Starting A New Line
“So, here we are. Just us, a bin and a postbox.”
“And a great view, sunshine, the smell of pine trees… No, not much, is it? What do you think we should do first?”
“Well, um, there was that business about having to have a baby in the next few days. Do you think we should maybe… get to know one another better?”
“Well, yes, I do… and I’d love to spend the day chatting – but I think other things are more urgent. We don’t have much money.”
“And Deirdra said we had to own the whole town within four generations. That’s going to take a
lot of cash.”
“We’ll need help, too. If we can’t become too expert in any skill we want our descendants to master, we won’t get far on our own.
“I think we should go out and talk to people; make a few friends. I have a couple of ideas…”
* * * * *
Sophia was nervous. Her first day in a new town and now she was on her own. True, she’d had plenty of friends back home in Sunset Valley and had thought nothing of meeting new people, but now that she’d lost all of her skills, her confidence seemed to have gone with them. Still, Sam had told her how to approach this. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
It was strange meeting another doctor but being unable to drop into professional jargon, unable even to admit that she’d been a surgeon herself until yesterday. She must be coming over as some kind of mad enthusiast – a hypochondriac, maybe.
This woman must think she was crazy. Although, from what Sam had said, Emmaline Rhoen wasn’t too stable herself. Thank goodness the SMJ had had that article last month about Hidden Springs and its unconventional treatments. She could at least make some sensible comparisons between established therapies and those used by Dr – no, Sam said she preferred ‘Healer’ – Rhoen.
* * * * *
Sam’s task was easier – or, at least, it was easier once he’d managed to track down his chosen targets. He’d often heard Mr Riverhawk discussing gardening and the joys of the great outdoors with Grandpa Joe. All he had to do was remember that he and Mr – no,
Nick – Riverhawk were much the same age now. Once he’d got over that hurdle, everything was straightforward.
* * * * *
As the afternoon softened into evening, Sam and Sophia arrived back home with their new friends…
…and, shortly afterwards, they were a household of six.
Their new place might be a little – well, completely – lacking in amenities and an inconveniently long way from the centre of town but it was right next door to somewhere much more luxurious. Somewhere with soft beds, comfortable chairs, a good TV and games. All six of them trooped over to spend the first of many nights at Redwood Lodge.
* * * * *
The next morning, Sam found Sophia out on the balcony.
“Good morning, Sam. I can see why you love this place. The view’s beautiful.”
“Yes, it is. Very beautiful.”
“You’re not even looking at it… Oh. Thank you.”
“You look lovely, Sophia. That top really suits you.”
“What, this old thing? No, sorry, I really have had it ages but Deirdra did something to make it look like new again. She didn’t like my jumper, for some reason. And she hated the trousers I used to wear with this blouse. Said they were too baggy. She bullied me into these skinny jeans. She said… um…”
“That you’ve got nice legs and ought to show them off? She was right.”
“Well, actually, she was talking about my bum. Is she always that… direct?”
“Oh, yes. For someone who wears the world’s silliest work uniform, she has pretty strong opinions about fashion. She told me I looked like a history teacher and needed sexing up a bit.”
“You look… very… nice, Sam. Did you get the tattoo in CAS, too?”
“No, I’ve had it… them… for a while. Signs of a misspent youth. Aunt Deirdra just insisted I should stop covering them up.
“Sophia?”
“Yes?”
“You know what you were saying yesterday… about getting to know each other better? Do you think now would be a good time?”
* * * * *
“This probably sounds silly, given our situation, but.. er… would you like to go out with me? Be my girlfriend?”
“I’d love to be your girlfriend… although I don’t think we need to go anywhere. Here’s perfect.”
“Sam… you know the other thing I said yesterday? Do you think now would be a good time for that, too?”
“Already? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. “
Next chapter
The versions of Sam and Sophia that I’ve ended up with in this game are slightly different from the originals.
Sam’s original skintone was on the green slider. He’s now been moved on to the rainbow slider. His appearance is unchanged otherwise, although his traits have changed slightly. He’s kept his love of the outdoors and is still a genius but his good trait has been replaced with ambitious (no surprise whatsoever, in this dynasty
). His remaining traits are virtuoso, which came close to being a family trait for the Gooles, and friendly.
Sophia’s hair has been reddened slightly. They both started out with greenish-brown hair, although Sam’s is a darker shade. I left his as it was because it suits his skin. Oddly, they also have similar eye colours. Sophia started out by keeping her original skin colour but I eventually shifted her on to the pastel rainbow slider (yes, I really want rainboos!) She’s also had her good trait replaced with ambitious. She’s still a genius and bookworm but has swapped her heavy sleeper and lucky traits for born saleswoman and charismatic.
