Ethereal Agriculture, # 5— “Hasten Slowly”

By now, Golden Apple Farms had expanded their range of potential output. The garden was now four times larger than it started, and they now had fifteen five-gallon brewing buckets. With the additional labor demands, which Kendo was slowly beginning to meet, they by no means had it much easier than before. There was still salad dressing and all the things necessary to stop Baker’s frayed nerves, but he quailed when much of it was scaled back when they invested in a cheese press and the new brewing buckets. Moreover, the juice press along with the cheese press needed additional manpower to compensate for the new costs.

They only had so much dairy to work with, and Kendo essentially revolted when he was expected to take turns milking goats so early in the morning. It was a bad idea to try to get him to do it when he was still experiencing video-game withdrawal.

Kendo was becoming bored with cards, despite Olive’s unfailing charm and Jerrick’s patience. Baker secretly found glee in seeing his reaction when losing, because Kendo’s appetite made the new investments even harder on Baker’s contentment. Kendo had more than two tantrums, and even broke some things, and Baker was ready to read him the Riot Act, as anything that had to be replaced meant more skimping on the things they loved… not just what Baker loved.

Jerrick had promised Baker that once they started moving more carrot juice and apple cider, it would more than compensate for the investment they had made.

“But what about compensating for my other chores?” said Baker, “I’m dealing with this new stuff all the time, and Kendo doesn’t make up for it!”

“He’s an investment too, Bake.”

Baker got sticky dealing with juice all the time, and paper towels were yet another expense, along with the cleaning supplies.

But it sure beat gathering honey. Olive did that. The bees didn’t seem to like Baker, or perhaps respect him. Either way, honey was a big-time necessity, not only because it sweetened milk (if you stirred it hard enough) but because it was like a little source of “surprise revenue”, because usually they forgot they were collecting any until it was time to sell it. Jerrick wanted another beehive, and at this Baker did revolt, as he had foregone everything but olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and meager helpings of chicken and beef. No bacon, no cola (imported from Terra), no soft toilet paper, no soy sauce, no cheese, no toothpaste or shampoo, and they even had to sell more of both types of cider, meaning less for them.

Kendo lived for whatever compensation there could be for no videogames, internet, or TV, which meant everything and nothing at the same time. Because he had no access to these things, he felt entitled to anything else he wanted— more than his share of all their best commodities.

Finally, it was Jerrick himself who had enough, and gave Kendo several lashings with a belt.

Kendo was so scandalized that he seemed to think he would live in the barn and never leave it, as there was nowhere else to go on Flora. However, after sufficient sobbing and licking his wounds, Jerrick and Olive comforted him, and gave him a small dessert that they had hidden away, which was an expense worth making, as Kendo became more amenable to his new life.

He soon began to wake up much earlier, and started taking pride in his chores. He was now polite at the dinner table and in other ways, and at this Baker’s heart softened.

Although he had been silently laughing when he heard Kendo wailing.

Baker’s mood improved at this joyful incident, unmindful that he had not seen bacon or soft toilet paper for three weeks. Even with all the additional expenses, they were projected to have a little more to work with in a couple more weeks, and once the increased volume of hard cider was ready to export, they might have enough for a second juicer. Even more, sustainable cheese was on the horizon, though they needed more goats. As of now, only two were reaching the age to increase milk production.

Olive opined for something new to do besides cards, such as an instrument or a new board game. Baker was in favor of a game, as was Kendo, both being fans of video games in their lives on Terra. Jerrick always wanted to try a banjo, but Olive let the boys have their way— yet it would be months before they got it. However, Kendo and Baker finally felt like toys were a real thing again, harkening to when they both enjoyed birthdays. They had something to look forward to, and their shared excitement fostered just the right amount of bonding.

Baker looked back at how far he had come, and rested satisfied. Kendo was still hurting, but the way he felt about himself was much cleaner, and less filled with greed. Jerrick and Olive were the wholesome parents he always wanted.

As for Jerrick, he liked board games too. He just wasn’t as competitive as Baker, and had a way of helping Kendo without handing him the game. 

Jerrick never had kids on Terra, and this was as good a start as any.