fic: This Is Me Trying
Feb. 14th, 2022 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bonnefoisTitle: This Is Me Trying
Series: Stardew Valley
Character/pairing: Shane/farmer
Rating: NSFW
Word count: 3k
Summary: After the fair, Shane has a proposition for his wife.
Author's note:
This (more or less) was some scenes I triggered in my file. (Shane wanted another kid right after my farmer won the fair and then triggered that particular spicy dialogue about short term memory the next morning.) It was too cute to not do.
This farmer uses the default female appearance. In the end, I couldn't make up my mind to pick a default name here, so just assume this farmer has your preferred farmer name.
yes, the title is from the Taylor Swift song. It reminds me a lot of Shane. If I ever get around to making a Shane fanmix, that would be on it. (And "Try It Sober" by Phoebe Ryan.)
Note that Shane's self-loathing thoughts about himself and addiction are depiction and not endorsement.
She'd spent the day getting enough star tokens to cash out. Her bin had been full of the most quality produce, enough to leave Pierre in a shamefaced second place.
Shane had spent the day drinking Joja Cola and sparkling water out by the animals. Looking at the chickens both cheered him up and calmed him down. It also gave him something to focus on, because at festivals there were always a ton of alcohol. It was always so easy to just tell himself it would be different this time. He could just drink a little. Then he'd be another sad, useless drunk who should've died years ago and a disappointment to all who knew him.
It wasn't him, anymore. He was trying to be better for her, for Jas, and for his kid, Ava. Cutest little brat. She definitely got that from him.
His little girl was already running so fast. It seemed like he spent most of the day chasing after her. He'd get her on his hip and feed the chickens. Shane spent most of the day with his kid in his arms. He'd even bought one of those baby carrier things. They looked like a pair of suspenders, and had some pouch. He forgot the name.
He'd fucked up with Jas so many times. He was trying to be better for Ava, and for Jas too. Even though he knew he'd never make it up for Jas, all he could do was keep trying.
His old Gridball ACL injury made walking much more difficult. He used to run down the field, as the crowd cheered. It was the biggest high he'd ever had. Better than the first buzz of alcohol, and the one glory he couldn't relive.
The one injury which got him cut from the team, made him lose his scholarship, and made him end up as a retail worker. Back in varsity, he was the guy who could drink everyone under the table. He wore it like a badge of honor. Shane, now he can fucking drink.
It got a whole lot less of a point to be proud of when he was holed away in a corner and clinging to that beer like it was all that kept him going. And it was.
It wasn't until after he dropped out of college (or was thrown out, more like it. No longer useful. There went that Gridball scholarship) that drinking was drowning out every memory of failure. He'd had a professional career in his grip. Now, every step hurt. Two surgeries and his knee still wasn't quite the same. The doctors said it probably never would be.
"Da!"
She had such tiny little fingers. He lifted her up. How had someone so beautiful and perfect come from him? He was a damned wreck. But hell if he didn't help make a cute kid.
Ava must've gotten that from her.
Focus on her, not on how.
Don't be the dick who got wasted on the night that his wife won the fair. Don't ruin her day.
Sometimes he faltered, and the look on her face, that quiet disappointment hurt worse than the hangover.
He took a deep breath, and took a swig of Joja Cola instead. The moment passed. Though he knew it'd always come again.
This was just life now.
*
She put Ava to bed and came in with the lights dimmed. All she wore was a pair of loose white t-shirt of a pajamas, but damn if she wasn't the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She'd even left off her pants.
It'd make for easy access.
Her dark hair was out of its ponytail and swept over her shoulders.
Shane rolled over, and propped his head up on his hand.
"You won big back there. I guess a congratulations is in order."
She smiled. "You doubted me?'
"Not even a little. I've seen the kind of stuff you grow. You've got a real talent for it. You wiped that smug smile right off of Pierre's face."
He'd lost a little weight recently, but he was still a far cry from the guy he'd been back in varsity. The star of the team. He'd had the perfect form, and worked out constantly. How that dream went down the drain.
Whatever, he searched through the ashes of his life got new dreams. Raising chickens out in this tiny little place, so small that it was left off of most maps. It all wasn't so bad. He had bad days, but his life was in a really good place. His wife was great. Gorgeous in a sort of tomboy way, patient and loving and kind. And strong. Really damn strong. She could probably lift him easily and not break a sweat.
She got him looking forward to tomorrows. Most of all, she didn't mind. She was way more attractive, but she'd liked him for some unfathomable reason. Anybody with any sense would've run the other way when they saw him passed out, or even the first time he told them off. Or left his ass when he'd gotten drunk again, after he'd promised that he'd turn his life around and swore this was the last drink, for sure this time.
Promises were easy to make, but a whole of a hell lot harder to keep. Especially when alcohol was just so easy to get. The Stardew Saloon was covered in ivy and flowers, brickwork and the most beautiful building in all town. It would be so easy to go in and drink and tell himself that it was just one beer.
This time, he wouldn't get wasted. But, one drink would always lead to another until he was passed out and a failure again.
But, she kept trying. And because of that, Shane kept trying, too.
"I put the kid to bed," he said.
"Let's hope she stays there. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I come in at almost 2 AM, ready to pass out and she's running around like something from Children of the Corn."
Shane laughed. "I think she got that from me."
"Probably," she said.
"Hey... Ava's getting so big. Think we should have another one?"
"I didn't expect you to be so sentimental," she said.
"You know me. Always full of surprises," Shane said.
"You're right; I think that now would be the perfect time for Ava to have a little sibling."
She climbed up on top of him. His old Gridball injury meant he wasn't quite up to a lot of positions.
She was way more fit and strong than him these days. She pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside. He let out a soft breath.
Even in the low light of the room, lit only by moonlight from the window and the glow of the fish tanks she kept, she was stunning.
She was way more attractive than him, anyways. He still wasn't sure how the hell he caught her eye. He'd been a mess then. He was still a mess, but nothing like he was then. He was practically near death at that point.
If she hadn't been there for him, he probably wouldn't be here now. Shane thought about that every day. How close he got to the edge and how she worked to pull him back.
With her lips, he forgot the past. He let out a soft groan as she leaned those perfect breasts against him. Even after a kid she still looked fucking great.
She straddled him, and ground her hips against his. She was already really wet.
Good to remember that some good things existed in the world. Like good sex with his wife. Even though his pain medication and anti-depressants meant his sex drive was low a lot of the time, she was patient with him.
She ground against his cock and teased him with her slickness.
"You that were turned on and didn't tell me?"
"I wasn't sure if you'd already fallen asleep or not. You usually turn in before I do."
"Tell me next time. I won't mind being woken up for something like that."
"Really? Because the Shane I know gets very cranky when he's woken up," she said skeptically.
"I'll make an exception. Maybe be half as cranky. Being with you like that cheers me up anyways."
"I'm okay with getting myself off if the medication makes you not in the mood."
"Trust me, I'm in the mood," Shane said.
"I can feel that," she said teasingly. She rubbed down his chest. He kept back the impulse to apologize that he wasn't everything he should be, everything she deserved. Better to keep his mouth shut before she got wise and ditched him for somebody that was a better fit for her.
She dropped her hips and took him full. His hands were at her thick hips, and held her tight. She had her hand between her legs as she rode him.
He liked to watch her when she was like that. Riding him for all she was worth. They had to be more quiet, now. Or there'd be a kid at the end of their bed staring at them.
Not that they'd had that romance novel, sex all over the house, wallbanger and screaming type of sex life before. His anti-depressants made sure he didn't even have the kind of sex life he had back in college. Age did the rest.
But, even if it wasn't hours long, it was still good. She felt amazing around him, against him. Like nobody he'd ever loved before.
Her breathing grew heavy. He held her a little closer. She had to bite her lip to keep from whimpering as she rode him deep into her. She was warm and wet and fucking perfect on him.
She took him deep over and over. Enough that he could hear her muffled moans growing more and more louder. She could barely keep quiet.
Just the sound of her pleasure, the feel of her got him off way too much.
"H-Hey, I can't last much longer," Shane gasped.
She tightened about him and leaned in close. The moonlight came in through the windows and he could see her face. She was full of such love.
She kissed him as he came, and rested on his chest.
And it wasn't perfect, but what was? He should last longer for her, should be bigger and stronger and taller and a hell of a lot smarter. But he wasn't, and she still loved him despite it all. Flaws and all.
Shane let out a soft, low groan. His orgasm was this momentary flash of intense pleasure and then, the sudden calm at the end of it all. For a few minutes they were curled up together and didn't say anything at all.
"I'm not on your old injury, am I?"
"Nah, you're good," Shane said.
Shane spoke up.
"Did you come? If not, I've still got enough energy to go down on you until you do," Shane said.
"Yeah, I did. You did good. Sounds great, but can I save that for a rain check? I'm a bit tired after all the work at the fair."
"Sure. IOU one going down on you," Shane said.
She laughed softly at that.
She nestled close to him. The dreams of the glory days were forgotten in new glory. Her bare body against him, still slick from his come.
Funny, Shane never used to be much of a cuddler before she came around. He wasn't this sentimental, either. She'd brought this side out of him he could barely even recognize.
Some days, he was practically stable. The kind of guy who had a routine, was a decent enough dad and got the groceries. Who knew that he'd become a corny old dad in his old age? Hell, who knew that he'd even live past thirty?
"If it didn't work, then what?" Shane said.
"Then we keep trying until it does," she said.
That was how it always was with her. She kept trying, even when he was a complete prick and a drunk, and made it so difficult for her. She never gave up on him for a second. And hell if he didn't love her for it.
*
The next morning, her hair was a mess. Damn, he loved it when she had sex hair. She'd take a few moments and finger comb her ponytail until it was free from knots.
"What? You've got such a silly smile today," she said.
"Why do I have such a silly smile on my face? You have a short memory span, you know that?"
She laughed. "Not quite. I remember exactly what happened yesterday. I just thought you might've had some good news."
"Nah...the good news was you, as always."
Thankfully, Ava was way too young to get that.
She leaned in and kissed Shane.. She damn loved kissing him. Over and over she'd come in to shove something in one of those endless chests stocked around the farm, steal a kiss and go back to work. Sometimes ten times a day, twenty, or hundreds. She never got tired of kissing him or just of him.
Which was saying something, because Shane was real fucking tired of himself. Tired of his brain which left him feeling empty and scrutinized and awful, tired of his body which gave out too soon when he was so close to glory, and craved alcohol, even when it destroyed him.
Tired of what age did to him. His ACL injury and knee problems acted up every year. Sometimes he just felt damn tired. One day, age would take even her and Marnie from him. That was, if his liver didn't fail first.
He could never have a drive like that. Just looking at her made him feel tired sometimes. And old, real damn old. There wasn't a lot to show for these years, either. Nothing but a dark spot of depression and grinding retail work and getting black out drunk. Waking up to self loathing and hangovers, which went hand in hand.
But, that was beautiful about her, too. Her hands dirty and her clothes sweaty as she planted an entire field of crops. How she'd fixed everything around the town, saved this whole little place and turned this failing farm into a rich enterprise.
Shane was a work in process. At his core, Shane knew he was still a damn, dirty good for nothing drunk. No matter how many times he chose Joja Cola over beer. But he had good days, and he was trying.
And she loved him for it. Somehow, she loved him more than he hated himself. So even when he was moody and distant and fucking depressed again, because his brain loved to make life miserable for him, she was still there.
Even when a part of Shane reminded himself that she could do better, he just took it. So, his wife's biggest flaw was that she had really bad taste in men. Lucky for him, who else would put up with his shit? She was so patient, she loved him even when he gave in.
He made a choice that day, and drank Joja Cola, for all of them, even when it would be so easy to go to town and get a beer from Gus's and get away from the thoughts, the memories, the constant discomfort. She made it so the memories weren't so overwhelming. He'd think of the new memories, and new dreams he'd made with her. All the reasons to keep going, even when it was hard.
Maybe it'd be a boy this time. Maybe, when they were older, he'd be able to play gridball with them both.
It wouldn't be the glory he'd lost. He'd never be a star gridball player. That dream was dead. But, the one he had was going pretty damn well. Jas came to visit every day. She loved to come see the animals, and little Ava. He'd fucked up with being her godparent many times over, but he was getting better at this. He'd never be able to take back the times she saw him drunken and passed out, all the times he'd failed, but he'd do good by her, if it was the last damn thing he did.
It turned out, raising chickens was pretty fun. His wife gave him a whole coop where Charlie had a bunch of new friends. Ava already loved chickens. And with parents like that, how couldn't she?
And now, there'd be two of them.
Sure, there was bad days. He kept going.
*
Series: Stardew Valley
Character/pairing: Shane/farmer
Rating: NSFW
Word count: 3k
Summary: After the fair, Shane has a proposition for his wife.
Author's note:
This (more or less) was some scenes I triggered in my file. (Shane wanted another kid right after my farmer won the fair and then triggered that particular spicy dialogue about short term memory the next morning.) It was too cute to not do.
This farmer uses the default female appearance. In the end, I couldn't make up my mind to pick a default name here, so just assume this farmer has your preferred farmer name.
yes, the title is from the Taylor Swift song. It reminds me a lot of Shane. If I ever get around to making a Shane fanmix, that would be on it. (And "Try It Sober" by Phoebe Ryan.)
Note that Shane's self-loathing thoughts about himself and addiction are depiction and not endorsement.
She'd spent the day getting enough star tokens to cash out. Her bin had been full of the most quality produce, enough to leave Pierre in a shamefaced second place.
Shane had spent the day drinking Joja Cola and sparkling water out by the animals. Looking at the chickens both cheered him up and calmed him down. It also gave him something to focus on, because at festivals there were always a ton of alcohol. It was always so easy to just tell himself it would be different this time. He could just drink a little. Then he'd be another sad, useless drunk who should've died years ago and a disappointment to all who knew him.
It wasn't him, anymore. He was trying to be better for her, for Jas, and for his kid, Ava. Cutest little brat. She definitely got that from him.
His little girl was already running so fast. It seemed like he spent most of the day chasing after her. He'd get her on his hip and feed the chickens. Shane spent most of the day with his kid in his arms. He'd even bought one of those baby carrier things. They looked like a pair of suspenders, and had some pouch. He forgot the name.
He'd fucked up with Jas so many times. He was trying to be better for Ava, and for Jas too. Even though he knew he'd never make it up for Jas, all he could do was keep trying.
His old Gridball ACL injury made walking much more difficult. He used to run down the field, as the crowd cheered. It was the biggest high he'd ever had. Better than the first buzz of alcohol, and the one glory he couldn't relive.
The one injury which got him cut from the team, made him lose his scholarship, and made him end up as a retail worker. Back in varsity, he was the guy who could drink everyone under the table. He wore it like a badge of honor. Shane, now he can fucking drink.
It got a whole lot less of a point to be proud of when he was holed away in a corner and clinging to that beer like it was all that kept him going. And it was.
It wasn't until after he dropped out of college (or was thrown out, more like it. No longer useful. There went that Gridball scholarship) that drinking was drowning out every memory of failure. He'd had a professional career in his grip. Now, every step hurt. Two surgeries and his knee still wasn't quite the same. The doctors said it probably never would be.
"Da!"
She had such tiny little fingers. He lifted her up. How had someone so beautiful and perfect come from him? He was a damned wreck. But hell if he didn't help make a cute kid.
Ava must've gotten that from her.
Focus on her, not on how.
Don't be the dick who got wasted on the night that his wife won the fair. Don't ruin her day.
Sometimes he faltered, and the look on her face, that quiet disappointment hurt worse than the hangover.
He took a deep breath, and took a swig of Joja Cola instead. The moment passed. Though he knew it'd always come again.
This was just life now.
*
She put Ava to bed and came in with the lights dimmed. All she wore was a pair of loose white t-shirt of a pajamas, but damn if she wasn't the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She'd even left off her pants.
It'd make for easy access.
Her dark hair was out of its ponytail and swept over her shoulders.
Shane rolled over, and propped his head up on his hand.
"You won big back there. I guess a congratulations is in order."
She smiled. "You doubted me?'
"Not even a little. I've seen the kind of stuff you grow. You've got a real talent for it. You wiped that smug smile right off of Pierre's face."
He'd lost a little weight recently, but he was still a far cry from the guy he'd been back in varsity. The star of the team. He'd had the perfect form, and worked out constantly. How that dream went down the drain.
Whatever, he searched through the ashes of his life got new dreams. Raising chickens out in this tiny little place, so small that it was left off of most maps. It all wasn't so bad. He had bad days, but his life was in a really good place. His wife was great. Gorgeous in a sort of tomboy way, patient and loving and kind. And strong. Really damn strong. She could probably lift him easily and not break a sweat.
She got him looking forward to tomorrows. Most of all, she didn't mind. She was way more attractive, but she'd liked him for some unfathomable reason. Anybody with any sense would've run the other way when they saw him passed out, or even the first time he told them off. Or left his ass when he'd gotten drunk again, after he'd promised that he'd turn his life around and swore this was the last drink, for sure this time.
Promises were easy to make, but a whole of a hell lot harder to keep. Especially when alcohol was just so easy to get. The Stardew Saloon was covered in ivy and flowers, brickwork and the most beautiful building in all town. It would be so easy to go in and drink and tell himself that it was just one beer.
This time, he wouldn't get wasted. But, one drink would always lead to another until he was passed out and a failure again.
But, she kept trying. And because of that, Shane kept trying, too.
"I put the kid to bed," he said.
"Let's hope she stays there. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I come in at almost 2 AM, ready to pass out and she's running around like something from Children of the Corn."
Shane laughed. "I think she got that from me."
"Probably," she said.
"Hey... Ava's getting so big. Think we should have another one?"
"I didn't expect you to be so sentimental," she said.
"You know me. Always full of surprises," Shane said.
"You're right; I think that now would be the perfect time for Ava to have a little sibling."
She climbed up on top of him. His old Gridball injury meant he wasn't quite up to a lot of positions.
She was way more fit and strong than him these days. She pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside. He let out a soft breath.
Even in the low light of the room, lit only by moonlight from the window and the glow of the fish tanks she kept, she was stunning.
She was way more attractive than him, anyways. He still wasn't sure how the hell he caught her eye. He'd been a mess then. He was still a mess, but nothing like he was then. He was practically near death at that point.
If she hadn't been there for him, he probably wouldn't be here now. Shane thought about that every day. How close he got to the edge and how she worked to pull him back.
With her lips, he forgot the past. He let out a soft groan as she leaned those perfect breasts against him. Even after a kid she still looked fucking great.
She straddled him, and ground her hips against his. She was already really wet.
Good to remember that some good things existed in the world. Like good sex with his wife. Even though his pain medication and anti-depressants meant his sex drive was low a lot of the time, she was patient with him.
She ground against his cock and teased him with her slickness.
"You that were turned on and didn't tell me?"
"I wasn't sure if you'd already fallen asleep or not. You usually turn in before I do."
"Tell me next time. I won't mind being woken up for something like that."
"Really? Because the Shane I know gets very cranky when he's woken up," she said skeptically.
"I'll make an exception. Maybe be half as cranky. Being with you like that cheers me up anyways."
"I'm okay with getting myself off if the medication makes you not in the mood."
"Trust me, I'm in the mood," Shane said.
"I can feel that," she said teasingly. She rubbed down his chest. He kept back the impulse to apologize that he wasn't everything he should be, everything she deserved. Better to keep his mouth shut before she got wise and ditched him for somebody that was a better fit for her.
She dropped her hips and took him full. His hands were at her thick hips, and held her tight. She had her hand between her legs as she rode him.
He liked to watch her when she was like that. Riding him for all she was worth. They had to be more quiet, now. Or there'd be a kid at the end of their bed staring at them.
Not that they'd had that romance novel, sex all over the house, wallbanger and screaming type of sex life before. His anti-depressants made sure he didn't even have the kind of sex life he had back in college. Age did the rest.
But, even if it wasn't hours long, it was still good. She felt amazing around him, against him. Like nobody he'd ever loved before.
Her breathing grew heavy. He held her a little closer. She had to bite her lip to keep from whimpering as she rode him deep into her. She was warm and wet and fucking perfect on him.
She took him deep over and over. Enough that he could hear her muffled moans growing more and more louder. She could barely keep quiet.
Just the sound of her pleasure, the feel of her got him off way too much.
"H-Hey, I can't last much longer," Shane gasped.
She tightened about him and leaned in close. The moonlight came in through the windows and he could see her face. She was full of such love.
She kissed him as he came, and rested on his chest.
And it wasn't perfect, but what was? He should last longer for her, should be bigger and stronger and taller and a hell of a lot smarter. But he wasn't, and she still loved him despite it all. Flaws and all.
Shane let out a soft, low groan. His orgasm was this momentary flash of intense pleasure and then, the sudden calm at the end of it all. For a few minutes they were curled up together and didn't say anything at all.
"I'm not on your old injury, am I?"
"Nah, you're good," Shane said.
Shane spoke up.
"Did you come? If not, I've still got enough energy to go down on you until you do," Shane said.
"Yeah, I did. You did good. Sounds great, but can I save that for a rain check? I'm a bit tired after all the work at the fair."
"Sure. IOU one going down on you," Shane said.
She laughed softly at that.
She nestled close to him. The dreams of the glory days were forgotten in new glory. Her bare body against him, still slick from his come.
Funny, Shane never used to be much of a cuddler before she came around. He wasn't this sentimental, either. She'd brought this side out of him he could barely even recognize.
Some days, he was practically stable. The kind of guy who had a routine, was a decent enough dad and got the groceries. Who knew that he'd become a corny old dad in his old age? Hell, who knew that he'd even live past thirty?
"If it didn't work, then what?" Shane said.
"Then we keep trying until it does," she said.
That was how it always was with her. She kept trying, even when he was a complete prick and a drunk, and made it so difficult for her. She never gave up on him for a second. And hell if he didn't love her for it.
*
The next morning, her hair was a mess. Damn, he loved it when she had sex hair. She'd take a few moments and finger comb her ponytail until it was free from knots.
"What? You've got such a silly smile today," she said.
"Why do I have such a silly smile on my face? You have a short memory span, you know that?"
She laughed. "Not quite. I remember exactly what happened yesterday. I just thought you might've had some good news."
"Nah...the good news was you, as always."
Thankfully, Ava was way too young to get that.
She leaned in and kissed Shane.. She damn loved kissing him. Over and over she'd come in to shove something in one of those endless chests stocked around the farm, steal a kiss and go back to work. Sometimes ten times a day, twenty, or hundreds. She never got tired of kissing him or just of him.
Which was saying something, because Shane was real fucking tired of himself. Tired of his brain which left him feeling empty and scrutinized and awful, tired of his body which gave out too soon when he was so close to glory, and craved alcohol, even when it destroyed him.
Tired of what age did to him. His ACL injury and knee problems acted up every year. Sometimes he just felt damn tired. One day, age would take even her and Marnie from him. That was, if his liver didn't fail first.
He could never have a drive like that. Just looking at her made him feel tired sometimes. And old, real damn old. There wasn't a lot to show for these years, either. Nothing but a dark spot of depression and grinding retail work and getting black out drunk. Waking up to self loathing and hangovers, which went hand in hand.
But, that was beautiful about her, too. Her hands dirty and her clothes sweaty as she planted an entire field of crops. How she'd fixed everything around the town, saved this whole little place and turned this failing farm into a rich enterprise.
Shane was a work in process. At his core, Shane knew he was still a damn, dirty good for nothing drunk. No matter how many times he chose Joja Cola over beer. But he had good days, and he was trying.
And she loved him for it. Somehow, she loved him more than he hated himself. So even when he was moody and distant and fucking depressed again, because his brain loved to make life miserable for him, she was still there.
Even when a part of Shane reminded himself that she could do better, he just took it. So, his wife's biggest flaw was that she had really bad taste in men. Lucky for him, who else would put up with his shit? She was so patient, she loved him even when he gave in.
He made a choice that day, and drank Joja Cola, for all of them, even when it would be so easy to go to town and get a beer from Gus's and get away from the thoughts, the memories, the constant discomfort. She made it so the memories weren't so overwhelming. He'd think of the new memories, and new dreams he'd made with her. All the reasons to keep going, even when it was hard.
Maybe it'd be a boy this time. Maybe, when they were older, he'd be able to play gridball with them both.
It wouldn't be the glory he'd lost. He'd never be a star gridball player. That dream was dead. But, the one he had was going pretty damn well. Jas came to visit every day. She loved to come see the animals, and little Ava. He'd fucked up with being her godparent many times over, but he was getting better at this. He'd never be able to take back the times she saw him drunken and passed out, all the times he'd failed, but he'd do good by her, if it was the last damn thing he did.
It turned out, raising chickens was pretty fun. His wife gave him a whole coop where Charlie had a bunch of new friends. Ava already loved chickens. And with parents like that, how couldn't she?
And now, there'd be two of them.
Sure, there was bad days. He kept going.
*
