BellTree's Misfortune

There were signs posted all over the tiny village of BellTree.  Excitement seemed to fill the air with every step I took.   It was only hours earlier that I had been in the city working on all the forms to be completed.  For some reason bringing a Fair to this little village presented more challenges.  Why?

It had been a long train ride.  On the way not a word was spoken by anyone as they gazed out the window watching many small villages fleet by swiftly.   Some had many unique monuments surrounding their plazas and train stations.  Was it possible to see a Pyramid in the middle of the countryside?  Many thoughts were racing through my mind as the train slowed to the station.  As I exited the station, a kindly individual named Porter said eek eek and waved me along.  Everyone seemed to be getting off at the same station.  Maybe this Fair would be bigger than I had hoped.  Oh, are you wondering?  You should be.  My name is D. S.

Ahead of me, the passengers seemed to disappear into the surrounding trees and quaint little cottages.  My instructions were to head to the Town Hall and discuss all the procedures and requirements for setting up the Fair with Isabelle.  She seemed to be quite friendly yet firm in seeing that all pre-requisites were met.  As I walked into the office she politely showed me to a desk where I could sit and continue the process.  The Fair had been approved and construction was underway.  There was quite a hefty payment to make before any further action could be taken.  Lloid was in charge of construction.

As I left the Town Hall, I glanced back towards the train and noticed several cars carrying hippos, tigers, horses and so much more.  A gentleman named Nook seemed to be in charge of getting each individual character to their respective locations.  By the look on his face, he didn’t seem all too pleased and seemed to be taking delight in placing temporary housing in the worst possible places for a rather hefty sum of bells.  Yes, for some reason there was a necessity to have my currency changed to bells if I wanted to get coffee or do any shopping.  Thank goodness my wife, Nin, didn’t come along with me on this trip.  The look of the Emporium on Main Street would surely lower my account balance.

Once I reached the Event Plaza, Isabelle was already in place and had a helper named Redd set up in a booth selling prizes, and other items to delight in the activities which were about to commence.    Only one thing seemed out of place.  Where were all the villagers?

Something just didn’t feel right.  One minute everyone was walking around and talking with each other, then the next thing I knew, it felt like hours or even days had passed with nothing happening.  Suddenly, I found myself outside of my cottage standing by the front door.  A kindly little individual named Ozzie walked up to me and asked if I had any candy.  Fortunately there was a piece in my pocket left over from Halloween and he was so pleased to get it.  I was given a nice tee shirt in return.  As I walked on this same custom seemed to occur over and over.

Once again I headed back to the Event Plaza and this time saw a rather large tent indicating a Fortune Teller named Katrina was inside.  Upon entering, a colorful individual greeted me by saying, “I, Katrina, will reveal your future and the way to capture fortunes untold for a mere 500 bells.”   With instructions to kneel a star matrix appeared before me, odd words were muttered and my fortune was told.  My lucky item was a hat that I happened to be wearing.  That had to be a good sign hopefully.  With words of encouragement stating all things eventually work out, I exited the tent with a sigh of relief.  Apparently the villagers believe strongly in her words of advice.  Many who left the tent were headed straight to a clothing store to purchase good luck items.

Once again, for some unknown reason, I found myself standing outside by my front door.  What on earth was going on?  Upon returning to the Plaza a colorful clown named Pietro started humming a song, which was unlike anything, I had ever heard before.  Although everything in the village of BellTree seemed to have one tune, Pietro’s tune was playing over and over in my head.  He was  part of the Fair’s entertainment and was headed over to get a horse named Roscoe.  Roscoe had been seen briefly hiding behind trees and following me ever so closely behind.  Upon turning around to greet him, he would turn and act as if nothing had happened.  A rather brutal Kangaroo named Mathilda asked if I was an actor starring in a zombie movie because I looked just like one.  The nerve!!!  Did she not realize how much time and effort and money (err, bells) I had put into this event?

As the day progressed and the sun began to set, it was obvious that the BellTree Fair had been a big success and it was announced that another one would be held at the exact same time the following year.  That was odd, because this was the first time one had been held here, yet many people already had items that were sold and knew exactly what would happen.  Something about TTing.  Yet another quirk that was beginning to haunt me.  The fireworks began and clapping and Shrunking was being performed to the tunes of a Cool Dude named Slider.  I was told this same event was being held in many villages and could be seen by spending a few more bells at a place called the Dream Suite.  How was this happening?

Suddenly, with a jolt, something that resembled a mole jumped out of the ground and I was being scolded by a Resetti.  Now it all made sense.  Apparently I was all the works of someone’s imagination yet all was lost and everything I had seen and done was gone.  Poof.  In the blink of an eye, the Fair was over.  All that remained was a memory held by someone watching me perform my duties on the other side of a screen.  Who is controlling you?  Turn around.