A Change of Seasons

Before we get started, please provide some information to tailor the game for you. What's your name? <p id="init-name"> </p> <% window.story = story; var checkExist = setInterval(function() { var name = document.getElementById("init-name"); if (name) { name.innerHTML = `<input onchange="player.name = this.value" value="${player.name}" autofocus="autofocus">`; clearInterval(checkExist); } }, 10); %> [[Start|funeral]]

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." "He sounds like he has gotten even more boring since Aunt Selma died," you thought to yourself. You're mind can't help but wander back to memories of your grandmother as the pastor drones on about her life. You don't know why your parents made you go. Your brothers had all gone out at one time or another for a summer or two, but your parents made you do it until you were in high school. Maybe they just felt sorry for your grandparents, all the way out in the middle of nowhere. Maybe they just wanted you out of their house for a couple of months. You had long since moved to the city and forgotten all about them. Then your grandfather died. Rumor had it your grandmother completely changed the will when he croaked. You wanted to reach out to her when she was out there all alone but it was simply too much of a hassle. [[Continue|commend]]

"So we commend this body to the ground in loving remembrance..." Watching that casket being lowered to the ground brought back a lot. You'd never seen Grandma Agnes again. With her death, also died the only other person who knew what you'd call your "darkest secret". She had always said she wish she had a granddaughter. Everyone knew that, but little knew just how much. When you were on her farm, you dragged your feet whenever you were given any chore. You were just a a kid after all. They saw it as obvious you didn't have what it took to be farmer, so she gave you a choice: do men's work on the farm or do women's work. The choice was obvious to you at the time. Being inside all day meant a lot less sweating and sore muscles. She started off teaching you cooking and gathering eggs. Grandfather liked it, oddly enough. He was probably grateful he didn't have to babysit some kid complaining all day. [["Ashes to ashes... Dust to dust...." |ashes]]

From there it moved into chores like sewing and cleaning. You liked it. She treated you much nicer. You felt like you were actually learning something useful. At first, she'd only make you wear her cleaning gloves or apron, depending on the chore. One day, she was making a new dress for herself and suggested you make one along with her. Once it was done, she made you try it on. From then on, you wore it around the house. It bothered you a little bit at first. You eventually got used to it and couldn't help but think it was natural. As long as only you and her knew about it, it didn't bother you at all. After all, it was much more comfortable, and you had spent a long time making it. She even started calling you by a girl's name. [[What was it that she called you again?|naming]]

The man smiled courtesly as he sees you approaching. "You must be <%= player.name %>," his smile grows to a grin. "Agnes spoke you often and fondly." He paused for a moment beforing leaning in and lowering his voice, "I want to spare you the drama of the big reveal, as it is likely to make a lot of people angry. She left you the entire thing." You are shocked. You were half-expecting some grandfather clock or china set but the whole place? It hadn't be properly worked in years but 500 acres of prime farmland had to be worth something huge. "She also left this for you," he said handing you a sealed envelope. "Read it somewhere private. She had me read it to me to ensure it was followed and trust me, you don't want eavesdroppers." [[Read the letter|letter]]

You hate funerals. Nothing is ever good about them. The small chat always drags on forever. The food is always mediocre at best. They're always boring. It's always someone you barely knew. Today was going to be different though. The service was going to be a chore but that's a given. Dearest Grandmother Agnes passed away. You had been waiting for this day for a long time. Part of you is ashamed to be glad for someone's death, but it's hard for you not to be honest with yourself. You knew she was going to leave you something good in her will. All of those summer days in your youth visiting her and learning "how to be a farmer" will have paid off. <% console.log(story); console.log(passage); %> [[Sounds like the service is starting... |starting]]

You shuffle off to a side room in a daze. You tear into the envelope and read. "Dear <%= player.girlname %>, I know it has been a long time, but as I look back on my life, the summers we spent togther on the farm were some of the best memories I have. I know it isn't what you wanted but I wanted to give Emma a second chance. That's why I am giving you the entire farm, on one condition: "Emma" must live there for an entire year. I know this must seem strange to you, but I know you will not regret this. I know you are depressed. City life just isn't for you. Let the country road guide you home. With deep love, Grandma Agnes" [[Continue|letter2]]

Damn it. You knew this was too good to be true. It feels like you had been conned. You were never going to leave you dead end job, pack up your dilapidated apartment, and move half way across state just to live as some fantasy granddaughter to a dead hag next to a bunch of country bumpkins. But the more you thought about it, the more you realized how many problems this would solve. Money usually does. The lawyer was waiting for you, as you rejoined the wake crowd. "You read it? You don't have to make up your mind now, but it has to be within the next month." He handed you his business card: Stanley Diamond, Esq., Attorney at Law. "Call me if you decide to take up her offer." You nod slowly and decide it is time to get the hell out of there. [[Leave|work]]

<% time.day += 7; %> A week passes as you go about your daily life. Work. Sleep. Work. Sleep. Work. Sleep... ad nauseum. After a boring Saturday you wasted, you thoughts inevitably fixate on your grandmother's offer. You take the lawyer's card out of your wallet and wonder if you should call him. [[Call the laywer|call]] [[Put back the card|work2]]

"Thank you for calling the law offices of Stanley Diamond, how can I direct your call?" "I'd like to speak to Mr. Diamond please." "Just a moment..." "Hello? This is Stanley Diamond, attorney at law." You immediately recognize the voice on the other end of the call as the laywer you spoke to at the wake. "Hi, this is $player.name. I spoke to you earlier, after Agnes' funeral. I'd like to follow through the wishes you described." "Heh." There is an uncomfortable pause after he chuckles. "Alright, you'll need to make it to her farm by next Monday in order to be accordance with her will. I'll meet you there to give you the keys. From time to time, I'll check in with you in order to fully execute the will." Next Monday? You'll really have to bust your ass to get out there by then. It's too late to start second guessing. Ready or not, you'll be there. [[Continue|arrival]]

<% time.day += 7; console.log('Time.day', time.day); %> <% if (time.day <= 28) { %> Another week passes as you go about your daily life. Work. Sleep. Work. Sleep. Work. Sleep... ad nauseum. After a boring Saturday you wasted, you thoughts inevitably fixate on your grandmother's offer. You take the lawyer's card out of your wallet and wonder if you should call him. [[Call the laywer|call]] [[Put back the card|work2]] <% } else { setTimeout(function(){ story.show('endNoGo'); }, 10); }%>

The days fly by as the deadline to respond to the lawyer approaches, with little thought given to change in your life. You never hear from him. THE END

That's right, she called you: <p id="init-girlname"> </p> <% var checkExist = setInterval(function() { var name = document.getElementById("init-girlname"); if (name) { name.innerHTML = `<input onchange="player.name = this.value" value="${player.girlname}" autofocus="autofocus">`; clearInterval(checkExist); } }, 10); %> [[Continue|naming2]]

All of that was ages ago now. It stopped once you became a teenager. Grandma Agnes rarely spoke about it the few times you saw her again. She'd always have a smile on her lips when she saw you though. You knew she still thought about those days. "Hey $player.name", one of your cousins whispered to you. "I think her lawyer is looking for you. Says he has something for you." He nudged his head in the direction of a gathering of people. "He's over there." [[Approach the laywer|lawyer]]

It was hell trying to break your renting contract and no one quite got why you were left your job on such short notice, but you made it out to Farmington by Monday. Your car is caked with mud from the dirt road leading up to the place. You get your first look at the farm in years. What a dump. It looks like no one has taken care of it in years. The fields are completely overgrown with every sort of weed. As you open up the barn, an overwhelming dank and musty smell assaults your nose. The house at least looks livable but the peeling paint and warped floors definitely put it in the category of a "fixer-upper". You survey the place and find it completely bare except a small bed, a rotary phone in the kitchen, and an ancient TV in the living room. You try a light switch. No power. You'll have to take care of that right away. [[You hear a knock at the front door|knock]]

You answer the door to see the lawyer standing on the front porch. He lets himself in. "This place has a lot of charm", he smirks as he takes a quick look around. "I was half-expecting you never to show up here today." You start to say something but he interrupts. "You have a lot of work to do if you want to live up to your end of the will. First thing would be to make yourself presentable as '$player.girlname'." He looks you up and down. "Remember, it doesn't matter how much you fix this place up if you don't live up to Agnes' wishes. Also, you probably wouldn't want to have any of the locals suspecting anything." He stares you down for a moment before continuing. "There is a feed store in town that should have everything you need to get started here. I suggest you go down there once were done here." You silently nod and listen as he goes over the rest of the will. It mostly boils down to what you already know, you have to live on the farm and live there as <%= player.girlname %> for a year. "That pretty much covers it." He reaches into his coat pocket and hands you an unsealed envelope. "She also included a monthly stipend for you. Here's the first payment to help you get started." You open the envelope to see a check for $1000. He shakes your hand and starts to leave. "Good luck, <i><%= player.girlname %></i>." [[Show him out|house]]

You power on the TV and see static. Which channel do you want to tune to? [[Fortune|fortune]] [[News|news]] [[Movies|movies]] [[Back|house]]

[[Back|house]]

TODO [[Change Clothes|change]] [[Sleep|sleep]] [[Back|house]]

You step out onto the front porch. You see the property before you. It's pretty run down. [[Fields|fields]] [[Barn|barn]] [[Pond|pond]] [[Town|town]]

The fields are still overgrown with weeds. You'll need to remove them all before you even think about tilling the soil and planting any crops. [[Leave|outside]]

You open the barn door again and take a look around. That musty smell isn't going away anytime soon. After rummaging around for a bit, you find a set of rusty tools that your grandfather onced used. With a bit of cleaning and WD-40, they should be in good enough condition to use around the farm. [[Leave|outside]]

Although the edge of the pond is covered in cattails, it is still mostly as you remember it from many years ago. The water is surprisingly clear due to a natural spring the flows into it. There is a small dock in disrepair that leads out beyond the edge of the pond. It'd probably fall apart if you walked on it. You used to dive off of ithere during hot days in Summer. [[Swim|swim]] [[Leave|outside]]

As you pull your car into the store parking lot, you notice that it is the only nationwide chain brand in town. It gives you an odd sense of comfort as it is the only thing in town that is familiar to you from the city. Inside, piles of seasonal junk and florescent lights remind you just how unpleasant and impersonal these stores could be. You put your items down at the register and a woman who looks to be in her late-30s starts ringing them up. "Find everything alright, ma'am?" [[Lock|buy-lock]] [[Cosmetics|buy-cosmetics]] [[Hair dye|buy-lock]] [[Feminine products|buy-fem]] [[Jewelry|buy-jewelry]] [[Trinkets|buy-trinkets]] [[Head back to town center|town]]

You hear a jingling of bells tied to the handle of the door as you enter. You see plenty of tools, animal feed, and seeds on the shelves as you walk to the counter. The clerk behind the counter greets you, "Good morning, ma'am. How can I help you today?" [[First leaving|meet-cole]] [[Head back to town center|town]]

[[Alley|alley]] [[Head back to town center|town]]

You are surprised a town this small could keep up a library. It isn't much, just a hole-in-the-wall place with a few well packed shelves of books and a few desks. Most of the books are well worn and a few decades old. There are a few classics every library needs but most of the books are a random collection, most likely unwanted books donated by the community. [[Borrow romance book|borrow-romance]] [[Borrow farming almanac|borrow-almanac]] [[Borrow history book|borrow-history]] [[Head back to town center|town]]

The only restaurant in town also doubles as a gas station and an auto repair shop. The restaurant portion appears to have been added on the garage. Inside is well decorated albeit stereotypical diner. Various local knickknacks and clippings about town happenings from the nearby paper line the walls. A perky teenage girl greets you as you take a seat at the counter, "What'll you have, ma'am?" [[Coffee|diner-coffee]] [[Meal|diner-Meal]] [[Talk to waitress|talk-megan]]

The smell of fresh cut lumber hits you as you approach the store. Inside it is unremarkably similar to every other mom-and-pop hardward store you've been in before. The clerk behind the counter glances at you disinterestedly, "Good morning. What can I do for you?" [[Head back to town center|hardware-encounter-1]]

There isn't a hospital for miles but there is a clinic that serves the local community. It is in a building that looks to be an old store repurposed recently. An unassuming man gives a terse greeting you as you walk in. "Welcome." [[Cosmetic surgery|surgery]] [[Improve stamina|stamina]] [[Talk to man|clinic-talk-lewis]] [[Head back to town center|town]]

[[Back|pond]]

You lie down in the rickety bed and quickly fall asleep.  [[Wake up|bedroom]]

[[Back|bedroom]]

[[Fortune|fortune]] [[News|news]] [[Movies|movies]] [[Back|house]]

As you exit the store through one of the aisles, your foot gets caught on something. You throw your hands out to brake your fall, only to have strong hands grab you. "Whoa there. You alright ma'am?" You turn around as he helps you up and your eyes meet. You see a well-built man with flowing, light brown locks of hair and a long but well trimmed beard. "Uh... thanks," you stammer. "Not sure what I tripped on." "Good thing I was around. That could have been a nasty fall," he gestures to the sharp tools on the wall beside you. "I'm Dave." You blush as you extend a meek hand to shake his. "You take care now," he nods. You walk hurriedly out of the store. [[Continue|town]]

You put your items down at the register and a woman who looks to be in her late-30s starts ringing them up. "Find everything alright, ma'am?" "Actually, I was hoping to buy a lock. I didn't see any on the shelf. Do you have any in the back or something?" "Let me check," she sighs and disappears for a moment. She comes out with the item in hand. "Found one." She rings it up and bags it. "Say, I haven't seen you around here before. I'm Caroline. Are you new?" "I just moved into the farm down the road. Used to be Agnes' place. I'm her granddaughter, Emma." Caroline gives a polite smile, "Pleased to meet you Emma." [[Back|store]]

TODO [[Back|clinic]]

[[Back|clinic]]

"Oh, this is a great book. You'll read it in no time," the mousy clerk beems. "I can't remember the last time anyone checked it out." She looks it over before turning back to you. "Do you have a library card? I can sign you up for one in a jiffy." [["Yes, please."|library-signup]] [[No thanks...|library]]

TODO [[Head back to town center|town]]

On your way back to your car, a man disheveled man approaches you. "Can you spare any change?" [[Give him money|give-money]] [[Give him food|give-food]] [[Give him beer|give-beer]] [[Sorry...|no-give]]

"Thanks. God bless you ma'am." He looks around before lowering his voice. "Say, did you hear the rest of the town talking about you? You moving in is the most exciting thing to happen to this town in a long time." [[Head back to town center|town]]

TODO [[Head back to town center|town]]

He grumbles a bit before politely responding, "Sorry to bother you. Have a great day ma'am". [[Head back to town center|town]]

TODO [[Head back to town center|town]]

As you leave, you bump into a man. He's wearing old jeans and a plaid jacket. "Hey there missy." he smiles and looks you straight in the eye. "I'm Cole. You new in town?" [["Not exactly..."|meet-cole-1]] [["Yes"|meet-cole-2]]

[[Continue|town]]

Yeah, I just moved into the old farm. [[Continue|town]]

TODO [[Back|store]]

TODO [[Back|clinic]]