Chapter 6: Wait a minute, Mr Postman!Lea’s visit to City Hall in the last chapter was to change her surname to suit her new skill. She is now Lea Cook.
She didn’t meet a single NPC at the park. She threw a housewarming party but only townies came. She ordered pizza but the delivery guy had horrible traits. She even called the repairman when her toilet clogged up. Except it was a repairwoman. Lea was getting desperate and so was I. She was now over halfway through adulthood and her Simological clock was ticking.
Then a male NPC turned up spontaneously – but he wasn’t husband material. An elderly stray cat had taken to sleeping on her front porch and one night, it died. It was obviously the end of Grim’s shift, because he changed into swimwear and had a go on the slide.
I always wondered what he wore when he was off-duty. But really, the Grim has
curls under that hood?
The next day, Lea was on her way out to the library to read another cookery book when the post arrived. I know this doesn’t sound exciting but look who delivered it.
“Hello, attractive new postman. Is your name Chris? And are you single?”
(Puzzled.) “No, it’s Sri. And, yes, I'm single.”
Ooh. At least three good traits. What about him, Lea? You know you’re never going to meet Chris really.“Sri’s a bit like Chris, isn’t it?”
?!“Well, it just needs a C and an H. And some rearranging.”
Er, OK. Whatever makes you happy.
“So, Sri, do you want to hang out?”
One thing led to another.
And another.
Over a meal of the baked angel food cake she was given on her last visit to the bistro, she asked him to move in.
And he promptly crashed out on the kitchen floor, ignoring two perfectly good bedrooms.
Oh well. I suppose tomorrow’s soon enough to move their relationship on.
Sri had the old sleeping bag because Lea had given it to him as a thoughtful engagement gift (it was the only thing in her inventory).
He isn’t quite a toyboy but he’s a lot younger than Lea. I was expecting him to be an adult but he still has a week of young adulthood left. His traits are an even odder mixture than hers: he’s a good, grumpy, kleptomaniac, which seems a bit contradictory. He’s also a virtuoso and schmoozer, which would be very useful if I’d let him join the music career as he wants. Unfortunately, he’s going to be stuck working part-time at the supermarket. His lifetime wish is Master of the Arts, so he’s in for another disappointment there.
Chapter 7
