Week 14 Day 4: Strangers in their midst

Last night a group of stangers arrived the northern side of Maccaroni Island. They walked up to the village, and spent the night in the old consignment store, a shed located at Town Square.

This morning the strangers were better organized. It turned out that only the scientists will stay long enough to need their own home. Most of the crates contained their personal belongings, and they were given the opportunity to build a small house on one of the three small lots near the mountain, behind the Fort Base. This is where late Joe Hawk built his shed long ago. The 3 lots were inherited by Agnes Y. J. Hawk and her 2 sons, but at this point the settlement is seen as temporary, and land trade or rent will be dealt with later.

Admiral Steve Freeman and the 3 builders moved into Joe's old shed, although Freeman suggested that they could reside in the basement of House of Law, which is near by the location they chose for the planned  science facility.

Doctor Frederic Mahagoney moved in with Graica G. and Reynar Yea-Low at 9 Yea-Low Ring. It is pretty close to the hospital where he will work for a limited time, and the Yea-Lows had a spare bedroom as the family is still getting established.

This morning Archie Greench walked over to inspect the progress of the scientists' new house. Archie's son Bertil was there too, he had brought the strangers to the Town Square the night before, and alarmed his dad. It was too late to wake up the other councillors, especially as the situation didn't seem too require urgent actions.

This little household consists of elderly scientist Theo Tulitto, his young adult son Pahomas Tulitto and Pahomas' fiancé Linda O'Brian. The young couple had come to the island with Theo because Pahomas had no other family than his dad, and well, most possessions belonged to the old man. When you are the sole heir, you'd follow...

Pahomas had worked in Education for several years, still not really breaking trough, and Linda had experience from various jobs, from photographer to architectural design.

Archie reacted to the military attitude from admiral Freeman. He was pretty sure that those poor builders would have done just as well without the admiral shouting.

The council had already approved on upgrading the Greench Market. That's where Greench Farm sells all produce, and Archie was very pleased that the market got priority. Although they didn't know how long they would run it, there will probably be a period of importing new products from Galucca, and they will need a good storage.

Archie returned to the farm. When the Market is rebuilt, he won't be entitled to affect the improvements, the lot is owned by Maccaroni Bank, and Boletta, still residing on the farm, had inherited the limited partnership worth only §7.000.

The Market isn't exactly packed with goods, but Boletta will of course want to secure the few products they already had for sale. The upgrade will probably not be massive, anyway.

It was time for Archie to bring up an important subject...

There are currently 3 other households in this region; the Gladiston, Peel and Major households. Archie's brother Cody G. Major is already a judge and his household can therefore not be on the council, too. Archie's sister Carie G. Peel is probably too busy with her café, and besides both she and their brother LaShawn G. Gladiston are already elders and not really electable. Most likely, none of the others will mind Godrian Greench being their next representative.

Lots of walking for old Archie today! The farm is pretty centrally located, and although he is on the edge to start using a cane, he still enjoyed physical activity.

At the outdoor theatre, located between the Consignment store and Greta's Bistro, representatives from all households had gathered.

Admiral Steve Freeman leaded the meeting. On stage with him were also Scientist Tulitto and Doctor Mahagoney.

They arrived last night, and although the rumour had spread widely, until now most of the population had not met the strangers.

Rosanne R. Major was still in conflict with Father, Randal Redward, but even so she is still a true Redward by mind, and realized how important it was for their little community to have leaders.

Magna is the formal name of the island, but the locals still call it Maccaroni Island. The attendees were not exactly an enthusiastic audience...

All this talk about the volcanic activity... Long ago the mountain was on the edge of an eruption, but after a few quakes and some smoke, it all returned to normal. The new generation wasn't even all that concerned.

Dr. Mahagoney explained that over the next four days everyone will be examined, one region per day. It will all take place in the local hospital.

Randal Redward was as grumpy as ever, but yet he managed to keep his mouth rather shut...

Next to speech was the scientist.

Had they ever asked for a science facility? Yoseph Y. Hedgewall worried about what the local bank owners would say, some of them were not even at this meeting. All community land except the Consignment store and theatre is owned by the bank. Shouldn't the stock owners have a say about a new science facility? Still, Yoseph realized that inspecting the volcano was needed to stake their future.

The 3 wells were dug by Alfonso Blumington, when he tried to build a Fishing Park long ago. Unfortunately, lack of finances forced the Blumingtons to sell the land back to the bank, but there are still fish in some of the 3 ponds.

Archie and his daughter Graica secretly exchanged some worries...

Graica is the one who prepared the small news notes (see top of the chapter). This morning she was gifted a new computer from the strangers, meaning the notes will no longer be handwritten. Also the Village Hall and House of Laws got one modern computer each. Calling Graica's office a news desk might be kinda over the top, but she is paid for being the local journalist. And now it looked like the others supported her claim to stay in control of distributing the news.

Carie G. Peel, one of Archie Peel's 5 siblings, had a word with former chairman, Randal Redward. Carie and her partner, Albert Blumington, have worked hard to raise funds needed to buy the café where Carie worked most of her adult life. The business lot costs §59.109 which is extreme to most any household, but Carie owns 10% of Maccaroni Bank, and ten days ago the greedy Randal offered to buy those stocks.

Randal's daughter Rosanne R. Major was witnessing her Father. Also Archie overheard the café dialogue. He somehow felt sory for his sister Carie. She definitely did a great job on the café, and Archie thought it would be fair if she could own the business that she had built up.

At the same time Carie was a little naive and perhaps too much of a flirt, focused on her looks, to be seriously considered for businesses. And Randal Redward probably was well aware that those shares will be worth zero if the volcano is proven active, and they all are forced to leave Maccaroni Island.

Back at Greench Farm, Archie and Godrian had forgotten all about the weird lime fruit that Graica had delivered some time ago. Archie had put the spotted fruit in his pocket, and now the dirty clothes were on the floor, coming to life with black beetles...

Outside, the daylight was about to pull back, as Godrian told his dad about the upcoming changes.

Godrian already got a small bank loan to pay out his brother Bertil, but he can certainly loan some more. He won't just need money for a barn, but also want to build more fences, reorganize the gardens, and not the least to adjust the farm house.

Carie G. Peel had walked over from her house just across the road. Also her two oldest daughters, Blanca and Gabriella had come to visit their friend Eileen.

Quite a dilemma! If Godrian choose to help his aunt Carie, he might need to put some of his barn plans on hold. Should he suggest aunt Carie to turn to other relatives? He knew the others were struggling at times, uncle LaShawn G. Gladiston nearly had to sell his house to pay the bank, and uncle Cody G. Major's wife Rosanne was still waiting for her heritage, which she might never even get. While Godrian has saved up nearly §15.000.

While Godrian found himself in this unwanted situation, the three teenage girls ran off to the central village.

A little later even Archie had walked over to inspect the new Greench Market.

The new building was much bigger, he hardly recognized the place! Above the store there were rooms for storage or even offices, and it all looked very modern compared to their general standards - and big.

Many locals had gathered, of course they were curious, but they also were eager to check out their promised gifts.

Suddenly the door flew open, and Boletta stepped outside - exhausted. All day she had been packing down, moving crates and trying her best to organize the place. But she had no idea the place would be this big, and she repeatedly had to move crates again, to give room for the builders. Most of the day Steve Freeman had directed her to do this, then do that. The gifts turned out to be a new cellphone for everyone, and before Boletta knew, she was commanded to unpack them all! What happened to the old, cozy Greench Market?

Young woman? Had Steve Freeman noticed her - as a woman? Oh... still, she was too exhausted to care a lot. Outside she ran into Yvilla Redward, who must have turned young adult recently. Boletta thought to herself, why did all the other girls look so much better? She didn't only feel tired from a tough day, she also felt misplaced. She really should have a talk with aunt Carie to discuss a makeover.

Beatrice G. Hedgewall is aunt Carie's twin sister. She is married to Yoseph, and they have three kids. Boletta felt a bit related to aunt Beatrice, because just like Boletta could not have Greench Farm, aunt Beatrice had been set aside too, when her older brother Archie accepted to run the farm. Aunt Beatrice now runs a smaller farm in Sunrise Valley, just like Boletta might run her own small farm some day, instead of the real thing.

Yes, they whispered. And, yes, Boletta sure had happier days.

More in a week!