Steps One and Two
There was a blinding flash of light, then nothingness. She had no idea how long the nothingness lasted because time is something and this was nothing.
When the world finally elected to re-materialize around her, she found herself standing in a large, open field blinking in the early morning sun. The distant sound of crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air told her there was a beach nearby. Her thoughts struggled to catch up with her senses.
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“Well that was stupid!” was the first coherent one.
“Where am I?” was next.
“There you are!” said a voice behind her.
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She turned to see a smartly dressed man swiftly approaching from across the field. She instinctively slid the piece of paper she was still holding into her pocket.
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Man: (grabbing her hand and shaking it) I’m Landgraab. Gerald Landgraab. I’ve been waiting on you for almost an hour. If you’d taken much longer, I might have just written my own name on the deed and called it a day.
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Woman: I’m sorry, Mr. Landgraab. I was…
Landgraab: (interrupting) Ah well. It’s alright, I suppose. It’s a nice day, at least. Better than being cooped up in my office.
Woman: Yes, it’s a very nice day…
Landgraab: (talking over her) …nice day for business. Yes. Always a nice day for business. Now if you’ll just tell me your full name, I can write it on the deed here and we’ll be all set.
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Woman: Oh! Of course. (sneaks a peak at the paper in her pocket) It’s…uh…Share-bear.
Landgraab: Shari Behr. Got it.
Good enough, she thought to herself. I can be Shari Behr.
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Landgraab: Well, here you are. (hands her an official-looking document) Now, my records show that you still owe $200, so we’ll deliver the Knight once we receive the balance.
Shari: That sounds..
Landgraab: (interrupting) …fair, yes. You know, Brindleton Bay is nice enough, but a bit too damp for my liking. Personally, I prefer Oasis Springs. The arid climate is excellent for the constitution.
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Shari: (surprised to find herself in possession of bits and pieces of someone else’s memory) Oasis Springs?
Isn’t there a Grotto in Oasis Springs where people go to catch…
Landgraab: What? No! That’s a tall tale. Nothing of the sort. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got a cave entrance that needs boarding up. Not safe for children.
Shari: Okay. It was nice to…
Landgraab: …meet me. Yes, yes. I really must get going. Time is money! Remember that, Ms. Behr.
Shari pulled out the pamphlet her namesake had given her. She held it in one hand and the deed to the land she was standing on in the other. The pamphlet was dated 2018. The deed was dated 1818.
Well that explains a lot, she thought to herself. But it makes no difference to me. Might as well live my life right here, right now.
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It’s a good thing I’m not squeamish, Shari thought as she plunged her hand into yet another squishy log.
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The pamphlet she had been given by the girl at the lab specifically mentioned collecting frogs as being an excellent source of income. So far, this was proving to be true.
Might as well dig up this rock while I’m here, she thought.
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While she was fishing, Shari received a notice that the Welcome Wagon had arrived at her lot.
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By the time she got all the way back home, most of the members of the Welcome Wagon had given up and left. But there was one nice neighbor who was still there.
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Neighbor: Hello there! I’m Evelyn. It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Shari: I’m Shari. Thank you for the fruitcake.
Evelyn: Oh you’re welcome! How are you enjoying your first day?
Shari: It’s a bit overwhelming actually.
Evelyn: Well, if you need anything, just give me a holler. I live in the Bedlington Boathouse just over there with my husband and young daughter.
Shari: Thank you, I will!
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After Evelyn left, it was back to searching for frogs.
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As the sun set, Shari tried her hand at fishing again. It was peaceful, but fishing wasn’t earning her much money.
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So instead, Shari stayed up all night visiting every dig site she could find.
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In the morning, The Knight was delivered just as Mr. Landgraab had promised.
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Shari: (looking down at her list) Step one… empty lot. Done.
Step two… earn $200 and purchase the Knight of the Octagon Table. Done.
Step three... primary spouse.
Hmm…Perhaps I should find a place to take a bath first.
On second thought, nap first, then bath.
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Note: The first half of this update occurred in a separate save file. The second part is the beginning of the Legacy Challenge proper. I downloaded one family from the gallery called Nice Family from the 1800s by faithpope to be Shari’s neighbors. They won’t be spousal candidates, just friends.
