The Mayfield Family

[FluffyMao]

This if the Tale of the Mayfield family! It's the first sims 3 family I ever made and played (both firsts). And they've become really interesting so I decided to write a story about them.  So, yeah...  Here we go! I do have images, but I couldn't figure out how to put them in the post.

**Warning: there will be purposeful misspellings all around.  They are there for voice! Thank you.**

EDIT: I figured out pictures! Woo!

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1.0 – A Fresh Start


My skies, but I’d never before seen such a bootiful sight!  When Bernard an’ Susan were talking of moving towns, why, I thought we’d be heading tah thuh town over, Bigsburg.  But no!  They plum packed us all up, kids an’ all, an’ we drove all thuh way across this country from Pleasantville tah Sunset Valley.  An’, my, if it weren’t a pretty place.  All snug an’ tucked up against those green, green mountains an’ thuh big blue ocean on thuh othuhrside!  That first day, I fell in love with thuh place.  I wanted thuh rest of my children to be born an' raised right thuhre.  I wanted my gran'kids to be born an' raised thuhre!  I wanted a big ol’ place with lotsa' room an' I wanted a big family to match.

For lan's’ sakes, Ellie, you’re getting ahead a’ yourself!

I’m Ellie Mayfield, an' here’s my little family.  That han'some devil is my husban', Bernard Mayfield, an' behind him is my sister, Susan Thompson.  Thuh little blonde bundle off to thuh side is my daughter, Chloe Mayfield.  Bernard’s not her daddy, but you couldn’t tell with thuh way he treats her.  An' thuh cute little guy in thuh flowers is my nephew, Thomas Thompson.  I begged Suzy not to name him that, but that was our Daddy’s name, rest in peace.  She never did mention who Thomas’s daddy was.  Anywho, here we all are!



It all started a year back, right before Mama died.  I was young an' a single mothuhr.  I’d quit school to have Chloe.  Her daddy was a good-fer’-nuthin’ though.  Chloe was just a coupla’ weeks old when Mama died.  Daddy, though he hadn’t liked Momma (‘cept fer a few months back when they were still hot-blooded), he came to her funeral.  Afterwards he packed me an’ Chloe up an' took us to Pleasantville.  I thought is was so big an' chic!  I met my big sister Suzy.  Her momma was Daddy’s wife, but she died years back when Suzy was jus’a kid.  Anywho, Daddy got me an’ Chloe moved in with him, an' it wasn’t long afterwords that Suzy got her fancy degree from college.  That summer I’ll never forget.  Suzy had her baby boy (she’d been busy with school at thuh time, so I took care’a him).  An' in mid-June, I met my one-an’-only.

I’ll remember that day always.  I was out wid’da kids in thuh front yard, watching ‘em toddle through Daddy’s flower beds, when this blue-eyed hunk walked up an’ knocked on our front door.  He noticed me after a coupla' seconds, an’ he went all red an' stuttery.  He was a cutey.  Still is.  I said hi, an’ he ran away.  But thuh next day he was back with a bundle o’ roses an’ sweets for thuh kids.  I didn’t waste no time.  I pulled every trick Mama ever taught me.  By thuh end of thuh summer I was Mrs. Bernard Mayfield an' Chloe was Chloe Mayfield.  Sweet guy, my Bernard, he wanted Chloe to be his, no ifs, an's, nor buts.

Turns out, Suzy an' Bernard had been best friends since Daddy an' Suzy had moved to Pleasantville.  An’ thuhy’d been making plans.  Not marriage, no!  I’d nevah steal a man from mah own sister!  But thuhy’d been wanting to leave Pleasantville since high school.  Go somewhere more “happening”.  Me, I was so caught up in thuh wedding an’ heaven’s happiness that I wen’ along with whateveah thuhy wanted.

An’ that’s how I found mahself in Sunset Valley.  Mah sister, mah husban' an’ thuh two kids on thuh lawn, all staring at our new home.



It weren’t much, but I jus’ knew we could make it work!

[FluffyMao]

Hi, no update as I still haven't worked out how to get images into these posts.  I've...*whispers* started a blog...over at wordpress: https://thesims3mayfields.wordpress.com/.  Those posts will have pictures.  I'll try to get another post on Friday, but finals, life, and all that.
Cheers!

[Trip]

Gave you an official Wordpress follow! And I hear you about finals. I'm going through the same hell too. :|

[FluffyMao]

Generation 1 - Chapter 1.1!

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1.1 – Bumps an’ Bruises

Weren’t exactly easy, right off, nah.  Bernard an’ Susan had tah settle fer less than thuhy wanted jus’ tah put food on thuh table.  But they’re both hard workers, an' I had no doubt that their dreams’d come true someday.  Suzy wanted tah be a astrahnut since she were a little girl, an’ Bernard wanted tah “head his own search ‘stablishment”.  Something about breeding thuhm there compotahs wid’ fish.  I honestly have no idea.  As fer me, I just wanted tah look after my family an’ make sure thuh kids grew up right.  I wouldn’t’ve minded learning more than even Momma did ‘bout cooking, but that’d be fer later.

While Bernard an' Suzy were out making money an’ working fer their dreams, I stayed home wit’ thuh kids.  My momma raised me right, so first thing I did was set out tah meet thuh neighbors.  Only met one ‘for thuh kids were tussled out, Beau Andrews, who’s got a wife, but I never did see hide nor hair a’ her.  By thuh time we got home, thuh furniture guys had got thuh cribs out an’ hooked up thuh power an’ water.  We were moved in!

Our little family quickly settled into a routine.  I made breakfast early each mornin’, jus’ so’s Susan could eat somethin’ ‘for she ran to work at 5am.  Then I’d wake an’ feed thuh kids.  At haf’pas 6, I’d put a plate o’ breakfast in Bernard’s sleepy hands ‘fore he left at 7.  Then it’d just be me an’ thuh wee ones.  I’d cook while they played on thuh floor.  I always had one in thuh walker until they could both toddle an' tussle togethuher.  I think I spent most a’ mah time cooking an' canning an' cleaning an' trying to keep up with thuh kids.  I taught ‘em both to talk an' walk by thuh time Susan’s first pro’tion came around.  An' Chloe was potty-trained when Bernard came home wit’ news a’ some kind’a extra work he was working on wit’ his boss.  My Chloe always was a quick study, though where she got that thuh Lord only knows.  Training Thomas, now that was a mite harder.  He weren’t near so quick as Chloe, but, my Lord!, was he stubborn!



I was still trying tah potty-train Thomas when Bernard an’ Susan finally got those promotions.  I was so proud an’ happy fer thuhm!



I’ve always been a get-up-an’-go kind’a gal, so when I started feeling more an’ more tuckered out each day, I thought I might be comin’ down wit’ somethin’.  It took me a coupl’a weeks tah figger’ it out. Me an’ Bernard, we were gonna have a baby!
My wish has always been to have a big ol’ family, all my own.  Me an’ my hubby cuddled up on a front porch swing while all our little ones played in thuh yard.  Now…it were coming true!

That next year, in early spring, still frosty an’ glitterin’, Bernard an’ me brought home our little girl, Shaye Mayfield, named for Bernard’s mama.  She’s got some wild hair, that one!  All blonde an' blue-eyed, she’s a good kid though, takes after her daddy.



I don’t know if a new baby made ‘em work harder or if we finally got a break, but Susan an' Bernard were both promoted not long after Shaye was born.  Things got easier, for sure, but our tiny house was cramped.  Then Tommy an' Chloe started school.  An’ it just didn’t make sense tah Susan an’ Bernard tah have two schoolbound kids sharing a room with thuh new baby.



Susan started talkin’ ‘round fer contractors.  It was time fer a bigger house!

[FluffyMao]

I've given up on images.  I can put them into posts on the wordpress blog, but not here. No biggie.  So, question, what's your favorite town?  I've gotten to Gen 2 in game and I want to move them somewhere else.  I've got most of the towns (possibly all?) so that's not a problem.  I've only ever played Sunset Valley, so I want to know your favorite, the reason why, and what you think the Mayfields would do in such a place.

[FluffyMao]

New, extra long part to celebrate the end of finals!  Also, Trip, if you're reading this, I love your Eight Cicadas story!  You're a far better writer than I am.


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1.2 – Growin’ Pains


It took time, that bigga’ house.  Buildin’ takes time an’ money, an’ the last we din’t have much o’.  But we made due.  Tommy an’ Chloe got their own room, sep’ret from the baby’s, an’ wit’ thuh lil’ left over, Susan got one o’ them fancy computurs tuh work at home on.  Shaye moved into Chloe’s old crib in mine an’ Bernard’s bedroom since there jus’ wan’t enuff money tuh finish thuh expanshun.




That day mah heart jus’ ‘bout broke fer pride an’ gloom, seein’ my babies off tuh their firs’ day’a school!  I’ll always ‘member it.  I wuz so happy fer’ em, Chloe an’ Tommy.  They were gonna go an’ get a eduhcashun!  But that day…Tommy, he came home so mad!  I’d nevuh ‘fore seen that boy so stewed!  He wuz always so happy an’ friendly!  An’ Chloe, she wouln't tell me nuthin’!  Jus’ picked at her dinner an’ then ran off tuh thuh park.  I’ve nevuh known what goes on it that gurl's head!



Chloe nevuh told me nuthin’.  Tommy calmed down, but I couln’t get anythang out’a him neither!  Those two were true blood.  None o’ ‘em were gonna say anythang ’til thuh othuh one did.  They nevuh came home upset after that, so I let it go.  Those kids had’a way o’ workin' thru thangs.  I weren’t gonna pry.

‘Round thuh same time, Susan an’ Bernard bof’ got pro’shuns.



Shaye weren’t a month ‘fore I found out I was wit’ child again!  I was so excited.  That didn’t last long.  I started feeling really run down.  I couldn’t eat nuthin’, it all just made me sick.  An' I din’t have no energy tuh play wit’ Shaye so much.  I got real big an’ could hardly walk.  The doctors said it’d be best if I rested in bed.  Maybe it woudun't a been so bad, but Bernard were also feelin’ sick an’ not at’all right.  He said he kept havin' bad dreams that put’im in a right funk fer thuh rest o’ thuh day.



So I had a sick husband, still workin’ hard, a ‘nuther baby tuh look aftuh an’ two kids off doin’ who knew what!  I couln’t rest!  I kept on mah feet!



I were gettin' big when Susan’s final pro’shun came.  Aftuh six years o’ hard work and detuhminashun, Susan got her dream!  She was promoted tuh astruhnut.  Thuh next week she got called up tuh space.  She weren’t happy ‘bout leavin' her baby boy wif’out his mama, let alone me in such’a state.



I dint see mah big sister fer a long time.

It were dead winter when I gave birth, too early.  As I wuz goin’ intuh labor, Bernard wuz workin' late at thuh lab.



I had tuh call a babysitter fer thuh kids while I drove myself tuh thuh hospital.  I don’t ‘member much.  There were “complications”.  Lots.  An' thuhy gave me all sorts o’ drugs tuh help with thuh pain.  I had triplets, two girls an' a boy.  I wuz so happy when thuh doctors told me.  Two more daughters an' our first son!  But thuhn…apparently thuh complications got worse.  My baby boy…died…an' one o’ thuh girls wuz so weak…thuhy told me she weren’t gonna make it neither.

Oh, what a state I were in when Bernard got tuh thuh hospital.  One child already dead an' anothuhr expected tuh jus’ stop breathing at any moment!  But my Bernard…he’s a sweetheart, an' thuh strongest man I ever did met.  He kept me goin’.  He kept us all goin’.

We named thuh boy David, after mah younga’ brothur.  His older sister wuz Medea an' his younger sister wuz Lucy.
We brought home thuh twins an'…I barely held myself togethuhr.  Even with that, I still cried myself tuh sleep that night.  I jus’ kept thinkin’ ‘bout what lil’ David would’a been like.  What he would’a looked like.  How he would’a acted.

Thuh next day, Bernard came home from thuh lab early.  He wuz so shy an' stuttering, trying tuh explain that he had somethin’ that might help but he didn’t know fer sure if I would want it, an' on an' on.  Finally, he just passed me a basket.

Inside was a little baby with dark green skin.

Bernard wuz talking about how thuh lab had created it from some skin or somethin’ thuhy’d found.  I don’t know, I weren’t really paying attention.

“Wh–what do you think?” Bernard finally asked.

“He’s precious…”  He felt warm in my arms.  An' he opened his eyes an' oh!  Those dark eyes,  I fell in love!  He yanked my hair an' babbled something, but I couldn’t stop smiling.  He were too cute!  Even with green skin.  “You cutey gotta name?”

“Well, we never thought of it, just DNA-OD.  It stands for DNA Off-world Duplicate.”  He paused.  “No one really thought about what would happen to it after it was born.”

“Well, that’s no name fer a baby.”

“Since it was just me and the tech guys, we figured in order to really study how different humans an' aliens are, we should have an alien grow up in a normal, human environment, away from the lab, but still closely monitored.”  Bernard smiled at me.  “He’s all yours.”

All mine.  This little thing…was all mine.  My son.

“Donovan.”  I don’t ‘member where thuh name came from.  I hadn’t wanted tuh name him ‘David’.  That would’a jus’ made him a replacement tuh thuh son I’d lost, which wouln’t honor neithuh of ‘em.  But Donovan had a exotic sound tuh it.  Something different.  An' he was somethin’ different.

[FluffyMao]

A lot happened in this part (but nothing exciting) and I have a lot of pictures.

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1.3 – Livin’ Life

Donny, he helped in a lot of ways, just by being thuhre.  It still hurt, but not as much when I could hold Donovan in my arms.  He was warm, real, alive.  An' mine.  I don’t know if I was sick, but after he was added tuh our family, I started feelin’ better.  I got back to cookin' an’ cleanin’ an’ cannin' thuh stuff from Bernard’s garden.  Yesser, I was feelin’ better an’ better!

Donny was such a oddball!  Dark green skin, big black eyes, an' no hair at all!  But he were smart, I could see that.  He reminded me a’ Chloe.  But where Chleo had been painfully shy (still is), Donny was so friendly!  Always willing to play with anyone, even Medea, though she’d get impatient an' start throwing blocks ‘round.  Everybody loved him!  Tommy was a lil’ shy at first, mostly curious why Donovan looked so different.  Chloe though…I think she picked up how smart Donny was.  I’d catch her reading med’cal journals tuh him!  Of all thuh things!  Yesser, Donny helped our family, just by being him.

Donny…I ne’er had tuh worry ‘bout him.  Always healthy an’ happy.  A mama’s dream.



Lucy weren’t near as strong as Donny or Medea.  When thuhy were born, thuh doctors warned us that she wouldn’t see her first birthday.  I worried for a long time, but Lucy surprised us all!  She’s a fighter!  Thuh twins’ an’ Donny an’ Shaye’s firs’ birthdays passed wif’out a hitch.  An’ then their secon’…an’ third..an’ fourth!  An’ Lucy just got stronger!  Still weak lookin’, and still a bit thin, but she’s still here.  I ne’er lost her.

As toddlers, all four o’ em ran me ragged!

Shaye, mine an’ Bernard’s firs’, wuz so precious!  She’s such a good kid, but so ditzy!   She were ferevuh fergettin’ what she were doin’.  I’d find her outside suckin’ her thumb an’ sittin' in a dirty diaper cuz she’d ferget where the potty chair wuz!



Donny, wit’ his cute, funny accent, I dunno where he got it, I hardly had tuh teach him tuh talk, nor walk.



Right after him, Lucy was easily taught as well, bit slower, but she had tuh rest often.



Then…there were my Medea.  She were stubborn an' easily frustrated, a true hot-head.  Her first word wuz ‘ball’.  Dear lord!  Wuz I ever happy when she said it!  It took months!



It got so’s I couln't get much rest!  Days spent carin’ fer toddlers an’ nights spent lengthenin’ jeans.  I knew Tommy wuz gonna be tall, jus’ like his momma, but Chloe wuz growin’ like a weed!  I sure am glad that thuh older kids were always happy tuh help out when I needed a nap.



It were near Shaye’s birfday that Bernard got that las’ pro’tion and became a “Creatyah-Robut Cross-breeduh’”!



An’ then straight on up tuh “Mad Scientist”!



He looked mighty fine in that uniform!



Every’un got a bit older…



…An’ we finished thuh house.





Bernard finally retired.



An’ I got a surprise!  Susan was back on Earth!  Hallelujah!



She couldn’t buhlieve her son, lil’ Tommy, had become 16!  Last we all saw her, the twins an’ Donny weren’t even born!  She’d been gone a long time…10 years!  I’d missed her somethin’ fierce.  We all had.

Through it all, Bernard stayed true tuh me an’ I tuh him.



It seems like it was jus’ yestuhday that we moved tuh Sunset Valley.  An’ then, all’a sudden, I had teenagers tuh cope wit’ and a empteh house at lunch.  Bernard an’ I had gotten old.  He wuz still a looker though!

Wit’ thuh kids all in school an’ not runnin’ me ragged, it were easier fer me an’ Bernard tuh have some quiet time tuhgether.



 

[FluffyMao]

Generation 1 - Chapter 4

I've decided where I want to go for generation 2 and have started writing it.  It's kind of cheesy, but I'm rolling with it.

EDIT: I expanded a few places to make it seem less choppy.

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1.4 – I Was Young an’ so Were You


Ahhh, that were a mild winter.  I tried tuh teach mah kids tuh skate.  Only got Donny tuh.  He humored his ol’ ma, such a gud kid!



An’ thuh kids had so much fun in thuh snow!  Oh, but it warmed mah ol’ heart!  They’re all such gud kids!  They made thuh most o’ that winter, full o’ snow days it were.  Bernard worried that their school grades’d be affecked, but I wuz shore they’d be fine.  They’re all bright kids, even Shaye!  “Let’em be kids!” I'd say.  At least fer a while yet.




That winter…I’ll ne’er ferget it.  I may’ve gotten ol’ during it, a lil’ slower maybe but I wuz still hot-blooded!  An’ so wuz mah Bernard!  Now that the kids were out’a thuh house most days, I had Bernard all tuh mahself!  Oh…so many nights staring up at thuh stars an’ cuddlin’ on thuh couch.  I remembah how he used tuh suhprize me in thuh hall while I wuz doin' laundry.  He’d grab me from behind an’ twirl me aroun’!  We’d dance like no one wuz watchin’, jus’ us twirlin’ roun’ an’ roun’, laundry scattered on thuh floor.  Up an’ down thuh hall, roun’ the livin’ room, thru thuh kitchen an’ straight on tuh thuh bedroom!



We wuz a real close-knit family, an’ that winter jus’ made us closer.  Bernard wuz retired, so he could spen’ hours wif’ thuh kids: helpin’ wif' homework, talkin’ ‘bout fishin’ an’ computers.  No fights, no school troubles, no worryin’ late nights at thuh lab.  That winter wuz so perfect.  Like a dream I’m tryin’ tuh hol’ on tuh fer when I wake up.  An’ it jus’ seemed tuh get better e’ryday!  Susan even said she planned tuh retire.  I jus’ couldn’t buhlieve it!



Nevuh thought she’d give up her fancy space ship.  But Susan said she wuz gittin’ old.  We all were.  An’ she wanted tuh spend more time wit’ thuh kids.  After all, she’d missed ten years o’ her only son’s life.  She said she dint want tuh miss anythang else.  She gave her notice an’ wuz due tuh retire aftuh one more mission.

She ne’er made it home.

****

I don't like how this part was written.  It feels very disjointed, but I can't think of a way to make it better since its just a filler piece to keep you updated with the family.  Any critiques/advice would be welcome.  I do want to get better at writing.

[FluffyMao]

I worked out how to center images! XD ...I'm so retarded T.T

1.5 – Mama’s Bittah-Sweet Memories


Two years…that’s how long I had her back.  Two years!  Tommy’d been ready tuh graduate!  He…he’s such a good kid. While I sit here wit’ mah scrapbooks, he an’ Chloe take care o’ thuh youn’uns.  He ne’er deserved this…this heartbreak.  None’n ‘em did.  Not him…not me…

An’ now…an’ now Bernard’s gone too!  At least he went peacefully, not in flames like mah poor sister.  He was 59 years old, she 57.

An’ me?  I’m feelin’ mah age finally.  Nah, I’m feelin’ older.  Bernard…he was mah everuhthang.  What’s left when everuhthang’s gone?



I can’t look at Medea no more.  Thuh bigger she gets…thuh more she looks like her Daddy.  She’s got his eyes…his hair…his smile…  An’ Donovan!  Oh, Donny…it ain’t yer fault…more’un any’un, it’s Donny that makes me think a’ Bernard.  After all…wifout Bernard, Donny ne’er would’a been in mah life.

As I stare down at these pi’tures…



…these memories I been storin’ up all these years…



…I jus’ feel so tired.  I’m tired o’ the hurt!  I…I weren’t ready fer him tuh go!  Lord, I needed him!  Like plants need sun an’ fish need watuh, I need him!



Life…life’s got no meanin’ wifout him in it.

&&&&

Chloe graduated the Community School for the Gifted with Highest Honor and as Class Valedictorian.  Her fellow classmates voted her ‘Most Likely to Take Over the World’.




Thomas graduated the Community School for the Gifted with Highest Honor.  His fellow classmates voted him ‘Most Popular’.




&&&&

This is the last story-post from Ellie.  I'm going to give a sort'a family summary thing, displaying everyone's traits and such, and then we'll switch to the new Mayfield head, Ellie's firstborn, Chloe Mayfield!

...I still have no idea what to do with her.

[FluffyMao]

This is the previously mentioned family summary.  Don't know if it's actually interesting to people.  I don't like writing out who has what traits in the middle of a chapter.  It just doesn't feel right.  So I guess I'll do this instead...unless someone is opposed.

1.6 – Generation 1 Family Summary

Arranged in order of age.

Generation 1
Bernard Mayfield:
     Dead, elder – old age
     LTW – Become a Creature-Robot Cross-breeder (achieved as adult)
     Traits – Good, Hopeless Romantic, Handy, Computer Whiz, Vegetarian

Susan Thompson:
     Dead, elder – fire
     LTW – Become an Astronaut (achieved as adult)
     Traits – Athletic, Workaholic, Ambitious, Charismatic, Loves the Outdoors

Ellie Mayfield:
     Elder
     LTW – Culinary Librarian (achieved as adult)
     Traits – Excitable, Flirty, Natural Cook, Artistic, Perfectionist

Generation 2
Chloe Mayfield (gen2 head):
     Young Adult ~ 18
     LTW – World Renowned Surgeon -> ? ? ?
     Traits – Light Sleeper, Loner, Genius, Computer Whiz, ? ? ?

Thomas Thompson:
     Young Adult ~ 18
     LTW – ? ? ?
     Traits – Good, Virtuoso, Friendly, Perceptive, ? ? ?

Shaye Mayfield:
     Teenager ~ 14
     LTW – The Animal Rescuer (locked in since childhood)
     Traits – Good, Absent-minded, Eco-Friendly, Animal-Lover

Medea Mayfield:
     Teenager ~ 13
     LTW – ? ? ?
     Traits – Loves the Heat, Athletic, Hot-Headed, Vehicle Enthusiast

Lucy Mayfield:
     Teenager ~ 13
     LTW – ? ? ?
     Traits – Loves the Cold, Easily Impressed, Photographer’s Eye, Hopeless Romantic

Donovan Mayfield:
     Teenager ~ 13
     LTW – Celebrated 5 Star Chef (locked in since childhood)
     Traits – Genius, Excitable, Adventurous, Natural Cook

Top (left to right): Chloe, Thomas, Shaye/ Bottom (left to right): Medea, Lucy, Donovan

&&&&

I really did want to try out the hospital career, since I never have, but it didn't make sense with the direction this story took.  Technically, Chloe & Thomas aged up, but I haven't picked out traits or LTWs yet.  So...feel free to suggest stuff!  ^_^

[FluffyMao]

2.0 – And It's Just the Beginning...

Aunt Susan.  Trapped in a fire trying to save the rest of her spaceship crew.

Daddy.  Stroke as he donated money to a charity.

Mom…

…broken heart.

Within four months, they were all gone, one right after another.  Aunt Susan, Daddy, Mom…all gone.  Never coming back.

My name is Chloe Mayfield.  I just graduated from the Sunset Valley High School.  And I’m the head of this family now.

&&&&

Yeah, this was the saddest thing I've ever played in the Sims 3.  First Susan burns down, then Bernard dies (but he was really old, way past full bar), and then Ellie dies.  She died the day her bar filled up, which was the day after Bernard went.  She mourned, got sparkles while looking out the window (at her husband's grave!), then left without even seeing the Reaper.  I guess she just couldn't wait.  I won't lie.  It made me cry.

[FluffyMao]

Another semi-stilted chapter.  I wanted to give a little intro to Chloe and her thoughts.  I'm still trying to get used to writing as her/finding her voice.  But yeah, there's a new family head.

&&&&

2.1 – Dreams and Real Life

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a World Renowned Surgeon.  I don’t think that’s going to happen now.  Thomas and I, we can just barely keep up with the bills as it is.  There’s no way we can do that, take care of Shaye, Medea, Lucy and Donovan, and pay my pre-med tuition.

In some ways, I hate Mom for that.  She was selfish, giving up on life when Daddy died.  She’s left me with nothing!  Because she was selfish, I have to give up my dreams!

Maybe I’m the selfish one.  I just…I wanted to help people…like Daddy did…

All of us are hurting right now.  Donovan blames himself, Medea blames herself, Lucy is confused, Shaye’s taken to living in the woods and Thomas thinks he has to be the strong, stoic man of the family.  But I’m the oldest.  Daddy always said my most important task was to look after all my younger brothers and sisters, even Thomas.  I have to quit brooding and step up now.

After Daddy died, only a few weeks after Aunt Susan, Thomas and I started looking around for jobs.  We were both still in school, but Thomas managed to get a part-time job at the bookstore.  As for me…no one wanted to hire the ‘Mayfield Vampire’.  I was that creepy kid who always hung around the graveyard, and in a town like Sunset Valley, that’s enough to get you black-listed for life.

But I found…other ways of acquiring money.



When I was a little kid, Daddy taught me how to do different things with the computer.  I’m not proud to be using what he taught me to steal, because that’s what hacking is: stealing, but we need the money.  I have no choice.

Now with Mom gone too, people are starting to just look the other way.  After Aunt Susan and Daddy died, people would bring food over.  They’d sit up with Mom and were there for her.  Now that its just me and Thomas, things seemed to have changed.  Now they’re remembering every rude comment Aunt Susan ever made, and every time Daddy never attended a party (always because he was working late, not out of some spite as they all seem to think).

I hate people.  I really, truly hate people.

I shouldn’t complain though.  Thomas usually takes care of those people.  Everyone is instantly at ease around Thomas, and so much more willing to let things go with him.  I haven’t met a person who could stay angry at him, not even Medea.  He’s like Mom was: everyone’s friend.

I’m much happier sequestered away in the study, churning through piles of data.  I probably wouldn’t have made a good doctor anyway.  Doctors are people-people.

&&&&

Chloe Mayfield: Light Sleeper, Loner, Genius, Computer Whiz, Eccentric
You can read more about the family at my blog: www.thesims3mayfields.wordpress.com
There's a 'Family' tab that I'm trying to keep updated with everyone's traits and favorites and antics, etc.

Also, what're people's favorite towns? I'm seeking inspiration.

[FluffyMao]

2.2 – It’s Always Darkest Before Dawn

I was down at the grocery store, buying the next week’s food (Daddy’s garden won’t carry us far since none of us know anything about gardening) when I overheard Dr. Wainwright talking with a colleague about some experiment that the lab was trying to repossess.  The DNA-OD experiment.  My heart stopped.  I ducked behind the potatoes until they’d left.

I knew that phrase.  I’d been almost six years old when Daddy brought home Donovan, but I’d never forget something like that.  I overheard him talking to Mom the night before, talking about a cloning project he’d led at the Labs.  A project to clone an alien DNA sample found out by Lucky Palms, a project called DNA-OD.

Could they do that?  Repossess my brother?!  I didn’t know.  I had to find out!

It didn’t take long.  In fact, the answer was waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home later that evening.

‘To Whom it May Concern:
Mr./Ms. Mayfield,
Experiment DNA-OD (what you call Donovan) was lent to you family by Dr. Bernard Mayfield December 21st, thirteen years ago.  Upon the doctor’s death, Experiment DNA-OD was expected to be returned to Landgraab Industries Laboratory.  As that has not happened, matters have been raised to its immediate retrieval.
Dr. Bunch will visit you promptly June 15th at 3:00pm.  She will collect Experiment DNA-OD and return it to the Landgraabs Industries Laboratory.  Included is a packet containing certain legal articles and a release document requiring your signature.
Thank you for you cooperation,
Dr. Sabrina Funke, Creature-Robot Cross-Breeder’

The page crumpled in my fist.  I was shaking.  They couldn’t do this.  They couldn’t do this!  We’d already lost so many people in this family!

“Chloe?”

I jerked upright.  Thomas was standing in the doorway, still in his pajamas, it being past midnight.

“Something’s wrong.  What’s wrong?”

“The Labs…they’re sending someone over today…to take Donovan away.  They own him!  Legally, they own him!  I’ve been looking for something, anything, to use against them!  But I can’t find anything!  And now they’re going to take him away!”

Thomas gently pulled me back down into the seat I hadn’t known I’d left.  Then he slowly pried my hands from my hair and hugged my close.  “Can I see the letter?”

I lifted up the balled paper.

“I see,” he said after a bit.

“There’s nothing we can do,” I whispered.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Thomas said calmly.  He’s always been the calm one.  He’s been my rock, ever since we were kids.  My best friend.

“How so?” I snarled.  “I can’t see how we’re going to get out of this!  So if you have any suggestions, please, share!”

“We can leave.  Middle of the night.  Leave no trace.  Never come back.”

A toilet flushed.  Footsteps echoed up the hall.  We both waited until the bed springs creaked.

“We don’t have the money for that!” I whispered furiously.  “Everything’s still in Mom’s name since she never wrote a will!”  And the men at City Hall had just sneered at me when I’d tried to challenge it.  Mom, while just a homemaker, had been everyone’s friend.  I was just her creepy, illegitimate daughter.

“We have our college funds.”

My heart stopped.  Our college funds.  Together, Thomas and I probably had around $20000.  Was it enough?  Food, clothing, a new house…maybe.  It had to be.  It was our only shot at keeping what was left of this family together.  It had to be enough.

“Well, there was no way I’d afford med-school anyways,” I said with a grimace.  I quirked an eyebrow at him.

A sharp bark of laughter was my answer.  “Going to college was Mom’s and Aunt Ellie’s plan for me.  All I’ve ever wanted is a new guitar and enough time to play it.”  He shrugged.  “And I can wait a bit for that.  What’s important is keeping us all together and safe.”

I nodded.  We were in agreement.  We had a plan.  All that was left was to pack.

[FluffyMao]

2.3 – When the Going Gets Tough


We had to be long gone before noon.  Otherwise those so-called “scientists” would be by at 3pm to pick up Donovan.

We had to be quick.

Thomas packed some food for the trip while I woke the twins, Shaye and Donovan.

“Wh–” insert massive yawn.  “Where’re we going?” Medea asked, still stretching.

“Well…” Think, Chloe, think!  “Well, Thomas and I were thinking, we haven’t been on a weekend trip in a while and maybe its a good thing to do.  You know, spend some family time together before school starts up again.  Spur of the moment, I know, but…”

Lucy gave me one of her too-rare smiles.  “I think that’s a good idea,” she said in her soft voice.

Donovan looked me up ad down.  He’s a genius, just like me.  There’s not much that gets past either of us.  But he shrugged.  “Well, if that’s what we’re doing, that’s what we’re doing.”

Thank you, I mouthed to him as he passed me into the hallway.  He stared hard at me, then winked.

“Maaan,” Shaye mumbled, her blue eyes half-lidded and distant.  “That’s such a great idea…getting back to nature ‘for the Man drags us back in chaaains.”  She gave me a slow, lopsided smile.

I tried not to shudder.  Chains…right.

Once everyone was up and getting dressed, I ran back to the study.  “C’mon!  Print faster you stupid thing!”  I was tempted to kick the ancient computer, but I needed maps.  I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I wasn’t going without proper directions.

“We’re packed,” Thomas whispered from behind me.  “Shaye, Donny and Mead’s dressed.  Just waiting on Lucy.  I got enough food to last us a few days.

“Good.”  I tapped my foot..  “God da–”  ‘It’s taking too long!  “Get everyone out to the van,” I gestured to Thomas, then grabbed my pda, an early graduation gift from Daddy.  It was time…this was going to be hard.

I knew all about locating technology, heck, I’d used it several times to track Shaye down, frickin’ wild-child she is.  I knew that all pdas could be traced, eventually, with enough time and patience.  It was just something I couldn’t chance.  I carefully laid the slim device in the desk drawer.  It took all my will to close the drawer and turn to the printer.  Daddy’d built it himself, just for me.

The printer was an old, ancient monster, but it seemed to take even longer than normal.  After an eternity it was finally done.  I grabbed the maps and shoved them into my backpack.  One last thing.  I tore into the computer, kicking and stomping until it was in pieces, particularly the hard-drive.  Otherwise they might trace us!  Am I paranoid?  Probably!

Everything was in place, everyone out in the van waiting.

We left everything as it was: the beds unmade…

…the dishes from breakfast still on the table…

…the sprinklers still running in Daddy’s garden.

Daddy’s garden…I’d miss it.  It was the last piece I had of him.  Thomas wiped a tear from my cheek before the others could see.  I started the van and drove down the hill, away from the only home any of us had ever known.  A place full of memories.  Good and bad, vivid and vague, sooo many memories.  But it was time to move on.

[FluffyMao]

I'm not dead!  And neither is this story.  Though this may be the last post I make here, as Carl's Blog doesn't care for swearing.  I don't mind that, I actually thinks it's pretty cool that a rule like that is enforced, very family-friendly.  But the Mayfields are using a bit stronger language these days since Chloe took over, and as I write chapters, sometimes weeks, in advance, I can't remember exactly where every little curse was.  It's nothing major, just some stub-your-toe cussing, but still.

So, this will probably be the last post on the forums.  I'll still be updating my wordpress blog, The Mayfields, a Sims 3 Story, pretty regularly (every Friday), if anyone is interested.  I have several chapter past this over there, which I think are actually getting pretty interesting...but that's just me.

Other than that, thank you for reading and I hope to see you again! ^_^

&&&&

2.4 – …the Mayfields head to China?


Chloe’s PoV

Is this right?  I took another swig of burnt gas station coffee.  Did we have any alternative?  Anything at all?  My mind kept going round and round, wondering if leaving the Valley really was what was best for the family.  Was there really no other choice?  The sun crested the mountains behind us as I drained Thomas’s cup.  He snored softly in the seat next to me.

“Stop it Chloe,” Donovan whispered behind me.  He unbuckled and leaned forward.  “I can hear you thinking and it’s been bothering me all night.”

“Sorry,” I murmured.  Donovan didn’t like reading minds.  “Invading people’s privacy” he called it.  But he didn’t really have a choice if people “screamed them out”.

“So, why’re you putting yourself through the Inquisition?”

“I just…I wonder if I jumped too soon,” I responded.  “Was there some way I could have turned this all around?  An alternative to making us all fugitives?”

“Maybe.”  Donovan shrugged.  And I saw it, that little flinch, liked I’d slapped him.

“It has nothing to do with you,” I whispered, feeling like an ass.  “You’re my brother.  I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”  My knuckles tightened on the wheel.  Then I chuckled and waved him back.  “I’m just being pedantic.”

“So…you don’t…regret anything?” Donovan asked.

“Absolutely not.  Never think that!  You’re my brother!  I’d do the same for the twins or Thomas or Shaye.  And it’ll probably happen again when some government wants to drag Shaye away for public indecency or something!”

He laughed and settled back down in his seat.

Did I regret my choice to run away rather than hand him over to Dr. Funke?  NO!  Never.  I just wished I knew what I’d thrown us all into.  We were officially on the run.  From Landgraab Industries today, but maybe the entire Simica Government tomorrow!  And I still had no idea what to do!   I resisted the urge to smack the steering wheel.  That wouldn’t help.  It might just wake Thomas up and get him concerned too!

And I’ll swear to any deity you want that I heard my Mom then!  Life don’t follow no recipe, sugah.  An’ it don’t have no map neithuh!  It’s a advenchah!

Not helpful, Mom, I thought, shaking my head.  Even from beyond the grave, she was confusing.

“Umph!”

“Whoa!”

“Hick–wha–what’d we hit!”  Thomas jerked upright and spun in his seat, blinking rapidly.

“It’s all good!”  I called back to everyone.  “Just a pothole!  A bad pothole.”  I prayed Shaye wasn’t awake.

“Oh, good,” and Thomas dropped back into sleep.

“Dagnabit,” I muttered, trying with one hand to shove papers back into the glove box that had popped open while keeping my eyes on the road.  “Thomas!  Thomas?  Crud.”

“I got it!” Donovan called, unbuckling again.

“Get back in your seat!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Thomas and…Donovan…stupid hedgehogs!”  I continued to grumble, trying to close the overstuffed compartment.  I’d barely closed it when it popped open again.  “Oh, for Euclid’s sake!”  I grabbed the bundle before it could hit the floor, then swerved back onto the road.

“I could hel–”

“No!  You stay buckled!”  I sat back up and straightened out the van.  “With the way I’m driving,” I muttered to myself before glancing down at the troublesome papers.

Receipts, old napkins, and a fold-out map of…China?  Not a map to China, but of China.  Why would we have a map of China?  And I heard in my head, Life’s a advenchah, sugah!

“Hmmm…hey Donovan, you want to go to China?”

&&&&

Thomas’s PoV

“So…why’re we going to China?” I asked glancing over at Chloe.

“Because I decided.”

“Decided what?”  She’s always been this way.  She’s really smart but kinda dumb too.  She’s so smart she doesn’t even notice and just thinks everyone thinks at the same rate she does.  It made for an interesting childhood.

“Because I decided to go to China,” she responded, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.  She went back to studying the map.

“But why?!”  I ran my hand through my hair.  “I’m tired Chloe.  We’ve been driving nonstop for six days.  Why China?”

“Because it’s the farthest country out of Simica.  Because it’s the easiest to get into since only we have passports.  Because it’s a country that Landgraab Industries doesn’t have a base in, and because I can speak Chinese.  Need I continue?”

“No, no, I get it.”  It was Chloe again, thinking five steps ahead of the rest of us.

“Take the next exit.”

“Got it…when’d you learn Chinese?!”

&&&&

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you soon!  ^_^