Andrea had even given Angeletta a makeover

And they would spend hours gossiping down by the beach and working on their tans.

At first it seemed that they had the most in common but it was Jeremy who really got in with Angeletta. Whenever she was at home Jeremy was right by her side.

Kyle was still as busy as ever with his music career and whenever he got back from out of town he always stopped by to visit his dad. This was only if his dad called letting him know that Charlotte was going to be out for the day.

Ryan was getting on in years and often would shake and run out of breath when doing the simplest of tasks.

Kyle was more than happy to help out.

“So how is that girl of yours?”

“She is great dad, she is at home taking care of Andrea who is about to pop,” Kyle laughed.

“She is a real keeper that one,” Ryan sighed. “Unlike well you know…” As they sat down to eat lunch Ryan thought about his wife. The woman who abandoned her family for another man, who still refuses to accept her kids and who only acknowledges Kyle and not the others. Yet he sleeps in her bed every night.

 “I wish that things could be different Kyle. Angeletta is an amazing woman, she is devoted to you and she loves your brother and sisters as if they were her own. Geez she even stays home while you’re away performing to pamper Andrea during her pregnancy. Take it from me, this woman is worth marrying.”

“I know dad….” Kyle didn’t know what to say he never thought of marriage before. He and Angeletta never even spoke about being boyfriend and girlfriend before, they didn’t have to they always knew that they belonged together, to each other.

“Speaking of Andrea,” Kyle changed the subject. “She is expecting any day now dad and hopes that you will be there, at the hospital that is?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Did she end up finding the father?”

“We tracked him down but he refused to acknowledge that he was the father. He claims it could be any guy’s baby and not his.”

“Rubbish! If I ever get my hands on him I’ll…..”

“You’ll do what dad? You can’t even make a salad these days.”

“Well I would still give him a piece of my mind. He hurt my little girl and has left her with a baby”

“I know you would and you don’t have to worry about Andrea. She is a strong girl and knows that sometimes a kid is better off without a parent in their lives than with a shitty one. We will all help her in raising bubby and that kid will feel loved and wanted with its family surrounding it.”

After a cup of coffee and more talk of what the rest of the family was up to Kyle hugged his dad and headed home.

Meanwhile back at home…..

The baby must have known that people were talking about it because it wanted out.

Andrea gave birth to a healthy baby girl she named Sarah. She had inherited dark red hair from her Ashfield side and her bright blue eyes were from the Leto side. At first Andrea was sad to look into her daughters eyes and see Simon, the man who she fell in love with and used her for sex but she did not want to be like her mother and vowed to love Sarah and not hold her responsible for what her father did.

She knew her dad would be proud of her maturity and being the mother that her mother should have been.

As Andrea was still very young Angeletta offered to babysit so she could go out and live her life. She loved spending time with Sarah and hoped to have a baby of her own one day. That was something she had often felt saddened by as a vampire and now that she was human again she wanted a baby desperately.

It wasn’t long until autumn had rolled around. The air was crisp and the leaves fell from the trees faster than they had grown.

To keep themselves busy the girls decided to throw an autumn party.

“You never know Emma, maybe you could meet someone special at the party,” Angeletta teased.

Emma nearly choked on her food, “I don’t need a man in my life right now! He will only distract me and I definitely don’t need a baby it would ruin my career,” Emma snapped back glancing at Andrea.

“Ha-ha, Em. There is a thing called protection,” Andrea replied jokingly

“Well why didn’t you use it?”

“Girls, girls,” Angeletta interjected “You could argue all day about distraction and protections but at the end of the day we all know that Sarah wouldn’t be here and she is a beautiful blessing. So let’s talk about who we will invite.”

Angeletta knew that although the girls were born triplets they were polar opposites. Andrea was a free spirit who loved to go shopping and paint in the rain and Emma was an uptight no nonsense woman focused on her career in martial arts.

Everybody who was invited to the party showed up. Burton was one of the first to arrive, Kyle, Toni and he were still best friends but Toni couldn’t make it she had to decline the invite for a work trip.

(These are all family. I forgot who is who but they are all Ashfield’s.)

Half way through dinner Angeletta left the table to throw up. She was always sick these days and she was getting fed up with it so she decided to do a pregnancy test while she was in the bathroom. After three minutes the test revealed two lines. She was indeed pregnant and she was over the moon.

After dinner Emma went outside for some fresh air only to be distracted by some guy messing up the leaves Kyle took all day to rake.

“Excuse me, what do you think you are doing?”

“Having fun you should try it sometime,” He joked back.

“I have fun not like it’s any of your business.”

“Prove it!” He said grabbing a handful of leaves and throwing them in the air.”

“I don’t have to prove anything to you,” Emma snapped as she turned around.

“Just as I thought,” He laughed

“Ughhh fine! Is this what you want?” She turned toward the leave pile and threw some in the air.

“Yeah but some enthusiasm would be better.”

“Forget you,” Emma said turning once more but as she spun around she slipped on a damp group of leaves and fell backwards into the huge leaf pile.

The man began laughing loudly, Emma was embarrassed so she grabbed his ankle and pulled him down into the pile as well.

The both began an all-out leaf war before sitting back and laughing and for once on her life Emma let her hair down and had fun.

Time flew by pretty quickly in the Ashfield household. Angeletta’s pregnancy ran smoothly and Kyle was ecstatic to be a dad. He never would have imagined that Angeletta would be the mother of his child but he was the happiest man on earth knowing that she was his and the mother of his unborn son.

He took her out by the lake to make things official.

Of course she said yes and the whole family went to the winter festival to celebrate. Angeletta couldn’t participate in any activities as she was eight and a half months pregnant so she sat by and looked after Sarah.

Emma and Jeremy tried their hand at snowboarding.  Emma aced it straight away and was boarding like a pro.

Whereas Jeremy had a bit of trouble.

Kyle learned how to ice skate and he also aced it no time.

Andrea wanted to skate but she wasn’t strong enough to do so without thinking of Simon so Emma held her hand and took her mind off her memories of Sarah’s dad.

Halfway through teaching Sarah to walk Angeletta’s waters broke. She screamed out for Kyle who raced over to her and rushed her into the car.

It was a forty minute drive to the hospital and as soon as Angeletta got there she gave birth to baby Noah. It was a bitter sweet day for Kyle who got the news moments after Noah was born that his father had passed away. He was sad that his dad would not be able to meet the next heir to the Ashfield legacy but he knew that he would be watching over him and Noah would always have a guardian angel.

Angeletta knew how much his dad meant to Kyle so she decided to name her son after him in memory. Kyle did not know until he seen his son’s birth certificate that said Noah Ryan Ashfield. He knew then and there that he needed to make Angeletta his wife as soon as possible. This woman like his dad said was devoted to him and worthy. She was his angel.

Kyle took Angeletta to a secluded part of town and held a private ceremony. He did not want to make a fuss so soon after his dad passing away and he knew that he could not wait one minute longer to make Angeletta his wife.

It was a brief, romantic ceremony and Angeletta went home with her new husband an official member of the Ashfield family.

Noah was a happy baby who loved the cold and would cry until his blanket was taken off him. He also loved sitting in his swing and playing peekaboo, Warren was always happy to play with him.

Warren began dating Emma shortly after the autumn party and as it turns out he was Toni, Kyle’s best friend’s, brother. He spent every moment he could at the Ashfield’s with Emma and he was a genuine guy who was head over heels for her.

As the family sat back in front of the fire on Christmas eve they thought of what a year it had been;

Sarah had been welcomed into their lives,

Angeletta had become human and she and Kyle had gotten married and welcomed their son Noah into the world,

Emma had found true love and Jeremy was just about to embark on his dream to be the martial arts master.

They had also seen the loss of their father Ryan. As they sat back and reflected on the year that was the Ashfields wondered what the following year had in store for them.

Ryan Ashfield left the Ashfield legacy at 96 years of age. He was most noted for his photography career and being an amazing dad after their mother walked out. He was a sad man in his later years and only returned to Charlotte in fear of dying alone. He will be dearly missed by his children; Kyle, Emma, Andrea and Jeremy and his grandchildren Sarah and Noah.

*********

Just thought I’d add a pic of the Ashfield house covered in snow and lit up with christmas lights.

“I’m so glad we’re allowed to wear our evening gowns!” Jo said. We were running around our room in out petticoats getting ready for the end of term dinner to which we’d been given permission to wear our newly finished gowns. No, that didn’t get anyone out of wearing it to the soiree— Mariah asked!

“No poofy white skirt!” I agreed as Jo stuck a few more pins into my hair. There was a knock on the door.

“Excuse me misses,” Dorcus poked her head in. “But there’s a letter arrived by the evening post for Miss Roberta.”

“Finally!” I squealed. While the month since I sent my letter of had sped past in some ways, it had still seemed like an age waiting for a reply to my letter. Here it was at last!

“Only—” I danced over and snatched the letter out of her hand before Dorcus could finish.

“Oh.” My face fell.

“Nothing to worry about Miss, just a mix up I’m sure. But Gladys said to bring it right up.” Dorcus said before bobbing an awkward curtsy and leaving.

“What is it?” Jo asked, coming over.

“Returned. Undeliverable.” I said.

“Well, lets have a look.” Jo took my letter to home, with my letters to Elen and Miss brown inside and looked at the front. I felt ready to cry.

“It’s addressed right!” I said. “That’s my address right there!”

“Are you sure you didn’t write it wrong?” Jo asked.

I looked at my address, as clear as day and burst into tears.

“Oh, oh!” Jo said, fussing around. “I’m sorry, don’t cry!”

“H-has everyone a-abandoned m-me.” I sobbed through my tears. I’d never felt so alone before in my life.

“I’ll, I’ll—” Jo turned and ran to our wardrobe, threw the doors open and dove in.

“Henri!” She called in a panicked. “Henri! I need your help! She’s crying and I don’t know how to fix it.”

Before I knew it Henri was beside me. Henri, during a time when we were meant to be in our rooms and if we were caught in the corridors it would mean an instant black mark.

“You s-shouldn’t have b-broken the rules just for m-me. If you’d been seen in the corridor…” But I threw my arms around her all the same.

“What’s the matter, Jo?” She asked.

I couldn’t answer so Jo answered for me.

“Oh Bobbie, don’t cry, can’t you see what happened? Look at the handwriting on this letter.”

“It’s my address.” I said

“In what was your best Fraitessian script. I’ll tell you what, I’ll bet you anything some young Highlander postman couldn’t read proper writing so sent it right back to sender rather than try figure it out.”

“You think?”

“Yes. Now here’s a new envelope, you write your address but write it twice, once in Fraitessian script and once in your Highlander hand. We’ll give it straight to Gladys when we go down for dinner, it won’t make the last post today but she will ensure it makes the very first one in the morning.” Henri passed me a new envelope and put a pen in my hand.

“You’ll have a reply in four weeks, I guarantee.” Jo said, appearing to feel more comfortable now I’d stopped crying. “and if you don’t then it will be because you’ve had one sooner than that asking why you haven’t written yet. Just you wait.

“Thank you both, whatever would I do without you?” I gave them each a hug then sat down to rewrite my envelope.

It was the work of minutes. Just as I was finishing off I heard Gladys’ voice.

I leapt up and took a peek out the door and saw her heading for the servant’s stairway. Miss Jane was nowhere in sight and I knew the servant’s stairways and corridors were generally safe from Miss Jane and other mistresses. “There’s Gladys now!” I said. “I won’t be a moment, the coast is clear, I’ll see if she can get it in tonight’s post after all!”

“Don’t be long!” Jo said. “We have a dinner to dress for.”

“With any luck it will be announced that the three of us will be attending the soiree together!” Henri said

“We’ve certainly deserved it!” Jo said. “And not a black mark between us. I’ve been a saint. We’ll have to have a Jolly time these holidays to make up for it.”

“We’ll have the run of the school!” I said. “I’ve plans already!”  I called as I dashed out the door.

I ran on tiptoes across the landing and down the stairs. I found Gladys just before she reached the bottom.

“Ohh, what are you doing out of your room Miss?” She scolded me with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’m sorry, but is there any chance this could make the last post? It bounced back and I—” Gladys took one look at me, from the letter in my hand to my tear reddened eyes and smiled.

“Of course it can, Miss. I’ll make sure of it meself. Now you get yourself back up to that room before Miss Jane catches you or there’ll be a scoldin’ for you for sure!”

“Thank you!” I made my way back up the stairs with a light heart.

I checked the landing carefully before making my way back to my room. I opened the door softly and made sure not to bang it closed. That was when I was greeted with the figure of Jo sitting on her bed rubbing at damp eyes. Had she been crying?

“Jo! What ever is the matter?” I dashed to her side.

“Oh, I’m a horrible wicked girl Bobbie. I daren’t tell you what I’ve done, you’ll think so badly of me.”

“Come, it can’t be too bad!” I said.

“I’ve gone and gotten Henri and I black marks just hours before the end of term.”

“You what?” I was astonished. “When?”

“Just then.” She said. “Oh, but I wish you could have seen it!” She was cheering up already and a wicked grin was spreading across her face. “It was like this. Henri didn’t come through the corridor when she came over before, she slipped through the gap in our wardrobe without a thought, the little minx. I didn’t know she had it in her to think up such a thing, I’m sure I never would. But when you left she returned the same way and I realised that you didn’t know how she came. I thought you needed a bit more cheering up so I had the bright idea of slipping through myself and giving you a fright when you returned!”

“Oh Jo…” I said.

“That’s not the worst of it. Did I ever tell you I am a greedy child? Did I, dear Bobbie? Well I am. My head made it through and then my shoulders but when I came to squeezing my stomach through I stuck.”

“Henri tried to pull me through but to no avail! Then she tried to push me back but I was stuck fast!”

“Jo!” I was laughing now. “Did Marjorie help?”

“Alas, that was my downfall. Marjorie had been seeing Lady D’Winter and Miss Jane decided to escort her back to her room to ensure she took no detours. You know how she doesn’t trust us girls, though I can’t see why. Well, Miss Jane, as you know, has ears sharper than a bat when it comes to hearing out trouble and she must have heard Henri and I in our struggles because she came right into Henri and Marjorie’s room and saw the state I was in!”

“Oh no!”

“Oh no indeed. Miss Jane asked me to come out that instant, not realizing that I was betwixt the two rooms and not merely playing in Henri’s wardrobe so I was forced to explain to her my exact predicament.

Miss Jane tried to push me back but, alas, I had come too far. In the end it took the three of them to pull me through! I tried to argue Henri’s case but it was no good. Miss Jane had seen her attempting to come to my rescue and so both of us were cursed with the dreaded black mark.”

“And what of me?” I asked. “Did Miss Jane notice I was missing?”

“I couldn’t have all my friends earn a black mark.” Jo said. “But I was at a loss of what I could say to convince her you were an innocent party. Henri, as quick as anything said you’d disapproved with my behavior and had gone straight to report it and that she was ashamed she hadn’t done so herself.”

“Oh Jo, but I haven’t reported anything!”

“I know, I’ve thought of that. You arrived at Miss Jane’s office whilst she was up here with us and finding her not there you returned to your room by the servant’s stairs. You’re in the clear, it seems.”

“Oh but Jo, neither Henri nor you will be able to attend the soiree!”

“And don’t I know it. I tell you, I’m a wicked child. All we can do is but hope you’ve attained a first in something. We can’t have Mariah attend alone, we just can’t!”

Authors Note (again): I mentioned in a pervious post that the wardrobe was partly based on a set of draws at one of my old schools (which used to be a boarding school). It was built between the wall dividing too rooms and the draws were joined. When you pulled a draw open it dissapeared from the other side. We played lots of pranks with them! We called them the “Katy did” draws because there were similar draws in a book called “What Katy Did at School” by Susan Coolidge (except the draws were built sepperate so it took them longer to discover the fact there was no wall between). I partly based the wardrobe on these draws. The scene with Jo getting stuck is stolen heavily inspired by a scene in the book where one of the characters gets stuck druing study hour trying to get between the rooms.

Time heals all wounds.

Sonny was growing into a happy and healthy baby boy. Daisy seemed content to sit for hours and play with her favourite toy, which was convenient as caring for Sonny took up much of Glace’s time.

Cloud loved his job more than ever.

He loved Glace too. Nothing could ever take his Moon from his heart but he knew she would want him to be happy and he needed to be strong for his child. His children. Somehow, from somewhere, Glace had stepped forward to help him.

Glace worked hard helping with the children. She also loved photography and managed to make some money selling the photos she took with her cheap camera. Cloud worked hard at his job and at keeping the house in working condition.

Something was always breaking.

They weren’t the only ones working hard. Local scientists were working on channeling the colour that was popping up all over the lakes districts. You could buy colour now. Some colours had a fair amount of staying power. These were the cheap and easy to produce colours such as yellow. Others, like purple and black were worth more and faded quickly. People were buying and trading all sorts of things for a bit of colour. They used it to colour their clothes, their homes, their possessions and themselves. The brightly coloured adults contrasted with the more pastel shades of colour that was emerging naturally on the children of the town but not as much as it contrasted with those who had no colour.

“In the potty, not your pants!” Glace sounded tired. Cloud had been outside working on a new fence and he watched through the window as she attempted, yet again, to get Daisy to go in the potty as she rubbed a kink out of her neck.

The next morning Glace didn’t feel so good.

They both knew what this meant.

Glace was ecstatic. She hoped for a little brother for Sonny. Cloud didn’t mind as long as it was healthy and Glace came through all right. He tried to ignore his worries and threw himself into work.

One day he got called to a fire larger than he’d seen before. There was talk of some chemicals catching fire and he heard screams from the inside. He tried to get in but the windows of the first floor were on fire and he had to extinguish those before he made any attempt at entering.

The heat beat down on him, but he worked on. Success! Fire burnt around the house but the house itself was safe to enter. He tried the door but it was locked!

He pulled out his axe and broke down the door. Inside, he made his way through the smoke following the screams.

When he found her he was glad he was wearing his protective eye wear! The colour this sim had was brighter than any he’d ever seen before. It must have cost a fortune!

“Come on!” He called. “You have to get out! This way!”

She made it out and later Cloud learned that she was one of the scientists working on colour. Apparently some of the chemicals used in the extraction were rather volatile.

The children continued to grow at an alarming rate.

Sonny grew into the sweetest little toddler with, true to his name, hair the colour of sunshine! Cloud bought some yellow with the local currency to put into his clothing. There was some left over and Glace put it into a new dress for Daisy who had grown at an alarming rate and had become a young girl. When had it happened? Just yesterday, it seemed, she was a baby…

Daisy was too big for her cot and so she moved into the bed Glace had brought with her she she’d moved in. It had stood empty for a long time, tucked into a corner. Cloud was pleased that they’d kept it.

“Daisy!” Cloud called one day when it was her turn to wash the dishes. “Where are you?” He found her in the bathroom, sitting happily and playing with her favourite toy. “What are you doing in here?” He asked.

“You and mum have your own room, and Sunny has our old room to himself.I just have a corner of the living space and when mum leaves the radio on Twink can’t hear me when I sing to him. I want my own room too!”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Cloud said, feeling guilty he hadn’t thought of it before.

It only took a few panels and a door, but soon Daisy had a space to call her own. To make up for not thinking about it on his own Cloud bought her a rug in the shape of a daisy. He used the very last of the yellow he’d purchased to colour the centre yellow.

“A daisy for my Daisy.” He said, before leaving here to play happily in her new bedroom.

Cloud’s success as a firefighter had earned him another promotion which was much needed as Glace didn’t have to spend some much time trying to take sell her photos.

She devoted her time to teaching Sonny how to walk and getting him potty trained. He picked things up much better than his sister.

“Daisy!” Cloud called. “Are you brushing your teeth again? That’s the third time this morning. They’re clean. Run along outside and enjoy the fresh air. Not every child has been fortunate enough to have fresh air to enjoy!”

“I was just making sure they were clean!” Daisy protested. “Can I take twink with me?”

“Leave your doll, why not go to the part and try to make some friends? There’s other children your age that play there. Now run along and have some fun!” Cloud shook his head as Daisy left. That girl spent far too much time cooped up inside. She needed to socialise with other children. He wished there was a school she could go to so she could spend time with other children. Schooling wasn’t such an issue. He and Glace had decided that when Sonny was older they’d begin teaching both of them at home. It seemed silly to start now with Daisy then re-start in a few years with Sonny. Also Sonny took up so much of Glace’s time right now and he was growing so fast.

He wasn’t the only thing growing fast. Every time Cloud looked at Glace her belly seemed to have grown larger and if she got any bigger she’d be larger than she’d been even when full term with Sonny.

“You must be due any day now.” He said.

“Maybe… I think there might be two in here.”

“Two?”

“You know. Twins. It’ll be all right, two for the price of one, hey?”

Cloud tried to swallow his anxiety. Two babies meant twice as many chances for things to go wrong.

One night after dinner Cloud came back into the living area after checking on Sonny to find Glace clutching her stomach.

“Dad, mum peed herself.” Daisy said.

“Ah— no— you just go to your room and play!” Cloud took deep breaths. It would be all right. This time, just like last time. Nothing would go wrong.

“But mum just said to clear the table! Is she sick?”

“No, but tomorrow you might have a new baby brother or sister!” or two… “Run along!” Cloud prayed that she wouldn’t fuss any more and she didn’t.

He turned his attention back to Glace and prayed nothing would go wrong.

I didn’t.

Well, nothing went wrong, but it didn’t go exactly to plan either.

Late that night Cloud welcomed his second son into the world and they named him custard.

A little girl followed and they damed her Daffodil.

Twins.

But still Glace moaned.

Another new baby boy entered the world and they called him Lemon.

He was followed another girl they named Bee.

It was now the early hours of the morning and Cloud looked from baby to baby. Four. Who ever heard of a sim having four babies at once? But they’d done it. They only had two cots, where was he going to put them all? Overnight he had become a father of six.

They found places for them all. Somehow things just came together. The two girls into Daisy’s old cot and the two boys fitted nicely into t draws lined with blankets. Draws, it seemed, made pretty find beds for young babies. After they were all sorted and Glace cleaned up they finally had a chance to snuggle into bed together.

“I can re-arrange the living space.” Cloud said. “Build a new nursery big enough for four. We can afford new cots before they get much bigger… How about bunk beds? When they’re older, I mean, I can build bunk beds. I’ve got space in the roof for an extension…”

“Oh stop fussing and get some sleep while you can!” Glace said to him. “They’re just babies at the moment, and we’ve enough to deal with for the moment just keeping them in fresh nappies! Anything else can wait.”

Four more babies. What ever were they to do with them all?

John used to do this.

That’s all I could think about as I held Ethan close to me. John, John, John! Why can’t I think of anything other than him?!

I rocked Ethan back and forth on my shoulder to distract myself. Think of something else, Emily.

I started going over my newest plan in my head. (I know, lots of plans lately…)

Before I knew what I was doing, I was saying my ideas out loud. Good thing Matt isn’t home.

“Star go bye-bye?” Ethan’s big blue-green eyes blinked at me in confusion.

I forced a smile and replied, “No, Star’s going to find John.”

“No! Mama go, Star stay. Mama make mess, mama clean up.” Pretty wise kid, if you ask me. But I know that wouldn’t work.

After I put Ethan to bed, I headed out to Star’s pen.

“Star, do this for John, not me. Bring him home.” I hesitated a second, then flung open the gate.

She refused to move. After a couple slaps and jabs on her rump, she finally walked out of the pen.

Star raised her nose and sniffed, then bolted into the distance. Well, all I can do now is wait.

***

It’s been 3 days since I last saw Star. Ethan cries constantly, and Matt barely comes home. I think he’s found another girl. At least, that’s what I hope. I don’t want him anyway.

All this worrying about Star and John makes me sleepy. I’ve been sleeping much more than usual.

Enough sleep.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and began to brush my teeth in an attempt to look slightly presentable.

What am I doing? I’m not going anywhere soon… no need to do this.

I’m losing my mind.

I flopped in front of the TV and turned it to the Romantic channel.

As I stared at the two sims kissing on the screen, I began to drift off and think about John. John. Cute, brave, and extremely funny. But he was hiding something from me. Something important.

I glanced around the room as if I could find the secret hidden in between the couch cushions or under the dusty stack of books.

All at once, I noticed that Ethan’s crib was open. He was missing!

“Ethan! Ethan!” I frantically rushed around the house, searching for him. I ran outside and started circling the house.

Eventually I found the little rascal in the garden, happily sitting by a tomato plant.

“Mama, lookie!” He frantically pointed at a tomato lying on the ground.

“Yes, that’s a to-”

“Yummy! Make more!”

Maybe these plants could save us after all. They certainly seemed to taste good.

I hesitantly picked up my watering can and poured some water on a tomato plant.

“Ethan, do you wanna help mommy water? It’ll make more tomatoes.”

When he didn’t answer, I turned around just in time to see him wobble inside. Interesting…

After picking every vegetable in my garden, I mashed them altogether into a salad of some sort. This was the ultimate test. Would these be tasty enough to sell at a professional grocery store?

It ended up being better than I thought. But I couldn’t really concentrate on the taste of the salad. Thoughts of John and Matt plagued me. Now that Matt’s gone, this would be the perfect time to date John.

But he hates me.

On Tuesday My blog passed 1,000 views! I know that’s not much for some of you who get ten times that a day, but it’s a big milestone for me.

Thank you again to all my readers, you’re a wonderful support! It’s very motivating to know that people are reading and enjoying my fun little project.

To those of you who are enjoying my story and looking for other sims stories to read, please take a look on the right of the page and you’ll see a list of blogs I’m following. There are many fantastic stories there so take a look!

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I had fun writing it (you’ll see why at the end) and I hope you have fun reading it too. Chapter Fifteen: Abandoned will be posted early on boxing day as a bit of a treat!

Time passes fast when you’re at boarding school yet at the same time it seems an eternity. I felt as though it had been forever since I’d spoken to Papa or been held by Mother but the scant time I’d spent at school couldn’t possibly have filled that void. A letter might have helped fill it. I looked for one in every post and every time there wasn’t one I just told myself it would be even better when it did come. At any rate, it was soon the last day of term and a designated holiday. Today was also the day I would have to decide who I’d be spending the next two weeks with. There hadn’t been a letter in the first post but I told myself I had either Henri or Jo’s house to look forward to so it would be better if it arrived after the holidays so I had something to cheer me up on a boring school day.

We were just leaving breakfast when Miss Jane called out:

“Miss Cox, report to Lady D’Winter’s office immediately.

“But I—”

“Don’t answer back young lady.” Miss Jane’s word was final.

“Good luck.” I whispered as I squeezed her hand and Henri gave her a comforting smile. Henri and I headed upstairs slowly to wait for her.

“Do you know what she’s done?” Henri asked me.

“Not a clue.” I said. “You don’t think Mariah could have pinned anything on her, do you?”

“Oh! I do hope not!”

“I wouldn’t put it past her… Oh it’s not far! All these weeks of being model students!”

“You don’t know what’s happened yet!” Henri said. “Wait and see before you judge. Come on, lets wait in your room and if it’s bad news she can at least tell us in private.”

“All right.” Henri was right, as usual.

That’s one thing I’ve learned about Henri, she’s patient, she listens, she thinks the best of people and she almost always is right.

We didn’t have long to wait before a sombre faced Jo made her way into our room.

“What’s happened?” I asked.

“Mother wrote.” Jo said. “My little sister has the fever.”

“Oh no, will she be all right?” I asked.

“Yes, It’s not deadly but it is contagious so our house is under quarantine and I can’t go home for the holidays. I’ll have to stay at school.”

“Oh Jo, that’s too bad!” I said.

Yes, well, I guess that decides who you’ll be spending the holidays with.” She said.

“Henri.” I said. “Do you think, under the circumstances, your mother would let us both come? Jo can promise to be good and quiet—”

“Oh I will!” Jo said. “I will! I will! I know you’ve heard that before but this time I mean it and I know you’ve heard THAT before but—” but Henri was already shaking her head.

“After I found out we’d both invited Bobbie I wrote to Mother again and explained the situation. She wouldn’t budge. And even if I wrote again now I wouldn’t get an answer in time for tomorrow and it would be awfully disappointing for Jo to pack everything only to find that she couldn’t come. I’m sorry Jo.”

“Don’t, it’s not your fault. Well, I guess you better write to your mother to let her know Bobbie will be going home with you.”

“No, don’t.” I said. Both Jo and Henri looked at me. “I— I really would love to go home with you Henri, but I feel awful leaving Jo here on her own. At least you’ll have your mother at home, do you think you could spare me so I could stay here with Jo?”

“Oh Bobbie!” Jo threw her arms around me. “That’s the most selfless thing I’ve ever heard you say, but please, you deserve to enjoy the holidays too.”

“I’m not sure I can if I’m feeling sorry for you!” I said. “I know Henri will be lonely at home without me, but I think it will be worse for you here all alone. And I can’t go with you both!”

“What do you think Henri?” Jo asked.

“I think the two of you will have a right old time here together.” Henri said with a smile. “I’ll get to see Mother and the holidays will be over before we know it, they always are. I’ll tell you what Bobbie, when your parents come for you at the end of next term I’ll invite the three of you around for tea, and Jo too, Mother and Father will be abroad then so we don’t need to mind about disturbing anyone, and I can show you everything then, what do you say?”

“That’s wonderful!” I smile at them both.

“Well, I think we all need something cheerful.” Jo said. “I passed Gladys on the way up and she gave me a letter that had just arrived from my brother.”

“Which one?” Henri asked.

“Michael, his always make a good read so lets see if this one lives up to the usual standard.” Jo opened the letter and Henri and I settled down to listen. It did make a good read and Jo and Henri made sure to fill me in on the gaps in my knowledge as needed.

“And now I come to the affair of the missing crests.” Jo read. “I mentioned to you a few letters ago that our school crest had gone missing from out front gates. Like a nation’s flag, to mark the crest is to mark the school so you can imagine how every boy here was offended by the disappearance of our crest, but yet I’ve hardly wrote of it. Why is this? Well, we were all sworn to silence about the incident and soon you will see why.

We weren’t the only school whose crest was disappeared. No. Four other schools have had their very souls stolen by some low down crittans. We threw down all inter-school rivalries and formed an investigative committee to discover these villains and get them back. Naturally, Jimmy—”

“That’s one of Jo’s brothers.” Henri explained. “The next one up from Michael.”

“Jimmy and I were on the committee.” Jo continued. “The investigations didn’t last long. When you have six boys schools within walking distance of each other and five of them have crests missing… well… it’s not hard to figure out. We held a council of war.  Proper council and everything. We learned that the villainous school had just had a brand new cricket pitch laid. Cost a mint. We thought it needed prettying up. Perhaps a tree planted in the middle of it?”

“Oh they didn’t!” Henri exclaimed.

“What’s a cricket pitch?” I asked.

“Bobbie!” it came from Jo and Henri in unison.

“What?”

“You don’t know what cricket is?” Jo sounded astonished.

“No…”

“It’s a gentleman’s game.” Henri said, “That makes some gentlemen not act like it at all, but it’s played by all the proper boy’s schools and there’s many grown men that play it too.”

“And the pitch?”

“Where they throw th ball.” Henri explains. “It’s a long stretch of straight, flat grass all level and everything. One person throws the ball and the other hits it with the bat at the other end.”

“Henri, that CAN’T be your explanation of cricket!” Jo shook her head. “It’s a very complicated game—”

“Which is why we won’t try to teach her now.” Henri hastily said. “Or you’ll never get to the end of your letter.”

“Oh, well, another time. Now where were we? Oh yes. It was decided. We’d sneak out one night and, under the cover of darkness, we’d plant a tree in the middle of their cricket pitch. We’d send boys from all the schools to keep us all honest and so no boy would squeal on a boy from another school.

A few nights later my alarm went off from under my pillow. It was the big night! Jimmy and I met with a few of the other fellows from our school and we slunk off, meeting up with boys from the other schools as we did so. The moon was big that night and a good thing too, because it kept us on our guard. If a policeman had stumbled across a group of boys with a tree and shovels slung over their shoulders, well, I don’t think even Jimmy could have talked us out of that one!

Finally we reached the school fence of the school of the crest-stealer’s.  We had been keeping to the shadows up to now and decided before we all jumped the fence that a few of us should go over to check the coast was clear. Jimmy and I went along with Toulin, a boy from one of the other schools. The three of us jumped over the fence and while the coast looked clear we thought we should take the opportunity to perform a quick reconnaissance before giving the other lads the whistle. It was a good thing we did, because there, infront of our very eyes as we crept towards the cricket pitch we saw movements filtering from shadow to shadow in the school grounds. Next thing you know we’ve been tackled to the ground! We were expected and the boys had been waiting for us armed with shovels, rakes and hoes pilfered from their gardener’s shed and they’d been marching and standing guard in defense of their precious cricket pitch. Fortunatly they didn’t realise we had seventeen more of us outside the fence, but even so a group of twenty good lads, however fine and brave, is no match for an entire school. Toulin gave a hoot like an owl as we were dragged off and that was the signal for our men to run and not attempt rescue. See, I told you that we’d had a proper council of war.

But where did that leave us? I’ll tell you where, locked in an attic room. We were in a fix, that’s for sure! We’d been marched up there and escape was hopeless for it would rouse the teachers and that would take us right out of the frying pan and into the fire. Now, I’m not the sort of boy to panic and neither is Jimmy, but once we were all locked in there… well, we had an uncertain future that held nothing but trouble for us. Toulin, however, reacted differently. He worked his way around the small room, tapping at the walls and pressing his ear up against the boards. Soon he found what he was looking for and pulled out his penknife. Jimmy and I soon joined him and together we pried the board loose allowing us to crawl into the ceiling space. There was a dim light and we headed towards it. We found the light source was a dormer window. Did you know many of the dormer windows in the roofs around here aren’t actually windows? They’re added on the outside so the house looks even but it doesn’t mean the entire roof space is filled with rooms. Well, it’s true. If ever you find yourself locked in an attic room just remember that. Out the window, down the most obliging drainpipe I’ve ever encountered and the three of us (or Jimmy and I, at least) were safe in our beds before the waking bell.

Jimmy and I, having obtained legendary status, managed to get to the bottom of matters before our next council of war which was held on the following Saturday. One of the lads from— and it shames me to say this— our school had written to his sister about the thefts and our planned revenge. His sister was sweet on one of the boys actually involved in taking the crests and so she warned him. The rest you can guess. This put our school into shame, we were the lowest of the low, excluding the school that had stolen the crests, of course. Even Jimmy and I were tainted by the same brush. We initiated an instant ban on all communications referring to the incident which is why you’re only hearing about all this now. If you think we were looked down on, you can imagine what we thought about the boy who’d leaked the plans! It didn’t take us long to get him to write another letter to his sister, telling her we were all cowards and had given up on planing a tree. She of course reported all of this to her sweetheart who in tun told the boys we’d given up. That was the night we struck and this time our mission was accomplished”

Jo continued with the rest of the letter and just as she reached the end the door opened and Miss Jane entered.

“What are you girls doing inside on a fine day like this?” She scolded. “Outside the lot of you!”

“Yes Miss Jane!” We chanted as we leapt to our feet.

Authors Note: The events of Jo’s Letter mirror events that happend when I was at school. We had several colleges (highschools) in the suburb where I lived (A boy’s catholic school, a girl’s catholic school, a state school and a girl’s anglican school) and a boy’ boarding school in a neighbouring suburb which had a brother boy’s boarding school in town. All school swere involved in the incident and I’m sorry to say it was a girl from my school who spilled the story of the plans to plant the tree on the new cricket pitch to her boyfriend who boarded at the school responsible for the thefts. The only part that wasn’t true was the part about being locked in the attic! On the first attempt to plant the tree they saw the boys guarding the pitch and ran away. The girl at my school was essentually sent to coventry, the entire school shunned her until she texted her boyfriend to say we’d given up.

The next night the tree was planted.

I think I am quite grown up now. I am no longer a little boy, at any rate, many boys my age are going to school and being addressed as “young gentlemen”. I have a question and I would ask that you both respect me enough to answer truthfully. I hope I have done the right thing in addressing my question to my elder brothers and not asking Mother, I thought it could upset her.

I was exploring in the attic today and stuck between an old chest of draws and the wall I discovered the enclosed photograph. Mother and Father are there, don’t they look young! With them are two adults I don’t recall ever seeing before. I am there, aged about two. You two are there also, Hadley, needing a haircut as usual. So who is the baby in Mothers arms? Do I have a little brother or sister that died? I’ve gone through the family photographs this afternoon and I can not find another photo of him or her and he doesn’t look like he belongs to the other couple in the photo. I have looked in the family bible but there is no record of a fourth child. On the back of the photo is written “All our family together with our dearest friends.” Which isn’t very helpful.

Please reply soon.

Respectfully,

Edmund.

Kyle dropped to the floor, his hands covering his face. The letter slipped from his fingers and he burst out in tears. She is gone, his angel is gone.

When he finally picked himself off the floor, Kyle realized that his heart was in pain. He had always heard about this happening and never believed it until now. Kyle walked over to the mirror and glanced at his reflection. Wiping the tears from his eyes Kyle was determined not to let this be the end. He ran downstairs, grabbing the car keys off the hook near the front door and raced over to the exclusive vampire club.

“I’m looking for Vladimir,” Kyle said bursting in and seating himself at the bar.

“Ha, sorry but nobody sees Sir Vladimir especially no mortal,” the bartender laughed in his face.

But Kyle was not giving up, “Please, I am love with a woman and I will stop at nothing to find her.” He told the bar maid his story and by the end she had a tear in her eye.

“I hope you find her, love like that comes along once in a lifetime. Vladimir is in the back room.” She scribbled down something on a piece of paper and handed it to Kyle.

“Give this to the bouncer and he will let you in. Good luck,” she called out as Kyle got up and walked over to the VIP section.

The bouncer let him in without hesitation or changing his cold demeanor.

Vladimir was seated on a red and black leather couch sipping some kind of alcoholic concoction.

“Kyle,” Vladimir greeted. Kyle had never met Vladimir and was taken aback at first. He always forgot the psychic ability that biters had.

“So I guess you know why I‘m here?”

“That I do, You want to know where to find Angeletta? What makes you think that I know or that I will tell you?”

“I know that you care for her. You helped her when she first came to this country and you would want her to be happy. Right now I know that she is not in a great state of mind and I fear for her safety. You don’t want her dead.” Kyle’s body tensed waiting for Vladimir’s response.

“You love her?”

“More than anything.”

Vladimir sighed, “I know that she loves you. I had never thought that she would fall for a human but I have never seen her smile until she met you.”

Vladimir walked over to the bar grabbed another drink and then returned to the leather couch.

“I will help you but only for Angeletta’s happiness. She is in moonlight falls.”

Kyle ran straight towards the door.

“Kid,” Vladimir called out, “I have one last thing that can help. An acquaintance of mine dabbles in alchemy and has come across a potion that might be helpful. He lives on the outskirts of Moonlight falls, just tell him that I sent you and ask for Vampiric Le Torneau.”

“Thanks,” Kyle said and ran out the door.

He jumped straight in his car and sped off towards moonlight falls. All he could think about was Angeletta. How could she expect him to get over her? Or move on for that matter. She meant the world to him. She was his world. Kyle always knew that he had an empty void inside him that she seemed to fit into perfectly. He had to get her back, without Angeletta Kyle wasn’t whole.

Kyle had driven two hours before he reached the alchemists place. He carefully walked up the stairs; nervous about what this guy had that could help him out.

He was stone cold not only in appearance but in his body heat. The whole room was like ice, Kyle hadn’t felt nothing like it not even Angeletta was this cold.  Kyle pushed his hands in his pocket to feel whatever warmth he could. He explained to the guy who sent him and told him and what he was after. The alchemist showed no emotion when he returned from a back room with a bright purple bottle.

“I assume Vlad told you what you had to do for this to work?,” he said with a deep voice that still showed no emotion.

“Yes, he did,” Kyle responded.

“Just be careful, if you or any other mortal sips a drop of this stuff you die!  Your friend must drink the whole bottle and don’t come back here crying to me if something goes wrong. This is an experiment and not perfected!”

“Has anyone, any vampire died drinking it? Like what stage of experimenting are you at?”

“My bride was the first test subject and she died. My partner the second and he tied. Right now I’m in the third stage and my test subject lives. That is the fourth stage and I have high hopes for your friend but I don’t know, I haven’t tested this batch.”

Before Kyle could respond, the alchemist showed him out.

*********

Kyle was standing at the exact spot where Vladimir said he would find Angeletta.

“Kyle!”

Kyle turned around to greet her and immediately held her in his arms.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

“I’m sorry I just didn’t think that there was any other way, I love you Kyle and I didn’t want you to suffer.”

“Shh babe,’ Kyle kissed her, I came here to help us live together and grow old together not forever or an eternity but for sixty or so years.”

“You mean you found a way,” Angeletta squeezed Kyle with excitement.

“Yes but do you know where we can find Draven? Without him I’m afraid it won’t work.”

“Yes,” Angeletta sighed. She grabbed Kyle’s hand and they were gone In a flash.

She lead him to a cement building in the middle of a graveyard.

“He should be resting as it has only just gotten dark,” She told Kyle while walking down a spiral staircase that lead to Draven’s dungeon.

When they reached the bottom, Draven was resting. But he immediately awoke upon their arrival.

“Angeletta, mon amour. Mes yeux me trompent? Vous êtes venus en rampant et avec une offre de paix que je vois.”(Angeletta, my love. Do my eyes deceive me? You have come crawling back and with a peace offering I see.)

“Ne le touchez pas! Je suis venu pour vous finissez afin que je puisse être libre et vous n’avez donc pas faire de mal aux femmes.” (Don’t you touch him! I have come to finish you so that I may be free and so you don’t hurt anymore women.)

“Ah vous détenez toujours la colère de mon te quitte pour Cindy.” (Ah you still hold anger for my leaving you for Cindy.)

“Je n’aime pas ta pute et je ne vous aime pas. Kyle tient mon coeur et vous ne vous sentirez jamais Draven ma touche à nouveau ou quoi que ce soit d’autre d’ailleurs.” (I don’t care for your whore and I don’t love you. Kyle holds my heart and you Draven will never feel my touch again or anything else for that matter.)

Kyle stood by in horror. He had no idea what they were saying but he knew from draven’s shouting after what Angeletta  had said that he was pissed.

“Ainsi, vous et votre jouet pathétique petit garçon vont me tuer. Comment osez-vous venir dans mon antre et menacent de telles choses. Je vais avoir la tête sur un bâton avant que ne se fera jamais mon amour. ” (So you and your pathetic little boy toy are going to kill me. How dare you come into my lair and threaten such things. I will have your head on a stick before that will ever happen my love.)

After screaming those last words, Draven lunged at Angeletta.

Kyle looked on in terror, he wanted to help her but he knew that she had to kill him and beside she was much stronger than him and could handle Draven more than he could.

Draven strangled her, “Vous ne serez jamais me battre Angeletta. Je vais tuer ton nouvel amant et vous laisser faire le deuil de l’éternité. Votre passé sera toujours vous hanter.” (You will never beat me Angeletta. I will kill your new lover and leave you to grieve for eternity. Your past will always haunt you.)

If Angeletta had blood it sure would have boiled after hearing those words. She was fired up with adreniline as she pushed Draven off her and slashed his face with her nails.

As Draven cupped his face in horror, Angeletta quickly pulled out the stake from her pocket and jabbed it right into his heart.

Draven grabbed his throat as his last breath of air escaped. Then in a puff of air he was gone. Angeletta ran striaght into Kyle’s arms.

“Drink this babe.” Kyle handed her the purple potion the alchemist gave him. Angetta bought it to her lips and skulled it. She made sure to down every last drop just as Kyle told her to. “How do you feel,” Kyle asked hopeful to see her transform.

Angeletta raised her hands to her face in agony, “I don’t feel a damn thing.”

They both sighed then walked over to the back corner of the room. Kyle held Angeletta in front of him.  “Oh Kyle maybe I’ll never be rid of this curse but believe me when I say that no matter what I will never leave you. I will stand by your side through thick and thin and when you become old and grey I will be their holding your lying in your arms just I am now.” Then they drifter off to sleep.

Kyle woke up suddenly at half past five in the morning. His back ached from his sleeping position but this is’t what woke him. He was hot. He looked down at Angeletta. “Baby your burning up he shouted.”

Angeletta jolted out of her slumber, dazed and confused she looked up at Kyle.

“Babe you skin it’s warm. Your warm.”

I’m human again Kyle.

Kyle stood up and stoked Angeletta’s face breathing in her newly found warmth. You are just as beautiful maybe even more so.

And he scooped her up and carried her out of the dungeon so happy to get back home and begin his life with his angel.

While Kyle was traveling the world performing, the triplets were back home enjoying the summer sun.

Emma and Jeremy were solely focused on their careers and trained every day to reach the top.

Because she was the more athletic of the two, Emma trained Jeremy so he could become strong enough to compete in the martial arts tournament.

They would often challenge each other to sparring matches but Emma would always win. Andrea on the other hand had her first summer romance:

They met at the summer festival in town and hit it off straight away. Andrea tried to skate but being the clumsy girl she was she just couldn’t keep on her feet. She fell backwards and knocked over another skater.

“Here let me help you.” He said reaching out his hand to her. “It actually helps if you keep your feet further apart not close together.” Andrea noticed he had a very sexy accent.

“Thanks,” Andrea giggled. “My family is always saying that I have two left feet, half the time I trip over thin air.”

They both laughed then Simon looked up into her eyes, “Names Simon Leto.”

“Hi Simon, I’m Andrea Ashfield,” she said still giggling.

While gazing into his bright blue eyes Andrea tripped over her feet once more, taking Simon down with her.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Man you weren’t kidding; you really do have two left feet. Are you ok?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” Andrea got up and brushed herself off, “happens to me all the time I’ve gotten used to falling over.”

While holding onto Simon she carefully made her way off the rink. After taking their skates off Andrea jumped up, “I have a great throwing arm though let me show you.” And she raced over to where the water balloons were.

“Whoever loses buys the ice cream,” she shouted out then picked up her first balloon and threw it straight at Simon’s chest.

He bent forward in a bit of pain and shock, “wow you weren’t kidding, you  really do have quite an arm and an aim.”

He then picked up his balloon and threw it hitting Andrea in the leg. She missed Simon’s next three throws while she managed to hit him twice more making her the winner.

Andrea sat on the bench eating her victory ice cream. “So what brings you to Appaloosa Plains?”

“I’m actually just passing through. I’m a surfer so I follow the waves around the globe.”

“I’ve never met a surfer, so where do come from originally?”

“I’m from Australia and its winter there at the moment, hence why I travel to find the waves.”

“Don’t you get sick of the heat all year round?”

“Not me mate, I love it.”

“It’s getting late I better get back home before my brother begins to worry but meet me tomorrow at the beach at midday.”

“No worries,” He replied and shook her hand goodbye.

*****

The following day Andrea met Simon at the beach and the rest as they say was history.

They had so much fun playing together in the water. Andrea fell fast and hard for Simon she knew that it wouldn’t last but he promised to keep in touch. They met at the beach every day and Andrea got to watch Simon surf. He was amazing, she had never seen someone surf in person before and no matter how many times she watched Simon she was always impressed.

On one of their beach trips, it had begun to rain. “There’s some shelter over there,” Simon called out to her but Andrea continued to dance around in the rain, “It’s beautiful,” she said taking a deep breath in.

“You’re crazy,” Simon picked her up and carried Andrea to the shelter underneath the pier.

Simon slowly began to let Andrea down, with her arms around his neck she could feel his heart beating. They had been hanging out for two weeks but this was the closest they had been to one another, “I love you,” she whispered into his ear. “I love you too baby,” Simon replied. Then underneath the pier surrounded by sand and the warm rain Andrea gave herself to Simon.

Three more weeks had passed and Andrea hadn’t heard from Simon.

“Good riddance, I say. I didn’t like him he seemed sly,” Emma replied to Andrea’s complaining. She had been crying for weeks.

“I don’t even care anymore.”

“You’re kidding,” joked Emma.

“Well not for me. For his child growing inside me.”

*********

That night Kyle came home from his world tour only to discover Angeletta gone the following morning. She left behind a letter with a photo attached.

Kyle

I’m terribly sorry for just leaving you but I just couldn’t hold you back any further. If I had stayed you would have given up your career for me and possibly your family for a life that I deeply regret. You often ask me why I am so sad and now I will tell you. I am cursed. You think vampires are cool and that it makes me sexy but you have no idea of the torture I endure every day I wake. Before I met you I had the most horrific nightmares of my father and of the vampire that turned me. That photo that you have in your hands was taken by my father. He had just given my hand in marriage to some man I had never even met, it was time for me to grow up and become a wife and mother and live a life chained to the house never to leave without my husband but that was just not me. My husband to be was twice my age and had been suspected of murdering his wife for she caught him with another but there was not enough evidence. I was terrified and I hated my father for doing this to me so I ran away. I was only gone for less than an hour before my father found me but that was enough time for Draven to set his sights in me. That night he came to me and told me that I could leave and have a life of being free and traveling the world. At the time I did not think to question, I was to be wed soon and his offer regardless of consequence was better than that. I fell in love with Draven and he bestowed upon me this curse that I have today. Life was fine for sixty or so years but by then he had tired of me and found another blonde human. So I left him and wandered from place to place. I was so close to thrusting my body in the sunlight to end it all. Then I met you. You showed me the wonders of being alive and I love you so dearly for that but I just can’t live with myself knowing that I gave this curse. Deep down we both know that is where we would have ended up.

I never wanted this life and if I could take it back then I would but then I wouldn’t have met you. Please don’t be mad at me or with yourself and please don’t be sad. I know that you will find a lovely woman to settle down with, don’t forget that you have to pass on your legacy. I know that you love me and please know that I love you more than my words could ever describe.

Be safe,

Angeletta

“Of course we’re friends! I’m just walking with Henri today, she prom—” a knock at the door cut her off and a freckled nose poked through.

“Aren’t you two ready yet?”

“I am.” I said, pinning my collar. “Jo, you don’t have time to read that now! You’ll make us late!”

“Oh, there’s a trick to that!” Henri skipped in the room and plucked the letter out of Jo’s hands. “You rush and get ready first then read her letter to her while she’s dallying and buttoning up the wrong button to the wrong hole.”

“I have no—n oh, that’s what’s wrong!” Jo quickly put her buttons to right and Henri looked at her letter.

“Oh— it’s just from your mother. The way you had your nose stuck in it I thought it was something juicy from on of your brothers.” Henri sounded disappointed. Why the hurry to read it?”

“If I had a letter from MY mother I’d want to read it right away too!” I was still put out with Jo, but maybe if I sided with her she’d change her mind and walk with me on the nature walk.

“Well of course you would.” Henri said.

“If you all must know.” Jo scrambled her belongings into a satchel, “I wrote Mother to ask permission for Bobbie to stay the holidays with me as seeing as she can’t go home. I was trying to get to her reply—”

“She says yes.” Henri said flatly.

“Hooray!” Jo cheered and I grinned. At least she was still my friend after all. “Now I’m ready, put that letter down and come on!”

Henri put the letter down quietly and joined us as we sped out the door and down the stairs as fast as we could without actually running in the hallway and earning ourselves a scolding or worse— a black mark.

“You will come, won’t you?” Jo asked me.

“I—” of course I’d love to, but Jo cut me off.

“My brothers will all be home and we’ll have such larks. Why we have this little stream  at the bottom of the garden and— Henri, what’s the matter? Why are you so glum?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Henri shrugged.”

“Of course it is! Now don’t keep it in!”

“It’s just, Oh, Jo! Bobbie! I also wrote my mother asking for Bobbie to stay the holidays and in the last post yesterday she sent her reply saying she’d love to have her, only I didn’t get the chance to ask her yet. But Jo asked you first, of course and I’m sure you shall have a jolly time with her and her brothers and sisters.”

“Do you have brothers and sisters?” I asked Henri.

“Yes.” She said. “But they’re all grown up now.”

“Why don’t I ask my mother if you can come too?” Jo said. “I’m sure she’d say yes.”

“But mine wouldn’t. I’m at school all term, she’ll want to see me, I know.”

“Well, how about we both go stay with you? That will be jolly, no boys! What do you say?”

“That would be lovely but I doubt very much Mother would say yes. Her and Father are getting ready to go abroad and I only got permission for Bobbie because she has no family near and I convinced Mother she was a quiet girl and wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“Well, I asked first, but you got permission first.” Jo said. “I think we’ll have to leave it up to Bobbie to choose.”

“I—” how could I choose? I really wanted to spend the holidays with Jo, I’d get to experience a live I’d never had before and it sounded like so much fun. But my short time at school had taught me how wonderful it was to have companions your own age. Would it be selfish to enjoy myself with Jo and leave Henri on her own?

“Only don’t decide now.” Henri said. “Think it over. Has Jo mentioned you’re walking with Marjorie today?”

“Ye— no.”

“Yes I did!” Jo said.

“No.” I said. “You just said you were walking with Henri.”

“Yes, because Marjorie asked Henri too so she could walk with you.”

“Oh. I just thought you didn’t want to walk with me.” I admitted with a smile. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest.

“Oh Jo!” Henri sighed.

“You silly goose,” Jo said. “Of course I want to walk with you, but we walk in pairs and I can’t walk with you both.”

“I never thought of that.” I said. And I truly hadn’t. At home if I wanted to walk with a particular servant then any one was at my beck and call. “So friends are like desks. You have to take turns.” I mused.

Jo laughed. “Truly, this week Marjorie did ask to walk with you, sorry I never got to tell you that part, but it is nice to walk with Henri as I don’t get to spend enough time with her as you.”

“I see.” I said.

Soon we were all assembled outside and Miss Jane instructed us to form two lines. Mariah and Valerie headed up the front and Marjorie and I the rear.

“I don’t want any trouble out of you two or you’ll both have to walk in single file.” Miss Jane glared at Jo and Henri. After she turned away Marjorie giggled.

“Jo led Henri into a few scrapes last term.” She said to me.

“So I’ve heard.” I said.

We started on our walk, which was more of a march than a walk, but was pleasant all the same. Every now and then Miss Jane would stop at a point of interest and ask questions. Henri made sure to nudge Jo to encourage her to answer and I was pleased to see that every answer she offered was correct.

“Jo and Henri said that you wanted to walk with me.” I said to Marjorie as we marched along.

“Yes.” She said. “I thought it would be nice as seeing as we are both so far from home.”

“You more so than I.” I said.

“It’s not the distance so much.” She said. “It’s that it takes three months to get a letter here and another three months back. Even mailships have to go the long way around to avoid the occupied territory. There are so many things that I think I’d love to ask Mother’s advise on but there’s no point because a reply is six months away.”

“So you don’t get any letters from home then.” I said.

“Well, yes. On the ways I sent letters to Mother at every port we stopped at and she writes to me regularly only she stops three months before the end of the the year because they’d never get to me anyway. I get letters, there’s just no conversation back and forth. She wrote to me the day I left of course, so I had a letter here waiting for me when I arrived to cheer me up after nine months without word. It beat me by a day.” Marjorie smiled. “But it’s still not the same.”

“Well, that’s more than I’ve had.” I tried not to let the bitterness show in my voice. “I’ve only had one letter. That was from my nursery maid to tell me she was visiting her mother and her new address didn’t make it to me.” I sighed.

“Really? Your parents never sent one ahead for you?”

“Well, they brought me here so I guess they never thought it necessary.” I said.

“Well, I’m sure your mother will send you a bundle from the first port they stop at.” Marjorie said confidently. “Mothers are like that the first time they send their daughters away, I know. My first term here Mother sent one every day and they didn’t always arrive in the right order so it got a bit confusing, but it was nice all the same.”

“I hope so.” I said. “You— you don’t… you don’t think they’ve forgotten about me… do you?” I bit my lip, it wasn’t until I voiced it that I realsied that had been worrying at me for days.

“Not a scrap of me could think that. Trust me, they’ll be thinking about you every day. You just see. Be paitent and you’ll get the most wonderful letter ever for the wait, I promise.”

I smiled. “Thank you Marjorie.”

As we continued with our nature walk I had an added spring in my march. Just you see, she’d said, and I would. I’d wait and, knowing my mother, when my letter came it would be the bestest letter in all the world. It would be so great it would make even Jo and Henri jealous. I just had to wait a little longer.

Bert sends his thanks for your letter and will write to you when he has time, he is working hard for his exams. In the meantime he said for you to mind Mr Timmons as it will do you well when you do come to school next year.

Interesting that Mother and Father’s disagreement passed. I thought that perhaps it was about money again. You will not remember but when you were born Father’s business was in some trouble. I was too young at the time to understand the details but obviously things picked up again. Now I’m not so sure. If the business was in trouble then they would they dismiss our cheapest servant then re-hire an older (and more expensive)one? I think not. I do not think that they would argue over such a thing as dismissing even a long standing servant such as Frankie. My thoughts are that there was some bad behaviour amongst he servants that resulted in their dismissal and the argument was over another matter.

Bert thought your letter was very grown-up though I didn’t read him the second part of your postscript! Bert is in study mode so he hasn’t gotten up to any mischief however I may have some to report to you. Our school gates have our school crest on them. It went missing. One of the fellows in my form received a letter from his friend at another school to say theirs had gone missing also and a few other school were reporting the same thing. He (and I by association) have been invited to a meeting over the incidents, so I’ll let you know what transpires.

Now I must be off. A few of the fellows are planning on making toffee this afternoon. If it comes off then I’ll send you’ll a piece!

Your brother,

Hadley

Up until recently, my life wasn’t too exciting at all.  I helped out with the girls most of the time, and I love them dearly.  I’m especially close to Islani, who tends to call me “Anty Enwi” and it always makes me laugh.  I’ve also taken a job as a self-employed artist and have sold a lot of paintings at the local consignment store.  Recently, I got into sculpting as well, and I really like it.

I keep getting date calls from losers and old men, but I didn’t bother with any of them.  I had just about given up hope of ever finding a companion, but then a great guy was attracted to our house by the beacon Ushu invented.

I was working out on the treadmill when I heard his UFO landing out front, so when I ran outside to greet him, I wasn’t very well dressed!  He took one look at me and lost what he was going to say.  He stared for a moment and then said, “Forgive me, I was stunned by your beauty.”  My heart nearly melted!

His name is Peidax Alowi, and I think he’s incredibly good looking.  Of course, Peidax was invited to move in immediately, and once he got settled, we started getting to know each other better.

Yesterday, he asked me to accompany him to the winter festival on a date.

He embraced me and kissed me, then asked me to be his girlfriend.  I agreed of course, but I didn’t just want a boyfriend.  It’s customary for the women of Sixam to propose marriage, and for the men to take their woman’s name if they accept.  I asked Peidax to be my husband.  I know that’s rushing things a lot, but he is the most perfect man for me.

Peidax accepted my proposal, and we exchanged vows right there in the park!  The sun was setting just as we became husband and wife, and it was terribly romantic.

We came home and one thing led to another…

I’ve never been so happy!

*   *   *

From the personal log of Ushuqop Vajjer
Stardate 54472.2

Winter has been an exciting time.  I’ve never seen snow, and the winter customs of our new world are very enjoyable!  Before the snow came, I took the girls for a stroll every night when I got home from work.  Then the snow came and I was worried about their health, so I kept them indoors most of the time.

Our new housemates, Shannan and Peidax, are doing quite well and have adjusted to life in Moonlight Falls.  Shannan is extremely dedicated to her work at the hospital, but she’s also a very kind person.

Shannan rarely takes any time to just enjoy herself, but if she’s had a stressful day at work, she’ll sometimes enjoy exercising outdoors.  It was amusing to watch her skating in her work “scrubs.”

Peidax fell in love with Enli as soon as he arrived, and they were married within a couple of days!  They are already expecting a baby, and the whole family is looking forward to the new arrival.

Amki has already suggested that if the child is a boy, that we negotiate an arranged marriage with the parents as soon as he is born.

I don’t know how I feel about that idea, to be honest.  It is our custom, especially for royalty and powerful families, but our girls are growing up in a world that places great value on free choice and true love.  I think it would be best to allow our daughters to choose their own partners when they’re old enough.

In other news, work has been going well and I haven’t been called to work extra hours for a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately my superiors do want me to compile reports on all citizens of Moonlight Falls, and they expect me to do anything it takes to dig up the necessary information.  I am supposed to rummage through peoples’ trash even!  I did it once, but I refuse to do that ever again.  It was disgusting and embarrassing.  I’d rather not be promoted than to go through that again.

I’ve been able to write reports on my closest friends just by interviewing them.  Billy Glim was especially eager to answer all my questions about his werewolf activities.  Other times, I scan people’s minds and compile my reports that way, and I haven’t been forced to reveal my “evidence” yet, so it seems to be a good solution to the problem.

We recently celebrated Snowflake Day, which is the biggest holiday in this world.  Typically, families and their closest friends gather around to exchange gifts and feast on Snowflake Day.  We hosted a gift party at our home as well, and it was exciting to receive surprises from our friends.  The best part was watching my loved ones open their gifts–I loved their reactions.

It will be a new year soon, and the girls are having their birthday in a week!  I can’t wait to start teaching them more about our history, and helping them develop their skills.  I worry about them going to school and fear they will not be accepted easily.  I hope I’m wrong.

I thought I would end this entry with a special memory.  Amki and I went to the festival in the middle of the night on Snowflake Day, and we played in the snow together.  She’s so artistic, and she came up with a brilliant way to make a Sixiam snowman.

At the end of last month, I met with Tagga Pirscuk, the lead surveyor of this planet.  We discussed setting up a beacon to draw more of our people this direction, and I offered to open my home to new arrivals.  We’ve become like an adoption agency, because the government requires that all aliens live with a host family until they qualify for residency and can rent or purchase their own homes.

I wasn’t sure how Amki would feel about even more people coming to stay with us, but she was perfectly agreeable to the idea.  I shouldn’t have doubted her: Amki is the most loving and generous woman in the universe!

She even told me, “I’m excited to see more of our people living here!”

I got to work on building the beacon in the garage, where I’ve been tinkering with some new inventions.  It didn’t take long for me to modify one of my gadgets to emit the signal that will be transmitted directly to the minds of Sixiams within the quadrant.

*   *   *

From the diary of Amki Vajjer
Stardate 54326.5

The girls are growing up incredibly fast!  Between Enli, Ushu and myself, we’ve already taught the girls how to walk and use the potty, and they’re almost finished learning how to talk too.

I regret that I’ve had no time at all for my art lately.  I’ve been working hard at learning some alchemy recipes and most of my time is spent in the garden.  It’s harvest season now and it takes nearly all day to tend to the plants.

I’m so grateful that Ushu has been helping with the yard work, but I’m a bit concerned about how much he enjoys lighting the leaves on fire!

We had a romantic date the other night, and he told me we’re going to be hosting more of our people in our home soon.  I’m definitely looking forward to making more friends and being a good hostess to new arrivals.

The first of those new arrivals has just showed up yesterday afternoon.  Her name is Shannan Thobanob.

Shannan is a medical technician and she’s very nice.  She’s of the Y Group of Sixiams.  They have pale blue skin and used to be native to the Northern regions of Sixam.  She got a job at the hospital almost immediately after she settled in and she spends almost all of her spare time providing medical advice on the internet when she isn’t working at the hospital.

(continue reading…)

Amki and Darian watched the stars together and she pointed out the constellation where her home planet is located.  She was happy to have finally found love.

After a while, Darian went inside and started playing his guitar in his bathing suit.

Amki thought he was pretty hot, but he needed just a little help with his waistline.

They slow danced together for quite some time.  It seemed they were really getting close.

Billy tried not to interrupt them as he played with Nova, but he felt a little sad.  It wasn’t just because his daughter’s only love was falling in love with someone else, but also because it meant his best alien friend would soon be leaving them.

Angelina started her next day with a mission, and she convinced her family to participate in her big plan.  They were all going to work on achieving a suntan finally!

It seemed a good way to start would be to lounge around in the pool, which was also a great opportunity for everyone to catch up on reading some of Billy’s best books.

Darian was still visiting and he got pelted by an untimely hailstorm.

Amki took him out for a date and they went to city hall to take a tour and have their portrait taken.

Billy wasn’t about to let Angelina’s day be ruined by the hail though.  He used the climate control machine to bring back the sunshine.

Always multitasking, Billy worked on his tan and his latest novel.

When Amki and Darian got back from their tour of city hall, she worked up the nerve to ask him to be her boyfriend.  Darian was happy to accept!

I installed an outdoor shower for my sims to enjoy in the summertime–it provides the perfect way to cool off and stay clean while working on those suntans!

It did look like Zinnia was making some progress on that suntan quest.

Something amazing happened next.  There was a sound of a UFO landing out front, and an alien arrived for a visit.

Amki almost fainted when she saw him–it turned out he was her long lost husband!  She thought he had died.

His name is Ushuqop, and Amki invited him inside to talk.  She took a moment to explain to him that she thought he was dead, and she’d started seeing another man.

As soon as Ushuqop left, Amki rushed upstairs to deal with her problem.

“I don’t want to see you ever again!”

That was the shortest intentional romance ever!  Poor Darian.

The next day, Amki made arrangements to rent a house with Ushuqop and she moved out of the Glim household.  (You can follow Amki’s story in The Alien Diaries.)

Angelina went to visit the new Farmer’s Market that just opened up in Moonlight Falls.  She was excited to see what kinds of neat things they had for sale, and it was a great opportunity to sell some of the family’s harvest from their massive garden.

The selection was amazing, and Angelina picked up some new eggplants and lemons to plant when she got home.

She changed into her bathing suit to continue working on her tan while she tended the market stand.  She had a beautiful golden glow already, but she wanted it to last for the rest of the summer because she’s always been very pale and her suntan was quite a novelty.

She stole an apple from the cart when no one was looking!  I suppose all the fresh fruit and veggies were just too tempting to her.  I don’t think that’s something a proper lady ought to do!

That night was Theodore’s birthday and they threw a big party of course.  Darian was there, and he cried all night about being dumped by Amki.

The most popular party guest arrived to take away one of the uninvited townies that crashed the party!

A lot of guests were mourning when it was time for Theodore to blow out his candles.  Damien was looking rather scorched from his close encounter with Amki’s UFO in the spring.

OMG, Chandra’s dancing on the grill!  That’s hot

In the morning, Angelina was up bright and early to work on her tan some more, while Billy was still scratching around for collectibles in the yard.

Billy really enjoyed showing off his new suntan too!

Loki harvested some of the new eggplants and Élodie started trying to get a tan as well.

Later in the afternoon, Billy went to the festival to get the special summer gnome–they have at least one of each seasonal gnomes now and hopefully they’ll earn another for having the complete collection.

After school, Theodore went to the Farmer’s Market to tend the juice stand.  He’s such a cute little boy.  Billy was his first customer.

Billy wanted to try out the inexpensive psychiatric advice his great grandson was offering.  He pulled up a crate and started telling Theodore his problems.

“I’ve become obsessed with collecting space rocks…”

Theodore listened patiently and wiped down the juice stand like a grown-up bartender.

His advice, “You have a job, you should spend more time on your computer instead of collecting rocks.”  Well, that’s what you get when you pay five cents for advice from a little kid!

Back at home, Angelina finished her latest ice sculpture: a fancy chair.  The family had decided to purchase the ice lounge venue and turn it into an awesome Ice Palace.  Angelina planned to sculpt a lot of furniture and beautiful decor to use in their new Ice Palace.

That night was Snow’s birthday!

Zinnia finally achieved a suntan.

Snow blew out his candles and aged up to child.

Snow is a cute alien, but he has his human father’s nose and it looks kind of funny on an alien.

“Happy Birthday, Snow!”  Angelina said as she gave her great grandson a present.

As Snow squealed with delight and thanked her, that’s when I heard his voice for the first time.  It was like music to my ears!  (I should point out that alien babies born the “natural way” do have their voices right away.)

Stay tuned for another update, coming soon!

I am head over heels in love with my daughters!  I adore everything about them and honestly, I just can’t get enough of them.  I know they’ll grow up fast, so I’m trying to get as much time with them as I can.

Much to my surprise, Amki’s best friend showed up the night after the girls were born.  She offered to help out around the house and Amki was thrilled to have her stay with us.  Her name is Enli Uzopoc, and she’s quite the character!

I hate to admit this, but I find her very attractive.  I think it’s her tiny mouth, and those big, luscious lips of hers.  I have to try not to stare when she’s around.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Amki with all my heart and I will never stray, she is the only woman for me.

Anyhow, Enli is really good with the babies.  She usually gets to them before the skeleton maid is needed, and she loves to read and sing to the girls.

The best part about having Enli around is that I get much more time to spend with Amki.  Things have been so busy down at the police station lately, and I’ve been called to work extra hours almost every day this week.

*  *  *

From the diary of Enli Uzopoc
Stardate 54255.1

It’s so great living in Moonlight Falls, especially after years of traveling through space in a very compact space cruiser.  I thought I would lose my mind if I spent one more day in the cockpit!  I knew I could rely on Amki to help me out though–she’s the best.  I’ve always been able to turn to her when I needed help with anything.  She and her husband were so gracious when I asked to stay with them until I can get my own place.  I’ve been helping out with the babies and household chores to earn my keep.

I’m trying to make some new friends here, although it seems the only people who will talk to me are men that want to “get to know me better.”  I’ve received at least a dozen calls from different guys asking me out on dates, but most of them are old or married.  I did finally accept a date from a young man who called, but he turned out to be a disappointment.  Apparently he’s still in love with his high school sweetheart and just wanted to make her jealous–though she didn’t even notice us when we went to the fall festival together.

After I ditched that guy, I had a lot of fun at the festival.  My biggest mistake, though, was going into that haunted house attraction.  I got so scared that I lost my lunch and nearly ruined my new outfit.

Thank goodness I was able to buy a delicious drink to get the foul taste out of my mouth.

Once I was feeling better, I got to meet Billy Glim.  He’s the one who first took Amki in when she arrived earlier this year.  Too bad he’s married–I thought Billy was charming and sexy.  He challenged me to an apple bobbing contest and I won.

I guess it’s a good thing he’s married though; Amki told me he’s a werewolf.  I don’t like guys with body hair.  I’m sure I’ll be able to find a hot, single guy who isn’t covered in fur every full moon.

*  *  *

From the diary of Amki Vajjer
Stardate 54299.6

Railiah and Islani are growing so fast!  I’ve just started getting back into shape after giving birth to them, and it’s already their birthday!

Billy and Angelina came to the birthday party.  It was so nice to see them.  I should’ve spent more time with them after moving out on my own, but I just lost track of time.  I know they’re always busy too, but I do miss them very much.

The girls are so cute now that they’ve gotten older.  They both have my hair!  Their voices are like music, and when they laugh, it fills the room with joy.

Railiah loves black, but I dressed her in pink because I don’t think black suits such a cute little girl.  Islani likes aqua, which makes it easy to tell them apart.  I think they might be identical twins, which is truly rare.

(continue reading…)

This summer has been the best time of my life!  Ushu and I were reunited–I thought I would never see him again–and now we’re expecting a baby.  I’ve been taking it easy a lot these days, and I even got a suntan a couple of times.

Speaking of my pregnancy, I think we might be having twins!  Ushu gave me a romantic massage, and I’ve heard rumors that can cause multiple births.

I’m worried that I’ll lose my figure… but I suppose there’s no place for vanity in motherhood.  At least Ushu still finds me beautiful.  You should’ve seen the look on his face when he saw me with my suntan!  (It faded almost right away though–the suntan, I mean.)

I know I’m a very lucky woman to have such a good husband as Ushu.  He is a wonderful provider, and he is loyal and loving.  I think he will be a fantastic father.

*  *  *

From the personal log of Ushuqop Vajjer
Stardate 54137.4

Amki’s pregnancy has gone well.  The other day, she went to the hospital for her prenatal checkup and the doctor confirmed that we’re having twins!  We’ve both been reading about pregnancy and parenthood to get prepared for the big arrival.

Last night, I was playing basketball when I heard my wife cry out in agony.

I rushed inside and saw that she’d gone into labor.  That’s when I realized I should’ve bought a car!  Thankfully we live just down the street from the hospital and Amki didn’t mind walking there.

This morning we welcomed two beautiful baby girls into the world!

Their names are Railiah and Islani.

It’s going to take a lot of work raising two babies at once, but we purchased one of those skeleton servants that are all the rage here in Moonlight Falls.  I’m sure that will ease some of the burden on my wife and allow her to enjoy more time in the garden.

(continue reading…)

My name is Ushuqop Vajjer, though my friends call me Ushu.  I’ve been writing the history of my homeworld for posterity, but I thought it would make sense to write my personal experiences as well.  I am originally from the planet Sixam, where I was the king of my world.  I was exiled (along with my wife and several other world leaders) three years ago, when our world was invaded.  The invaders call themselves “The Elders” and they are truly ancient beings with psionic powers beyond comprehension.  They can kill with a simple thought, create powerful storms and energy vortexes that destroy entire cities, and they are nearly impossible to kill.  If you want to know more about the war, you really should read my books.

Those of us who were exiled were the lucky ones–not that I ever felt lucky to leave my people behind in such terrible danger.  After several years of searching the galaxy for a new home, I came to understand that we were lucky because we had an opportunity to gather strength and someday, we might be able to liberate Sixam.

Anyhow, I was recently reunited with my beloved wife, Amki.  She located this planet and studied it for several months.  We found safety in a town called Moonlight Falls, where several strange lifeforms coexist in relative harmony with one another.  The residents of the town have been surprisingly pleasant toward us, and have allowed us to live among them.

For now, we are unable to purchase property, but we are renting an old three bedroom house near the center of town.  When Amki and I were reunited just last month, we renewed our marriage bond according to the customs of this new world.

I took a job in Law Enforcement, and convinced Amki to stay home for now–though she desperately wants to enter professional sports.  We want to start a family right away, and Amki agreed that one of us should remain home to raise the children.

Things have been very nice since we settled down in Moonlight Falls.  I’ve made new friends at work and found a sport that I love: basketball.  Also, the seasonal festivals here are a lot of fun and I discovered a delightful summer treat called snowcones!

We just found out that Amki is finally pregnant!

I’m really looking forward to becoming a father!

(continue reading…)

In art Lady D’Winter praised Jo’s efforts and pronounced her work “much improved.” Henri must have got some last minute help from Marjorie because she was rewarded with more praise than usual also, but it was still Mariah who took out top.

While other girls took advantage of the fair weather during free time, we spent our time with our books. I correcting Jo’s spelling, Henri helping her with her drawing, Jo helping Henri when her thread tangled when she was at her embroidery and both of them helping me with my handwriting.

“Brilliant!” Henri said. It was Friday and we were taking advantaged of an abandoned corner in one of the schoolrooms and I was practicing my handwriting.

“Miss Brown always said I could do better at it if only I applied myself.” I said.

“Miss Hilton! Mis Cox! Miss Joans, you too? What are you doing inside on a fine day like this?” Miss Jane came storming down the corridor. “Are you defacing school property?”

“Oh no Miss Jane.” Jo said as Henri backed away “we were just helping Bobbie with her handwriting, see?” Miss Jane looked at the blackboard with my attempts on it.

“I see… and why would you do such a thing?”

“That’s non—” I stomped on Jo’s foot.

“Because I asked them to help me. Because of what you said the other day, Miss Jane.”

“What I said?”

“Yes, about reforming ourselves, Henri’s helping us and we’re going to try to be model students. You were our inspiration.”

“Hmph. I see. Well mind that you do!” And with that she turned on her heel and marched off.

“Why Bobbie! I am impressed!” Jo said. “How did you do it?”

“Well, we weren’t doing anything wrong…” Henri said.

“Sometimes you just have to learn how to talk to grown ups.” I said. “And sometimes telling them it’s none of their business isn’t the best plan.”

“Yes, well, lets forget that, shall we?” Jo pleaded and we all laughed.

“Goodness!” Henri said. “There’s the bell, return to class, you model students better not be late!”

Miss Hudson came in twice a week to take sewing where we covered everything from fancy needlework to plain sewing and pattern altering. We’d just finished our tapestries and so were to start on a new project.

“I hope it’s more embroidery.” Mariah said as we all gathered in the classroom. “Though I expect to do a lot of that in finishing school, but one can never have enough decorations for when one gets married and has a house to fill.”

“If you’re talking about filling a house.” Jo said. “Baby’s clothes would be more useful. Every mother, even you, Mariah, needs to know how to sew those.

“Oh, they’re simple to sew, I’m sure.” Mariah said. “But the embroidery on MY baby’s clothes shall be the most exquisite. Why—”

but we never found out why what, because we heard footsteps in the hallway and all rushed to stand behind out desks.

Miss Hudson entered the room and to my surprise she was followed by Lady D’Winter.

“Good afternoon young ladies!” Miss Hudson said brightly.

“Good afternoon Miss Hudson.” We chanted back. “Good afternoon Lady D’Winter.”

“Please be seated.” Lady D’Winter commanded. We all sat down.

“Now, I have an exciting new project for you all to start.” Miss Hudson told us “It is very advanced, but I’m sure you are all ready. But first your headmistress has some news for you.”

At this we all sat up.

“Now girls.” Lady D’Winter started. “For those of you are not yet accustomed to the traditions of our fine establishment, you will be interested to learn that to celebrate Midsummer the older girls host a soiree. They invite appropriate people of high breeding and it is not something the younger classes are considered fit to attend.” Lady D’Winter looked at us all with steely eyes, and I could swear she looked at Jo, Henri and I for a little longer.

“No Lady D’Winter” a few of us murmured, because it seemed some response was expected.

“This year, they have decided they will invite girls of the age nine and older, not to attend the soiree as guests you understand, but to perform a piece and assist in the handing out of refreshments.” Lady held her hand up to silence the excited ripple that spread through our class.

“Now we have a reputation to uphold and we won’t allow just any girl to represent our school. All girls attending must have shown not only that they can conduct themselves as young ladies, but that they can do so without detriment to their academic success. For this reason any girl wishing to attend must ensure that she acquires no black marks between now and the last evening of this term. Furthermore, I expect this girl to have attained first in at least one of her classes this term. The names of these girls shall be added to the program that must be at the printers by the third day of the summer term so don’t expect to slack off now and make up for it later— it will be too late. That will be all.”

With that Lady D’Winter swept out of the room.

“Oh girls!” Mariah said. “How exciting! Shall I sing or recite or play? What do you all think?”

“That’s enough Mariah.” Miss Hudson said. “I know you’re excited, but we must to work now. I’m sure your next project will thrill you all and you have until the end of the term to finish it.”

“Ohhh, what is it?” Jo asked.

“Something that will be of use to any girl who hopes to attend the soiree.” Miss Hudson said. “We will be making evening gowns.”

We all squealed and clapped. Well, all except Mariah.

“It’s all right, you can do embroidery on yours!” Jo said and I giggled at Mariah’s scowl.

“I already have an evening gown to wear to the soiree.” She said. “Many to choose from. Why would I want make one?”

“Well I’m sure you won’t be bringing any with you next term.” Miss Hudson said. “There are no evening gowns on the packing list young lady! But part of the project is to make something you’d be willing to wear in public, so if you attend you will be wearing whatever you make in my class. Now, onto work. I have a book of fashion plates and some patterns here. Lets all take a look at them and decide what styles you would like to tackle.”

Did I mention Miss Hudson was my favourite teacher?

With Mariah subdued for the moment we all got stuck into designing our new dresses.

I started playing this game called X-Note late last night/early this morning and it is an otome game which for those of you who do not know what otome games are I shall tell you. An otome game (乙女ゲーム, lit. “maiden game”) is a video game that is targeted towards a female market, where one of the main goals, besides the plot goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the female player character and one of several male, or occasionally female characters. This genre is most established in Japan, and is generally made up of visual novels and simulation games (particularly dating sims).

Story of X-Note

10 years ago, Essi’s mother died in a questionable accident. She left a USB flash drive with a locked folder called “X-note”. Unable to understand the purpose of it, Essi continued living her life as a normal junior high school student. However, Essi is hardly normal, for she possesses power beyond normal human.

Essi’s quiet life was interfered by a sudden visit of a young man named Yuon. He invited her to investigate a murder case and a mysterious disappearance in the Xen Institute, a school deeply related to Essi’s mother. Tempted by the possibility of unlocking “X-note” and solving her mother’s mysterious death, Essi decided to take his request. But what awaited her there was a lot more than what she could possibly imagine…

In this game you have three guys to choose from; you may pick Anon, Oure, Yuon or you could play the game three times so you may get the three different boys.

The first time I played this game I had chose Anon first. I have taken a few screen shots for you to look at.

The second time I played I had chose Oure. Again I have taken a few screen shots for you to look at.

I will update once I play again and choose Yuon (so maybe sometime tomorrow?)

Cloud drifted.

The world came back slowly. He was hot. He was cold. Something cold was against his forehead. Something warm and salty in his mouth. Chicken soup. He swallowed. Sometimes there was sun and sometimes it was dark. Movement and rustling. Someone was plumping up his pillow.

“Moon…” He began, but he couldn’t see her. “I’m going your way…” He murmured. “Who are you?” It might have been then or it might have been later that he asked., he wasn’t sure. “Where’s Moon?” The words were familiar, had he said them before?

Somewhere a baby cried.

The baby stopped crying. The sun shined and stars twinkled. Cloud blinked. Sun then stars or stars then sun? Time warped around him.

The world continued drifting back.

A baby cried. A baby stopped crying.

Cloud rolled over in bed and watched clinking objects lift from his bedside table.

Clink.

Clink.

Glasses. Bowls. Spoons. He remembered their names one by one and grasped onto them.

Clink.

Clink.

There were hands lifting the objects— the glasses, the bowls, the spoons— and taking them away. When the hands returned they were attached to a body and came bearing new things, a bowl hot and steaming and a glass of water.

“Who are you?” He asked her, “Where’s Moon?”

She sighed. “I’m Glace.” She said like she’d said it a million times before. “Moon… Moon isn’t with us any longer but you have to eat and drink and get your strength up.”

“Have you been looking after me?” He asked.

“Yes.” She reached out and touched his forehead. “Your temperature seems back to normal, are you back with us? You’ve been delirious for days…”

“I don’t know.” Where had he been but here? “You’ve looked after me?”

“Yes, you and Daisy both.”

“Daisy.”

“That’s your baby.”

“Daisy that’s my baby.” Cloud repeated. “What happened?”

“We think she must have had some internal bleeding.” Glace said. “She’d come into the kitchen to ring you— your number was the last one dialed. Must have slipped and fallen, we know she hit her head somehow. I’m sorry.”

“She rang me. I— I left my phone…”

“It’s not your fault.” Glace put her hand over his.

“It is, but, isn’t it?”

“Try to get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

He didn’t. Nor did he feel any better the next morning or the morning after that.

Mornings turned into days, days into weeks and weeks into months. The pain numbed and cloud numbed with it.

He got up. He ate breakfast. Sometimes he remembered to water a plant or pull a weed.

“You’re still looking after me.” He said to Glace one day.

“You and Daisy both.” She said.

“What about your own home?”

“I lived— I live with my parents, I mean. It’s a bit crowded there to be honest… they can spare me to watch over you.”

“It’s not crowded here.” Cloud said. “Where do you sleep?”

“I put up a small bed next to the nursery, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind?”

“About the bed.”

“Oh.”

Cloud functioned. One day Glace told him the household funds were getting low and he remembered he used to go to the fire station five days a week. He went there and fixed things and put out fires and they gave him money. He remembered. So he walked out and went to work. Stepping into work he felt like a stranger, he didn’t know anybody thee. But they welcomed him back and offered words of support. Perhaps these people had been his friends once upon a time.

Cloud liked putting out fires. He felt there was one thing he could fix.

He got up, he ate breakfast, he went to work, he came home, he tended the garden and he went to bed only to get up and do the same the next day.

Moon cooked and cleaned and when the baby cried she fed or changed it.

Cloud didn’t notice how big she was growing, it hurt to look at her. She looked too much like Moon.

Mostly she just played with her favourite toy until she needed something from Glace.

Sometimes when the pain became too much he’d go outside to where they’d laid Moon to rest and he’d sing to her. Sometimes he just broke down and cried. Glace tried to comfort him but he always pushed her away.

One night though, the pain was hard. The numbness protected him from the pain, but the more involved in the world he became the less numb he felt and that made the pain sharper than ever.

“Moon’s dead.” He said to Glace.”

“I know— you know that, Cloud.”

“I know, but I didn’t know it before.” He said. “I did, but I didn’t…” he couldn’t find the words.

“You knew, but you couldn’t accept it.” Glace said. You must have loved her a lot.”

“It— it wasn’t my fault, was it?” his voice trembled

“No, it wasn’t.” Glace told him soothingly. “It was an accident. In this world we live in, having a baby can be dangerous, things don’t always go right. There was nothing you could have done even if you’d been here by her side, I’m sure of it.”

This time when she put her arms around him he accepted her.

He allowed herself to be comforted.

Later, they comforted each other.

Cloud went to bed, he got up, he had breakfast, he went to work, he came home, he tended the garden and he went to bed. Sometimes Glace helped him get to sleep by singing him a lullaby.

Even when Glace was feeling sick she still helped out.

She cooked and cleaned and tended the garden.

She saw to the baby when it cried.

Sometimes she rested and cloud would see her reading the paper or watching the telly.

“The neighbour across the road lets Moon use his gym equipment.” He said to Glace on day. “Used to… I mean…”

“Cloud.” Glace sighed. “I’ve explained this before.”

Had she? Explained what?

One night there was screaming. Cloud threw his hands over his ears and retreated to bed. Then there was crying. Eventually it stopped.

“Cloud! You can’t withdraw back into yourself! I can’t cope with this again!” Cloud turned over as the world shook. No, just him. Glace was shaking him. He tried to clear his head by blinking his eyes. He couldn’t quite remember last night and there must have been a last night because it was morning now. Maybe he’d been asleep, that would explain it, but the thing was he couldn’t quite put a finger on yesterday either. His mind had run away from something… what was it.

“Please just look at him, he’s your son!” Glace thrust a baby at him and it all came back. The comforting had led to… he and Glace, they’d become lovers, and she’d become pregnant. The fight they’d had… he’d worried that he would loose Glace too. But she was here and he had a son.

He took the baby in his arms, wondering at the small miracle he held.

“Don’t you remember?” Glace sounded tired. “You have a son. We do. You have two children and they both need you. I need you, I can’t look after you all forever.”

“I’m sorry.” He said. “I— I did forget. I won’t again.” Cloud breathed in the scent of the baby— his son.

“I called him Sonny.” Glace said.

“I remember.” He rocked the small bundle. It was so familiar. “I thought about you last night.” He said to Sonny. “I thought I was holding you but I woke and you were gone. I remembered you last night, but I forgot you this morning. I won’t forget again.” His head felt cleared from the fog that has surrounded it since Moon’s passing. How long had it been? Too long, months and many more months of darkness. But now the sun had returned to his life.

He looked into the eyes of his son. He wouldn’t forget again.

“You are my sunshine.” He sang quietly to Sonny. “My only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take the sunshine away…”

I sure hope this will work.

I’ve decided to show, not tell, some of the truth to John. Some, not all.

I timed it so that just as Matt starts doing god-knows-what to me, John will walk in and see it all. Hopefully actions speak louder than words.

“You do as I tell you and don’t resist this time. Got it?” Matt hissed in my ear like a snake. “No screwing around.” He lightly brushed his fingers across my palm as he leaned closer.

Suddenly he jerked me towards him and tried to wrap his arms around my back. It was now or never. I sure hope John is near.

I took a deep breath and shouted, “No! Stop it!”

“What did you say?” Matt’s voice was cold and dangerous. “I- told- you- to- not- resist!” Between every word Matt slammed his hands on my spine.

I’m beginning to regret this plan.

“Em? Is everyth-” John gasped and stared at Matt in disbelief.

Then he focused his gaze on me and a single emotion ran across his face. Betrayal.

This was sooo not going as I planned. I tried to say I was sorry, but the words wouldn’t come out. I only made pathetic squeaks.

The long, awkward silence was followed by an explosion of movement and noise. Ethan woke up and started bawling, and John took that as a cue to sprint out the door.

My heart was torn between leaving my baby alone with Matt and following John into the dark or staying with my abuser. But there was only one true answer; I knew it from the start. I blew a kiss to Ethan as I jogged out the door.

I went to Star’s pen and grabbed her reins. I’ve never ridden a horse before… and Star hasn’t had anyone ride her either. This should be interesting.

I could still barely see John in the distance.

“C’mon Star. I know we’re not great friends, but you have to do this for John.”

We made slow progress, but I guess it was faster than running. I could tell Star was uneasy with me on her back.

For the record, riding a horse is hard! It’s so bumpy.

I didn’t guide her, I didn’t know how anyway. She just knew to follow John.

After Star lurched us to the beach, I saw John staring into the distance. His feet were submerged in the ocean.

He hadn’t noticed us. I watched as he sighed and stared at his reflection in the clear water.

The sun was rising and throwing peachy beams of light across the sky. It would have been a beautiful morning.

As I was distracted by the sunrise, Star decided she’d had enough. She reared and neighed loudly. Me, being inexperienced, instantly fell off with a thud.

John whirled around, then glared. Uh oh.

“Look, I didn’t mean for it to turn out like that. I was just trying to tell you-”

“That’s how you tell me? I trust you, you know. You don’t have to get beat up for me to believe you!” John temper was starting to show.

“I was just trying to prov-”

“No! You don’t have to prove anything! Just freaking tell me! I can keep secrets too.”

The memory of our time in the park flew through my head, and I remembered when he wouldn’t tell me something. Was that his own secret?

I turned and said in my calmest voice (obviously not that calm, given the situation, but it was the best I could manage), “You can tell me the secret you’re hiding from me. I remember the park.”

John hesitated a moment. “Not now.” He turned and started walking away. “I’ll come back when I want to. Don’t follow me.”

I could tell he wasn’t really mad at me. He just felt betrayed because I couldn’t trust him.

I still have a secret, but it’s one that’s too scary to tell.  I’ll write mine here, so I can say I “told” someone.

I love you John. I wish you would love me back.

With a heavy heart, I led Star home. My butt was too sore to even attempt to get in the saddle.

As Star plodded behind me, her footsteps seemed heavy too. Maybe she knew that John hated me now.

After setting Star loose in her pen, I turned to leave. I felt something bump my back, so I turned around and there she was. Just standing there.

I still don’t like horses! Now that the adrenaline from racing after John had worn off, I was back to my normal, terrified-of-horses self.

But Star didn’t hurt me this time. She simply nuzzled my face.

I think she knew I was sad.

“Oh, Star. Can you help me?” She nickered softly.

“Bring John back.”

The next day, after invading the festival grounds at 5 am again and snatching up all the eggs, Amki had fun splashing in a puddle.  I usually enjoy and appreciate the weather, but it rained all spring.  I wanted to see a little spring sunshine, so I decided to try out the climate control machine (a Lifetime Reward object).

Billy programmed sunny weather and a beam of light shot up into the atmosphere (hopefully not causing earthquakes anywhere )

As the last of the rain fell, Amki tried to get flirty with a manwitch named Lane, who had a profile on the dating site.  He obviously wasn’t the slightest bit interested in her, and wouldn’t even chat with her.

After that disappointing encounter, Amki headed to some other community lots to try and find a man she was attracted to.  She found one at the werewolf bar, but Deon is married and she’s not going to ruin any marriages I set up!

She had no luck finding love anywhere, so she went home and spent time teaching Snow how to walk.

At the same time, Loki was upstairs teaching Theodore how to walk as well.

Zinnia had finally learned the pumpkin pie recipe by reaching level 5 of cooking skill, and she baked a pie for everyone.  She looked so unhappy about her accomplishment though.

Billy and Angelina were outside, hard at work cleaning up the remainder of the leaves that were scattered around the yard from last year’s autumn.  I think EA should give us a leaf blower object to make it easier for our sims to clean their own yard and even begin to tidy up the community lots.

Élodie was talking to the plants with the megaphone that comes with the new gardening station.  This is part of the “greenhouse” set that includes a worthless “greenhouse” that doesn’t keep the weather out.  I decided to put my anger and disappointment aside and try out the gardening station in the solarium.  It has the megaphone to talk to all the plants at once, a composter that fertilizes all the plants, and a magnifying glass for identifying all the seeds a sim has in their inventory.  Of course, I cannot forget to mention that it can water all the plants automatically, without the overhead sprinklers leaving any puddles on the floor!  That is not worth the hefty price of the “greenhouse” set, mind you, but it is a small consolation if you’ve already been suckered into buying the non-working “greenhouse.”

That night was both prom night for Zinnia and the full moon.  Zinnia went to her prom without a date because she hasn’t met any boys at all in school yet.  She did win the Prom Queen title nonetheless.

Amki also felt like going dancing, so she went over to the nearby Red Velvet Lounge.  She started dancing and noticed another married man she was attracted to.  I spotted Gayle, infected by the zombie condition, trying to sneak up behind her!

Amki enjoyed a friendly dance with Trey, Loki’s father, while Élodie ran over to cure the zombies congregating at the dance club.  If Amki couldn’t find love, at least she would learn how to dance.

I enjoyed watching adorable little Snow playing with his Loch Ness monster toy.

Thankfully he was not terrorized by any werewolves or zombies that night.

The next day was Love Day, the spring holiday in the Sims.  After the regular spring morning invasion and raiding the eggs, the family enjoyed the holiday at the festival.  Zinnia decided to try out a marshmallow bunny treat from the concession stand.

When Amki and Dorian saw each other, they were instantly attracted.  I know Dorian is already divorced because of an unfortunate love charm incident.  Finally Amki found a suitable love interest!

Some family members took part in the Spring Dance.

Loki and Élodie were romancing one another–as in love as ever.

Of course, it started to rain again as they headed over to try the Love Tester.

They also got the highest rating from the Love Tester machine and it said they’re the inspiration for every love song ever written.

Amki also joined the dance.  The spring rain did not cool off Zinnia, who was starting to get very hot.  I didn’t want her to burst into flames or anything, so I kept a very close eye on her.

Soon she had to go home to cool off, and the toddlers needed attention, so Loki and Amki went home as well.  They all hung out in Zinnia’s bedroom and the toddlers finished learning how to walk.  Billy and Angelina remained at the spring festival and danced until it was well after dark, but no one was crowned the King or Queen of the dance.  I’m a little confused about how that all works, since they were the only ones dancing there.

Anyhow, after teaching Snow how to walk, Amki went and removed her dating profile because she already found someone to pursue.

Next, she transmuted some iron she had in her inventory.  I had hoped it would change the iron into a space rock, giving her greater access to the brain power recharging space rocks, but it just raised the value of the iron.

When they finally got back from dancing all day at the festival, Billy went and raked the yard some more and Angelina went to bed.  I wonder, why doesn’t Bonehilda rake in the spring?  She does collect the piles of leaves to dispose of them, but she doesn’t rake at all in the spring time and I find that rather odd, considering her obsessive raking in the fall.

After a couple of hours, Billy got tired or raking and went to wake up his wife with some romantic kisses.

“Really?  In the leaf pile?”

Billy assured Angelina that it was a fabulous idea and they hopped into the leaves to woohoo.

Thankfully Bonehilda didn’t try to pick up that leaf pile while they were using it!

As they say, don’t knock it till you try it, but I don’t think my sims are going to woohoo in the leaf pile again.  It’s silly the way they poke their heads out when they’re done, but I think it’s just too improper for my sims to do.

“Get away from my pretty eggs!”

Once again, my sims rushed in as a team to collect all the eggs from the spring festival early the next morning.  As Loki snatched up the last one, he taunted Angelina for being too slow.

Amki used her Bio Drain ability on that sleazy vampire–it serves him right!  I don’t like vampires at all.

Amki was unable to socialize with Dorian while he was tending the concession stand, so she went home and wrote a love letter to him.  So cute!

Then she came up with a great plan to be able to spend time with her love interest.

She took her UFO back to the festival grounds and abducted him in broad daylight!

They had a few stolen minutes together, but Dorian is such a hard worker that he went straight back to do his job.

*Sigh*  The rest of the day, everyone had to rake leaves.  This is ridiculous!

One last time, Amki kept everyone away from the eggs.

I got a real kick out of watching the terrified townies–many of which have been blasted by Amki’s lasers at least once already!  They probably will never shower either.  I’m sure I’ll see plenty of scorched townies around the neighborhood all year.

It was worth it for me though, because I was able to complete my collection of fancy eggs.  I have one of each that I know of: the purple, red and freezer bunny styles.  I set them up for decorating the home during various seasons.  I also got several more spring gnomes.

Later, Angelina took Zinnia for her final driving lesson and she earned her license.

Billy finished the raking while Nova caught the last stinking chipmunk.  I’m not really looking forward to next fall…

Nova earned herself another young again potion and Angelina helped her apply it.  I never want to see this special kitty pass on.  She’ll live forever if I have anything to say about it!

After 9 pm, Amki invited Dorian over and she flirted with him outside.

She confessed her attraction to him and finally got her first kiss.

Stay tuned for another update about my sims, coming soon!

(continue reading…)

Well, take a read and find out!

The sounds of the curtains opening woke me up. Saturday. My heart did a little skip before it sank again. No nature walk for me today. But at least I had Jo to keep me company. Saturday also meant no classes and I’d been looking forward to it all week. I sat up in bed and looked to Gladys clearing out the grate from last night’s fire. Only it wasn’t Gladys.

“Hello.” I sad.

“Oh!” The figure jumped and span around, startled. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t mind that, I don’t! I think I’m meant to pretend to be asleep until you leave the room anyway, like Jo does—”

“I’m not pretending! It’s too early!” Jo protested sleepily.

“Are you the new housemaid? Gladys said that one had been asked for.”

“I’m not sure. I’m new, but not a housemaid as such.”

“Miss.” Jo said sleepily without opening her eyes. “You’re supposed to call her Miss when you speak to her.”

“Oh, uh—” the girl looked from Jo to me then back again. “I’m sorry— Miss.”

“Better.” Jo sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Lady D’Winter’s always taking on girls new to service, you need to learn fast or there’ll be trouble for you. Oh, you’re young! Too young to be a housemaid.”

“I know, but— I mean, I know Miss, but— I’m sorry, is that right?”

“Yes.” Jo said.

“Thanks.”

“Thank you Miss.” Jo corrected.

“Thank you Miss.” The girl repeated. “I was told I was to do anything that needed doing. Gladys has the toothache something terrible this morning so I’m to do her work while she lies in the kitchen with a compress on her face to ease the pain.”

“What’s your name?” I ask, not wanting to hear the details of Gladys’ toothache.

“Frankie.” She answered.

“Frankie, Miss.” Jo flopped back down on her pillows. “It’s too early!”

“Well, I better go, I’ve got stacks more rooms to do—”

“Please excuse me Miss, but I have the other young misses to see to.” Jo said without lifting her head from her pillow.

“Um, yes, that, Miss, um, thank you Miss!” the girl hurried from the room.

“You shouldn’t pick on her so!” I scolded as soon as she was gone. “She’s just learning.”

“Pick on her? I was helping her. She’ll get in trouble if she doesn’t learn fast. Think what would happen if she had to speak to Mariah? Or worse, Miss Jane or Lady D’Winter herself.”

“Well, they should be understanding. Lady D’Winter told me herself that she trains up young girls to give them a good start in life and that we have to excuse—”

“Ha! Don’t tell me you believed that?”

“Yes… doesn’t she?”

“She buys cheap labour where she can is a more accurate way to put it.”

“Oh Jo…”

“It is the truth, and I swear to it! Oh, no expense spared where it shows to persons of greater importance and influence than us, but mark my words, she got Frankie because she was cheap. And she left the mail all the way over on our desk, be a peach and fetch it, would you Bobbie darling!”

“Fetch it yourself lazy! It will be for you anyway!” The bitterness in my words came from the fact that in the almost two weeks since I’d been here I was yet to receive a letter. True, it took two weeks for a letter to get to Fraitessa from the highlands but it had been four since I’d left home.

“Actually, there is one for you!” Jo said as she looked at the letters.

“Really?” I scooted to the end of my bed. “Pass it here, who’s it from? Is it from Miss Brown? I’m expecting one from her with her new address, she has a new position—”

“A Miss Gr— not sure. Must have been raining somewhere, the ink has run.” She passed it over.

“It has been through the wars.” I said as I tore it open. “Oh, it’s from Elen!”

“Well, that’s nice!”

I prepared to enjoy a good read, but Elen’s letter was disappointingly short.

“She’s writing from her mother’s house.” I told Jo. “Her mother has been poorly so she’s gone home to care for her a bit… oh bother!”

“What?”

“She hasn’t written her mother’s address except on the envelope and that’s so badly run that I can’t read it.”

“Oh well, I’m sure she’ll write again.” Jo said. “Or you can send your reply home and they’ll know where to forward it too. But listen to what my brother says—”

“Oh goodness, I better not!” I said. “That’s the next bell and we’re not even begun dressing yet, we’ll be late!”

We left our letters and helped each other to turn our mattresses, as rules dictated must be done every Saturday, and I prayed that Miss Jane wouldn’t choose this morning to inspect our beds because the corners on my sheets had looked better.

We scrambled into our clothes and rushed out when we heard the breakfast bell, Jo still buttoning her belt and me fastening my collar.

After checking the coast was clear we dashed out and ran across the landing, breaking one of the many school rules about proper behavior in hallways.

I skidded to a halt at the top of the stairs when I heard footsteps below but it was only Gladys.

We took the risk of running down the stairs and across the entrance hall knowing Miss Jane might appear any moment to catch us doing something so unladylike as running!

Soon we were pushing open the doors to our breakfast room and were relieved to see that while we were the last of our class, we’d at least arrived before Miss Jane.

“Phew!” Jo said. “I can’t believe we beat the dragon, could you imagine Miss Jane if she knew we were late?”

“No need to imagine Miss Cox.” We spun around to see that no other than Miss Jane standing right behind us.

“And your tardy has not gone unnoticed, nor yours Miss Hilton.”

“No miss Jane.” I said.

“Sorry Miss Jane.” Jo said.

“The two of you are to return to your room at once and to remain there for the rest of the day, in which time you shall both meditate upon your behavior. If by tomorrow I do not see two reformed schoolgirls then you will both find yourselves in Lady D’Winters office answering serious questions about your future in this fine establishment. Go.”

“But—” Jo started.

“Now!”

And without another word we both turned and left our class to their breakfast and returned to our room.

“I can’t believe her!” Jo broke out after she slammed our door behind us. “Bobbie, I’m so sorry! Me and my big mouth has us both in trouble.”

“Well, I got you out of the nature walk with my Highland temper so we’ll call it even then.”

“But a whole day trapped in our room! What are we to do?”

“Well, you can start by telling me what your brother wrote. Which one is this from?”

“Timothy.”

“Is that the one that nursed the foal?”

“No, the one that spent the night in the tree. Listen.”

Jo related the latest gossip from her brothers’ school, which sounded far more interesting than ours, and that cheered us both up.

“I wish we could have adventures like that.” I said. “It sounds much more fun than getting in trouble for slapping someone.”

“Or for being late to breakfast.” Jo said.

“I think it was rather the dragon comment that got her so riled.” I said with a giggle. “But still, I’d rather be facing the music after having a midnight feast or—”

“Ohhhh! Don’t talk about midnight feasts! Now I’ve just remembered how hungry I am! Why did I finish my sweets yesterday? Oh, I’m such a greedy girl.” Jo threw herself on her bed.

“Say, Bobbie, next time I try to finish my sweets do tell me ‘no, Jo, save them for when you need them’ because I’m sure to at some point!”

“I shall die of hunger, I’m sure of it!”

Just then we heard a tap on the door. We looked at each other, were we allowed to have visitors? The door opened a crack and a dark face peered through.

“Can I come in— um, I mean Miss—”

“Is that food?” Jo leaped off her bed. “Oh, come in, do!”

“Oh, keep it down!” Frankie entered and quickly shut the door behind her. “Mrs Roberts sent me up with it, but Miss Jane isn’t to know.

“Put it here on the windowsill.” Jo said. “That way we can brush any tell-tale crumbs outside. Oh thank you thank you, isn’t Mrs Roberts a brick?”

“She said you’d be pleased.” Frankie said as she put our breakfast down. Jo jumped onto my bed and sat down.

“We’ll have plenty of time to remake them later.” Jo said to me.

“Do say thank you to her for us, will you?” I asked Frankie. “And thank you for bringing it. Frankie…?”

The girl didn’t answer me. She was frozen, looking to the corner.

“Where did you get that?” She asked.

“What?” I asked.

“That.” She pointed.

“That’s Bobbie’s.” Jo said. “Some painting from someone-or-other and you need to learn to mind your manners or Miss Jane will lock you in your room without breakfast if you’re not careful!”

“Bobbie?” Frankie asked.

“That’s me.” I sad as Jo investigated the contents of the tray.

“And Miss Roberta to you.” Jo remembered to remind the girl.

“But how did you get it?”

“Why? What’s it to you?” Jo asked.

“My old employers had that exact same painting.” Frankie said.

“Couldn’t have.” I said. “That’s a gift from friends of the family, I’ve had it as long as I can remember and you don’t look any older than I am!”

“He did so! Mr Cooper had that—”

“Mr Cooper?” You were employed by the Coopers?”

“Yes, you know them?”

“Rather! Well, they’re family friends. I mean, I’ve never met them because of their daughter, they can’t travel, but my parents know them.”

“Their daughter?”

“Yes, she’s poorly. That’s why they live out at Braklesie, because of the fair weather, for her health. It was the Braklesie Coopers you were with, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, but they don’t have a daughter. Only sons.”

“No, they have a daughter, you must know her. Her name’s Francesca. She’s almost my age.”

“No, I— what did you say her name was?”

“Francesca.” I said frowning. The Coopers weren’t a big family and they only kept open one house, it must have been the same ones.

“But that’s m—”

“Frankie?” Dorcus’ voice rang out from the hallway. “Where are you girl? You’re needed in the kitchen.”

“I— I better go!” and before I could say another word Frankie turned on her heel and ran from our room.

Amki had her small UFO in her inventory when she moved into the household, and she spent much of her first night upgrading it.  You can upgrade it for space travel or add laser cannons and use the craft for invading community lots.  I think both of these activities are fun in their own way.  When your sim uses the craft to travel to Planet Sixam, they have some adventures along the way (you read about it in popup messages while they’re gone) and they can bring interesting things back with them.

When the first upgrade was completed, Amki needed to recharge her brain power some.  I sent her to meditate.  She laid down on one of the deck loungers and began her meditation, which looked very cool.

Zinnia woke up early in the morning and rushed over to the spring festival to participate in the egg hunt.

When she got to the festival grounds, there were still a few eggs left to be found.  Zinnia managed to collect three.  Most of them just had festival tickets in them, but one had a beautiful fancy egg decoration!

That’s gorgeous!  I like it even more than the gems with the sculptor’s egg cut, but they’ll definitely look nice together.

Once all the eggs were gone, Zinnia fixed up a sim who was having troubles with her diet.

Strangely enough, after using the Fountain of Youth elixir on Amki, I was notified that she would be graduating and was expected to attend the ceremony at city hall.  I suppose the high school is giving her an honorary diploma because she didn’t go to school in Moonlight Falls of course.

When it came time for the graduation ceremony, Amki went upstairs and picked up Snow to bring him to the ceremony, while Loki collected Theodore and everyone headed over to city hall.  (Yes, Amki is a party animal too, so she wears the silly hat.)

Amki was voted the Most Likely to Become a Sports Star.  After the graduation ceremony, the whole family went to the spring festival and took a family portrait in the photo booth.  It was nice to get a photo with the toddler and baby in it!  Theodore and Snow both needed to go home to bed afterward, but Billy and Angelina stayed at the festival for a little while.

They tried out the Love Tester and it agreed that their love is “the real thing.”

Soon it was time for Snow’s birthday party, so Billy and Angelina went home in time for the party.  I couldn’t invite all the family and former housemates because there’s too many now, but I made sure to get all of them that Loki has a good relationship with.  Then everyone gathered around to watch the special baby blow out his candle.

Snow is so cute as a toddler!

Snow’s eyes look proper now that he’s a toddler, but unfortunately, he has no voice.  EA is either too lazy or incompetent to give the born-in-game aliens a voice!  Thankfully my good friend from the Sims 3 community, Terrylin, informed that Snow will get his voice when he becomes a teen.  (Good morning Terrylin!  I hope your coffee’s warm )

During the party, I decided to see how it looks when aliens probe someone.  Amki corned an uninvited townie in the main bathroom and probed him with a very strange device.

Meanwhile, Billy and Angelina were overcome by romantic feelings and slipped away from the party for some private time.

Zinnia was abducted from the party.

Amki was left to entertain the remainder of the party guests, and I wanted to try out some of her psionic powers.  She found Damien on the back deck and scanned his mind, learning some of his traits.

She used mind control on him as well, but it didn’t have much effect.  I think it’s like the genies ensorcell ability, but you would need to have space in the household to temporarily control the individual.  My household has eight members already, so that’s probably why mind control had little effect on Damien.

When he decided to leave the party, he did his crazy little horse impression, and I was finally able to catch a picture of it!  He’s so insane.

Zinnia was returned just as Amki was heading out to take her spacecraft to visit the homeworld, so she may have had an escort.

When she got back, she took the other UFO (that I bought) out for a spin to invade the festival grounds.

Community lot invasions are really fun!  Special music plays in the background while the UFO scans the area and begins firing lasers at sims.

Amki scored a direct hit on this fellow.  All the townies on the community lot eventually flee, and the invasion was conducted just after 5 am.  With everyone else gone, that left all the eggs for my sims!

Amki started picking them up quickly while Zinnia and Élodie were on their way to help out.

After snatching up all the eggs, Amki got her face painted with some pretty hearts.

She really wanted to find love and wished to be married.  She went home and set up a dating profile in hopes of finding someone special.

I noticed that the spring gnome Billy purchased at the festival seems to have attracted two of his friends!  I think I have more than enough magic gnomes in the yard, but these ones are cute.

In the afternoon, everyone went back to the festival.  Billy and Angelina were still all over each other–spring does overwhelm sims with romantic urges.

They managed to stop romancing each other long enough to enjoy a game of horseshoes together.  Billy won and Angelina congratulated him with more romantic gestures!

Amki decided to consume a space rock to replenish her brain power, and the animation showed a large space rock even though she only had a small one in her inventory.

I really don’t like the idea of the kissing booth because I don’t think it’s proper for sims to pay for or be paid for kisses.  Anyhow, while I was taking care of other sims, Amki decided she would ask the vampire guy for a kiss.  It seems the kissing booth doesn’t even work, or at least not with a vampire attending it.  She was unable to approach the booth because something was apparently blocking her path.  I’m glad it didn’t work though!  Amki doesn’t need to be that desperate, I will find her someone as quickly as I can.

Élodie was feeling that springtime swoon too, and she looked lovely in the setting sunlight.  Pay no attention to the autumn leaves all over the ground; it seems to be another bug in the game.  The leaves really should go away by spring, especially on community lots and the open places of the world, but EA failed to take care of that.  I guess they expect our sims to have time to rake up the whole world?!  No thanks–I demand a fix for this!

Back at home after sunset, Billy and Angelina enjoyed some intimate time together again.

“Hey, what are those mysterious lights… no, not the little ones around my head, those ones in the sky!”

Poor Angelina got abducted in her skivvies!

“Can’t you let a woman get dressed first?” Angelina complained.  “A proper lady does not entertain strangers in her underwear!”

I wanted to show you the other pretty eggs my sims managed to get, thanks to Amki getting rid of all the townies who wanted to take the eggs.

That freezer bunny one is truly divine!  I adore the freezer bunny, and that is really nice for spring decor too.

Hey look, Bonehilda found another obsession!

Stay tuned for another update about my sims, coming soon!

(continue reading…)

Yay!  It’s Snowflake Day!!  Billy was the first one to get out of bed on Snowflake Day morning, and he started dancing by the Christmas tree.  The family had a very busy day planned: first they would have a gift giving party in the morning (starting at 9 am), then later in the day, they’d have a feast party.

Angelina was up soon too, and she went straight to the kitchen to prepare some honey sweetened cookies for everyone.

She invited family members and old housemates to come over for gifts, then she gave Billy a special present in private.  He also had something picked out for her.

Loki came downstairs and chatted with Zinnia until something strange happened: his fattened belly began to glow.

The guests began showing up and an uninvited fat townie showed up.  By now you’re aware that I’m really not fond of fat sims!  It has been difficult for me to deal with Loki’s unexpected weight gain, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.  Other sims who are fat without good reason are a whole different story.  Angelina immediately tossed a Lean and Mean potion on that sim before allowing her to stay and enjoy the festivities.

It’s wonderful to see the whole family together with so many beloved sims; the gift giving parties are so fantastic!  Billy got things started by opening his gift first, which is quite fitting for the head of the family to do.

Malina looked mighty displeased with her gift.  I bet she got a lump of coal for being so mean and unpleasant all the time!  LOL  She wouldn’t even be invited to the party except that she is family.

Zinnia opened her gift next and was thrilled to receive a new easel.

Then the party was interrupted by the arrival of the most special guest of all.

Just before the male gives birth, there’s a popup message telling you that he’s about to have an alien baby, and you can choose to raise it yourself or send it back to the alien home world.  If you really don’t want an alien baby, I guess that’s nice to have the choice, but I can’t imagine not wanting such a special little baby!

The birth is very magical, not messy or traumatic.  The baby is a boy and he was named Snow.  I thought since it is quite common for human babies born on Christmas Day to be named Christopher, Christina, or something similar to that, a good unisex name for sims born on Snowflake Day would be something like Snow.  So he is named Snow.

The party continued on and Loki’s mother, Karina, was opening her gift when he welcomed his amazing bundle of joy into the world.  Loki’s father, Trey, is standing between Angelina and Zinnia and doesn’t even seem to notice that a new grandchild has arrived.

After a few minutes, Loki took Snow upstairs to put him to bed in the new crib, and the gift party ended.  The guests were leaving and Billy and Angelina started slow dancing together; they looked so sweet!

Loki immediately went to the home gym and started working off that fat as fast as he could!

The feast party was arranged and then the full moon rose in the sky.  At the time, Billy was enjoying some time with his new great grandson, and then he had to transform into a werewolf.  Poor Snow became terrified and wet his diaper!

The family members and former housemates who had been at the gift giving party earlier were all invited back for the feast party.  All uninvited townies that dared to show up were told to leave as soon as they arrived because this was a private family celebration.  Who wants to eat their holiday dinner with a bunch of strangers hanging around and stuffing their faces?

Outside the zombies started coming, and I couldn’t click on the pea shooter for some reason, but it did take out the zombie nonetheless.  (I’d feared that it had gone dormant in the cold, but thankfully I was wrong.)  I was amused by the splat sound the zombie made when it fell into the deep snow!

One uninvited guest managed to slip by the door watchers–he must’ve snuck in through the back door and went straight upstairs.  He died in Loki and Élodie’s bedroom.  That townie was somehow a good friend of Angelina’s, and she was terribly upset by his passing.  That’s when I decided to go ahead and get the Stone Hearted lifetime reward for as many of my sims as I could: I want them to mourn any family members that pass on, but not random townies!

During a feast party, all the guests bring one of their favourite dishes and places it on the counter or table.  Then you can click on one of the dishes and call everyone to eat, and that gets the feast going.  However, most of my sims weren’t hungry and my sims obviously never eat unless they really need to, so I just let everyone pick something to eat if they needed it.  Bonehilda was dismissed for the duration of this party so she wouldn’t put all the food away like a maniac.

Zinnia gave special gifts to her mother and father during the party: she mainly gave away expensive things the family has received and has no need for.  Chandra and Deon would probably benefit more from those items.

A zombie started attacking Gayle before Élodie could get there.  She did zap him with a Sunlight Charm as quick as she could and sent him on his merry way.

Poor distraught Angelina went and made another Grim Reaper snowman and sobbed in the cold.

Meanwhile, Loki had a wish to play a game with his wife and they played chess together.  Élodie won and Loki got upset–he’s a sore loser.  She decided to seduce him and make him forget all about the silly game.

And with that, Snowflake Day came to an end, and all the sims went to bed to sleep off their eventful day.

The next morning, Zinnia ran off to the winter festival and redeemed her festival tickets to buy a new snowbear toy for herself, and one for each of the little boys (I guess those are her second cousins?)

Billy arrived a little later in the day and used his tickets to buy the winter gnome, which costs 500 tickets!  He’s cute though.

Afterward, Billy autonomously started building an igloo while Zinnia was making a snowman.

Billy also made a snowman with his granddaughter, Chandra.  Zinnia unlocked the Grim Reaper snowman too, and immediately started making another snowman nearby.  Sims love making snowmen!

Next, Billy had a snowball fight with his daughter, Karina, and two granddaughters, Chandra and Selene.

Karina was just in her bikini, but werewolves are naturally immune to the cold.  I’m not sure if that is only true when they’re in their wolf form, or if it’s all the time, but Karina has been stuck in her wolf form ever since she moved out.  In Supernatural, inactive werewolves never transform back to human when the full moon ends.  That’s why child werewolf townies stay children forever, because they do not age while in their werewolf forms.

Angelina came to the festival and did some snowboarding, giving me another nice screenshot moment.

Billy took a greeting card photo with his daughter and granddaughters, then headed back home.  There was a neat sound effect and Snow’s mother showed up for a visit.  It’s probably just a coincidence that Snow’s mom was the alien who popped by for a visit, but I thought that was quite nice.  Her name is Amki Pollination Technician.

Billy greeted her and Amki confessed that she’s very attracted to him–maybe that’s why he was taken so many times!  Billy thanked her for the compliment, but explained that he is eternally faithful to Angelina and just wants to be good friends with Amki.

They went inside and had a nice chat together.

I imagine Billy’s asking her what they really do to people they abduct.  “Is it like the movies where you stick things in people’s eyes and yank out their tongue?”  LOL  Sorry, I have an overactive imagination

Meanwhile, Angelina bumped into Damien and talked to him about how upset she was over her friend’s death.  Then she discussed resurrecting Damien’s first wife, Kerry.  Angelina was sick of friends dying.

She did take Kerry’s tombstone to the science facility and had her brought back as a playable ghost.  Kerry came home and immediately used the computer to move out into a place of her own in town.

Stay tuned for another update about my sims, coming soon!

(continue reading…)

“Well that’s a stupid outfit. You can’t even ride the dang horse yet.” I was still a bit sore about last night’s gym incident, and it showed in my voice.

“Ouch. That’s mean, Emily!” John responded with a slight smile.

All at once, something inside me snapped. “Do you always have to joke around? Can’t you be serious for once? Is it really that hard?!”

Startled by my sudden outburst, Star yanked the reins out of John’s hands, breaking away from him.

This is stupid. Why am I even out here?

I stormed inside to his whispered words, “I’ll be serious when there’s something that’s worth being serious about.”

“Mama!” A cry of joy momentarily distracted me from my misery as I stalked in the front door.

“Hi Ethan! Mommy missed you lots! Were you a good boy today?”

“Yeah yeah!” Ethan has always made me feel better when I’m down. I love that kid.

His smile warms my weary heart.

I let Ethan go play with Teddy and sank down on the couch next to Matt.

He glanced over and grunted, “Hey.”

I didn’t answer him. The last thing I wanted right now was Matt’s romantic advances.

“Geez, who made you-”

“I lost my job, ok? Leave me alone.” For the record, I had not been “staring into space” or “completely out of it.” I was thinking.

I stiffened as his arm went around me. Suddenly I didn’t feel mad at the world anymore; I was mad at myself. I got myself into this.

It’s all my fault.

I forced a fake smile on my face as Matt looked over, but I knew what was coming next.

First the sweet, sharp kiss, then into the bed.

I haven’t been wrong yet.

And I wasn’t wrong this time either.

He grinned ever so slightly at my lingerie, but frowned when he saw my terrified expression.

“Emily, if you do what I want, you’ll be fine. Now get over here.”

In the distance I heard John putting Ethan to bed.

I can’t even take care of my own son now. I wish we hadn’t come here.

“Emily…” A low growl escaped from Matt’s throat. “Focus.”

I awoke around midnight, my face flushed and sweaty.

You’re not supposed to be living like this.

I slid the covers back and slipped noiselessly out of bed.

You deserve so much better.

I crept down the hall towards the living room.

If you told the truth, everything would change.

I sat and watched John sleep. His angelic features entranced me, and I wished I hadn’t been so cross with him earlier.

Everything.

Just tell the truth, Emily. Tell, and you shall receive.

Everything can change. Starting with her…

A/N: Sorry this took so long… My only excuse is: I hate writer’s block  >:(