Chapter 4

FOUR

The day waned and faded into evening"s gentle embrace before Jackson made it back to Walker Farm. The waxing silver moon seemed to call him, like a celestial smile in the sky, promising the insanity of these beans would work.

Under the cloak of night, he sought out a small patch of soil, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. Even in the dull light of the moon, he could tell that it was not as dry as all the others, and it was quite a bit closer to the house.

"For better or worse, Mavis," he murmured to himself as he gently pressed the seed into the earth with careful fingers. He smoothed the dirt over the top and looked back at Mavis, who still was inside the car, her head out the open window, showing off what appeared to be a smile on her snout.

The pig, his only companion at the moment, let out a gentle snort, almost as if she understood the weight of his words.

Jackson"s heart hammered with uncertainty, and yet, the deed was done. He wasn"t certain what it meant to water it with his tears, but storms were often perceived to be the god"s crying, and a storm was absolutely coming.

As if summoned by the silly deed, lightning cracked across the sky like the whip of a celestial being, followed by thunder that boomed like the world"s outcry. As the heavens opened, pouring rain upon the land, Jackson rushed to the car, threw the door open, and lifted Mavis.

Tonight, she was going to sleep inside.

With the next crack of thunder, Jackson knew getting to the barn safely was going to be too much of a risk.

The door flew open with ease and his aunt stared at him and Mavis, a crooked smirk on her lips.

"I made certain the animals were all away when the clouds came rolling in. Couldn"t get the damn barn door locked, though." She glanced at Mavis then. "So, you didn"t sell her, and she"s sleepin" in here, then?"

Jackson chuckled as he set Mavis down. "Something like that."

He could have told her about the seeds, but she would merely think he"d lost his damn mind.

But it didn"t cost a cent.

Which is a sure sign it won"t work.

Jackson scratched just above his ear and sighed. "There"s something I tried. I"ll tell you more about it if it works."

"Nothing ominous there," Marie clucked and wagged a finger at Mavis. "Don"t you eat the stuffing out of my couch, you hear?"

Mavis, for her part, gave a small grunt.

"I"m going to bed, you"d best do the same soon. There could be animals to find in the morning when the storm passes."

He gave a nod and watched as his aunt meandered up the stairs across the way. It was an odd roommate, but she belonged on the land and couldn"t live in the house on the opposite side alone. It was too big for her.

Sighing, Jackson walked to the fridge and tugged it open. Grabbing a beer, Jackson dropped into his usual chair and watched as the storm came pummeling down.

The rain poured down steadily, drowning out the world with a soothing sound as if to wash away all the woes and troubles Jackson had been facing.

Trees swayed violently, trying desperately not to be uprooted, while others snapped under pressure from forces beyond their control. It was both beautiful and terrifying all at once. An untamed force beyond his comprehension, but also something that held promise of change if harnessed correctly.

A small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls, making him somehow seem less alone. As the flames danced and the rain poured down, a strange sensation overcame him. As if time had slowed or maybe stopped and then sped up rapidly. The only movement seemed to be the rain and wind howling through the farm outside.

Lightning arced across the sky once more, illuminating the room in stark contrasts of light and dark, revealing dust particles dancing in the air like tiny fairies at play. He felt drawn to look out of the window but resisted as best he could until he found himself standing behind a thin curtain, observing nature"s fury firsthand.

This rain could"ve saved me the embarrassment of those damn seeds.

Thunder rumbled as if to answer, so loud the ground shook path as rain pelted against rooftops, turning them into drum kits played by some heavenly band.

The storm grew stronger and all Jackson could think about was the tiny seed - one of three - likely washed away.

"Nothing like watching a pot boil. And why do I even think it"ll grow overnight?" Sighing, he rose, beer unopened, and went to bed.

Jackson awoke abruptly, gasping for air, heart pounding in his chest like a jackhammer on caffeine. Images he couldn"t quite see hung at the vestiges of his mind as sleep faded.

It took him a moment to remember where he was and why he felt like this. Rain hammered the roof above him, echoing in the small bedroom of his farmhouse.

Throwing off the covers, Jackson moved to the window, curious what damage the storm may have done.

The rain had soaked the ground, leaving behind only muddy footprints from his earlier inspection. He squinted against the downpour, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

The bean!

Wiping sleep from his eyes, he stumbled to get dressed but was awake before he made it down the stairs to put on some boots and a coat before heading outside into the chaos that used to be a serene farm.

The wind tugged at him like an unyielding force determined to push him back inside, but Jackson walked against it anyway, toward the spot where the seeds were planted.

The ground squelched underfoot as he rushed toward the closest patch of tilled earth.

His eyes darted frantically, looking for any sign of movement or change that disrupted the seed.

Puddles filled every corner of his yard, making muddy prints where he stepped. There was so much mud, including a muddy circle right where he had planted one of those strange seeds.

"Of course, the one thing I tried that was crazy ended exactly as it should." Snarling, Jackson slammed the toe of his boot into the earth where the seed had likely washed away from.

As his boot sunk into the soft ground, a rumble under his feet made him spring back.

The earth trembled violently as the stalk shot upwards, sending ripples through the land that knocked over fences and barrels, cracking open the hardened soil like an eggshell beneath a sledgehammer.

Trees at the perimeter of the drive up the house that stood at least twelve feet tall were now dwarfed by the gargantuan stalk.

A cloud of mud spat into the air, blocking Jackson"s view of the insanity that continued around him for just a moment.

The sky above darkened as if night had fallen prematurely, casting ominous shadows over everything as the dust cloud started to settle.

Jackson stood there, mouth agape at what he was witnessing—a beanstalk reaching upwards towards the clouds. It seemed to defy all logic and reason, stretching high above him like a spindly finger pointing towards heaven itself. The vines writhed and twisted around each other as they grew, forming an intricate network of tendrils that snaked their way through every obstacle in their path. The sound of cracking wood filled the air as the stalk shattered fence posts and bulldozed its way across the farmyard.

It didn"t take long before it pierced through the clouds overhead, disappearing into the ethereal realm above them. A soft glow emanated from within the stalk, illuminating everything in an eerie blue light that danced across Jackson"s face.

"Woah," Jackson managed, his voice a whisper lost amidst the groan of the widening stalk as it climbed into the abyss above.

The trembling ceased, and the world lay still around the gigantic plant, save for the soft hum of bugs that always came post-storm serenading the sun.

The rain had stopped.

He couldn"t help but feel drawn to the plant, as if some primal part of him knew what lay at its summit. His heart raced with anticipation at what he might find. Was there really a world beyond these clouds? Was there an answer to his family"s struggles hidden among those rolling mists?

Reaching out, Jackson"s hand brushed against the rough, vine-covered surface. With an exhale that was part moan, part sigh, Jackson grasped the stalk and, driven by a mix of desperation and thrill, began to climb.

Up and up Jackson went, the beanstalk spiraling toward the heavens. Each step was a challenge, but Jackson"s years of farm work made him nimble and strong. The vines were slick with the rain it burst up through, but he held on tight—his grip as sure as his resolve to find a better life for himself and his family. The air grew colder, crisp and fresh in his lungs. He could feel the staircase-like trunk twisting beneath his feet as he ascended higher and higher.

The rustling and creaking of the vine under Jackson"s boots as he climbed up the beanstalk were almost soothing to his aching muscles.

He kept going, higher and higher, driven by a curiosity that grew stronger with each step. The cold air nipped at his skin, making him shiver as he ascended. The journey felt like an eternity, but he didn"t care. He had to know what waited for him at the top.

Without warning, his fingers slipped against the slick bark as sweat dripped into his eyes - stinging like rainwater meeting with freshly cut grass beneath a harsh sun. Despite the discomfort, he kept climbing.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Jackson reached the summit. With one last push, he pulled himself onto the cloud-like platform that served as the top of the beanstalk. Its softness cushioned his fall as he landed on all fours, gasping for breath from the exertion and excitement.

Before him stretched a world unlike anything he could have ever imagined - a floating sky island bathed in an otherworldly glow cast by thousands upon thousands of gleaming lights that seemed to float in mid-air.

A sky full of floating islands enveloped in soft, shimmering clouds that stretched out as far as the eye could see. The vibrant colors assaulted his vision like a rainbow-hued painting come alive. Pinks, purples, blues and yellows swirling around him in intricate patterns. He stood atop the world on a cloud, dumbfounded at the beauty before him.

Slowly, Jackson took it all in. A towering castle perched on fluffy clouds. A castle made of crystal that shimmered like diamonds in the sunlight that appeared to be resting on the clouds themselves.

Spinning in awe, Jackson nearly shrieked when his eyes landed on what must have been a small garden. Though small was relative because this garden could have only been grown to please a giant.

Gigantic fruits and vegetables hung heavy on their vines, dwarfing the ones he could ever grow in his humble plot of land. The air was filled with the faint scent of freshly cut grass and rich earth despite appearing to be on the clouds themselves. Jackson stepped closer, his boots sinking into the soft moss beneath his feet as he approached the edge of the platform. A carrot as big as a tree trunk poked out from between two leafy plants, its greenness sharp against the pale sky.

He reached out to touch it, feeling its rough texture beneath his fingers before yanking it out of the soil and testing its weight with a grunt. It was as if someone had shrunk him down to make this world seem bigger. Every item in this obviously magical garden was massive!

His heart raced with anticipation mixed with fear as he explored further, expecting something to come charging at him at any moment.

But no such creature or person came. So, he picked more.

Tomatoes as big as beach balls, cucumbers longer than he was tall, and potatoes large enough to feed every animal on his farm for a week.

With each plucked item, Jackson"s excitement grew. Maybe this could save them after all? Maybe there was hope for his family"s farm after all?

A loud crunch echoed through the garden as Jackson bit into a sweet red apple that tasted sweeter than anything from any market stall. Juice ran unchecked down his chin, and he smiled wide at his discovery.

These fruits and vegetables will fetch quite a penny down there.

As the sun began its descent, the sky transformed into a breathtaking canvas of deepening colors - vibrant blues melting into rich violets. The fading light cast a golden glow on his carefully arranged collection, each item positioned with precise attention to detail. He watched as shadows stretched across the landscape, signaling the arrival of dusk and the end of another day.

"I can"t even take all of this, what the hell was I doing all day?" Jackson looked around at the harvest. "Tomorrow then. I"ll return tonight and set boxes out along the stalk. I"ll start climbing before the sun is out. I can shove these miraculous items down and we"ll never be hungry again.

The descent was a welcomed change from the arduous ascent, with gravity now aiding his journey instead of hindering it. His feet easily found footing on the gradual slope as they made their way down.

The air felt lighter and fresher, and the weight of his burdens seemed to lessen with each step. He moved with a newfound ease, grateful for the assistance of gravity on their journey until he was once again at the bottom.

Jackson"s boots met the soil with a muted thud, and he leaned against the beanstalk"s girth, envisioning the bustling market, the jesting men, and the man who gifted him the seed.

"It wasn"t a lie. A giant stalk grew, and what"s up there … it will change everything."

Barks filled the air as a trio of the farm"s dogs rushed to him, tails wagging and tongues flopping out of their mouths. Paws slammed against him, nearly knocking him backward into the stalk.

"Now, now. We"ll play later. For now I need to work and rest."

The day"s adventure felt like a dream, yet the musky scent of damp earth and the familiarity of his farm reminded him it was all too real. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape - fields once barren now covered in a soft layer of mist that clung to his skin. Taking a deep breath, Jackson let the air fill his lungs, and glanced up at the beanstalk towering above him. It swayed gently against its connection to the clouds before disappearing into the darkening expanse above.