The look Daisy gave toddler Rose in the walker was priceless. I hope I got the names right.
Wasn't it?
And yes, you got the names right.
An Educational InterludeI was about to send Alison in pursuit of her games-loving genie when I noticed something. The house was now full. I’d got so used to there only being three or four kids around that I hadn’t registered that the recent pace of baby production had had such an effect. She’d have to wait until Daisy grew up to try for a blueboo.
Daisy was still three days away from her birthday but, as usual, there were celebrations that evening. Jon grew up to teen and, thanks to an unexpected late drop-off in his grades, became unstable.
It was also Sage’s birthday. He grew up into a surprisingly cute toddler.
In fact, have some Sage spam.
That’s the worst falling-into-the-potty incident I’ve seen. Sage seemed inclined to blame Billy’s gem-cutting machine for his misadventure.
Before releasing Al from his lamp, Alison had made two other wishes: for prosperity and for long life. Of course, that meant that all of her children from that point on (Sage, Wintergreen and all of her future kids) would also have extended lives. From the point of view of keeping the adult offspring around for longer, that could only be a good thing. Poppy had died a few days after her twin. I’d found losing both of them surprisingly upsetting, given that they hadn’t been in the active household for ages. On the other hand, from now on the kids were going to grow up half as fast. The nursery might well need an extension, given that the baby stage can’t be shortened under the challenge rules and I’d be reluctant for the cute toddlers to grow up quickly – all of them so far would have qualified for an early age-up to child but none of them had had cakes more than a few hours early. The child and teen stages were another matter, though. Orchid could have had early cakes both times but she was an exception. As Jon had just proved, my control over study and homework was distinctly variable. Lupin, Heath and Daisy had also been given a random trait each. Billy had made a start on logic but was still some way short of being able to tutor kids. Anyway, I didn’t really feel it ought to be his job. Ally, on the other hand…
There was a growing collection of university freebie buckets in the family inventory, so I got one out and asked her to take the test.
“Wow! My first full scholarship. Congrats, Ally!”
A technology degree seemed like a good idea. Her maxed handiness qualified her for a distinguished award and she could boost her performance by learning logic. She made the call to reserve her place right away.
“Erm, Ally. Do you want to wait? Jon’s having an episode.”
“No, he’ll be fine. Get Daisy to drive him to hospital.”
Nice to see she’s such a caring mother. I suppose it could have been worse. ‘Loves to swim’ could have been replaced with ‘hydrophobic’. (Note to self: try playing a hydrophobic mermaid sometime
.) She didn’t even wait for the rest of the family to wave goodbye.
Ally arrived in Uni Town and moved into my favourite house, upgrading most of the furnishings so that she could live in the style to which she was happy to have become accustomed.
The paparazzi who followed her to university must have been deeply disappointed: she led an unusually blameless existence. She kept an eye out for possible fathers, of course…
…but mostly she just got on with her coursework. By the middle of her first week, she was on the dean’s list. When she wasn’t at lectures, she ate rather better than most students…
…visited the gym, read comic books…
…and even attended a tea dance. I didn’t realise they still existed, least of all at uni.
“Ally? You do know
he’s supposed to be leading?”
“Why? I’m a better dancer.”
“Yes, but… Oh, I give up.”
The most outrageous thing she did was to play video games in the library at midnight in her swimsuit.
Hardly the notorious Alison Flower of Barnacle Bay.
“Er, Ally? What’s wrong??”
“It’s these results.”
“Why the frown? You passed all the exams with flying colours.”
“No. it’s this tiny print.”
“Oh. Maybe that last batch of Fountain of Youth wasn’t quite right. Do you want to pop into CAS and get glasses?”
“Can’t I have contact lenses? Or, you know, just manage. And anyway…”
“Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I assume ‘First’ was in large letters.
The whole family, apart from the babies, turned up to see her graduate. Since I had the sound off, I’m not quite sure what all the grimacing was about but first Rose and then several other guests freaked out, while Daisy looked as though she’d just encountered a particularly nasty smell.
Ally somehow failed to put on her gown. Not that that was going to stop her enjoying the occasion.
When she got home, Billy had a surprise graduation gift for her – a Jar of Potent Friendship. Just before she’d left for uni, their already rocky relationship had taken a nosedive when he’d been arrested in the course of his professional duties and had suffered his first celebrity disgrace. But
I he had finally realised that the solution to their problems lay in his own hands. All he needed was root of red valerian and some beeswax.
They made the most of their repaired relationship.
