The Diary of the Greek: Entry 39 (Completed)

[11Snoopy16]

Day 1,
Okay, so maybe I’m not such a bad father after all. I mean, I know I left my girlfriend, left my family, left my hometown, but I did it for them... for the twins. That’s doing better than most single teen fathers, right?

Maybe this is just an attempt to make myself feel better about the decision…

I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Giorgos Xristou. Yes, I am Greek. Ευχαριστώ πολύ! I moved to Sunset Valley after my girlfriend broke up with me and my family disowned me for impregnating her. We had twin boys, Spyros and Theos. I cherish them more than I cherish life. They’re fraternal twins, but they look so similar. Spyros takes after me and Theos after his mother.





In an attempt to escape judgment from my family and ridicule from my friends, I decided to raise them in a more… loving… environment. I bought a trailer, cheap, for around $13K. It’s all we need for now. I've taken to writing in this journal about my life here. Maybe my boys will read it someday, maybe my ex-girlfriend will read it, maybe no one will read it. It makes no difference to me. I'm ready for this new life....

I think...

[11Snoopy16]

Day 3,
Turns out I’m failing high school. I blame no one but myself. I have to stay home to work with the boys… if I can give them nothing else, I at least want them to have a good start on life and maybe their journey will wind up a bit more successful than my own.

I’ve been working with them, what feels like, nonstop, trying to teach them to walk and talk. Mostly use the toilet, I mean, if I could at least get them to use the bathroom on their own, I could have so much more time to work on homework instead of skipping school altogether.



I've also been hearing some rumors about a scientist in town who's been experimenting with potions that makes a Sim live forever... however, I've been too busy with the twins to look into the matter. I'm keeping my ears open though.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 5,
The boys seem to be adjusting to life fairly well for being away from their mother. Teaching them to walk and talk, and use the potty, was a breeze. Teaching them in between doing homework… well…. That was a bit of a struggle. I expected some hardships, but for the most part I figured everything would come naturally, or rather, instinctual.



They’ve started school now. Spyros is exhibiting some more athletic ability, while Theos seems to have taken an interest in the arts. I have high hopes for their future. They’re making friends fast in school too… I think they may be developing crushes on a couple of girl classmates. I hope their relationships turn out better than mine.

Them being in school has given me plenty of time to hone my writing abilities. In between classes, I work as a self-employed writer. The money doesn’t come very often, but when it does, it’s the bare minimum for us to pay the bills. Going under isn’t an option now.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 7,
I’ve heard some people talking in class about that scientist. He's invented a potion that will make a person never age again… with the boys in school, I took a trip over to the science lab today.

The man (a bit crazy if you ask me; he looked like Einstein brought back from the dead) informed me that only those that had achieved a level of respect and love from those nearest to him are able to absorb the effects of the potion. Whatever that means.

More to the point, he didn't give me the potion.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 13,
Spyros and Theos are teenagers. They’ve both already had some mood swings, but all in all, are enjoying their new life in high school. They’ve even got girlfriends. Spyros is dating a light haired girl named Sandi French. She seems shy, but definitely infatuated by Spyros. What girl wouldn’t be though? He’s always working out and knows his way around a toolbox. Theos is dating a lovely dark headed girl named Bella Bachelor. She’s got a couple of huge eyes on her, but other than that, she’s more outgoing than Sandi. Theos is constantly writing poems about her, though he tries to hide them under his mattress.




   
I myself am now a young adult, and none the wiser. Yes, I’m very aware of this, even though most days I just sit at home working on my writing skills. I’m close to mastering the skill altogether and fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming an author.

[Author's Note: And with that, I leave you readers to enjoy these first entries of Giorgos's journal.]

[11Snoopy16]

Day 15,
Oh the teenage mood swings! Having one teenager would be fine, but to have twins… oh Great Llama, help me now!

Day 18,
I’ve done it! I’ve mastered the skill of writing! I seem to have a knack for writing romance novels. I mean, listen to this line I just wrote:

“Her eyes were more fair than a single daisy in a field of wildflowers. One wouldn’t grant the flower one glance at first, but then, the unique and exquisite color of her skin and her hair would put the coldest man in a trance.”



Pretty good, eh?

[11Snoopy16]

Day 20,
I can’t believe Spyros and Theos will be moving out of the nest soon… it seems like just yesterday, they were crawling around, babbling nonsense, and chewing on building blocks. Their mother couldn’t do a finer job than myself in raising them. They were a handful, but the ride has been so enjoyable. Watching them form and mold into the men they are now, I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of sons.



Day 23,
Tomorrow is graduation day. I took a trip to that scientist I had visited so long ago again. He told me I was on the right track, but I still hadn’t gained the respect from my loved ones. Maybe I’m not understanding his requirements… my boys love me. I know they do, they tell me how much they admire me and wish to be like me. Spyros, Theos, and I are best friends, my father and I weren’t even this clos—my father…

I haven’t thought about my family in days. I couldn’t forgive them though… not for how they abandoned me. A teenager with twins left out on the street to fend for himself… how could I possibly begin to love them again?

[11Snoopy16]

Day 24,
Theos and Spyros have graduated! The glee in their faces was met with anxiety in mine. I know I should be excited, relieved, and should be willing to celebrate with a long nap from raising them, but as they tossed their diplomas in the air, my worry only grew.

This is the life they were meant for though. This is the moment for which I’ve been raising them all this time. They’re responsible, strong, and intelligent. They’re healthy, loving, and respectful… so why am I filled with this fear of letting them leave?

Day 25,
My goodness! I can’t believe it! My boys are getting married. Both of them! I’ve set a wedding date—rather, a double-wedding date for them to be tomorrow in the morning! The girls are so lucky to have such loving, devoted fiancés!







I wonder when they proposed….

[11Snoopy16]

Day 26,
Today is the big day for both of them! I’ve invited all of the people I know from the ChatSim chatroom online, which is mostly full of people from Sunset Valley. The boys are eager and nervous, but they’re still on the right track. I never married, but at least they’ll have loving spouses.

The wedding was beautiful and everyone who was invited showed up. I don’t think they realized it was a double wedding though. By the time that Theos walked down the aisle, everybody except one guest remained. He still had a lovely wedding, though, his bride was a bit underdressed.





After seeing them both off, I relaxed in my computer chair for a few hours, typing away at my computer. I see grandchildren in my near future.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 29,
With the kids gone and moved out, the house is quiet… lonesome. I keep expecting to hear a running shower or some hammering on metal, but it never comes. Spyros and Theos seemed to be as worried about me as I to them. They both call me once in the morning and once at night which is comforting.



I also moved to a bigger home. With my royalty checks I get from my books, I was able to afford a bigger, one bedroom, large living room abode across the street.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 30,
Four! FOUR! Four grandchildren! It’s a little hard to take in at the moment, but yes, on top of being a single father-bachelor, now I’m a grandfather of four!
Spyros was the first to call me. He and his wife, Sandi, had given birth to a baby boy, Apollo. Their first child and a cute rascal too! I visited him earlier today and I’m hooked!



Theos called me when I returned home to announce he was the father of triplets! Two boys and a girl, Bernard, Giorgos, and Rachel. They’re all so precious. I’d like to visit them every day if time would permit; unfortunately, it does not.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 34,
So, maybe I’m not done raising children? I know it’s only been a couple of days, and not quite a week since I watched my boys move out, but I received a phone call from Spyros today who said he and Sandi had just delivered twins!

I could hear a choked Spyros on the other end of the line as he requested I watch after Apollo for a short while until he and Sandi could adjust to the newborns. What could I say? He’s my son and of course I wouldn’t mind watching after my grandson. What sort of grandfather would I be? He was so relieved when I complied and they came over right away to drop off Apollo. As we all said our good-byes, and though it wasn’t as if they were leaving town, I was stuck (again) with a toddler. Or maybe I was blessed?

Apollo knew me though and took to me almost instantaneously. He already knew how to use the potty and talk some, though he still wobbled a bit when he walked.



Still… watching him is the least I could do for my own son.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 36,
I’ve written a couple of novels since my last entry. I’ve finally completed my lifelong goal of becoming a known writer. Possibly later on, I’ll be well-known.

Apollo adjusted quickly to the house, but before too long, he had soon started to outgrow his crib and I knew we’d have to move to a bigger house. The house next door to my old trailer was the cheapest two bedroom house I could find. Even though all of the furniture was mismatched and looked to be designed by a 3 year old, it would have to do.

I’m a little sad that Apollo will soon be starting grade school and the cycle of raising a child will begin all over again. I update Spyros daily on his progress, and I’m always interrupted by screaming infants in the background. I do have it easy, I suppose.

[11Snoopy16]

Day 39,
Apollo’s birthday was today. I tried to invite his mother and father to the celebration, but were busy with work. I gave Apollo a cell phone for his birthday, so he could talk to his mom and dad whenever he wasn’t at school.



Spyros apologizes on a daily basis now, frantically trying to make excuses that he never meant Apollo to stay for such a long time. Then he did something I never expected either him or Theos to do… he thanked me.

“Dad… I don’t know how you did it. You were all alone. You had no family or friends to help you. How did you raise my brother and I with such ease? Sandi and I just can’t get a grip on the twins’ schedules; if one is awake, the other one is sleeping. If one is hungry, the other one is crawling around, getting into trouble."

“It wasn’t that easy, Spyros. You and Theos were the same way. I just had to do what I could to give you two the best start on life that I could manage as a single dad.”

“I suppose all toddlers are somewhat the same."

There was a long pause on his end and then him clearing his throat.

"Well, I guess what I’m trying to say, Dad, is… thank you.”

[indecipherable scribbling]

I think... I'm a little overwhelmed emotionally to write anymore...
Σ’αγαπώ, ο γιός μου...

[Author's Note: That's all I have for today. c: Feel free to leave feedback or comments.]

[11Snoopy16]

Day 42,
Apollo started school today and he made a couple of friends and had a nice time riding the bus and meeting his teacher. He came home excited to start on his homework, which was later met with boredom, which was to be expected. Who really enjoys doing homework anyways?



Theos visited me today too. He told me he was just in the neighborhood and thought he’d drop by. We talked about his kids and soon, I was asked as to why I was raising Apollo. When I explained the situation, Theos only nodded. I knew he didn’t think any less of his brother, but still didn’t quite understand why I was raising Spyros’s son. It was a silent agreement that it was what I wanted to do, not something forced upon me.