Second Chances - Apologies (Graveyard, Please...)

[Luna]

That was interesting picture indeed. Grim that I know he was childish but I never know that he’s good with children like that. Maybe he should consider to open a daycare or retiring his job to reap people soul 

[SadieHamming]

Thank you so very much. I hope that the homework did get done, though.

I'm whisper-close to having the mini-chapter completed. I've already got the screencaps and just need to tweak the last scene a bit. Hopefully I will have it posted by Friday.

In the meantime, a rather amusing screencap from right after Yumi passed...



Apparently Grim likes toddlers.

I made sure I finished it, after I was caught up 
Looking forward to the next chapter! I don't know what to think of that screencap! It's funny, and at the same time not, but it is! 

[RaiaDraconis]

It was rather amusing to see Grim playing so cheerfully with Winter...and equally amusing that sim toddlers aren't at all fazed by the guy.

Thank you all again for reading.

---

Chapter 14.5 – A Grandmother's Legacy

Dear Journal,

Today was cold, overcast, and slightly rainy. Suitable, I suppose, given our somber mood.



We buried my grandmother today.

I still can’t believe she’s gone. I mean, it’s not like she wasn’t old, and it was a foregone conclusion that we were going to lose her sooner or later, but I never thought that it’d be so quickly. I thought she’d at least be around until I graduated.

This sucks beyond anything I could have ever imagined. What’s worse...I never had the chance to really say goodbye. None of us did.



At least now she’s able to be with my grandfather again. I imagine they have a lot of catching up to do after over thirty years.

I always wondered why Grandma never remarried after he passed away. She never really talked about it, and most of the time she changed the subject if I so much as mentioned his name. It wasn’t until last year that I even knew that he had been a firefighter, and that it was a devastating blaze that had taken his life so many years ago.

“He was the love of my life,” Grandma finally admitted to me, “and there is no finding someone new after you've had the best.”

Instead, she threw herself into raising Dad, and then into helping to raise me and my half-siblings. To my knowledge she was never really a social person. She never took a job, only scraping together what she could earn from her garden while making sure all of us—Dad and Mom included—were well-fed and in good health. Her life was dedicated to our happiness and well-being above all else.



(Even if she was a bit on the quirky side sometimes.)

I think that the poem on her headstone says it best:

Wonderful Mother
Loving, devoted Grandma
Rest in blessed peace

Just a simple haiku. Seventeen syllables in all. It describes relatively little about the person who Grandma was...and yet at the same time it describes everything. Grandma’s life was as a mother, was as a grandmother. “We are her legacy,” Dad told me on the night she passed away. “You, me, Lexie, the twins, and Winter. She was devoted to us, and the best thing we can do to honor that is to live good lives and to be happy.”

Grandma, if you can see this, I promise to do my very best. I love you and miss you so much.

Sam

---

Three months later...



“Sam, that was beautiful. Thank you for letting me read it."

"Thanks." He sighed heavily as he placed his journal back on the desk. "I still miss her like crazy sometimes. It's just not the same without her around."

“I can understand why," Sandi affirmed. "Your grandma was such a fun lady, and she always treated me so nicely...like I was part of the family.”

“She liked you. A lot.”

Sam grinned inwardly. Indeed, Yumi had taken quite a shining to his long-time best friend...and it wasn't until a few weeks before she passed away that he discovered why.



“I know soulmates when I see them,” Yumi had told him. “I saw it in your parents when they were your age, I saw it again in your father when Morgana came into his life, and now I am seeing it with you and Sandi.”

“But Grandma, we’re not even dating. She’s my best friend...and I’m okay with that.”

“Are you really?”

Sam remained silent.

“There is something far greater than you seem to realize. Have you noticed the way she looks at you? The way that she smiles when you greet her?”

“Grandma...”

“What? I call it like I see it. It worked with your father. Twice.” Yumi laughed heartily. “Just take a bit of advice from me. Treasure her and don’t ever let her go. You will regret it if you do.”

Now, nearly four months later, he finally understood what she had meant. It had taken a few weeks for him to work up the nerve to kiss Sandi for the first time, but when he finally did...



“Sam, what in the world took you so long?”

“You mean...you’ve been wanting me to kiss you?”

“Oh gosh, yes.”



As Sam looked back on that moment he realized that, in many ways, this was his grandmother’s final gift—the insight to finally realize just what Sandi meant to him—and it was a gift for which he would always be grateful. Now, instead of a best friend, he had something even better.

A touch on his shoulder brought his mind back into the present. Sandi smiled as she took his hand in hers. “So...are you ready for this?”

Sam returned her smile with one of his own, stood, and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I'm more than ready. The limo should be here in about ten minutes.”



As the two of them made their way out the door and down the stairs, Sam couldn't help the tears that formed in his eyes. His beloved grandmother was gone...but her words, her wisdom, and her love would live in his heart forever.

Thanks, Grandma. You were right.

At that moment a gentle breeze blew past, and he could have sworn that he heard a faint “I told you so.”

[Trip]

At that moment a gentle breeze blew past, and he could have sworn that he heard a faint “I told you so.”

Just perfect.

It's nice to have a chapter that wraps up Yumi's passing on a slightly sweeter note.

[Eldridge]

This is a beautiful chapter. I'm still sad about Yumi, but this chapter makes me smile. I’m happy when I read that Yumi is still with the family. She even told Sam: “I told you so”. I think that Yumi really loves her family so she took a little time to be with them before she depart to the afterlife :’)

Congratulations Sam & Sandi. I'll look forward what kind of story that you'll tell for us

[Luna]

This is a perfect way to add rainbow after the storm. Bravo

I'll looking forward for the new blossoming romances 

[SadieHamming]

What a beautiful chapter. Stunning pictures and breathtaking writing. Wow, it was just so bittersweet.

[chetanhaobijam]

A beautiful rainbow always appears in the sky after any heavy rainfall.
Rest in peace Yumi. You were a perfect wife, perfect mother and perfect grandmother. We wil miss you.
And lastly, good luck to Sam and Sandi on their love life.

[Shewolf13]

It's just like Yumi to get the last word in!  That was beautiful!  Simply beautiful Raia!

[Magz from Oz]

Wow that was an amazing chapter and so wonderfully touchingly written.     I can see Yumi returning as a ghost from time to time to 'check in' on her family (and read some more of Sam's journal  ).

[RaiaDraconis]

This is a beautiful chapter. I'm still sad about Yumi, but this chapter makes me smile. I’m happy when I read that Yumi is still with the family. She even told Sam: “I told you so”. I think that Yumi really loves her family so she took a little time to be with them before she depart to the afterlife

Just perfect.

It's nice to have a chapter that wraps up Yumi's passing on a slightly sweeter note.

It's just like Yumi to get the last word in!  That was beautiful!  Simply beautiful Raia!

Those last words literally just popped in my head. It just seemed so...Yumi to say that. Thanks so much!

Wow that was an amazing chapter and so wonderfully touchingly written. I can see Yumi returning as a ghost from time to time to 'check in' on her family (and read some more of Sam's journal).

Thank you. I can absolutely see Yumi doing that, if for no other reason than to spy on her grandson.

What a beautiful chapter. Stunning pictures and breathtaking writing. Wow, it was just so bittersweet.

Thank you very kindly!

This is a perfect way to add rainbow after the storm. Bravo

I'll looking forward for the new blossoming romances

A beautiful rainbow always appears in the sky after any heavy rainfall.
Rest in peace Yumi. You were a perfect wife, perfect mother and perfect grandmother. We wil miss you.
And lastly, good luck to Sam and Sandi on their love life.

Sam and Sandi really are adorable together. As soon as Sam became a teen I brought Sandi over, and the two were immediately attracted to one another. Of course, at the time I was still wanting to see if I could get Sam with Bella, but sometimes the sim's wishes trump the watcher's.

There is always a rainbow at the end, even if sometimes it's hard to see at first. This coming chapter will be quite rainbow-y, actually. Speaking of which...

Next up: It's amazing how much life can change in the span of two years. Sam has graduated from high school and is headed off to University. What does college life have in store for him, and what does home life have in store for when he gets back? Things are about to become even crazier in the Sekemoto house...

[Luanne]

Wonderful chapther and story. You make me itch to play the Sekemoto famliy.

[RaiaDraconis]

Wonderful chapther and story. You make me itch to play the Sekemoto famliy.

Thanks! They really are a fun family to play!

---

Chapter 15 – Letters from Home





To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Testing



Hey Sam,

Just checking to make sure I have the right e-mail address. I’m glad that you and Sandi made it to town in one piece. Hope that everything is going well so far, and let us know if you need anything. We miss you already!

Love,

Dad

To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Testing

Hi Dad!

Yep, you got the right address. :-)

So far things are going decently well. The rental house was a bit dirty when we moved in. Sandi doesn’t seem to care too much, but I’m not too keen on the dust bunnies, so I’ve been busy trying to clean the place. Would you believe that whoever lived in this place before us left food in the fridge?



Yeah, it was gross.

Classes are pretty good so far, though my art history prof is a little on the dry side...



What’s worse is that her lecture is at 8 in the morning. Between that and a ton of assignments I’ve been practically living on coffee. It’s crazy, but doable. The first set of exams are in two weeks. We’ll see what happens then.

Hmm, I don’t really need anything right now, but I wouldn’t mind a care package with some of Mom’s cookies in it. :-P

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Testing

Mom: “The cookies are on their way.”

We were also going to send you a few cupcakes leftover from Lexie’s birthday party, but your brothers have absconded with them. Sorry about that.

Good luck on the exams!

Love,

Dad

---



To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Thanks!

Hey big bro, how's it going?

I just got your birthday present in the mail. Thank you so much! It's still a little too warm to wear a hoodie, but I'm sure I'll need it before the month is out.

High school is going pretty good so far. I like my teachers for the most part. You'll never guess who's teaching my Simlish class—Miss Alto! Apparently she got moved up last year and is teaching both Simlish and one of the art classes. She still remembers you, too. I told her that you were majoring in Fine Art and she was really excited about it.

So yeah, I guess I can't complain too much. Lacey is in all but two of my classes, so that's really cool. Anyway, hope you're doing well, and I'll chat with you later.

Hugs,

Lexie

To: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Thanks!

Hey Lexie!

I'm glad you like it! I wish I could have been there to give it to you in person. :-)

Everything is going great, actually. Midterms are over and I finally get the chance to relax a bit. Sandi and I went to our first bonfire party last night. It was a lot of fun, though a touch on the rowdy side...



I may or may not have tossed a test tube into the fire and made the flames blue. Don't try this at home, seriously...but it was pretty cool to watch. :-)

Glad to hear that high school is treating you well. That's pretty awesome about Miss Alto. I heard from Mom that she's engaged to one of the doctors at the hospital.

She also told me that you have your eyes on someone. <wink, wink> Do I happen to know this young man?

Anyhow, I'd best be going. Sandi and I are heading out for the night. Talk to you soon.

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Thanks!

Darn it, I told Mom not to tell anyone!

I guess I can tell you. But don't breathe a word of this to ANYONE, okay? Not even Sandi!

It's just a little crush, nothing really serious...but his name is Randall Langerak. I don't think you really know him, though. He's a year older than me and he's really cute, and best of all he's in three of my classes, so I get to see him a lot.



Nothing's going on so far. We're just sort of friends, but I did notice him smiling at me the other day. :-) I'm keeping my fingers crossed, at any rate.

Oh, by the way, Dad's off the deep end again. He just bought a motorcycle. Whatever this “mid-life crisis” thing is, it's making him act all weird.



Lexie

To: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Thanks!

Heh. First a tattoo, now a motorcycle. Sort of makes you wonder what might be coming next. Poor Mom. :-P

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Thanks!

Hoo boy...

You just had to say that, didn't you? What might be coming next? I dunno if this has anything to do with Dad's mid-life crisis, but...well...

Maybe I should just attach a photograph.



Mom and Dad have completely lost their minds. That’s the only possible explanation for it! I mean, at their age? Not like Mom and Dad are really old or anything, but still...isn’t five enough?

As if there wasn’t any privacy in the house before... I wonder if Lacey’s mom will let me move in.

Lexie

---



To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Whaaaaat?

Hey Dad,

Sooo...Lexie just sent me a pic of Mom...and I have just one thing to ask: how did that happen? :-P

My room is still going to be there when I get home, right?

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Whaaaaat?

Sam,

I don’t think I need to explain how it happened. :-P

Your room will remain untouched, I promise. We are looking at renovating Grandma’s old room, though we won’t be starting anything until the playoffs are over and your mother is on leave from work. Convenient, since that also coincides with your winter break... ;-)

When is your last final for the term? We’re trying to figure out plans for Winter’s birthday, and we were hoping that you’d be able to be home.

Love,

Dad

To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Whaaaaat?

I knew there would be a catch somewhere. :-P I don’t mind helping at all, and Sandi even said she’d lend a hand. Do you know if it’s going to be a boy or a girl yet?

I just checked with Professor Noetal and my last final is the day after Winter’s birthday. It figures. :-/

Tell her I’m sorry. I really do wish that I could be there for her special day.

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Whaaaaat?

To quote Winter: “Is okay, Daddy. We have a party when Sammy gets home.”



No word yet. We have an appointment with Doctor Steel in a few weeks to find that out. Your mom seems to think she’s going to have a girl, and I’m inclined to believe her. She hasn’t been wrong yet.

Dad

To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Whaaaaat?

Winter is way too cute for her own good. :-P

By the way, I managed to get a bit of extra cash from selling a few paintings, so I was able to book my flight early. I’ll forward you the itinerary later.

See you in a few weeks!

Sam

---





---

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Your new baby sister

At the hospital now. Your mother just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

Her name is Abigail Elaine. Perfectly healthy. And loud.



We will be staying the night at the hospital. Will call you tomorrow morning when we get home.

Love,

Dad

Sent from my SimSmart Smartphone

To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Your new baby sister

Sandi was reading over my shoulder and just about died of cuteness when she saw Abby’s picture. :-)

How’s Mom doing? Was there a reason why she had to stay in the hospital overnight? Hope that everything is all right.

In other news, we had one heck of a scare last night.



We are okay. The stove and the counter were a total loss, but thankfully the fire didn’t spread beyond that. It scared the living daylights out of both of us, though...and Sandi has now forbidden me from using the stove.

I never knew that macaroni and cheese was quite that flammable. O_o

I’m still working on my Spring break plans. A bunch of the guys want to go to Isla Paradiso, but I’d almost rather go home for the week. I do have a new sister to meet, after all. ;-)

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Your new baby sister

Hi Sam,

Don’t worry, mother and baby are both doing well. :-) Doctor Steel just wanted to keep them overnight as a “just in case” measure. They're both home now, and of course everyone is fawning over little Abby. I'm glad that you and Sandi are all right. Fire is nothing to be toyed with, that much is for sure.

Let me know when you finalize your plans for Spring break.

Love,

Dad

P.S. - You might be getting a phone call from your sister. Lexie's crush apparently asked her to the formal dance and she's literally floating on air. :-P

To: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
From: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
Subj: Re: Your new baby sister

Hehe, yeah, Lexie called me last night. She was actually excited about something. That almost never happens. :-P

So I just got in touch with Arlo and apparently he's throwing a big get-together on the beach during break, so yes, I will be coming home. Would you or Mom mind if Sandi were to hang with us for the week? She...kind of got into a spat with her mother and they're not really on speaking terms (I don't know all of the details, only that it's ugly.)

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: Sekemoto49 @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: Your new baby sister

Sam,

I talked it over with your mother and she doesn't have a problem with Sandi staying here for the week. The timing actually couldn't be more perfect. We have a wedding to attend on that Friday and could use a babysitter. ;-)

Look forward to seeing you soon. Take care, and don't party too much.

Dad

---







---

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: <no subject>

I tried calling you but it went right to voicemail. I know you've got finals coming up so you're probably busy, but I really need to vent.

The formal dance was last night...and it was quite possibly the worst night of my life. Randall completely ditched me when we got there, and when I finally found him he was in the corner making out with Alison Ursine.



When I confronted him about it he told me that he “only asked me to the dance out of pity”, and that he never really wanted to go with me in the first place.



I tried not to cry...I really did...but I couldn't help it! And then he started laughing at me!

That's when the weirdest thing happened. Out of nowhere comes Simon Landgraab, who marched right up to Randall and told him to his face “How dare you treat a lady like that...”



...to which Randall immediately responded by shoving him.



I didn't see what happened next since Lacey took me out of there, but a few minutes later I saw one of the chaperones escorting my former date out of the building and Simon being led to the nurse's office.

After that I called Mom and had her come and pick me up. I've never felt so embarrassed in my whole life. If Randall didn't like me why did he ask me to the dance? Just to make an example of me?

And then this whole thing with Simon. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected him of all people to come to my defense. I mean, we've been on sort-of-friendly terms since middle school, but we're not really friends and he is still a bit of a pest. Why in the world did he confront Randall like that? It just doesn't make sense!

Sigh...I'm sorry I'm so long-winded. E-mail me back when you get this, if you can...

Lexie



To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: <no subject>

Lexie,

I had my cell phone turned off since Sandi and I were both studying for finals...but after reading your e-mail I really wish that I had left it on. What Randall did to you was wrong in every possible way. No one deserves to be treated like that.

If you want to talk about it at all please give me a call. I've got two finals tomorrow morning and a third on Wednesday, but any time in the afternoons I should be available.

We will get through this together, little sis—I promise. :-)

Love,

Sam

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: <no subject>

Sam, I just wanna say that you're awesome. Thanks for chatting with me last night. It was nice to finally get it all out and off of my chest. You are right...I have an amazing friend in Lacey, and maybe I really do need to give Simon a chance.

Now if I can just get up the nerve to talk to him after what happened.

So you'll be home next week, right? The new Simvengers movie will be out that Friday. Care to take me? :-P

Talk to you later, and good luck on your last final.

Lexie

To: ssekemoto @simsuniversity.sim.edu
From: lexiegirl @sunsetvalley.sim.net
Subj: Re: <no subject>

Just name the time, I'll be there. Though to be fair, I think we should invite Justin and Jeremy along too. I'll even spring for popcorn and soda. :-)

And tell Mom and Dad for me that I passed with flying colors. Now all I have to do is take care of registering for next term and I'll be heading back home for the summer.



See you on Sunday!

Sam

---

(Author's Note: Regarding the screencaps: I used the black and whites to denote the passage of time before Sam left for college and the two times during the year that he came home on breaks.)

[chetanhaobijam]

Nice emails chapter update. It was good to see Sam and Sandi studying in the university. And very happy welcome to nooboo Abigail. And love to see the cute face of Winter. Looking forward for more nice updates.

[Luna]

Glad that they made it into one piece, not pieces
It seems both of Sandi and Sam really have fun there. They didn't do anything suspicious do they? I hope that they didn't
I believe five is not enough yet for Leighton and Morganna. So, it is six now? I believe they will be craving more if the room still available
I see that Landgraab and Sekemoto will be together. So many stories of the family in one update