In this gardening sim, your days caring for your tree are punctuated by a bird who carries letters from your father. These letters carry the emotional tone of the game, provide key items, and explain the gameplay.
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Act 1, Day 1
Dear Agung,
Your father in uniform! I bet you never thought you’d see that. Truth be told, neither did I, but at moments like this, we all must do our part, even those of us who are more fit to hold a spade than a gun.
Take care of the garden until I come back, won’t you? Here are some sweet potato slips to get you started. Growing them is a piece of cake. Just plant them in good rich earth and give them plenty of water.
I’ve also sent along some ripe chiles to stock the stand with in the meantime. Be sure to visit the stand every day–you never know who might stop by!
Most of all, take care of our tree. When you water it, I hope you’ll remember the day we planted it together. This cheeky little myna bird has agreed to carry my mail. If you see her perched on the tree, you’ll know there’s a letter from me.
I’ll be home soon.
Love, Dad
Act 2, Day 1
Dear Agung,
Happy birthday! I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. I know, that’s what I said last year, and the year before. Where has it all gone?
I’ve sent you a present I bought from one of the roadside vendors: Moon orchid seeds. Moon orchids are a symbol of peace, you know. How she managed to cultivate such a delicate plant amid all the bombings I can’t imagine. I know they’ll thrive in our garden.
Pray for an end to the war, and for us here at the front. There isn’t a single day when I don’t pray to see you again.
Love, Dad
Act 3, Day 3 (final letter)
Dear Agung:
Do you remember how you used to be fascinated by dreams? Nearly every morning you’d tell me yours. I hope they still intrigue you, because I had a dream last night, and you were in it.
We were in the garden, and you were a child again. Our tree had grown so big that it took up the entire sky, but instead of leaves, it had pieces of glass in all different colors, and the wind made them tinkle against each other and sparkle like stars. Thousands of birds of all kinds came and roosted in the branches.
How big our tree must be now, the real one! It must be almost ready to bear acorns. Thank you for taking such good care of it. I like to think of how, when this war is long over, future generations will still be sitting in its shade.
Love, Dad
The next time the bird arrives, it is not carrying a letter.