11 Middle Street “Hi, Dad … er, you got a minute?” “What’s up, Maddy?” Cullen French set aside his newspaper and gave his son full attention. He was thinking that maybe Madeira had decided to look for a job and was fishing for ideas. “You know Taia, don’t you?” Cullen wasn’t sure if it showed in his face but he felt an electric bolt of something unpleasant rattle through him. It was an unsettling sensation, somewhat like catching sight of one’s reflection and seeing a large bubble over one’s head projecting a running documentary of one’s thoughts. “Er, yes, the Simmonds’ girl, isn’t she? What about her, son?” “I, um …” Madeira misinterpreted his father’s silence as concerned forbearance. It was just as well, because he would not have liked the truth. “I, I mean, we … well … we decided to get married.” The last words tumbled out with indecent haste. “Isn’t that a bit sudden, son?” “Well, I guess …” “Does your mother know?” “Not yet,” he shrugged, a rueful grin on his open face. “D’ you think she’ll be happy, huh?” “Of course, she will. If she thinks it is what you want.” Cullen paused for reflection, wondering about how this conversation would end. “It seems a little sudden, though. Your mother and I … well, we thought you and that Nene would be getting wed sometime soon. We didn’t even realize you were seeing someone else.” Madeira pulled a face and ran his fingers through his tangle of curls. “Well, I wasn’t. Not exactly, anyway. We just sort of liked to hang out together and well, one thing led to another and well … you know how it goes … I guess we got carried away.” He stopped and looked at Cullen soberly. “She’s pregnant.” A torrent of thoughts flashed through Cullen’s mind behind what, to all the world, looked like genuinely worried eyes. Most of his thoughts were unprintable. “That’s um … not quite the right reason to get married. I hate to ask, but are you sure the child is yours?” “Dad! That’s a horrible thing to say!” “Maybe, but it has to be asked. Especially when the girl concerned wasn’t a central player in the …” he parodied a quotational gesture with his pinkies. “Young gentleman’s master plan.” All the same Cullen had a horrible feeling that he was getting off lightly. He knew he had a reputation for being a ‘ladies man’. It was one he had lived up to, flirting at any opportunity. Before he married he’d had several girl friends but since sealing the knot with the mother of his children, Pansy Abelard, he had been faithful and careful only to flirt mildly and take it no further. Above all he had sought always to protect and preserve his beloved Pansy from hurt. Then he had bumped into Taia while on a visit to Penn College to see his old tutor. A harmless flirt had led to a steamy encounter in a hot tub. After that he had been little more than her thrall “Well, of course the baby’s mine! Who else’s could it be? I know she had some secret boyfriend stashed away at college but she hasn’t been back there in months.” “And you’re happy … about marrying, settling down … being a dad?” “Y’ know, Dad, I think I am.”
3 First Avenue Hello, darling. Did you sleep well? Youre up early on your first Saturday off in months. Portia Ying was a morning person. It was a trait she had inherited from her paternal grandmother, Dolce Abelard. I slept like a top, Nene said. And I dont intend to waste a minute of the day. She grabbed a bowl of cereal. Lo, Dad, hows it going? Larry Ying was engrossed in the morning paper. He waved his spoon at his daughter in absent-minded acknowledgement; a soggy corn flake fell off and landed on the floor. Nene rolled her eyes at her mother. Are you sure, dear. You look a little peaky. Sure youre not sickening for something ? Im fine, Mum, Nene laughed and tossed her hair. Im all grown up now, and its ok for you to stop worrying about me. Thats what you know. A mother never stops worrying youll find out Hello, Justin. Long time no see. Yo, cuz. Been meaning to drop by and pick your brains. Getting ready to pick a college, huh? Yeah, Pops wants me to go his old school, but man! Its so square its octagonal! Nene laughed at the joke. Her uncle Ricardo was one of Pennfields most laid back characters. The youngest son of the wealthy side of the family he worked, when he could be bothered, at frivolous and unproductive tasks like hosting parties. Quite what the ivy-walled halls of academe had made of him is uncertain; although Ricardo did have a degree to show for his undergraduate years. I was thinking of going to Penn College, he said. Its a good school. Youll like it, specially if you get a room in Calthorpe House for your fresher year that was always where the best parties were, anyway. Yeah? Cool. Hey, listen, cuz, thats what I wanted to ask about. I am thinking of doing drama, but I heard that the drama department is there is bit crappy. Are you thinking of following your Aunt Meadow into show business? Nah. Shes a total flake. Man! All she does is loll about all day painting her nails and ordering poor Aunt Salvia about. Nene shuddered. The idea of sharing a home with those two divas was scary. Why ever Uncle Ricardo and Aunt Jasmine did not just throw them out and make them find their own place was a frequent subject for Ying dinner table gossip. I dont envy you, Justin. Not one bit. As for the drama department at Penn, I cant tell you much, Im afraid. You ought to take a walk over to Middle Street and see Madeira. He was pretty pally with a couple of drama majors before he graduated. Oh, right, Ill check it out. Funny that. Mom was only talking about him this morning. Apparently, hes getting married next month. Eh? Oh, sorry. I just put my foot in it, didnt I? Justin took a step towards his cousin, reaching out to her as he saw her face fall. Wh whos the girl? Do you know? Taia Simmonds, I think. Mom, says she probably fell pregnant The last of Nenes bravery disappeared. She burst into tears. How could he! She had been feeling slightly poorly all week but she had put it down to the stress of the new job. Working as an aide to an ambitious senator was not meant to be a picnic and Nene wanted to get ahead, so she buckled down and put in the hours. Life wasnt always easy; she knew that. But since Justins shattering news her weekend off had gone from bad to worse, and her general malaise had grown worse. As she descended the stairs on Sunday morning into a warm atmosphere of cooking eggs and bacon and hot grease and She made it to the downstairs toilet. Just. The bowl would need to be cleaned. You ok, dear? her mothers voice called out from the kitchen. I thought I heard something. M all right, Mum, she called back. I think I nearly swallowed a fly. Grimly she set about cleaning the toilet bowl and doing her best to mask the unlovely aroma of vomit. For the time being this was one bit of news she intended to keep to herself. She had no intention of talking it through with anyone until she had some idea as to how she felt about the subject of motherhood. _______________________________ Some Pics Breakfast Larry, Portia and Nene Justin's bombshell Uh oh! Thinking about the future during the long dark tea-time of the soul (otherwise known as Sunday Afternoon)
I was going to say, poor Madeira. But come to think of it, he hasn't been such a good boy. Poor Nene, though. Waiting eagerly for more. (You sure got the timing on that pause button down to the split second I see. Again, poor Nene. )
It was a fluke, honest ... I never realised before how detailed the animation is ... makes me glad they keep their pants on when they ... er
The Wedding 17 North Street Hold still! Ow! Dont tell me. Tell me, tell junior! Taia squirmed as the baby woke and started a game of football in her belly, while her mother frowned and grimaced around a mouthful of pins. I dont know why you chose this dress, anyway. The other one was much more suitable. It looked like a circus tent. And this one will look like you have a beach ball under it if you dont hold still. Elizabeth paused and looked up at up her daughter. Sorry darling. Im letting the stress get to me again. Arent I? Taia laughed. Yeah. I think Im the one whos supposed to be getting all dizzy and ditzy. Still, youve always been a perfectionist and Im your daughter. I should know what youre like. So long as youre happy ? I am. She stroked her mothers hair. Now hurry up. Please! I want to get off my feet for half an hour before we leave, ok? 11 Middle Street Maddy? Hey, Dad. Mum. Whats up? Nothing. We have something for you. We wanted to do it before the guests arrive. Cullen handed over a small box. Inside, Madeira found a key ring with a pair of keys. He looked at his parents with a rueful smile. We did the exactly the same for you brother, his mother said. We have always treated you both the same. Its number 23 just up the road, so well be neighbours, almost. Cullen grinned. I dont know what to say. You guys are the best, you know that? Just doing everything we can, son, as were sure you will by your own kids. Woah! Whats with the plural? Madeira pulled an exaggerated frown that was underscored with a wryly twisted grin. Just dont forget that twins run in the family. Pansy said, with a wink. Not on your side they dont. Well twins are a handful, thats for sure. Cullen said. Its a shame that Mizzi cant come today. Well, this wont get us ready. The guests will be arriving soon. We dont want them all milling around still looking for a seat when the bride arrives, do we. It clearly wasnt a question for which she expected an answer. Come on. Chop chop! Pansy bustled off to the kitchen to check the arrangements of the carefully laid out buffet, leaving father and son to straighten the rows of hired chairs set out in the Frenchs spacious reception hall. As they worked in silence they pantomimed some ribald gestures and comments in response to the seemingly unending monologue of last minute worries and orders that sailed out from the kitchen as the hostess fretted over the fine details. ________________________________ Photos I took so many it was ridiculous. I chose these five becuase they tell the story sufficiently well. The bride's dress is by Sims 2 Cri The guests: Front row: the Groom & Bride's parents: Cullen & Pansy French, Elizabeth & Zager Simmonds Back row: Danuta Keller, Edam French, Salvia Abelard, Mayes O'nions The happy couple I will always wonder what Taia's father was saying. Elizabeth's expression is priceless Leaving for the honeymoon The happy couple's new house ___________________________ More soon
Looks like Pansy overheard it, whatever it was. She's looking a little puzzled. Lovely wedding. My sims' weddings have always been complete chaos.
Yes, it's a magic pic, As for the order .. I think that pic was wedding #2 ... I repeated the whole sequence 3 times in all. The first two times I used the debug cheat to make all the guests controllable, but doing that made the wedding party scorer disappear. The final wedding wedding was more like normal the normal chaos, trust me. The "going away" on honeymoon pic was one such ... which was OK, as in the UK, at least, the bride and groom usually change out of the ceremonial costume for something a little less over the top. I still tried to control the seating arrangements with the moveobjects cheat but the bride's parents, (mother Elizabeth, typically! ) were the ones who couldn't be seated properly. Also no matter what I did the bride always seemed to end up in the wrong costume. I need to look for some better hacks 123, The O'Nions name is one of my favourites; in consequence most of my neighborhoods have an O'Nions family. I knew an O'Nions family years ago and the name always made me smile because I would mischievously day dream thinking up funny combinations.
Very cute name. I love this story. Madeira sounds like he's related to Ivan, in my game ... Poor Nene. What is she going to do? She's the one he loves. If only she knew ... I sense trouble ahead. Love Taia's pink dress. And, great pictures! (Witch Baby thought of naming a family Mississippi. She'd have Mr. Mississippi, Mrs. Mississippi, and their children, One, Two, Three ... )
Love the idea of a little Miss Mississippi ... Feeling guilty there've been no updates. I am struggling with this idea. I wanted to write something but I also was looking for a way to bring Pennfield back to life. I have almost 30 families in play and I must either stop playing a goodly number of them (but which ones? I've raised them all from ickle bitty babbies ) and concentrate on just a few core "stars" ... or ... ... stop playing all the current playable characters and introduce a single new playable who will move to Pennfield and have a life there ... ... or maybe it's just time to start a new hood completely ... Thoughts, anyone? Whatver happens it'll be at least a week or three before I (the playing cycle, that is) get around to Nene and Madeira and Taia and Marco and Hayleigh.
Oh my, tough one. I wonder if you might continue playing as usual, but (if it's going to be three weeks or so) toss in a flashback or some such in the meantime. Or maybe one of the other families in the neighborhood throws a big party and one or more of the core group shows up. Something interesting might happen, worth an update paragraph. Anyway, sounds like everthing in Pennfield is very much in order, with much time devoted to raising 30 families (gracious, what a big neighborhood.) It would be a shame to mess it up.
You could just do what I do and write about everyone, and confuse everyone ... Or, you can play them as your conscience dictates and we can patiently wait for updates. It should, first and foremost, be fun!
O’Nions — 42 Fourth Avenue “Ooh!” Blaine trilled with sarcastic glee at her elder brother. “So you’re not too good to eat with us then.” Mayes was bleary-eyed and a little hung over; his shift was also due to start soon. “Not funny, Blaine.” He pecked his wife, Kenda, on the cheek and tousled his son’s hair before taking his place at the head of the table. His widowed mother faced him from the other end. “How was the wedding, dear? What did the bride wear?” “She means: what colour was the dress?” Blaine said to her twin brother, Paddy. Paddy blushed for no reason he could think of and the sudden heat in his cheeks made him blush all the more. “What’s she mean?” Phillip said. “I thought all brides wore white dresses.” “Not always, they don’t,” Kenda told her son. “Sometimes they just wear a nice party frock, don’t they, mother?” Kenda raised her eyebrows firmly as she fixed her mother-in-law with eye contact. They got along quite well, for the most part, but Oriele O’Nions had been a little less easy to get along with since her husband’s sudden and unexpected death. “Pink.” Mayes said. “Pink!” Blaine spluttered gravy over the table. “I wouldn’t be seen dead in pink!” Phillip twisted his head to look under the table. “But you’re wearing pink tights, Aunty.” “Don’t be silly, Philly,” Blaine said, winking. “They’re fuchsia not pink.” “Are you sure it was pink?” Oriele asked. “Quite sure, Mom,” he winked at his wife. “There was more than enough of it, I’m sure I got the colour right.” A car horn honked in the street and a sudden red-flash of an emergency bubble lamp pulsed through the kitchen windows. “That’s me,” Mayes jumped up. “Gotta rush, now.” He paused and turned to grab his pork chop. “”Oh yeah, I downloaded the pics I took at the wedding into the computer. So you can see the dress for yourselves. See you at breakfast, then.” ________________________________ Thanks for the comments, folks. Just didn't wanna bore the arse off people with my ramblings The pics: 1) clockwise from the far left: Mayes, Kenda, Phillip, Oriele, Podraigh (Paddy), Blaine 2) ditto from other side
Yup, nice. I enjoyed their conversation, all the personalities each getting in their two cents worth.
