CHAPTER 2C - I'm Going Where?
1405 Words
“OK, what’s your name and address?”
“Brigit Markz, with a z. My address is Hill’s Farm.”
“Oh, Jon and Gayle. Good people. You must be a stray. They take in strays and give them a purpose. Since you are with them, I’ll give it to you at a zero-cost class fee. Never mention it to anyone.” He winked at her.
“What’s your name, sir?” She asked.
“Me?” He stood a little taller, “Rufus Kap, and that is Kap with a K.” He smiled at her. She liked this man. He seemed like a friendly and fun person. “So, I guess you want me to invoice Jon and Gayle and deliver all these items to Hill Farm in the next couple of days.”
Joseph answered, “Yes, Rufus, you are correct.” He paused momentarily, “By the way, my name is Joseph.”
Rufus squinted, “Husband? So Joseph Markz?” they all laughed.
“No sir, Markz is her married name. But her husband has since passed. Which is why she is hanging around with me.” She smiled at Joseph and saw Rufus grin at her. She knew that grin. “I am Joseph Waters.”
Rufus handed Brigit a book. It looked old, but there was no telling. It is a basic greenhouse for dummies book. After reading the title, she laughed hard. She handed the book to Joseph, and he laughed, also.
“I see you do know her already?” Joseph said to Rufus, and he also started laughing.
“Take it with you, read it, and learn it because I suppose this is the textbook we will work from.”
Joseph asked, “So you are the teacher?”
“One of them. Mary Kap,” He looked at Joseph and grinned, “My sister is the lead instructor. She has a Greenhouse Science degree and loves reminding us she has a degree.”
“I heard that….” A disembodied female voice said from the back room. “I have four degrees, actually. Bachelors in Greenhouse Science, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry and a Master in Agriculture.” She cleared her throat, “But who’s counting.”
Rufus shook his head and was about to speak when someone else walked into the store, leaving Joseph and Brigit alone.
“So, if you want to return to this class, I can take it with you. Then there will be two of us with the necessary skills in the community.”
“I like that idea.”
A few minutes later, Rufus returned, “Anything else I can get you?”
“Actually, sign me up for the class. I think it will be fun.” He paused a heartbeat, “How much do I owe you for me?”
Rufus grinned, “Well, Joseph. The class is free because it provides the labor to build and set up the greenhouse. That is saving the city nearly seven grand. Still, it is necessary to understand the howz and whyz of the structure. So, you are also free.” He smiled a huge smile and pulled a book from under the counter, “Here’s your book!”
The three of them laughed.
Brigit really likes this man. She also looks forward to returning to learn from him and his sister in a few months.
~~~~~~~~~~
“OK,” Gayle said as they sat for supper, “What did you all do today?”
Brigit spoke fast. “Well, we collected various seeds usable for winter planting, including several varieties of tomato and pepper seeds. We also got a bag of spinach and some legumes I have never heard of.”
“Legume. Beans? They need a spring planting.”
“I know. But Joseph and I also signed up for an introductory greenhouse class. It teaches how to build, set up, and manage the greenhouse. We figure if we learn this, we can teach others. Giving us a harvest year-round.”
Marissa said, “Good thought. Wait, a class?”
Joseph continued, “Yes, in a couple of months, Brigit and I can return for two months and take the class on Tuesday and Thursday. That means you two will have house guests for about eight weeks.”
“With winter coming,” Jon said, “The extra hands will be a godsend.”
“Also, several tools will be added,” Brigit said, “There is one I never used before. I read the manual, and it sounded interesting. I added four of them.”
Marissa asked, “What’s it called, dear?”
Brigit thought momentarily, and her face lit up as she remembered. “It’s called a Hori Hori. Steel, wood handle, leather sheath.”
Joseph asked, “A what?”
Jon opened a drawer close to his seat, “A Hori Hori. Indispensable in the planting field. Bought this one when we arrived all those years ago. It still looks new. The Hori Hori is the ultimate multi-use tool and the perfect companion for all your outside work. Measure planting depth with the handy inch marks. Saw a branch or whittle some kindling with the double-edged blade. The stainless steel belt clip supports easy carrying and accessibility. At the same time, the strong handle strap restricts the blade from slipping or moving.”
Brigit said, “You sound like an advertisement.”
“I know, but I really like this little knife. Ain’t found anything that compares to it yet.”
Marissa asked, “Should we get more than four?”
The conversations about Brigit and Joseph continued for a few more minutes. They all agreed to get four more of the Hori Hori knives. “I will head back there in the morning and let Rufus know.”
“Why wait? Let’s call him.” Brigit looked confused.
“HOME. Call Rufus at the Agro Supply.” A series of beeps and Rufus appeared on the large screen.
“Hi Jon, Gayle. And Joseph and Brigit, I don’t know the other two, but hello to you too.”
“I am Marissa Taylor, and this is David Carpenter.”
“My pleasure. Now, what can I do for you?”
“Well, it seems that Brigit has taken a fancy to your Hori Hori. Can you add four more to the order?”
“I have only two in stock, but I can get them for you in a month. They are handmade, and the craftsman said he will have a few for me in a month or so.”
Marissa spoke up, “Perfect. Let’s go with the original four and hold on to the other four when our students join you for the greenhouse class.”
“Oh, they called it a class. Did they mention it is 114.7% hands-on?”
“Well, not in those words. But good for them!” Gayle added.
They talked for a few more minutes, reminding Joseph and Brigit to read the book. Everyone laughed when they showed the rest of the group the book.
Rufus disconnected, and David and Marissa discussed what they had done that day.
“Well,” Joseph said, “Brigit should come with me to get metal blanks for the horses tomorrow. The blacksmith needs new material, and I hear he has a couple of new apprentices, so training blanks will be needed.”
Everyone looked at her, Brigit. She suddenly became very self-conscious. “What?” She asked.
“Well, the metals we are looking for are on the stations. We will take one of your giant, noisy birds into space and orbit and collect what we need. Since the station’s gravity is so low, you can carry hundreds of pounds. Once we land, they will deliver our package to the farm tomorrow evening.”
“Space?” She said, “Why me?”
Marissa said, “All of us have been there. It is simply your turn.”
“Is it scary?” She asked.
Gayle replied, “Naw, piece of cake!” Smiling, she added, “Wear pants.”
“Why?” Brigit was confused.
“Why is the blacksmith in space?” Brigit asked.
Gayle said, “Because he owns the rights to a part of the asteroid belt, he can mix and make any metal.”
- Writer
