Helping out Dan was simple. Despite his shabby appearance, Dan was incredibly organized. Jon almost found it amusing that even though his own house was clean, Jassiter could never seem to find anything, and Dan always knew where everything was at all times in the mess that was his farm.

They rolled up the crops into several different bundles and put them on Dan’s large wagon, which was pulled by two horses at the front. The stand that Dan sold his props on was still on the wagon from last time, as well as the bandwagon Dan used to do deliveries.

Dan took the driver’s seat and Jon sat next to him.

“Onwards and upwards,” Dan said with his usual dry demeanor.

He flicked the reins and the horses went forward.

The first leg of the journey was quiet, if not for the creaking of the wheels underneath them. Jon always felt a small shiver when the wagon passed over the bridge at the border of the Farm. The river that passed under it marked the border that separated the land known as “The Farm,” and the wilds that existed outside of it.

Of course, it wasn’t that wild. It was just a long winding path that went through several stout hills, making what should have been a short journey of a little more than half a day. Thankfully, Dan always traveled on days when there was barely any traffic. Jon never knew how Dan could tell when to leave. And he had never asked why.

Jon wasn’t worried about the grassy plains that they traveled on. What he was worried about was the forest that stood forebodingly across from the path.

The forest marked another border of the farm. Nobody would go in it. There, creatures probably roamed around freely while not leaving the trees that seemed to keep them in. Apparently, those same creatures used to live on the Farm years before they were pushed back. This was what Jon heard from his siblings anyway. They were the only ones who ever seemed interested in what the forest held.

Jon also knew that, at the Apartha Townsend, there was a road that led into the forest. It was the road that most out-of-towners came through. More often than not, they came with bodyguards who escorted them through. That was more than enough of a reason for Jon not to become too curious.

Dan finally broke the silence.

“How was the test?”

“Uhh…” Jon stumbled in his response.

Dan broke out into laughter before Jon could give his usual answer.

“I’m sorry, Jon," he said with a large grin. "I’m just teasing. I love seeing your face when I ask that question. It gets funnier every time.”

Jon was at least happy that Dan got some enjoyment out of his misfortunes. It was better than seeing his father's sour face.

“I seen those bodyguards that come through town. by the way," Dan continued. "Those mercenary types. Some of them anyway. I’m sure if you want something to do they’ll take you on. Hell of a shot, amiright?”

Jon shook his head side to side.

“I don’t want to hurt people,” Jon said.

“If that was true you’d pass the darn test. Save your Dad a lot of pain.”

Dan broke out into laughter again over his joke. Jon could only feel sour.

“I’m sorry, I'm sorry.” Dan wiped a tear from his eye. “I just love seeing Jassiter’s face.”

“I don’t want my Dad to be sad,” Jon said, sinking a little more into his seat.”

“Jon…” Dan kept his eyes on the road, but he patted Jon’s back. “It’s not your fault. It’s his fault. All his other kids done raised themselves. Now he has to raise you the hard way.”

“I still don’t want him to feel bad,” Jon said. “And I don’t want to be anyone’s burden.”

Dan gave another few pats on the back.

“That’s the attitude that’ll get you somewhere, Jon. It just takes time, that’s all.”

Jon appreciated Dan’s support. He just wished that he deserved it.

They pulled into town, a little bit before noon.

Jon had taken the rest of the trip to evaluate his life. He was going to do something new.

He was going to ask Farmer Dan a question.

“...Why is there no one else from the farm when we come here?” Jon asked.

“That’s ‘cause we wake up earlier than everyone else,” Dan said. “We farmers are early people. Though I suppose, if everyone’s a farmer, it doesn’t seem very early, does it.”

“...Oh….”

“Also, no one, and I mean, no one comes here from the farm. Just the usual weekly shipment that the town pays for.”

The wagon slowed down as it went into the town center. Jon didn’t know why it was called the town center when it was at the edge of town, but he would take things one step at a time.

Jon did know it was where all of the other stands had been set up to sell things. There was a large enough space where everyone could set up if they didn’t want to go too far in.

Dan continued his explanation. “I mean, if we come on a different day from the shipments…”

He and Jon stepped out of their end of the wagon, going to the back so that they could lift Dan’s stand from the back of the wagon.

“...then, of course, you won’t see any Farmers. They’re too busy farming.”

“Yeah…” With a heave, they moved the stand until it was facing its usual direction towards the main road.

The Apartha Townsend wasn’t very big at all. It was more densely populated than the farm, and everyone lived in buildings that housed multiple families and lined up alongside the road that traveled through the center of town.

Dan brushed his hands. “Okay, I have something I need you to do today.”

“What’s that?” Jon asked.

“Hi, Dan!” A woman with a dress was setting up a stand not too far away.

Dan waved back. “Howdy!”

“Hi, Jon…”

Jon was quickly flustered.

“Hi…” he said meekly. He hadn’t even turned to face her.

“The boy said, ‘hi!’” Dan called. He then returned his attention to Jon.

“I’mma need you to go take some things up to Farmer Graves.”

Jon gave Dan a dirty look, this time on purpose.

Farmer Graves? Graves was a farmer who didn’t live on the farm. From what Jon knew, Graves had removed himself from there a long time ago because he wasn’t happy with how the Farm was being handled. Jon remembered his older brother, Jason, asking Jassiter about Graves when they were younger.

“Graves… is a great man… and a dodgy old bastard who doesn’t like being bothered.” Dodging a dirty look from Vel, Jassiter had returned to his lunch content with his answer.

Whenever Jassiter didn’t like anything, he was always willing to casually complain about it in front of the entire family without caring who would listen. And even then, Jassiter liked a lot of people. For his Dad to show so much disdain for a person made a huge impression on Jon when he was younger.

And that impression seemingly hadn’t left his side.

“But my Dad said that-”

“He’s a great man and a bastard. I know the spiel. But I think it’s time for you to make your own impression of him.”

Dan placed his hand firmly and dramatically on Jon’s shoulder.

Then he gave Jon one of his famous toothy smiles.

Jon grimaced.

Knowing that Farmer Dan had never asked Jon for help with nearly anything new meant that he was serious, and Jon was rather tired of disappointing everyone. So, he gathered up everything in a tight bundle that was nearly Jon's size into a handwagon.

“Okay, he’s gonna quiz you, so here you go.” Dan handed Jon a list. “I think you should have remembered what some of them do.”

“Uh…”

“Doesn’t matter. Just tell him you’re Jassiter’s son. He’ll love that.”

“Uh…”

Dan patted Jon on the back. “Just go up that road, all the way until it leaves town.”

Jon traced the road up through the town until it reached the bottom of a giant hill and continued to climb up.

“Ohh…”

Jon made his way through the Townsend. It was mildly crowded now. People went up and down the streets. Jon saw the insides of many buildings, places that he might have been curious enough to go into if he had ever had enough curiosity.

He spent most of his time hiding behind the stand at the end of town.

Like always, Jon was bombarded by sensations as he watched the people go by. They didn’t wear the overalls like other farmers. They were content with shirts and pants and robes.

Not that Jon ever complained. He never had to think about what to wear every day.

Soon, he had made his way out of town and started up the hill. It wasn’t as bad as Jon had initially thought. He made it up with not much effort, and found himself able to overlook the town when he turned around.

“Wow…” Jon said to himself. The town had looked so small from there.

Jon turned back to the continuing path. It had disappeared into the sparse area of trees that laid alongside the path. Up ahead, Jon could see it.

There was no way Jon could describe it other than an evil version of his house. It was just as tall as the other farmer homes, but it was made out of black stone material, with a large red roof, rather than the natural wood and stone color Jon saw at home.

Fighting off his shivers, Jon went forward.

Once he was at the door, began to knock.

The door suddenly flew open.

“Is that Dan?” The voice asked suddenly.

Jon was staring at the chest of a man who wore farmer’s overalls and a white t-shirt when he was scared back. After several steps back, he looked up.

There was an older man with a scowl, and, much like Jassiter, had a bald head with a large scruffy beard, except that the beard was grey and white.

Also, Jon had to look up to see his face, but the man was hunched over, looking at Jon.

“You’re not Dan.”

“No… I-”

“Then who are you!” The words made Jon jump.

“I’m Jon!” he answered. “Jon!”

“Then say so! I mean, I don’t really care who you are. Just don’t stand there looking like an idiot.”

Jon wanted to say that if he didn’t know what else to do in the situation, then he was an idiot at that moment, but the man just kept speaking.

“Are you… Farmer Graves?” Jon asked.

“No. I’m your great-grandmother Agatha. Who do you think lives here?” Graves pointed to the house behind him with his thumb as he spoke indignantly.

Jon was starting to understand at least part of what his father felt. Just not the part about the great man.

“I… I’m here to deliver stuff for Farmer Dan.” Jon decided to be forward with Graves. It seemed to be what he wanted. “And my name is Jon.”

“Alright… Farmer Jon…

Jon winced at the words.

“Come inside.”

Jon’s eyebrows arched in confusion. “But I have to-”

“Come inside!” Graves turned and went into the house.

Jon sighed and began to wheel the items in.

“What are you doing, boy?” Jon, exasperated, dropped the bandwagon and turned around to see what Graves was going on about.

“Leave the cart!”

There weren’t many people Jon didn’t like in this world. Heck, he even made room for his father in his heart, because he knew that things were tough between them.

Jon was starting very much not to like this man.