Chapter one.

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    I just stared at the door, scared of what lies on the other side. 

You can do it, Cameron, just go in! I urged myself. 

    Hestiantaly, I laid my hand on the doorknob. Then I opened it. 

    I saw my Grandpa lay on a bed as a blue blanket with a white trim lay over him. The fireplace firelight illuminated his gray curly beard. I saw the little strange creature called, Junimo, displayed on top of the mantle along with a picture of my Grandmother. 

    Who I saw sitting in the rocking chair beside the bed was my Mother.

She spotted me, got up and dusted off her apron that she was wearing.

     I saw tears glistening in her brown eyes as she nodded at me, she then left the room without saying a word. 

    My Grandpa, who was laying on the bed, looking near to death, turned his old and wise eyes onto me. I walked over to the rocking chair and took my seat. 

    “...and for my very special Grandson: I want you to have this sealed

envelope,” which was all he started with. 

    He then drew out a white envelope with a dark purple seal on it, and handed it to me with his bony hand. 

    I took it and held it delicately, I stared down at it. I went to open it but before I could even touch and ruin the flawless surface, Grandpa said, 

    “No, No, don’t open it yet… have patience.” I nodded in a silent agreement. Grandpa stared me in the eye. 

    “Now, listen close…” he said. He continued to speak.

    “There will be a day when you feel crushed by the burden of modern life…and your bright spirit will fade before a growing emptiness.” 

    “When that happens, my boy, you’ll be ready for this gift,” he said. 

    With one more look at me, he gave a gentle smile, and with one last smile, he closed his eyes and said, 

    “Now, let Grandpa rest…” 

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XX Years later

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    I sighed as I stared blankly at my computer screen, repeating the one memory of my Grandpa with the envelope, with him close to death. 

    I leaned back in my uncomfortable seat in my cubicle, and saw people standing behind the windows. 

    I saw big blue letters on the wall that said, 

                        Joja *

                    Join us. Thrive.

    I set my elbow on my desk, and with my hand upward I rested my head in the center of my palm, feeling bored and like I wanted to cry or at least wanted to shed a single tear. 

    I looked everywhere, something interesting or anything bright and

colorful, but everything and every wall was gray and bland looking. 

    While my head lay in my palm, my eyes slowly traveled to one of my desk draws. I considered opening the draw.

    Then I thought better of it. But you need it, now, just take your hand over, and open it. Slowly though! 

    Yep, my conscience got the better of me. I opened the drawer, and inside I saw the familiar white letter with the dark purple stamp on it that I got from my Grandpa. 

    I had put the envelope in there a while ago, and then never opened the drawer to remove the temptation of not opening it until the time was right, just like Grandpa said. 

    But I thought now was a good time.

    I gingerly picked up the envelope, and I gently took off the seal. Once it was open, I took out the note. 

    Before reading it, I took a deep sigh, then I looked down. The words were written in really nice handwriting so I had no problem seeing what it said. 

    It read, 

Dear Cameron, 

If you’re reading this,  you must be in dire need of a change.

The same thing happened to me, long ago. I’d lost

 sight of what mattered most in life… real

 connections with other people and nature. So I 

dropped everything and moved to the place I truly

belong.

I turned the page over and read the rest of the words. It said; 

I’ve enclosed the deed to that place… my pride and

 joy: Stardrop farm. It’s located in Stardew Valley, on

 the southern coast. It’s the perfect place to start your new life. 

This was my most precious gift of all, and now it’s 

yours. I know you’ll honor the family name, my boy. 

Good luck. 

Love, Grandpa. 

    I read it all over again, feeling sadness over me. I noticed another piece of paper in the envelope. I picked it up and unfolded it. It said, 

P.S. Id Lewis is still alive, say hi to the old guy for 

me, will ya?

    And that was all. I folded it back up and put it back into the slot, smiling as I did. 

    I sprung up from my seat, filled with inspiration and determination. I then went to my boss's office. 

    Morris was shocked when I told him I was quitting my job, completely flabbergasted. 

    I then stormed out of the office before he could bother me anymore, left the building, then I waited for a bus. 

    I then went on my phone and called a number which I found on the paper. 

    When I called, it was the mayor of the town that I was going to. I said who I was and about how the farm was left in inheritance by my Grandpa. The man seemed pleased and said they would delightfully be waiting for my arrival. I got off the phone as I saw the bus coming. 

    When the bus came, the door opened and many people came out. The bus driver, noticing me, asked, “are you coming on?” 

    I nodded, and said, “is this bus going to Stardew Valley?” 

    “It’s on its way to Zuzu City,” he said, “are you looking to go there?” 

    I nodded and the driver replied, “I can drop you off, then.” 

    “Thank you, kind sir,” I thanked as I stepped on the bus. 

I took a seat near the back, and stared out of the window. 

    The drive seemed like hours but I was glad to not be working at JojaMart right now. 

    Alright, Cameron! You are only 24 now, and you're working on a farm. You like farming. You grew up with a farm at dad’s and mom’s place. Just imagine, cows, chickens, pigs, sheep! Growing stuff such as Parsnips, potatoes, green beans and cauliflower! I wondered. 

     As I daydreamed about what my farm would be like, we were on a cliff with bright green grass. Overhead I saw green hills with the bright blue sky over it. I saw light purple flowers that decorated the ground. The edges were protected by brown picket fences. 

    I relaxed in my seat, as I saw a green car race by the bus. Next moment, as were driving by, I saw a big green sign that said, 

    Stardew Valley

    O.5mi

    And an arrow pointing right. 

    When the bus had stopped, I got off and thanked the bus driver for his kindness and hospitality. 

    When I got off, a few feet away I saw a woman waiting there. Once she saw me, she smiled. 

    She had a yellow coat on with a white fur outline to her hood, she had green eyes, and red hair and the back was held in a ponytail, but the front still had hair sprouting around her face. 

    “Hello! You must be Cameron!” the woman said, smiling and waving. I nodded shyly. I forgot to mention, I did not like to talk much. I am a very quiet person.

    “I’m Robin, the local carpenter. Mayer Lewis sent me here to fetch you and show you the way to your new home. He’s there right now, tidying things up for your arrival,” she said. “The farm’s right over here, if you’ll follow me.” 

    Robin turned around and left, me trailing behind her.

    We had soon arrived in what looked like a place with walls of cliffs surrounding it. A little trail made its way to a wooden cottage with a red

roof and to a box, next to the house was a gray mailbox.

    There were weeds everywhere, along with lots of fiber bushes, trees, logs, big stones and mini stones. 

    Robin walked over to the mailbox, and faced the wilderness. 

    “This is Stardrop Farm,” she said. When I took another look around, my face filled with shock as my eyes got big which caused Robin to look over to me and say, 

    “What’s the matter?” 

    “Sure, it’s a bit overgrown, but there’s some good soil underneath that mess!” she exclaimed. Then she said reassuringly, “With a little dedication you’ll have it cleaned up in no time.”

    She walked to the steps of the house with a few more feet, I walked to stand by her.

    “And here we are, your new home,” she said, gesturing to the house. I examined it, while the next moment a person exited it. 

    An old man with brown eyes stood on the red ‘welcome’ mat. He had wrinkly skin. He wore a green shirt along with a bright yellow tie, and two

straps that hung over his shoulders that kept hold of his brown pants. He had a brown hat on his head, he also had a gray mustache. 

    “Ah, the new farmer!” he gave a smile, showing his white front teeth. He walked down the steps of the porch that belonged to the house, and next to me. 

    He looked at me with a delightful expression on his face. 

    “Welcome! I’m Lewis, Mayor of Pelican Town.” 

    “You know, everybody’s been asking about you. It’s not everyday that someone new moves in. It’s quite a big deal!” he exclaimed. 

    I was both a little surprised about his enthusiasm, but happy about it. Lewis turned back at the house and stared at it as he looked wistful. 

    “So… You’re moving into your grandfather’s old cottage. It’s a good house… very ‘rustic’.” 

    Robin looked at the house too, and she gave a big mischievous smile and said, 

    “Rustic? That’s one way to put it… ‘Crusty’ might be a little more apt, though.”

     “Rude!” he exclaimed as he turned on her, and Robin covered her mouth and giggled. 

    “Don’t listen to her, Cameron. She’s just trying to make you dissatisfied so that you buy one of her house upgrades.”

    Robin looked shocked as she widened her eyes. 

    “Hmmph,” she crossed her arms, pouting as she shot a look at Lewis. The old man looked back at me and said, 

    “Anyway… You must be tired from the long journey. You should get some rest.” 

    “Tomorrow you ought to explore the town a bit and introduce yourself. The Townspeople would appreciate that,” he suggested. 

    He walked over to the box that I'd seen earlier. 

    “Oh, I almost forgot. If you have anything to sell, just place it in this box here. I’ll come by during the night to collect it.” 

    He gave me one final look, and with a smile and with a wink he said, “Well… Good luck!”

    And with that, he left the farm along with Robin. 

I stretched my arms and yawned. It was still light out, but I was pretty tired. 

    I walked up the steps of the cottage that creaked, opened the door and walked inside. 

    I saw that It was a small place. It only had one of those old t.v’s with the antennas on top, it also had a table and chair, a fireplace, and a bed. And it was only one room. 

    I just walked over to my bed and fell onto it. I crawled under the cover of blankets, laid my head on the white pillow, and I fell asleep within seconds, my last thought being; 

    This was a good day…

Chapter two.

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    I could hear birds chirping as I woke and opened my eyes. I sat upright in my bed, then gave a stretch of my arms. 

    I was expecting to see the old apartment that I lived in, but instead found myself in a cottage. 

    My Grandpa’s old cottage. 

    On his farm. 

    A smile broke out, and it spreaded across my face happily. 

    I thought it was a dream! I thought. I guess I really did leave everything behind……

    Excitement filled me at the thought of being away from everything that made me miserable in life. That sent tingles down my fingertips and up my spine. 

    I got out of bed with an energetic jump and landed on my small red carpet. 

    I searched the house, trying to get used to the idea of this is where I 

now lived, and I found something.

    Between the T.V and door, laid a box. It looked like a present. It had orange wrapping paper, with dark blue stripes that went up to form a little bow. 

    I walked over to it, and picked it up. I turned it over and over, examining the neat wrapping from different angles. I had found a yellow note and it said; 

Here’s a little something to get you started. 

-Mayor Lewis. 

    I opened the little box, and what I found inside were seeds. I picked up a packet, and the bag was a pale yellow but at the front side was a picture of a–what I believed to be a parsnip. 

    I put them into my pocket then left my house.

When I went outside, stood on my porch, I could see that sunshine

splashed onto the land.  

    I saw many trees and rocks, as well as logs and big pieces of stone. On the porch, I saw tools that must have been left here, and I haven’t even noticed them. 

    I saw a hoe, pickaxe, axe, sythe, and a watering can. I took them, and decided to use the packet of seeds. 

    I stepped off of the porch, the sun now beating onto me,and I stepped on the grass. I took the hoe, and started to till the ground, then I planted the seeds into the dirt.

    After I was all done, I then watered the plants.

    Soon, remembering what Mayor Lewis said, I quickly followed the path outside my farm, which I followed the day before. 

    I continued on the dirt path, I reached a–what looked like a town. I had guessed that it was the town that Grandpa described long ago. 

    Pelican Town. 

    I smiled and I walked along what turned from a dirt to a stone path. I had eventually found two houses in the distance. 

    I walked over there, stood in front of the two houses. There was a white-wood house, with a red roof. It had a pot of flowers hanging off, there were a couple windows, and a porch above, and a box of flowers in the front. 

    The house had a sign, it read, Pierre’s, and it was next to the door. It also said, “closed on wednesdays,” on a note that was also hung by the door. There was a sky-blue mat with flowers too.

    I saw a wooden board. It had lots of notes on it. It had a ‘quest’ note on it. I also saw a calendar that had a lot of people’s names on it, saying that it was their birthday. It also had tons of festivals marked on it.

    Next, I saw a second building connected to the first. I decided to look at it later, so I opened the two doors leading into Pierres. 

    I heard as the doors slam behind me as I walked inside. 

    Moments later, I saw many people inside. They looked at me with wide eyes that were filled with wonderment. 

    I gave a nervous grin as I put my hand behind my head, trying calm my nerves down.