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

[RainBeau]

A thoughtful look at the pros and cons of each dynasty. I love the juxtaposition of the two. Babies Woden and Valor are adorable! Valor is a perfect virtue name for the brother of a Norse god. I do so love themes. I am envious of your toddler content. Hmmm

[MarianT]

Chapter Fourteen – Problems with Time

Dear Aurelia,

   Woden and Valor are best friends now, thanks to their games of peek-a-boo in the playpen. The other day they were playing with blocks together. I dozed off and thought I heard them talking.

Valor: I think I’ll pick up the artistic trait next.



Woden: You already love being outdoors – it would be a good fit.



Valor: How about you? Are you going to be a writer?



   Waking up from my dream, I felt that I wanted time to stand still so that they could stay toddlers forever. (Warning – cute pictures ahead.)





   Of course, the next day, when Woden was throwing a tantrum because I didn’t move fast enough to get him out of the high chair, I wished time would move forward as quickly as possible.



   It wasn’t long before I regretted that wish. I invited Dad and the rest of the family over to spend some time with the little ones. (Also, I knew Dad was getting up there in age.) I talked to Dad for a bit, tried to tell him how grateful I was for all his love and support.



 “Do you remember helping me with math so I could become an astronaut?” I asked.



“Do you remember collecting honey to make me potent friend elixirs?” Dad nodded, but I’m not sure he did remember.



“Do you remember making it snow?” “Rain,” Dad corrected me. “That’s right,” I said. “You and Luke made it rain. But I’m talking about the time you made it snow because we’d never seen it.”



   Later that evening, we had an uninvited guest.



   Aurelia, I don’t think that wishing time would speed up actually caused my father’s death, but I did want to go back in time and find out whether I could see him and Mom when they were young. And since I have a time machine, I thought that might be possible.



   This was a mistake – Perry went from being a resident in the Medical career to being a transport specialist (or something like that) Art Appraiser. Since his lifetime wish is to become a world-renowned surgeon, he went back to the hospital. Unfortunately the only job they had available was bedpan cleaner.

   From now on, I think I’ll leave time alone. Woden had his birthday right on schedule.



He looks quite serious with his new glasses, and he’s already a fan of the Llamas.



In his formal outfit, he’s ready to go yachting.



Here he is in pajamas.



And here he’s ready if we have any cold weather (not likely as it’s almost summer).



   They say time doesn’t really exist, that it’s just a mental construct, that if we could just understand it, we wouldn’t be bothered by it. That said, I guess I’ll just accept it. Love, Diana

[RainBeau]

Awww. Goodbye Weston  What a sad way for him to go. But at least he was with family and not alone, so maybe not so sad after all. I love Woden's new look.

[MarianT]

Chapter Fifteen – Sunrise, Sunset

Dear Aurelia,

   I become an elder tomorrow. That’s an idea I can’t wholly comprehend. Anyway, here’s a view from our house at sunrise…



…and here’s one at sunset. The objects are much the same, but the quality of light is different. Maybe that’s a profound observation, or maybe it’s just dumb.



   I have a warning for you. Anxious as you are about completing your requirements in time, you will become doubly anxious when Virgil is the one with tasks to do. Perry gave Woden some tutoring, but I can’t help wondering if it was enough.



   He should make the honor roll in time; he’s on course to make the honor roll in time, and yet, I worry. I keep building time machines for him, as if that will get him over this first, big, hurdle.



I don’t know how Woden knew I was worrying, but he gave me a big hug the other morning. “It’s okay, Mom,” he said. “I’ve had A’s two days in a row, and I’ll get another on Tuesday, after Leisure Day.”



   “I’m going to be a writer,” he announced. “I’ve been dreaming about it, so I know it’s going to happen.



   “Would you like to hear the story I wrote the other day?” he continued. What could I do but nod?

   He returned with a somewhat grubby piece of paper. “The Basic Plot,” he read, “by Woden Cottoneye.

   “They say the basic plot is this. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back again. If your little brother is a witch (mine is), you can see this plot in action.

   “Toddler finds toy.



Toddler loses toy.



Toddler gets toy back again.



Joy, sorrow, peace.

   “My teacher said it had too many pictures, but that’s okay,” Woden said. “Because I plan to tell my stories with pictures as well as words. That reminds me – could I get a dollhouse? It would be easier for me to figure my stories out if I had little people to move around.”

   Dollhouse? Sure. After all, I was the only girl in the history of Brittlebush Academy who wanted to be an astronaut.



   When I watched him zoom down the street on his broom with its training wheels, I almost started crying. What does the future hold for him? Only good things, I hope.



   Valor is growing up, too. We celebrated his birthday early this morning.



He’s a Llama supporter like his older brother, so he wanted the same t-shirt.



I’m hoping he’ll never have to wear his formal outfit. He insisted on its being in his favorite color, white, and I just know it’ll get dirty five minutes after he puts it on.



   They had some new Llama swimsuits at the store, so he wanted one of those, too. In white, of course.



   To get away from the subject of aging and children growing up, have you noticed that the paparazzi have laptops now? It’s very strange to see one sitting in your yard, but on the other hand, they’re less obtrusive.



   I was very sorry to hear about your Uncle Cam. Lots of love, Diana

[RainBeau]

Nice metaphor with the ageing and the sunrise and sunset. It reminds me of Fiddler on the Roof. Happy birthday to Valor!

[MarianT]

Chapter Sixteen – Leisure Day

Dear Aurelia,

   That’s too sad about Qusul. I’m really glad I had a chance to meet him.
 
   Here’s a shot of my two redheads in a treehouse. For some reason, this picture just says “Summer” to me.



   Woden got another black op – a scavenger hunt for beetles. He says that he used his telescope to find them.



One beetle was near the river behind our house, one was at his Uncle Luke’s, one was at the festival, and the last was at the Criminal Warehouse. I didn’t want him going there at night, so he managed to find another at the Elixir Shop.



   He’s been busy reading. He says he wants to learn what all the other authors have done, so he can come up with something original.



   Valor likes books, too, especially when someone else reads them to him.



   Leisure Day dawned bright and sunny. I decided we might as well enjoy it, even if it did mean that we’d fail the dynasty attempt because Woden wouldn’t be able to make the honor roll. Woden got his face painted first. It didn’t turn out quite the way he wanted – he’d asked to be made up as a pirate.



Valor was more fortunate.



Perry entered a hotdog-eating contest. In a way, I was relieved that he didn’t win.



Woden tried skating, and actually got to the point where he didn’t look like he was about to fall down.



   When evening came, Perry took the boys outside for some fireworks. The first thing he set off was a smoke bomb.



A snake followed.



The Little Maniac came next.



   Last but not least, the boys got to light their sparklers.



And that was it for Leisure Day, except for one last event.
 


I became an elder.



   I tell you, Aurelia, I don’t feel any older. In fact I accepted a job as a game button tester. And I’m working on another opportunity, one that it’s not likely any of the later heirs will want – the Master Invention.

   I had to pick out a whole new wardrobe – it was hard finding anything in red. Here’s my everyday outfit.



And here’s my formal.



   We left off celebrating until the next day, however, when Woden came home with his report card. Yes, yes, yes, he made the honor roll. We got a cake for him, of course.



Woden got some new clothes, too. Here’s his everyday outfit.



Formal



Outdoor



   Now, all I have to do is find a nice young lady for him to marry. That’s a simple task, right? Love, Diana

[RainBeau]

He's adorable! So glad he made honour roll. They do like to torture us, don't they? My last heir got honour roll on the last day of childhood as well.

I agree about the 'Summer' picture. It reminds me somewhat of Phineas and Ferb.
Looks like everyone enjoyed Leisure Day! 

[ladyaya]

Man, it seems like it's been forever since we started off with Constance and HUnter Cottoneye. What generation are you working on now?

~Anna

[MarianT]

Anna, Woden is heir number 6. And it's not forever -- just 7 months. It only feels like forever.

[SimBlip]

Congratulations! Seven months seems a long time, but you are sticking to your project and I admire you for that.
Apart from that... your story is wonderful!

[MarianT]

Thanks, SimBlip! Good to see you back. One reason the Townie Decadynasty takes a long time is that you have to wait until each heir becomes an adult before you can bring in the next generation.

[Turoskel]

Just caught up with both your stories again, very glad Woden made the honor roll, and I like Diana in that new jacket from Uni, she looks very smart.

It's very interesting reading about these two connected families having such different experiences, it shows off the pros and cons of both dynasties quite well.

[MarianT]

PART SEVEN – WODEN COTTONEYE

Chapter One – A Budding Auteur

Dear Great-Aunt Mercy and Cousin Aurelia,
   Mom said you might be interested in following my blog, so I’m sending you the link. Virgil’s welcome to read, too. And if anyone wants to send money…Mom says I shouldn’t ask, but if you want to support a budding auteur in the family, you know where to find me. Thanks for reading! Woden

Blog 1 – Here’s my mom, on her way to work as a Game Button Tester. She does not like the outfit she has to wear, but really, who need shoes to play games?



Blog 2 – Here’s my younger brother Valor, experimenting with hair dye. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.



Blog 3 – Here’s the gnome my mom made. Perhaps he thinks the garbage can is his home, or maybe his mother?



Blog 4 – This is me, doing my first broadcast. I had to align the radio antennae before I could begin.



I reported on the alien spacecraft that was seen heading for Area-52. If you didn’t hear my broadcast, it’s because “they” don’t want you to know about it.



Blog 5 – Here’s my younger brother Valor, getting ready to blow out his candles.



His birthday happened to coincide with prom, so we both went. It was chilly that night, which is why we’re bundled up rather than wearing our formal outfits.





While we were at prom, I rigged a motion-detector camera to see what Mom and Dad would get up. Surprise, surprise, it caught them making out.



And a little while later, Dad did the school cheer. I wonder what happened in between?



Blog 6 – Next morning, my camera caught the fire set off by the fireplace. (Dad fainted.)



Later, I interviewed my brother, Valor.

Me:  Tell me, Valor, how does it feel to be prom king?

Valor: It feels great, and the best thing was that I became romantically involved with the prettiest girl there.



Me: Valor, she was the only girl there.

Valor: Yeah, well, you had to dance with a guy with long hair. What does that say about you?



   After that, I interviewed my father.

Me: Dr. Cottoneye, what do you like best about working in the emergency room?

Perry: The fact that I’ve never seen you or your brother in there. And let me tell you, if you do end up in the emergency room, I’ll make sure you’ve got a durn good reason for being there, understand?



Blog 7—That evening Mom and Dad told me they’d give me a video camera if I would a)promise to dismantle my motion detector camera and b) promise to ask permission of the people I was filming. I made my first home movie right away. It’s just my dad and brother talking to each other, but it was such a thrill, that I know I’ve found my calling.



I hurried over to Plumbob Pictures Film Studio and managed to catch the last tour of the day. They’ll be seeing me again.

[SimBlip]

This is one of the funniest updates yet! I'm chuckling still while I'm writing this.
Woden is anything but... wooden! 

[Gogowars329]

I agree SimBlip.  That was pretty funny. Can't wait for more of Woden's blogs.