MY PLACE s01:e13 - Simon

I sat on a bench a couple yards away from Nook’s homes that overlooked the sea.
I wanted to take this ridiculous garb off me. My clothes were being kept at the Able Sisters, I said they could sell them since I “don’t need those rags anymore!”. I felt way too awkward to go and ask for them back right now, so I decided to keep this dress on as a bizarre form of self-inflicted punishment.

I could see a bridge heading out of Place to my left. I wonder where that went. After all, the only way in and out of this village was via train. If I wanted to find a way home, I needed to buy a ticket or something. But, as I was just reminded, I’m penniless. Or bell-less, I suppose. Good grief, how am I ever gonna make ten thousand bells before I’m old enough to retire!?

“Hello, mayor” came a voice from behind me “you okay?”

His voice, although friendly sounding, made me jump in my seat. I turned to face him and saw one of the residents who greeted me at the station; A monkey with dirty blonde hair.

“Oh, um, hey” I said “I… could be better”

“Huh? What’s up?” he asked, sitting himself down beside me “You should be happy, right? You just become mayor!”

“Yeah well, this wasn’t exactly something I was looking forward to”

“Yeah…” he sighed “I suppose it is gonna be a tough job”

“It’s not just that though” I said “I’ve just been told how much I gotta pay before I can live in an actual house. We’re talking FIVE digits here! Until then I’ll be sleeping in a tent… wearing this.”

He laughed.
“I think it looks pretty cool! It’s kinda refreshing to see a mayor wear something other than a suit and tie!”

That cheered me up a little. Compliments weren’t something I got often, and to receive one inside this bright orange catastrophe was comforting. We exchanged names. His name was Simon. He had apparently moved here a year ago, mainly for the beach.

“It’s not much” said Simon, glancing back towards his house “but it’s quiet, and I like quiet. It sounds weird, but its nice to be cut off from the rest of the world in a way!”

Please don’t emphasise that.

“So, how much money do you owe Mr Nook?” he asked.

“Ten thousand bells” I groaned.

“Aw, that’s not much!” he smiled “I know it’s a big number, but you’d be surprised by how easy it is to earn money when you know where to look!”

“Really? Tom said I gotta catch fish, and I’ve never fished before in my life”

“There’s nothing to it! I’ll teach you!” Simon reassured me “Besides, you can catch bugs, sell furniture, pick fruit… life here’s pretty easy! I could help you get started if you want.”

“Help me?” I asked “Are you sure?”

“Of course!” he replied “I don’t mind! Say, you can begin by selling this if you want…”

He pulled out an old polaroid camera and handed it to me. Where was he keeping that? He doesn’t even have pockets.

“Oh, cool!” I said, examining the gift “I’ve never used one of these cameras before…” As I scanned the device, I accidently pressed the capture button and nearly blinded myself. “Gah!!” Out from the bottom slid an unflattering close up of my goofy, turban clad face. Simon laughed as I rubbed my eyes. Despite the mood I was in, I couldn’t help but join him.

“You gotta go to ReTail to recycle your stuff” Simon explained “It’s the bright pink shop in the middle of town, you can’t miss it. It’s run by this nice alpaca couple, they’ll help you out!”

Off in the distance, we heard the bell chimes of Town Hall signal the passing of the hour. I hadn’t even realised how late it was getting.

“Seven o’clock?” I wondered.

“That means the fireworks show is staring!” said Simon as he rose from the bench. “You coming, mayor?”

I looked down at myself.
Well, it’s too late now, they’ve already elected me.

~Author’s Notes~
At long last I got to do a chapter with 100% original dialogue.
This scene was based off how my very first New Leaf screenshot came to be: I was running through Main Street, and when I reached the end where the bench sits, I pressed both shoulder buttons in at once and accidently took my first photo. I had no idea what that bright flash was at the time until one of the characters told me the following day!

Not gonna lie though, not proud of this pic. Too much orange. It was one of those instances where I just kinda threw shit at the wall to see what stuck and I apologise for that.