I had been avoiding Karen ever since the Spring Goddess Festival. I felt horrible. Ever since the festival my work days had gotten a lot more boring. I felt like my life was ruined. I had gotten a horse from Yodel Farm. I was outside working on clearing my farm. I heard a       familiar giggle coming from the Poultry Farm. Karen, Popuri, and Rick were all sitting on a bench. Popuri was talking about some guy named Kai, and how he would be coming to see her in the summer. Karen listened, and Rick looked away angrily. Popuri got up, and left.
"Finally, I was getting tired of hearing about Kai." Rick said. Karen swung around to look at him. "What's wrong with Kai?" she asked. "Every summer Kai will come to the village, all the girls get all excited, then he leaves hurting the girls in the process. I hate seeing that happen to Popuri... Plus, I don't like Kai at all anyway." Rick said. Karen stood up. "That's not true! Kai isn't like that." Karen said. "Admit it! Kai's just afraid of commitment!" Rick yelled. Karen scowled. "You're the only one, that I know of, who thinks that!" Karen yelled back. "I just want Popuri away from that jerk." Rick said quietly. "At least Popuri is growing up! That should make you happy." Rick looked like he was going to start yelling again. "Fine…" He said. "If you like Kai so much why don't you go out with him?!" Karen looked like she'd been hit. As tears formed at her eyes she said, "Rick, you cad! You can consider this relationship over!" she left. It was Rick's turn to look like he had been hit. Serves him right. I thought. I hopped over the small fence separating our two farms, and walked over to him. "Aren't you going to go after her?" I asked. Rick looked startled. "How long were you there?" he asked. I looked down sheepishly. "That long, huh." he said. After that he turned around and walked into his house. I ran in the direction Karen went. I saw Karen run into the forest behind her house.
I followed. She stopped inside of a clearing. I followed. "Rick, I don't want to see-- Oh! Jack, what are you doing here?" she asked. "I followed you here. I heard your argument with Rick. I knew that would be hard on you, so I came to comfort you." I answered. She came over and hugged me. "Thank you…" she whispered.
She cried in my arms. She finally composed herself and was ready to go home. I led her home. "Thank you for comforting me, Jack. It means a lot to me." she said. "It's okay… I'd do anything for you, Karen." She kissed me and went inside her home.