1:2 The Henford Hobo

Benjamin needed money fast.  This was ridiculous, he was no better off than he had been in SimCity.  In fact he would have been better off in SimCity, at least there ne knew a few people, or how to make a few simoleons. 

In a matter of days Benjamin had become the Henford Hobo.  He was mortified.  His family name was in the mud.  It was bad enough that in SimCity.... He shook his head, no. That's the past.  Perhaps it was better he was here.  No one knew him.  No one could see how the mighty had fallen. He had spent the last three nights sleeping around town on benches and in the pub lounge.  He hung around the local picnic area grabbing the leftovers of the wealthy picnickers.

 

Sulkily he trapsed round Henford, kicking rocks and glaring at the beautiful homes.  It wasn't fair.  On one of his kicks at the ground the dirt moved beneath his foot and he saw something shining a dull, sad shine.  Bending down and scraping the earth away he revealed a piece of odd shaped metal.  The object was unfamiliar to him, but turning it over in his hands, he determined that it may be of use to someone. 

Stuffing the piece of metal into his pocket he wandered into he centre of the picturesque village.  Here there was a market, stalls lined the streets and people milled around.  Benjamin suddenly felt out of place.  Everyone here knew someone, they chatted and laughed together.  Called across the square after family members and visits. Benjamin was suddenly moved by what he saw.  He wanted to be part of this.  He wanted to turn his life around.  

He'd fight for it...

First he needed some food.  Perhaps he could grow his own.  Cautiously he approached the produce stall.  Perhaps if he gor an apple he could grow a tree.  Apples alone weren't a complete diet but at least they were some kind of diet.  He waited until the woman at the counter acknowledged him.

'I... I was looking for an apple.'

She smiled at him and held out a beautiful red apple,

'$11, my love.' she smiled.  Benjamin looked uncomfortable. Truth was he had no money.  He looked at his feet.

'I have no money.' he mumbled.  The woman at the counter looked stunned at first.  She shook her head and held out her hands, as if he had presented her with a bag of fish heads.  He saw her expression and began to walk away mortified.  

'Hey! Sir!' the voice called to him from behind.  He stopped and turned although he was uncertain as to whether the cry was meant for him.  The woman from the stall was crossing the square towards him.  As she reached him she smiled softly.

'I am sorry.' She smiled barely hiding her embarrassment, 'I didn't mean to make you feel that way.  You surprised me, that was all.  Here...' She held out two apples.  It was Benjamin's turn to look shocked.  He stared at the apples as if he had never seen one before.

She saw his expression.  'Its a gift.  Call it a welcome to the village present.' She smiled.  Benjamin took the apple and smiled back almost shyly.  

'I'm Kim.' the woman smiled before rushing back to the queue that had been forming at her stall. Benjamin watched her go.  There was something quite wonderful about her. An innocence.  A restlessness.  He looked down at the apples.  A smile spread across his lips.  For the first time since he got here he actually felt a kind of hopefulness.  Maybe it wasn't going to be so bad living here.

Kim's Apple Tree