, still shocked. The man flashed Charlie a devilish grin.

"Nothing like an honest days work, eh Charlie!?" The man said with a wink.

Charlie stammered unintelligibly in response.

The man then nodded and in one fluid motion picked up the hoe had had just been using and tossed it into the sky. The hoe spun and spun in the air before "pop" it vanished. One instant up in the and the next it was gone.

The glorious man pointed to where the hoe disappeared and the pointed at Charlie. His face split into a wide open grin.

"Hahahhahahhahahahahhahahaehahhahahha!!!!" He threw his head back and laughed like a madman.

Charlie, "..."