I could hear the chirping of birds as I stepped out onto my porch. "Good morning, Daniel!" Called my neighbor.
"Morning, Margaret" I waved back.
"Off to plow the fields again?" She asked. "Bit early, dontcha think?"
"Gotta start early, Zuzuka's got her first day of school today; I gotta take 'er." I replied, grabbing my coat.
"You know I could always take her again, if you're too busy." She said, leaning on the fence.
I simply smiled, placing on my ball cap. "'ppreciate it, but I think I'll manage."
Opening up the barn I took the keys hanging from the wall. Then grabbing the plow, I hooked it up to the tractor.
I jumped in shutting the door, "'nother day, big day..." I said, starting her up.
3 hours in, I stopped, I had hit something. Jumping out of the tractor I got down, pulling back the soil, "Shit..." There was a large boulder right in the middle of the field.
"No other way..." I sighed, taking a deep breath. "Whew..." I activated berserker.
My muscles tensed up, and my heart began to pump faster. It was like a rush of adrenaline I hadn't felt in quite some time. "Haaah..."
I reached down with one hand, "Crack!" my fingers dug into the boulder as I lifted it out of the soil with ease.
"...Gah!" A sharp pain shot through my arm; I dropped it clenching my hand. "Tch..."
"What was that?"
I sighed, "Suppose I'll have to get the truck out here."
I headed back to wake Zuzuka up; putting up the tractor I went back inside, hanging up my coat.
When I heard the sound of tiny feet running toward me. "Well look who's up early!" I said, greeting a little girl in pink pajamas.
"Aw, I wanted to surprise you, Papa!" She replied.
"I am surprised, it takes a big girl to get out of bed by herself." I said, lifting her up; "Did you sleep well?"
"Yup!" She replied, cheerfully. "I had a dream about this rabbit and he was also an astronaut on the moon!"
"The moon! My heavens, what's he doing up there?" I asked.
"He makes ice cream with the other rabbits!"
"Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun- Speaking of, you ready for your first day of school, little missy?"
"Mhmm!" She replied, "I wanna learn about dinosaurs! Raaaah!"
"Haha! Well how 'bout that?" I laughed, "Then why don't you go set the table and I'll make you some pancakes for breakfast, hm?"
"Yes!" she cheered, hopping down.
I stepped into the kitchen, grabbing the ingredients, I began to make the batter.
"Eh! EH!" Zuzuka jumped.
"Hm? What's up Zuzu?"
"I can't reach the plates!" She pouted.
"Oops! My fault!" I said, reaching for the plates.
My hand began to shake as I reached out. "…tch-" I pulled it back in.
"Huh? What's wrong Papa?"
"Nothing-" I looked back down; the shaking had stopped.
"Here-" I said, handing her 3 plates. "Make sure there's one for your mother as well."
"Gotcha!" She grinned.
A little bit later I came out with a plate full of blueberry, chocolate, and strawberry pancakes.
"Woaaaaaah!" She said, awestruck at the plethora of food.
"My apologies, I didn't know which ones to choose." I chuckled.
Setting them down, I pushed her into her seat, then took my own.
"Good morning, Mama!"
A single framed picture sat at the other side of the table; that of a short black-haired woman with hazel eyes. Her skin was white like snow, and she held a smile like an angel.
"Now, we can eat-" I said, picking up my silverware.
"Wait!" Zuzuka responded. "We have to say grace!" She then clapped her hands together.
"Hm? This is new... Where did you-"
"Miss Barnes taught me!" She replied.
"Margaret huh...?" I replied, a tad suspicious.
"Miss Barnes says that if we pray at every meal God will look out and take care of us!"
"She did, did she?"
"She also said Mama used to pray too, but how come you don't?" She asked.
"Oh, um... I just- God... and I haven't been on speaking terms. In a long time." I said, avoiding her gaze.
"You should talk to him! I bet he'll help you grow some crops!" She protested.
"Ah, well- I'll think about it." I replied nervously, "But 'nough talk! You gotta eat! Or you'll be late for school!"
"Oh no!" She panicked.
Crop fields went by as we drove to school; probably some of the very few left not owned by Biotechnica.
"Can we go out for ice cream after school Papa?" Asked Zuzuka excitedly, "Like in my dream?"
"I'll think about it." I replied, "But only if I hear good things from your teachers."
"O-K!" She replied.
"Speaking of, we're here!" I said pulling up on the school's drop off lane.
I got out, opening the door for her, "Need help?"
"Nope!" She said, unbuckling herself and jumping out.
It brought a smile to my face just how much she's grown; especially after her mother passed away last year.
I knelt down, "Alright, be good for me. Listen to your teachers. And stay away from boys, they're nothin' but trouble!"
"I gotcha!" She smiled.
"Ok, have fun Zuzu, I love you." I said hugging her.
"Love you too Papa!" She hugged me back.
I waved goodbye as she ran off, "..." a sense of calm washed over me; but was soon overshadowed...
"Hey- it's him, isn't it?" Said parent.
"Yeah, he's that Militech veteran."
"He spends all his time tinkering in that metals shop of his-" Spoke another.
"I was told he was special forces or something during the war..."
"What's he doin' in this town?"
I quickly got back into the truck and drove off, not wishing to spend any more time there.