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

[MarianT]

Chapter Nine – Weekend

   Friday afternoon, everyone always looks forward to the weekend. Golf, swimming, perhaps a quick trip to the Nectary in Champs les Sims – these figure heavily in everyone’s plans. Lieutenant Breckinridge asked me what I was going to do.

   “Just hang out at home, “ I said.

   “That sounds relaxing,” he responded. “Take it easy, kick back and smell the roses.”

   The weekend started with Jaeger’s birthday.



He was excited because he could finally ride the rocking horse in his bedroom. For hours, his cries of “Yippee ti yi yay!” filled the house.



   I finally lassoed him and got some tutoring done. He has to make the honor roll to keep the family quest going.



Naturally, he wanted to know what making the honor roll had to do with zombie-fighting.

   “They’re wily,” I answered. “You need to outwit them.”

   Actually zombies are pretty brainless, but it was the best reason I could think of. When he’s older we can talk about transforming the community and making the world a better place to live in.



   Then it was time to put Peter to bed. He was so tired, he could barely keep his eyes open while I read to him.



He’s kind of a strange little fellow, always playing with his dragons. Elaine and I can’t help wondering if he knows something we don’t.



He’s already told Elaine he’s not interested in a desk job.



Given his lung power, he might become a singer.



   Saturday morning started with repairs to the dishwasher (after Peter was fed, of course).



I worked on my last painting for the city.



Once it was done, I took all fifteen over to city hall and emerged half an hour later with $113,000.



   Elaine had a birthday later that day. She complained that she went from being my old lady…



…to just being an old lady.



   I took some time to remind her that she was still my old lady.



   Sunday, I ran an errand to the consignment store and picked up another bottle of nectar for work.



   Later on, I went over to see my sister Hope. The old house hasn’t changed a bit, but she’s getting older – as am I. I asked when she and her boyfriend Bryce were going to tie the knot, but she didn’t want to talk about that.



   Little Joy was the next birthday girl.



Her favorite color is purple, so we got some different clothing for her.



   I ended the day giving her some lessons in walking.



Did I have a relaxing weekend? No. Did I smell a few roses? Definitely.

[SimBlip]

There is a lovely, homey feel to this chapter.
Well done on those 15 paintings!

[Toni]

There is a lovely, homey feel to this chapter.
Well done on those 15 paintings!

I have to agree. The feelings in this chapter were calm, although he seemed to be talking about a stressful weekend.

[MarianT]

Chapter Ten – Another Letter from Elaine

Dear Dad,
   It’s probably just as well you haven’t come to stay, as Orion and Jaeger are both forbidden to associate with vampires. I’m not sure what the deal is, something to do with a family quest. Anyway, if you were to move in with us, you would have to give up being a vampire. But it sounds as if you’re perfectly happy in Bridgeport. I’m saving some plasma fruit for you just in case you show up for a short visit.

   Peter had his birthday a few days ago.



   He’s quite interested in predicting the future and told us all about a gypsy wagon that had moved into Lost Willow Park. I asked where he’d heard that, and he said he just knew.



   Your little namesake is quite the cutie. No, we didn’t name her Norma, but Joy. She’s very bright but a bit high-strung. I’ve been teaching her how to walk.



Orion took on the talking duty. She was bored when he tried to explain how dangerous fire was.



Laundry detergent, however, sparked her interest. Maybe it’s time we got a washing machine and dryer.



   Orion has decided to retire from work. He wasn’t at all pleased with the new uniform they gave him. The white coverall was bad enough, but he said the hat just made him look ridiculous.



   Jaeger has been doing well in school and actually made the honor roll! He’s also been making friends, specifically Cheri Luke, whom he met when they went on a field trip to the theater.



   They sat next to each other on the bus.



   Afterwards, he went over to her house and played paper, rock, scissors. She lives a couple of doors down from Constance Shelley’s old house.



   Orion is hoping the friendship will survive their teen years, but I think it’s much too soon to be thinking of a future wedding. Jaeger just had his birthday, and we don’t know how old Cheri is.



   In my opinion, he’s turned out quite handsome, even if he does favor our side of the family.



Hope you're doing okay, Love, Elaine

[SimBlip]

I know this has nothing to do with the challenge as such, but I must say, Elaine's letters are lovely. They speak of such love and yearning for her father.
Challenge wise: The children are growing up so well. Joy is cute indeed, and Jaeger... well, he reminds me of Sean Penn. (Feel free to shoot me.) Trust a mother to see potential partners early on... It's nice to know Cheri Luke is an option, and hopefully a best friend?

[smartburn]

Jaeger's very handsome! He does have Elaine's mouth, but it's not nearly as pronounced as hers.  I think it makes him look serious vs. Elaine's more dour look...I love Elaine and I had hopes of making her part of my neglected immortal dynasty household (she went vamp before I could get her to move in and SN wasn't out yet), but she could be having a blast and still look like she's only mildly entertained at best. The uniqueness keeps the genes interesting though.

[MarianT]

Chapter Eleven – Hodgepodge and a Pickle

   Sometimes there’s just stuff that doesn’t really fit into a narrative framework. Stuff like Peter finding a sheep in the new toy box.



Or like the review that the Riverview Daily News did of Orion’s pictures, calling them “edgy and distinctive, a new look at old classics, but perhaps too avant-garde for the Riverview market.”



   Elaine has been practicing her spell-casting and now has the ability to turn people into toads. Orion can relax, though – she’s only casting a good-luck charm on him.



   Joy had a birthday recently.



She insisted on an outfit in her favorite color…



…and had her room re-decorated as well.



   And now for the pickle – Jaeger went to his prom last night. He was named Prom King and had a pretty good time. The worst thing that happened to him was seeing someone else in the same tuxedo.



While at the prom he got romantically involved with Shannan Luke, Cheri’s older sister. It might be a good match – she has a green thumb, too. On the other hand (the one with the black thumb), she became a young adult immediately after the prom, and Cheri became a teen. So what should Jaeger do?

[SimBlip]

Haha! I so like the title of this episode!
Is it a serious pickle, though? Surely, there is plenty time before Jaegher must make his move?

[MarianT]

Chapter Twelve – Off to Boarding School

   “You really enjoy gardening, don’t you, Jaeger?”



   “Yeah, it’s practically my favorite thing to do. I mean, look at that spotlight mushroom. Isn’t that incredible? You just never know what’s going to come out of the ground. Wait, who am I talking to?”



   “I am the Watcher.”

   “Oh, no – does this mean I’m insane like my grandfather?”

   “No, just lucky enough to be a heir in a decadynasty. Anyway, now that you've made the honor roll, I think it’s time you went to boarding school. You’re making too much progress in gardening, and I’m afraid you won’t get any black ops. But, before you go, there’s someone you should talk to.”
…
   “You see, Shannan, I had a great time with you at the prom and I really enjoyed discussing fertilizer with you, but I don’t think a few dances together are enough to constitute a lifelong commitment. Plus, I’m going off to the School of Peace and Love, so you might want to be free to date someone else. So I’d like for us to just be friends.”



   “This is because I’m fat, isn’t it.”

   “No, not at all. Although now that you mention it, that’s probably not the most flattering outfit you could wear, but –“

   “TAXI!”



   The Watcher giggles. “Maybe you should start learning some charisma.”

   “Are you going to be spying on me all the time?”

   “Only when you’re home. I won’t be around at all when you’re off at boarding school. Now, hook up to the tabcast and then go talk to Cheri.”
…
   “I love stars! Someday I’m going to be one, you know.”

   “I was thinking more of going outside and looking at the stars in the night sky. They’re very pretty, although not as pretty as--”



   Of course, sometimes things just don’t work out. As Jaeger and Cheri settle down on the front porch upstairs…



…downstairs, Peter is having his birthday.



   “Did you hear something? It sounds like someone’s having a birthday.”

   “Yeah, that’s my younger brother. But look, Cheri, I hope you’re not mad at me for dancing with your older sister at prom because I would have danced with you if you’d been able to go, and I’m going off to boarding school, but I won’t forget you, I promise, in fact I’ll miss you terribly, and I was wondering—“

   “Quit talking.”

[MarianT]

Chapter Thirteen – Elaine Writes to Jaeger

Dear Son,

   Even though we miss you, and the house seems empty during the day when everyone is at school, your dad and I still manage to keep ourselves occupied.

   Elaine put down her pen. Probably Jaeger didn’t want to know what they did in their spare time. Not this.



Not this.



And certainly not this.



She smiled to herself and began writing again.

   Peter wasn’t at all pleased with his new hairstyle. He said it looked like he was wearing a coonskin cap for a three-year-old, backwards.



   He was much happier after he got a cut and changed into something in his favorite color, aqua. Or is it turquoise? I have a hard time keeping straight which of you likes which color.



   Despite his athletic talent, he is looking forward to becoming a fortune teller. He keeps re-reading Predictions of the Future and making notes in the margins – true and false, for the most part.



   Joy was the star of her recital, even if she was the only sugarplum who wasn’t an actual fairy.



   We had a birthday party for her the other day.



   I was hoping she would turn out to look more like your father, but she seems to have inherited her features from me, including the downward cast of the mouth. She says she doesn’t have to be pretty because she plans on becoming an inventor.



   As for me, I keep practicing with my wand. “I, witch, summon forth from thee, wardrobe, a mighty lion!” I intoned. The lion didn’t appear, but apparently you can travel around inside the wardrobe now. Your father had a small adventure and returned with two lobsters and a rare seed.



   I did manage to succeed with the toadification spell. We now have another way to get rid of zombies.



   I hope you’re doing well and learning all sorts of good things about peace and love. The garden misses you and so, I think, does Cheri.

Love, Mom

[SimBlip]

Brilliant! Every time, you vere away from everyone's expectations, and come up with something refreshingly new.
I love your storytelling skills!

[MarianT]

JAEGER COTTONEYE

Chapter One – Homecoming

   Jaeger hadn’t expected that the first letter from his mother would also be the last. Soon after she wrote to him, she finished up in the garden one afternoon and then finished for good while researching alchemy.



   Grim came to her in the bedroom.

   “Wait a minute,” said Elaine. “I had a death flower somewhere. I remember growing one.”

   “You gave it to me, Mom,” sobbed Joy.

   “Oh. Well, then – I’ll still come and haunt you, don’t cry.”



   Afterwards, Joy was still upset, so Orion sent her good vibrations from the moodlet manager.



   The two of them did their best to keep the garden going until Jaeger returned from the School of Peace and Love.



   It was evening when he returned, late enough so that everyone had already gone to bed. Jaeger hesitated on the doorstep. It didn’t feel right that his mother wasn’t there to see him in his cap and gown.



   He slipped quietly upstairs and changed into his everyday clothes. He’d become more artistic at school, but was otherwise the same.



   Early the next morning, Jaeger went outside and started working on the garden. It felt good to dig in the soil again and smell the new growth. It felt terrible to be in the garden alone, without his mother to pass on her gardening tips.



   When he saw that she had left him six perfect plants, he nearly started crying. “Salt isn’t good for the soil,” he reminded himself, managing to stop.

   And then he turned around and realized that he wasn’t alone in the garden after all. His mother would always be there.



Rest in Peace, Elaine Joy Cottoneye

[SimBlip]

Sims do not bring tears to my eyes easily. (I tend to reserve them for people in real life)
But this episode did... Beautifully written, Marian!

[saltpastillen]

Oh, I agree with SimBlip. This last chapter was beautifully written. Such a great idea to place Elaines gravestone in the garden, where she had spent so much time earlier.

[Toni]

You write with so much emotion, the happy and the sad. Rest In Peace Elaine.