When the Zombies Come -- a Cottoneye Decadynasty (COMPLETED)

[RainBeau]

I love it! I can actually hear his voice grow.

[MarianT]

Chapter Four – A Leisure Day to Remember

   Monday was Leisure Day. It started with a hail storm in the morning. I really love the sound of rain and hail, and – don’t laugh -- I want to write music that captures rain’s quietness.



   Grace and I were afraid it would rain all day when we had the day off, but it cleared up in the morning. Grace found a puddle to splash around in.



   One of Mom’s many admirers (all our male maids seem to have a crush on her) sent her a picture that we hung in Grace’s room.



To our surprise, it changed later on.



   Kristal agreed to meet me at the Festival. We had a water balloon fight, and I won.



Kristal suggested we try something less confrontational, so we danced together for few minutes.



She stepped on my foot twice, but I’m pretty sure it was just an accident. She might be a bit clumsy. I do know that she’s excitable and a virtuoso like me. She thought my ideas about music and rain sounded really cool, so I took a chance and kissed her. She didn’t push me away, so I floated home on a wave of happiness.



   That evening Dad and I were talking about the decadynasty rules. He was congratulating me on making the honor roll in high school and warning me for the umpteenth time not to pick up skills in anything but the guitar before I completed the guitar skill challenge. Then all of a sudden he got sparkly and then turned gray.



   The next thing we knew the Grim Reaper was coming for him.



   I now have a tombstone that I wish I didn’t have.



   I wish Dad could have stuck around a while longer to see the seasons change. He really enjoyed trying out the skating rink.



   He had a genie lamp. He used it to get the money so I could buy the Azalea Acres Community Garden.



I wish he’d used it again to ask for a longer life.



Good-bye, Dad. I love you. Peace, Chase Cottoneye

[SimBlip]

Aw! Chase is good! I love the way he signs off with 'Peace'. He has kept that subtle sense of humour. No wonder he was voted Prom King. Kristal seems like a perfect match.
So excited about the first signs of Seasons! I don't have it (and won't for a long time) so it's really interesting to see how you work it in this story.
Rest in peace, Jaegher. He was a wonderful Sim with very high standards and a lovely, mild manner.
Great updates!

[RainBeau]

Beautifully written chapter. It's always hard to deal with death in a story. I think you did it with grace and real feeling. I agree that the seasons were worked in very smoothly!

[MarianT]

Chapter Five – Autumn

   The night after Dad died a chill wind blew through Riverview, and things got a little weird. Outside, we saw a zombie with an umbrella.



The doors and windows became covered with a solid white mist – frost.



   The next morning, it was like a chilly cloud had descended upon the town.



The fog seemed to have gotten into people as well. When I saw Kristal at school, she acted like she didn’t even know me. I didn’t know why she was snubbing me, and was too down-hearted to ask.

   When we got home, there were two piles of leaves on the ground. Grace started playing with one.



   It looked like fun, so I jumped in the other pile.



Mom said I could either burn the leaves or dispose of them but if I scattered them all over the lawn, I would have to rake them up again. I decided to burn them. Watching the flames, I tried to pretend that the leaves were all my negative feelings – my fears for the future and my sadness over the past.



   The next day was Saturday, so I went over to the Cannery to check out the Fall Festival. There, I ran into Sarah, Kristal’s younger sister. She and I have been friends for a while, but today she started flirting with me a little.



   We even danced together a bit.



   Then I said something that made her flounce off in a huff. I have no idea what it was.

   When I got home, I told Mom about the whole situation – how I really had a great time at the prom with Kristal and thought I was in love with her, but then she cooled toward me, and now I was interested in Sarah, but she was mad at me about something, and I didn’t know what it was. “Do you think I should ask her why she got mad?” I asked.



   Mom got a funny look on her face like she was maybe trying not to laugh or maybe trying not to cry. “Don’t ask,” she said. “She’ll probably just get mad at you again because you don’t understand why she’s mad.

   “Anyway, your problem is that you’re in the same kind of situation your Dad was in with regard to me and your Aunt Shannan, but you’re a hopeless romantic like me, so it’s more emotional for you.”

   “Dad and Aunt Shannan?” I said.

   “They had a great time together at the prom – which I was too young to go to – but afterwards decided they didn’t want to take it further. And after some time, your Dad and I started dating.

   “So I’d say, wait a while. When you’re old enough to use the online dating service, check out their profiles. You’ve got plenty of time before you can get married – you might even find someone who doesn’t have a sister.”

   Later on, I got a call from Sarah. She wanted to know what I thought was the best way to keep safe from zombies. “You could try a fallout shelter,” I said.



   Then she wanted to know what I thought about babies.



   “They’re great!” I said. “What's your opinion of long engagements?”



   Soon after that, I had my birthday. I made my wish, but I won’t say what it was.



   We decided to have a costume party instead of a birthday party. Grace dressed up as a burglar, and a couple of people came as cooks. I expressed my inner, ambitious, nature as a tiger.



   Both Kristal and Sarah came to my party along with a couple of hot dogs.



I was happy to see both of them, but the best thing about my birthday was finally being allowed to play the guitar.



Ya-hoo! Peace, Chase Cottoneye

[SimBlip]

I love your seasonal pictures. They create such an atmosphere.
The online dating service sounds very interesting!

[MarianT]

Chapter Six – Visitors

   It was a dark and stormy night, so of course, the burglar brought his umbrella.



The cop who came to arrest him brought an umbrella, too.



We thought they might duel each other with their umbrellas, but instead they had the usual fistfight.  I think the burglar must have found it very awkward trying to hold his umbrella with handcuffs on.



We think he was planning to steal the pumpkin that Mom had carved – and who wouldn’t want such a handsome cat?



   We’ve had other visitors – Dad’s been showing up at night occasionally.



   And since we’ve been raking leaves, a squirrel and a chipmunk have moved into the front yard.





   Mom and Claire claim that an alien came to the house one night.



They say his name was Qedef and he told them he slipped off the crescent moon – which in my opinion shows they’re making it up, because everyone knows the moon just appears to be a crescent but is always a sphere.



   Our prettiest visitor arrived last night – our first snowfall ever in Riverview. We put up colored lights in honor of the occasion.



   The only other news is that Grace has slid down her last banister.



   She’s a grown-up now, capable of holding a job and using the online dating service. She wants to be a world-renowned surgeon, so she’s taken a job as an organ donor.



   As for me, I’ve made $76 in tips! Peace on earth, Chase Cottoneye

[RainBeau]

Peace on earth, cute.

[SimBlip]

Very pretty pictures! It looks like you're having fun with Seasons, Marian!

[saltpastillen]

Seasons really brings this story alive even more!

I loved the line about long engagements 

[MarianT]

Chapter Seven –  A Winter Romance

   First things first – Grace and I have graduated from high school. I was named “Most Likely to Get Married.” Grace was Valedictorian and named “Most Popular.” I don’t begrudge her the honor of being valedictorian; after all, the poor kid missed out on going to prom.



   The “winter romance” is not mine, although I have had an active social life. Kristal invited me to a feast party the other day, where I had some firecracker shrimp (too hot!) and played the guitar for the other guests. (The Watcher wants me to add that the lighting here was absolutely perfect for a winter afternoon.)



   While playing the guitar, I observed Kristal flirting with Ernie Ayers. I don’t know whether she was doing this deliberately or whether she thought I wouldn’t notice because I was busy, but it put me off her in terms of romance.



   Later that night, Sarah called me and invited me out. We didn’t do much except make a couple of snowmen together, but that’s okay. I have to wait a while before I can marry, anyway.



   Speaking of snowmen, Grace went into the yard yesterday and found that someone had destroyed her snowman. She made a Grim Reaper to take the poor fellow away.



   The romance isn’t Grace’s either, although she did meet a fellow when she was out skating. His name is Keon Jameson, and he’s a policeman.



   Mom wanted us to have a gift-giving party, and we decided to humor her, even though it wasn’t Snowflake Day yet. She’s getting up there in age – over 100 – and occasionally forgetful of things like what to wear when she goes to the store.



   It was a modest success, and I think everyone who was invited got a present. Cousin Prudence showed up along with Kristal and Sarah. Mom invited her best friend, Betty Simovitch, whom she wants me to meet even though she’s a vampire. Mom gave me something that will cure her of vampirism in case I want to marry her. Thanks, Mom, but I don’t think so. Her friend Qedef also came, and I guess he really is an alien.



   After the guests left, we put up our Snowflake decorations (there wasn't room for the tree while they were there), and the front room looked really pretty.



   Unfortunately a fire broke out. I was at work, and Mom was out somewhere, but Grace handled it beautifully.



   After a few minutes, she realized she couldn’t put it all out on her own, so she stopped, called the fire department, and then went back to work with the extinguisher. Talk about Grace under pressure! (My apologies, Mr. Hemingway; I couldn't resist.)



   As for where Mom was – Grace spotted a mysterious vehicle in front after she put the fire out.



   It belonged to Qedef, of course, and when Grace looked in back, she saw Mom and Qedef kissing! We were both happy for her and not at all jealous on Dad’s behalf. At 105, she can have any kind of romance she wants.



   Sadly enough, Mom’s winter romance didn’t last long. The next morning, she got up and promptly floated away.



Her next date, I’m afraid, was with the Grim Reaper.



Grace and I will miss her, but we know we’ll probably see her around. She’s with Dad and Aunt Shannan now – her two favorite people besides us. R.I.P., Cherie Luke Cottoneye!



Peace on earth, good will to sims, Chase Cottoneye

[SimBlip]

This is a beautiful chapter full of suprises! 
Looks like Chase gathered more snow than tips in his guitar case. And there are some very hardy Sims out there. Brrrr.
"Gift-giving" and "Snowflake Day" - I like the terminology.
Hooray for "Courage is grace under pressure"! It couldn't have been more apt.
I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that it would be Cherie's romance, and with an alien no less!
Tombstones in the snow... such a pretty and evocative picture.

[RainBeau]

I especially like the wildflowers at the graves

[MarianT]

Chapter Eight – Spring Fever

   Ah, spring – when the breezes become softer, the birdsong more melodic, the trees cloudy with blossom – as soon as the snow melts, that is.



   And people go a little crazy. For example, I have never zapped anyone with the moodlet manager before, but this paparazzi was getting really intrusive with his camera while I was chatting with Sarah. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I don’t regret zapping him at all. (And he got dressed again very quickly, so didn’t freeze to death.)



   Another example of craziness – sitting in the snow to watch the stars, even if it was warm enough to go without a coat.



   The next day I sat down and wrote a letter to Sarah, trying to tell her how I felt about her.



   Her answer was succinct:  “Don’t just tell me – show me!” I didn’t have to go to work because it was Love Day, so I arranged to meet her over at the Festival, where we made our way to the Love Tester. I had no idea what kind of score we’d get, because I had never even kissed Sarah. To boost our score, I gave her some flowers – romantic red, this time.



   The Love Tester whirred a bit and flashed some lights and finally gave us its answer. We had “uncontrollable energy;” it was reminded of an uninhibited night that it had once spent with the Claw Machine.



   Sarah and I both found this hilarious. While she was laughing, I managed to give her a quick peck on the cheek, and then settled in for a real kiss. We are now officially going steady.



   However, I’m not the only unmarried Sim in the household. Grace would have quite a lively love life if she weren’t so busy studying medicine. She’s always getting notes and presents and invitations to go out. She did accept one date, with Damian Bromberg, the firefighter who came to the house when the living-room rug went up in flames. To her dismay, Damian had not only become an elder since the last time she saw him, he also required medical attention. Grace said she hadn't realized that when he said he wanted her to know what was in his heart, he meant he wanted an x-ray.



   And we’ve added another Sim. Mom always wanted me to develop a relationship with her best friend, Betty Simovitch. She even left me a bottle of potent cure elixir, so that I could cure her of vampirism. I’m too committed to Sarah to get romantically involved, but I decided we could move her out of the trailer park where she was living with the Brokes and give her a chance for a normal life.



   Grace and I were hoping that she and her long-time friend Bob Newbie (also a vampire) might have a child together and perhaps even marry. We gave them some time alone, and they did their best, but unfortunately there weren’t any chimes. I guess playing cupid to a couple as old as our grandparents is another crazy thing to do.



   Betty became an elder almost immediately afterwards. Well, we tried, Mom.

   The last day of spring, we got a freak snowstorm. I didn’t stick around to see how much accumulation there would be. The band wanted me to go and study Egyptian music, so I flew out early in the morning. I also plan to do some fishing – a lot of fishing. Sarah and I want to get married as soon as possible, and at the rate I’m going (one of ten opportunities necessary for the Guitar Star skill challenge), I’ll be an elder before I supermax the guitar skill. Egypt is gorgeous (or maybe I just think that because there’s no rain).



Peace and love, Chase Cottoneye

[RainBeau]

Don't you love Seasons? It does make dynasties much more complicated, though.