"Bree, we need to talk," Opie said that night after Bottom had gone to bed. Breanna ran her fingers through his hair. "What's up?" "I know we haven't really talked about it, and I'm not really sure it's what I want, or what you want, but..." "What?" Breanna looked puzzled. "Well I know there's only one thing that's going to bring my mother out of this depression. She wants a grandchild." "Oh!" Breanna lit up. "Well of course it's what I want! I love kids!" "You do?" He looked surprised. "Well of course, silly." Then her expression saddened. "But Opie, do you think your mom has nine months left in her?" "I honestly don't know," he said, "but we have to try." "No." Her eyes widened, and Opie could almost see the light bulb above her head. "We'll adopt. I read that the adoption process here only takes a few weeks at most. I'm going to call the adoption agency right now." And in what seemed like no time at all, two-year-old Armando joined the family.
As she played with her grandson early one afternoon, Bottom looked up at Opie and said, "I'm going back to work today, honey. I found a local studio that will tape my cooking show and send it back to Earth by satellite." "Are you sure you're ready?" he asked. "Sweetie, I'm fine," she assured him. "This is exactly what I needed. The move here with you, and this little treasure," she said as she squeezed Armando tight in her lap, and he giggled and squirmed. "I really am feeling much better." That night, when Bottom returned from work, she met Opie outside the bathroom as he was getting ready for his night job. She wrapped her arms around him tight, as if it was the last time she'd ever see him. "Sweetheart, I love you so much," she said. "Thank you for taking care of me, bringing me here with you even though I didn't want to come. And for Armando... I know it wasn't the direction you wanted to go with your life, and I thank you so much for doing it for me." She turned to Breanna. "And thank you, dear, for loving my son so much that you would change your plans to help him take care of me." She hugged her. "I'm going to bed, now. Good night, you two. I love you." They later found out that the show she taped that night was a farewell to all of her adoring fans. She could feel that her time had come, she said, and she wanted to say a proper goodbye. They found her in her bed the next morning. Opie thought she looked peaceful... and beautiful.
Oh my, *sniff*, I got a little choked up about Bottom. Beautiful dresses in the wedding, especially the one that Bottom is wearing. You have a fantastic graphics card. And do those houses have glass walls? Looks like it. Wasn't sure. p.s. And I just went back and looked at the pictures and realized the wedding arch was black. Looks really neat that way. I would never have guessed it could...like wrought iron.
Yes, the glass walls are Windkeeper's Helios Doors & Windows, from TSR. I got most of the houses from there too, a couple from MTS2 I think. The TSR stuff is all pay, unfortunately. I've been loving some of the theme weeks they've been doing, so decided to pony up the dough for a couple months' susbscription and go download-crazy. But now that I'm hooked, I may just keep the subscription... $9 every 2 months really isn't bad. It's only an hour's work after taxes.
Hi Kit, I finally had a chance to spend time with your story and give it my proper attention, and I love it! I'm a little confused how Bottom and the Dreamers can be in the same town, but I'm sure you used some poetic license ... very well drawn families, interesting situation ... I can't wait to read more!
I did the big no-no and moved the Summerdreams from Veronaville to Pleasantview way back when I first started playing. I had built my first house and needed a rich family to move in, and I didn't yet know about the complications of inter-neighborhood transplantation. The game manual said you could do it, so it should be safe, right? Fortunately I've never had any problems as a result, probably because I'm a slow player and just haven't overpopulated my neighborhood yet.
Betsy Broke returned from work one day to find that some of her neighbors had finally come by to introduce themselves. She was glad, because she'd wanted to meet people but was too shy to make the first move. One of them was Opie Dreamer, whom she didn't know personally but recognized from Pleasantview. The others were Menwox Hirajud (a native Purpilionese name, she learned), and Brynne Jensen. Brynne lived across the street with her husband, and her brother-in-law and his wife. The Jensen brothers were both doctors, and provided house call services to the residents of Fresca in addition to their regular jobs at the hospital in town. Though shy, Betsy was never a bad hostess, and she invited Opie, Menwox, and Brynne in for lunch. They had a lively chat over bowls of steaming chili, and then spent some time watching television and enjoying the swimming pool. Before they knew it, it was almost dinner time, and Betsy's guests were on their way home. After dinner, Betsy spent the rest of the evening playing chess against herself. She was anxious for further advancement in her science career, and she felt this activity kept her mind sharp.
Melissa Bendett was getting ready for work when she heard the doorbell ring. Oh, that must be some of the neighbors! she thought. But what lousy timing... oh well, I can at least feed them before I head off to work. Outside stood Michael Nelson and Brynne Jensen, from the two houses across the street. Melissa invited them in and fixed a quick lunch, explaining that she had to go to work soon, but was so happy to meet them. "I work nights right now," she said, "as a medium. I channel spirits... or at least my clients think I do." She smirked. "It's slimy, I know, but it pays the bills. And it's only temporary - I'm trying to break into politics." "Really?" said Michael. "What is it that you want to do?" Melissa blushed. "Well, it's rather ambitious, I know, but I'd like to be mayor someday. And it wasn't ever going to happen back home in, or anywhere near, Pleasantview. That's why I came here." "Why not?" said Brynne and Michael in unison. Melissa laughed. "Let's just say my mother developed quite a reputation, with her many affairs with very powerful men in Pleasantview, most of them married. And, I was a product of one of them, so that reputation reflected on me, even though I couldn't help who my mother was or how I came to be." "Oh, you poor thing." Brynne put her hand on Melissa's shoulder. "So," Melissa continued, "I just needed a fresh start." "Well you're in luck," said Michael. "I work for the current mayor and he's getting ready to run for re-election. I might be able to get you a job as a campaign manager. It would at least get you into the rat race." He grinned. "Wow, you would really do that? I would be so grateful!" "Sure," he smiled. "I'll see what I can do." A few weeks later, she got a phone call from Michael. "Can you start tomorrow?" he asked.
Melissa had only been working for the mayor for a week when it happened. A reporter had called the campaign office looking for an interview, and since the mayor and his personal assistant were both extremely busy, Melissa decided to answer the questions herself. After all, she was his campaign manager, right? She thought the reporter's questions were a bit strange, but she was still adjusting to the Purpilionese culture, so maybe this was normal here. She couldn't have been more wrong. It turned out that the reporter was paid off by the mayor's opponent to write an expos, and Melissa was quoted completely out of context. She was fired the minute the mayor saw the article. Melissa was devastated. How could this have happened? How was she ever going to get herself elected into any kind of office, if she couldn't even keep a job as a campaign manager? A sympathetic coworker was nice enough to drive her home, and after thanking him she headed toward her computer. She needed something to take her mind off things for a while before she could figure out what to do, so she popped in her copy of SSX3 and played for a few hours. When she got tired of playing, she still didn't feel any better. She needed someone to talk to, some one-on-one human contact. She couldn't face her new neighbors, not after blowing the opportunity Michael had been so kind to secure her. But Betsy Broke lived next door. The two of them had been best friends since high school, and though Melissa felt guilty for neglecting their friendship since their arrival in Fresca, she knew Betsy would always be there for her. Melissa told Betsy over the phone what had happened, and ten minutes later, Betsy was at the door. She hugged Melissa and let her cry on her shoulder. After reassuring her that everything would turn out fine, Betsy said, "I know what you need," and ran into Melissa's bedroom. She returned with both of the pillows off of the bed, and as she handed one to Melissa, she clobbered her with the other one. "Hey!" Melissa screeched, and then her grin grew a mile wide as she swung her pillow at Betsy. The two of them ran around the kitchen for an hour, pounding each other with the pillows, with feathers flying everywhere. Finally, Melissa dropped to the floor, out of breath. "I'm hungry," she said. "Me too." Betsy took the pillows back to the bedroom and picked up all the feathers while Melissa made dinner. After they ate, Melissa hugged Betsy goodbye. "Thanks for coming over, I feel a lot better now." "Anytime, sweetie. Don't be a stranger," she said, and waved goodbye. Melissa was exhausted. She'd worry about finding another job tomorrow.
Even though the pillow fights sometimes get in the way of other chores I've planned for my sims I still find them funny to watch and usually wish I could join in. It's especially fun to watch them chase each other all over a big lot if they happen to be outside. Great story. (Those chance cards are a bummer when they lose the job, aren't they. )
I know it's been a while... I was on vacation and I've been having some 'puter problems. The 'puter problems aren't quite sorted out yet but I've got it working for the time being. Hopefully I will be able to play and post an update tomorrow!
Opie couldn't believe how fast Armando was growing up. He'd started walking, then talking, then finally grew some hair (and for the amount of it he grew, you'd never know he had been bald most of his toddler years). Before Opie knew it, it was time for Armando to start school. Opie was glad that the task of raising Armando seemed to be keeping Breanna happy, because that meant he could spend his time working on his career. He wanted to be the absolute best in the business, and he spent every spare minute he had studying and building the skills he would need to succeed. He just hadn't realized that once Armando reached school age, he wouldn't need Breanna so much anymore. After putting Armando to bed, Breanna came in and sat beside Opie on the couch. Opie closed the book he had been reading and kissed her. "What'cha reading?" she asked. "Oh, it's nothing," Opie said as he tossed the book aside. "What's up"? Breanna sighed. "Can you believe Armando's starting school tomorrow?" "Crazy, isn't it?" She turned to look at him. "I think it's time to have a baby of our own. It's been such a great experience adopting Armando, and I love him like he was my own. But I want to experience all the joys of motherhood... I want to get fat and waddle around in my pajamas all day... to give birth and be the first one to ever hug my child. Besides, who am I going to take care of now that Armando's going to be in school all day?" Opie couldn't resist her adorable pout. Even though all of his aspirations centered around his career, he genuinely loved Breanna and wanted her to be happy, too. He smiled and said, "Okay sweetie, let's go make a baby." They tripped and stumbled over each other as they raced up the stairs.
Awwww. And I hope Opie pays more attention to Breanna. She may be too tired (if she gets pregnant) to help Armando with his homework.
"Parker!" Melissa opened the door to see Parker Bruenig, her college sweetheart (or one of them - she was her mother's child after all). She threw her arms around him. "I can't believe you're here!" "I thought I'd fly up and surprise you," he said as he smiled and caressed her face. "You look good, Liss." She grinned and twirled. "I've lost forty pounds." "Wow, good for you," he said. They stared at each other for a moment of awkward silence, before they lost control. "I've missed you," Melissa said as they began to kiss. "Mmm-mmm..." was the reply. They wrapped their arms around each other tightly as their kisses became more passionate. Melissa felt like she was in college again. She hadn't been romantically involved with anyone since she had graduated and left Earth. She'd forgotten how good it felt. Eventually, they came up for air. Flushed and a little bit out of breath, Melissa smoothed her clothes and said, "Well... how about some lunch?" Over chef salads, Melissa told Parker all about her short stint in the world of politics, and how after the depression passed, she decided that maybe politics wasn't her calling after all. She had realized that she didn't have to become mayor of Fresca to be happy and popular. Instead, all she had to do was become the best crime solver Frescan law enforcement had ever seen. She'd been training to join the police force, and that was how she'd lost all the weight. Parker told her how proud and happy he was for her, and before they knew it they were in Melissa's bed, re-igniting some more of that passion from back in the college days. Parker and Melissa hugged tightly when it was time for him to leave that night. She sighed as his cab pulled away. She still loved him after all these years. But he was heading back to Earth, and she didn't know how they could be together.
Breanna Dreamer didn't feel well. She was having problems keeping her food down and her energy up. By early afternoon she was on the verge of passing out. Breanna knew their neighbor, Brynne Jensen, had recently graduated medical school. She had met Brynne several years ago when she was new to Fresca, but had never really gotten to know her. Still, she was beginning to worry, so she picked up the phone. "Hi, Brynne? This is Breanna Dreamer. I don't know if you remember me..." "Of course!" Brynne exclaimed. "Breanna and Opie... oh, and Bottom! Your mother-in-law had such a pretty and unusual name. I heard she passed away... I'm so sorry." "Oh, thank you. It's been a couple of years now, but we do miss her. Anyway, Brynne, I was hoping I could ask you for a favor." "Sure, what is it?" "Well..." Breanna hesitated. "I feel a little awkward asking you this... I mean, I know your husband and brother-in-law are the ones who do house calls here in the village, but I've never met either of them, and I don't think I'd be comfortable, and..." Her voice started to crack. "I'm just a little scared here..." Brynne could hear Breanna starting to cry. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" Sobbing, Breanna poured her heart out, telling Brynne how she'd not been feeling well for a couple of weeks, and that she was afraid she might be really sick. Brynne comforted her as best she could over the phone, and assured her she would be there in less than an hour.
Breanna was sitting in the kitchen, resting her head in her arms, when the doorbell rang. "Armando, honey, will you get the door for Mommy?" she called out. "It's probably Brynne from down the street. You can send her in here." Always Mommy's little helper, Armando dutifully ran to the door and opened it. "Hi, I'm Armando," he said. "Well, hi Armando, I'm Brynne! I came to see your mom... is she here?" Armando nodded and pointed the way to the kitchen, then ran back to his video game. After listening to Breanna describe her symptoms, Brynne already had a pretty good idea what was going on. She felt her forehead, checked her lymph nodes, and took her pulse, all of which were normal. She smiled. "Sweetie, you're not sick... you're pregnant!" Breanna clapped her hand over her mouth. "Are you sure?!" "Listen," she said, taking Breanna's hand. "Go take a nap and let Opie make dinner. After you eat, take this." She pulled a home pregnancy test out of her purse. "I'm fairly sure it'll be positive. If it's not, go see Cameron or Dylan in the clinic tomorrow. They'll figure out what's going on." Brynne helped Breanna to bed before saying goodbye. She made Breanna promise to call her in the morning and let her know how she was feeling... and the results of the test. After dinner, Breanna went into the bathroom and peed on the stick. You'd think such an advanced society would have come up with a more glamorous way to do this, she thought to herself. After waiting three minutes, or was it supposed to be five?, she tried to interpret the results. Couldn't they make these instructions a bit more clear? Then she mumbled out loud, "What does 'plus' mean?"
