The Tomato Challenge
Chapter 1: One Tomato Life
I had left everything behind me, and decided to start a new life somewhere else. Tired of being around people who felt they could control every aspect of your life, I decided to come out here, where I could be by myself for a while.
I found some land that no one was using; I didn't even have any neighbors around to bother me.
As I was exploring the land, I noticed a tomato seed on the ground. I have always loved the land and gardening, and this seemed like a sign to me. If I could plant this seed and make a go of things, I could prove to myself that everyone else was wrong.
As I was exploring the land, I noticed a tomato seed on the ground. I have always loved the land and gardening, and this seemed like a sign to me. If I could plant this seed and make a go of things, I could prove to myself that everyone else was wrong.
The rain suddenly seemed cleansing now; instead of the melancholy I had been feeling earlier, the rain now made me feel hopeful. It would water and nourish my little seed, and maybe that little seed would be my saving.
I looked out over the river; the city was only on the other side, but it seemed so far away. While I was a little sad for what I had left behind, I was determined that I would no longer look back. Today was the beginning of my future; this little seed was the beginning of my new life.
I looked out over the river; the city was only on the other side, but it seemed so far away. While I was a little sad for what I had left behind, I was determined that I would no longer look back. Today was the beginning of my future; this little seed was the beginning of my new life.
There wasn't much for me to do, then. I decided to see if I could find an area for fishing, to get something to fertilize my little plant. I wanted it to grow strong and tall, and give me many fruits.
The river that faced the city had no fish in it. I was a little surprised at first, and then I realized that there was probably enough pollution in the water that fish simply couldn't survive.
The river that faced the city had no fish in it. I was a little surprised at first, and then I realized that there was probably enough pollution in the water that fish simply couldn't survive.
I looked around, and noticed a smaller river that ran between this small area, and a more suburban area. Maybe I would have better luck there. I thought I could see fish in the river; I decided to take a closer look.
As I drew nearer, I suspected that the place I had chosen was a small peninsula. I had had to cross a bridge from San Myshuno to this small area, so it could even be an islet. I vaguely recalled that this area was referred to as Newcrest. New was right; there was nothing here.
As I drew nearer, I could see some fish jumping. Ah, this looks like a good place to fish! I had never fished before, but I decided that it couldn't hurt to try.
I didn't catch much at first. A few minnows, and then an apple. Now, why would I find an apple in the river? I was fortunate that I had, however; as I grew hungry, I walked over to the grill I had seen earlier, and then remembered that I knew nothing about how to cook fish. I felt uneasy. I knew that if you cooked fish incorrectly, it could be poisonous, and I didn't know enough about it to know if I were doing it right. Also, those minnows were so small, they might be useful to fertilize my burgeoning tomato plant, but they certainly wouldn't satisfy my hunger.
Fortunately, the apple proved easy enough to cook, and although not as tasty as something our cook at home could have made, it satisfied my appetite. There was even a little left over, which might last me for my next meal.
Fortunately, the apple proved easy enough to cook, and although not as tasty as something our cook at home could have made, it satisfied my appetite. There was even a little left over, which might last me for my next meal.
I decided to check on my little tomato plant for a while, but I discovered it hadn't grown any further. It didn't even need any watering, because of all the rain.
Disappointed, I suddenly had an urge to use the restroom. Fortunately, I had noticed a public restroom close to the place I had planted the little tomato.
There was also a bench nearby. I was growing a little tired, so I decided to nap there. It was still raining, but there wasn't much I could do about that.
After I had eaten, I did some more fishing. Then it started to snow, which alarmed me. Snow wouldn't be good for my little tomato sprout at all! I ran over to it, and to my surprise, it had grown quite large! Perhaps I had been fishing longer than I had been cognizant of, but the rain had kept the little thing watered, and apparently there are no pests that would bother it on this small island.
After I had eaten, I did some more fishing. Then it started to snow, which alarmed me. Snow wouldn't be good for my little tomato sprout at all! I ran over to it, and to my surprise, it had grown quite large! Perhaps I had been fishing longer than I had been cognizant of, but the rain had kept the little thing watered, and apparently there are no pests that would bother it on this small island.
The little plant hadn't produced any fruit yet, but I fertilized it with one of the two minnows I had caught fishing. Then - rested, fed, and having finished my small bit of gardening, I went back to fishing. I had nothing better to do, and besides, maybe I could learn enough about cooking to be able to actually, you know, COOK a fish.
I fished until the wee hours of the morning, and when I checked my plant early the next morning, I had some fruit!
I immediately planted those - what good is a garden, if there's only one plant?
While I was still planting those new seeds, someone named Mila Munch walked by. I talked to her for a little while, and asked her if she would like to join a club with me. She was very happy to, and I called it Gardeners Anonymous. I'm not sure why I named it that, but since we were the only two members, I guess it doesn't matter what it's called.
We got along well, although I wasn't feeling comfortable at first. I really don't like being around people I don't know well. So I took the time to get to know her better, and then I stopped feeling tense.
Mila and I fished together for a while, and we socialized a bit more. We got to be pretty good friends.
Mila and I fished together for a while, and we socialized a bit more. We got to be pretty good friends.
After she left, I noticed a couple of burnt spots on the land that I now considered mine. It looked like the thunderstorms over the previous few days had caused some damage; I was only glad it had never struck me. It did leave a little present on one of those spots, although I was not sure what to do with it.
Although I was feeling a little grungy by this point, there was nothing I could do about it. While it had been raining, I was able to shower in the rain a bit; not all that satisfying, but it had helped a little. Now, though, the sun was out and shining, and while I was more comfortable in that respect, I was starting to sweat a little.
But since I couldn't do anything about this, I went back to fishing. I was getting a little better, by then; I was even starting to catch a couple of fish on occasion. I had the feeling the fish in this river were trickier than most, and since I was such a novice at fishing, it was taking me a while to figure them out.
During my walks between the river and my tomato plant, I had noticed some other plants growing wild. While snapdragons and bluebells weren't going to keep me fed, it occurred to me that I could use them both as bait for fish, as well as for fertilizer for my garden. I decided to gather up some of those flowers, to see if they would be useful that way.
The tempo of my days became a pattern; I would start the day checking on my garden - weeding, watering, harvesting. Sometimes I sold the fruits, sometimes I re-planted them. I wanted to have a decently sized garden, so I could make some real money. I also caught more apples while fishing (do they fall in the river a lot, or something?) so planted some of those as well. While they made a tasty meal when grilled, I knew that by planting a few of them, I could keep a steady supply of them.
But since I couldn't do anything about this, I went back to fishing. I was getting a little better, by then; I was even starting to catch a couple of fish on occasion. I had the feeling the fish in this river were trickier than most, and since I was such a novice at fishing, it was taking me a while to figure them out.
During my walks between the river and my tomato plant, I had noticed some other plants growing wild. While snapdragons and bluebells weren't going to keep me fed, it occurred to me that I could use them both as bait for fish, as well as for fertilizer for my garden. I decided to gather up some of those flowers, to see if they would be useful that way.
The tempo of my days became a pattern; I would start the day checking on my garden - weeding, watering, harvesting. Sometimes I sold the fruits, sometimes I re-planted them. I wanted to have a decently sized garden, so I could make some real money. I also caught more apples while fishing (do they fall in the river a lot, or something?) so planted some of those as well. While they made a tasty meal when grilled, I knew that by planting a few of them, I could keep a steady supply of them.
After a while, I grew curious about attempting to graft some of the wild plants onto my own plants. There were some wild snapdragons, and strawberries, and bluebells around. I had, by this point, a couple of dozen tomato plants; it wouldn't hurt to graft one of each of those others onto three of my tomato plants, to see what I would get. Yes, this way I was able to grow some of those in my garden. I replanted the first few flowers and fruits from the hybrid plants, until I had a nice number of each. Although I was probably wasting my time with the bluebells - they weren't valuable enough to use them for anything other than bait - I was still pleased that I had some variety.
Then I decided to experiment with some more hybridization. I had read somewhere that sometimes if you spliced two plants with each other, that you would actually get a completely new kind of plant. Nothing had happened to the three I had tried with my tomatoes, but I thought maybe some of them would splice together in interesting ways.
To my surprise, it worked! By splicing the bluebells and the strawberries together, I was able to grow grapes. Not a very valuable plant, but at least it gave some more variety to my diet. It was with the strawberry and snapdragon combination that I truly hit the jackpot - the result was an exotic fruit called a Dragon Fruit! I had never heard of such a thing before, but when I checked, those fruits are apparently quite rare and valuable.
Then I decided to experiment with some more hybridization. I had read somewhere that sometimes if you spliced two plants with each other, that you would actually get a completely new kind of plant. Nothing had happened to the three I had tried with my tomatoes, but I thought maybe some of them would splice together in interesting ways.
To my surprise, it worked! By splicing the bluebells and the strawberries together, I was able to grow grapes. Not a very valuable plant, but at least it gave some more variety to my diet. It was with the strawberry and snapdragon combination that I truly hit the jackpot - the result was an exotic fruit called a Dragon Fruit! I had never heard of such a thing before, but when I checked, those fruits are apparently quite rare and valuable.
I had no idea if they were tasty or not, and I decided that I didn't care. I immediately replanted every one of the fruits that had been borne - there were only two of them, on the first harvest - in order to start some more of them. These dragon fruits were going to make my fortune. Tomato plants were currently my bread and butter, but the dragon fruits were going to bring me actual security!
I had also found a strange seed while I was fishing; it had black and white spots, and a very strange shape. I planted it, and about a day later, something sprouted from it vaguely in the shape of an animal's head. I had the strange feeling that this wasn't all there was to it for this plant, that it would grow into something else, although I also had a vague uneasiness about what it would be. Well, whatever it was, I would deal with it. It was only a plant, after all.
I had also found a strange seed while I was fishing; it had black and white spots, and a very strange shape. I planted it, and about a day later, something sprouted from it vaguely in the shape of an animal's head. I had the strange feeling that this wasn't all there was to it for this plant, that it would grow into something else, although I also had a vague uneasiness about what it would be. Well, whatever it was, I would deal with it. It was only a plant, after all.