Chapter 5 - Friends (Part I)
"So that's what happened. Mom's gonna have a baby and that baby's gonna heir instead of me jus' for bein' born! It's not fair!"
After discussing the matter of the legacy's succession laws, Astrid had had to leave for work. Mitchell, who had overheard most of the conversation, had then tried to console his shattered son with comfort food (leftover Chili Con Carne) and steady words of encouragement.
Truthfully, Mitchell wished Astrid had held off on telling Bjoern about the Childer succession laws. Now Bjoern resented his unborn sibling from day dot, and Mitchell wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Astrid had triggered some sort of identity complex in him prematurely.
"Being a spare doesn't mean that you aren't important, Bjoern," Mitchell had told him, after explaining why the succession laws were what they were. "You get to live out the best days of your life here with us, and after that, you have some degree of freedom."
"But it's not the same," Bjoern had argued. So then Mitchell suggested Bjoern invite Elijah over to play, and then after he had finished some work on his comedy routines, Mitchell would take them to the park.
"Bro, that really smarts." Elijah empathised. "I know how much you like being a legacy sim. I thought it was usually the firstborn who got to be heir?"
"Nuh-uh, not in this family. Dad explained to me that the Childer legacy isn't about rushing through the generations as fast as possible - it's about getting the highest score possible."
"That sucks a lot."
"Tell me about it."
"Maybe it won't be so bad after a while." Elijah ventured after a few moments of sympathetic silence. "Maybe you could still live with your family until there's no more room - and hey, I think being a big brother could be pretty cool. What are you hoping for; a brother or a sister?"
Bjoern pondered this query for a good long while. All this time he had been so preoccupied with the revelation that he would only be a spare in his family's legacy that he'd barely lent a thought to the nooboo who would unsurp his position.
"I dunno," he shrugged. "Maybe a brother?"
Elijah nodded enthusiastically. "I think so. A brother would be way more fun."
"Yeah," sulked Bjoern, "fun."
He was determined to not like this kid.
"Anyways," said Elijah, "I think you're pretty awesome, and way more important than some nooboo, regardless of what your parents or some dopey rules say."
Bjoern managed a smile, then a hug. "Thanks, 'Lijah. You're the bestest of friends a legacy spare could ask for!"
"Okay boys, we haven't got long. I have a birthday party to plan for this afternoon. Meet a few kids, grab some names and numbers and then we need to get back home," Mitchell instructed when the boys arrived at the playground.
"Sure thing, Dad!" Bjoern said. He was feeling better already and excited to meet the kids he needed to meet and eventually befriend in order to complete his aspiration. "Come on Elijah, I don't think there'll be any Mom-monsters in space today!"
"Oh I hope not."
"I'm going to be the engineer today. Looks like someone else is captain. Heeey, Captain! I'm Bjoern, and this is Elijah, reporting for duty sir!"
"I'm Captain Brice!" said the boy. "See that planet there? It's being invaded by the Slovene, and it's up to us to save it! Full speed ahead!"
Before too long, a whole group of boys had joined them on the spaceship; besides Brice, there was Stuart (in the hat) and Elliott (in the sunnies), and it was just in time too, because Astrid was nearly finished work for the day, so Mitchell soon came 'round to tell Bjoern it was time to go home.
So Bjoern brought his new friends with him.
The occasion was, of course, Mitchell's adult birthday. Astrid scoffed at thought of him being a 'fully mature grown-up" but Mitchell insisted he could be mature.
His guitar skill had improved - Astrid would give him that. He only played a few songs to satisfy a party requirement, then decided to get on with the festivities.
Astrid was barely home from work when the party started, so she went straight to baking a cake for Mitchell.
No sooner was the cake out of the oven than the candles were on it and Mitchell was ready to blow them out.
"Make a wish lovely," Astrid said to him.
But Mitchell was happy. Sure, they could do with a bit more cash, and there was the baby to worry about, and it had been a while since either of them had seen a promotion, but there wasn't much to
wish for necessarily.
Except, perhaps, for wisdom. Now that he was older and, um, wiser, supposedly, and their family was growing, he and Astrid would have some decisions to make and they would need wisdom to face the challenges that laid ahead.
For now, however, all that remained was to enjoy the party with friends and acquaintances alike. Astrid felt confident that they had yet another gold medal event in the bag.
Bjoern and his friends played cards.
"Thanks for coming over guys," Bjoern told them. "It's been so great to meet you all today. Will you come over again tomorrow, Brice? Stuart?"
"Sure, love to," said Stuart.
"Hooray! My Mom and Dad are boring, mean dumb dumbs so I'll be grateful for the company of others."
"Bjoern, stop yammering," chided Elijah, "Brice, do you have a Starfish?"
"Nope," said Brice, "Go fish!"
"Really, Shelley, my boy's still a child. You really thought that was appropriate party attire?"
"I couldn't help it, Mitchell," the teen protested, "I aged up and had no say in the matter of my attire. If there was some way, perhaps a cheat code?"
Mitchell shook his head, "unfortunately, no. Cheat codes are banned in this household."
"But only to change
my attire?" Shelley argued.
Mitchell shook his head. "I am very sorry."
"Also, I do believe that's checkmate. Wouldn't you agree, J?"
J nodded solemnly, "I believe he's got you, Shelley."
"Oh, poppycock. This is such a lame party," she fumed.
"Actually," Mitchell said, "You just played a game with the Birthday Sim, and that makes this officially a gold-medal event!"
"Well, my love," Mitchell said to his wife, "Parties seem to be our thing. Perhaps I should change my aspiration?"
"I am proud of you Mitchell. Not yet - perhaps when you've finished the one you've got?"
Mitchell nodded, "Yes, perhaps."
"And now, my love, for your birthday present," Astrid said with a giggle "It's not like I can get any more pregnant than I already am." Mitchell beamed, eager to prove that even as a mature adult, he still had it.
