"Becks, shake a leg or you're gonna be late for school," Rachael yelled out the kitchen hallway as she brought the breakfast dishes to wash at the sink. Rhidian sat at the kitchen table doing some reading for his culinary class and River sat at the table watching him.
"You know Ray studies have shown that sims who play as children are smarter and better prepared later in life than those who don't," she said.
"But sims who aren't respectful of their elder siblings don't grow up in the first place," Rhidian responded.
River looked at Rhidian, unsure of whether he was teasing or not. Since he had started his classes at the trade school he had a much shorter temper these days. Rachael just shook her head at her siblings, since their move to Willow Creek after their mothers death they had all matured a little beyond their years. Case in point, the precocious child making her case was only seven years old.
"What is it this time, River?" she asked.
With a final look at her brother, River got up and walked over to her sister. "There's a doll house I want."
Rachael frowned knowing that any doll house would be expensive, and big. After Brynna died Rachael had tried to keep the old house but the monthly bills along with the medical bills had taken all the money they'd had in savings.
She'd sold the house and used the money to buy a piece of land in Willow Creek and build a small house. Then she got work with an old co-worker of her great-grandmother's at the publishing house. She was making enough money now in her job that she was finally putting some into savings accounts for her sisters futures, but she didn't think there was enough for a doll house too.
No doubt seeing the rejection on her sister's face River continued, "studies show that dollhouses promote social and creative development and they foster the building of friendships."
"Okay, okay. I'll talk with your dad and see what we can manage. But River," she warned seeing her sisters face light up with victory, "I'm not saying we'll get one. They cost a lot of money and right now I don't have enough"
Thunderstorms had nothing to the fury in her sisters face then.
"Sorry kiddo. Now, it's time for school, Rhonan promised to pick you up on his way to work so get moving," Rachael said giving a quick kiss to her sisters cheek before River stomped out of the kitchen.
"Nicely handled," Rhidian said. "Just like a true mom."
"Hah," Rachael scoffed, "as if I'll ever be a mom without a boyfriend."
"What happened to what's-his-face you went out with last weekend?" Rhidian asked.
Rachael smirked, "I brought River along on our second date."
Rhidian looked at her in horror. "That's just mean," he said, knowing that the little girl would have gone on and on about toys, and her siblings, and asking the poor guy if he would be their father and would he be a very nice father because their daddy was old and tired and he would be dying someday and then she would be crying. For a second date it was the death knell.
"What did he do," Rhidian asked having met the guy before they left on their first date.
"The fool said I should kick you, Patrick and the girls out so that we could have our family here," Rachael growled. "Besides being presumptuous in assuming that we would have children together it was insulting that he should try to dictate how I take care of my family."
"Sounds like he was a dickhead," Rhidian smiled, "he totally deserved it."
"Thank you," Rachael said giving a mock bow, "thank you. I'll be here all week."
Leaving Rhidian to his reading, Rachael went outside to find Patrick working in his garden. Since their move here he had taken up the hobby and helped with the money situation by selling the fruits and flowers he harvested.
"What time do you go in to work today?" he asked as she knelt to help pull out the weeds at the base of one plant.
"It's my day off today. I'm planning to go out and see Mags this afternoon. She just moved to Oasis Springs and I promised I would show her around."
"How is Magenta doing," Patrick asked, knowing about his stepdaughters long time pen pal.
"Good. She moved with her brothers so I'm sure she's ready to get out of the house for awhile. River's at it again," she added.
"What is she after this time?" Patrick asked smiling.
"A dollhouse."
"And you want to get her one," he said knowingly.
"She made some very good arguments for getting one and it's almost her birthday," she finished on a whine. "I don't like not even trying to get one."
Patrick chuckled, "we all dote on that child. She got Rhidian to make pancakes for dinner the night before last, I read three stories before she went to bed last night, and even Becky agreed to play as the prince with their toys yesterday."
"And now me," Rachael agreed ruefully.
Patrick looked around at his garden, "It looks like we'll have a good harvest in the next couple of days. Why don't you go look at some houses and do a price check. We'll place an order after I sell off the extra plants."
"Thanks Patrick," she said giving him a hug.
"No problem, baby girl."
Rachael hugged extra hard at the use of her old nickname. As she had once told her Uncle Matt, this man was the only father she had ever known and his words meant everything to her.
Random Ramblings
So because I'm trying to tell this as a story it's not following exactly as how I am playing. Mostly cuz I come up with a story line then need to take pictures to fit that rather than tell the story created by gameplay. Mostly it's working just fine for me.
I really enjoy your story! So much. It's nice to see Patrick up and moving. Funny...I once wrote a story (a sort of novel) in which the father figure only came around when his grandson was brought to him...something about babies that just perk up a sad man, I suppose. Or at least, some sad men.
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