The Farmer Who Passed The Chance To Be A Hero XI

The three of us exchanged glances. Cygar and I were grinning ear to ear at, but Zoe's mouth was pursed and her eyebrows couldn't go any higher.

"So you still haven't told me, what's your ability? You can obviously do something, but I wasn't able to discern what it was," Cygar said.

Zoe's fiddled with her hands clasped together and gazed at the ground. "I didn't know they were many people like me. I knew Jimmy over here could do all of these crazy things, but, uh. Where are you from?"

"Gadonia. And I'm guessing you're from there too, or at least, your parents are."

"Ga-what-uh?"

"Maybe we can talk about this later, y'know, at the bonfire," I chimed in, although I felt a little bad interrupting the conversation. "After all, I would like to see my girlfriend if possible."

Zoe gave me a stink-eye and a sneer. I knew it didn't mean anything though, Zoe and I were always like that. She liked to mess with me and I liked to mess with her.

"I'll get Lorraine," Zoe grumbled but then she looked back at Cygar and gave him flirtatious smile and eye flutter.

"Aren'tch'ya gonna' invite us in?" I said joking with her.

"We're all ready to go so, it will only be a second," Zoe rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but, Cygar really likes animals, I'm sure he'd love to meet Bowie, he's never seen a cat before."

"Huh!" Zoe gasped dramatically. "You have to meet Bowie right now! Good idea, for once, Jimmy. Come on in, take Bozo to my dad!"

We strode inside the house, Cygar and Zoe went upstairs but I searched around the house for Zoe's father. He spotted me from the dining room table.

"Hello, Mr. Smith," I said.

"Hey uh, Jimmy, it's good to see you m'boy. Come on in here for a moment."

"I was coming in here anyways, I wanted to leave Bozo with ya for a moment. But, yes Mr. Smith?" I stepped into the dining room and stood on the other side as he was devouring his apple pie.

"Bring the doggy in, I love Bozo," Mr. Smith said as Bozo galloped over to his side and he petted him on his face. "Jimmy would you like a slice of pie? We have all this good apple pie that I made but no one around here is eatin' it. Will ya' take a slice?"

"No, that's okay, thank you though for the offer. I'm just here to pick up Lorraine. Are you sure you don't want to go to tonight's bonfire?"

Mr. Smith chuckled. "Naw, young Jimmy, when you get to be my age doing things takes a lotta' recuperatin' ya know what I mean?"

"Like how Old Man Walt just sits on his porch all day playing the banjo while Jamie works his butt off?"

Mr. Smith started cracking up with a booming laugh. "You're a funny kid, Jimmy. Someday you and I will both be like Old Man Walt. But yes, that's a good example, Old Man Walt has worked his tail off his whole life, he's earned his time for porch sittin'. After a long hard day on the farm though, Mrs. Smith and I are going to stay in. We appreciate the offer though, and please, do give Howie and Terry our best."

"Will do, sir. Now, Mr. Smith, I'm gonna go fetch Lorraine, I'll be right back to take Bozo from you."

"Oh Jimmy! One last thing, would you mind heating up my apple pie for me?"

I chuckled. "Sure thing, Mr. Smith," I held out my hand and simply boosted the heat of his slice of apple pie with a flick of my wrist. "Should be good now, sir."

He took a bite and grinned from ear to ear. "Perfect! Thank you so much, Jimmy!"

I walked upstairs and saw Zoe's door wide open, her and Cygar were sitting on the bed petting her vibrant orange cat, Bowie.

"Jimmy!" Cygar called, his eyes were wide as he was making Bowie jump on the bed by dangling a toy in front of the cat, Zoe beamed at the scene. "Have you ever seen this? Actually, of course you have, but this is amazing! This cat is too precious. Why don't you have one?"

"Well, we don't really have a mouse problem in our house," I winked.

"Oh very funny, Jimmy! That's not the reason we have him, jerk!" Zoe sneered. "Why don't you go bother your girlfriend instead of us?"

"I think I will," I left them alone and knocked on Lorraine's door which flew open. It looked like she thought I was her sister initially because she was frowning, but as soon as Lorraine recognized me her eyes lit up.

"Jimmy!" she shouted, gave me a bear hug, and attacked me with a barrage of kisses on the cheek.

"Hey there, darlin', Stop! Stop! Yer ticklin' me," I laughed.

"I haven't been able to see you all week, which has been a real bother, sorry for showing some affection!" Lorraine snapped.

"It's all good, it's just, there's someone I'd like you to meet, he's a new friend of mine, his name is a little funny, but it's easy to say," I pried myself off her hold and poked my head in Zoe's room. "Cygar, meet my girlfriend Lorraine."

Cygar hopped off the bed and skipped over to shake hands awkwardly high with Lorraine. "Is she the one you told me not to call, Lori?"

Mid-awkward high handshake, Lori's eyes flipped yellow and Cygar jolted back, crashing on the floor with all of his hairs sticking straight out. When Cygar sat up, his jaw was ajar, but then he chuckled and had a lunatic's grin.

"My goodness, Lorraine! You can conjure electricity?!"