Thornton sounds a bit -- grumpy? So happy that Tesher is being allowed to play the violin.
Thornton is the true embodiment of his parents, and though he lacks the snob trait it may be a hidden trait for him. The combination of hating children and loving the arts leaves him with little room for anything else, so grumpy is about the right speed for him.
What a meanie that Thornton is...stifling his family's interests for the good of the family name!
Unfortunately Thornton is following his own father's parenting style...overachieve enough to do good for the family name, then you can do whatever you want, just stay out of my sight.
Oh, I just want to smack him one!! Good thing Grady is so kind and nice and how Araceli puts up with him is beyond me. Nasty man! (great writing)
Grady is super-brother. I was upset at first that Araceli came with a teenage son, but now I'm glad, Tesher really needs him. Araceli and Thornton have their problems, but most of them step from trait incompatibility. Araceli is both a slob and has commitment issues, which led to her and her oldest son Grady being homeless with zero income prior to meeting Thornton. Theirs is more a marriage of convenience then love, though I hold out hope for something to change for them.
Week 6, Burb
"I'm telling you, Travis, this isn't how it was supposed to be. She lured me in with some light store work, promised to help support my career in comedy, and a chance to participate in a dynasty challenge where I
don't have to die. Now it's all 'help me run the store Johnny', and 'I need to focus on my own career Johnny' and 'I have two kids to think about Johnny'."
Johnny wasn't the happiest camper in team Burb. By 3 PM, Lucy was still at work, and Travis was the only customer in, so he didn't bother getting dressed as he ate a grilled cheese that tasted more like fridge then sourdough and cheddar.
"Dude, their mom is dying. Besides, this is only the second week of the challenge, and these things are usually a lot of hard work with low needs, tons of skilling and mediocre furniture until at least the second generation is up and going. What exactly were you expecting?"
"Besides, don't the kids help out around the store too?"
"Sort of. I mean, Skip cleans up some, and Beau plays that little violin of his to improve the mood and create some charm, but Lucy and I are the ones running the show."
"Well of course you are, they aren't old enough to make sales yet. Besides, shouldn't they be studying?"
"Eh. They're both passing. B's aren't bad. Skip is 9 and Beau is 10. They'll both be teenagers next time the watcher comes, I guess I can deal with another week and a half of this. But being a C-lister kind of sucks, you know?"
"Not really. I'm only in quality assurance, remember?"
"Alright, so school is going alright then. Are they making friends? Fitting in alright? What about aspirations?"
"Jeez Travis, get your own kids already. They're their own best friends, but Skip is going for the social aspiration. He makes nice with the customers, and goes out to the playground every time a certain little girl shows up. He hasn't brought her home yet, but it's just a matter of time now. Beau...is having some trouble. I think the kid is insane. He keeps going back and forth between creativity and motor. Hits himself in the head with toys all the time. I dunno, maybe he just needs glasses. I'll take him to the optometrist when Lucy gets the kids on her insurance."
"So...how are things between you and Lucy?"
"Ok I guess. Things were awkward for a bit, what with the sudden adoptions, but we're going steady now. It would just be nice if we could have maybe two minutes without those kids around, you know?"
"Why not take a day off from work when she's off and the kids are at school? Some alone time might be just what the two of you need."
"I think I will. Thanks Travis, you always know what to do."
Dear Diary,
A sad day today. Despite two attempts and two tests, my uterus is still empty. The watcher is puzzled, as she has never had sims try for baby and not be with noo boo after the first attempt. I've managed to become assistant manager at least. I'm worried about the kids all the time. Skip seems to be doing ok, but Beau isn't the way I remember him. HR says I can't put them on my insurance until either the adoption is finalized, or their mother's expires. I'm not sure how she's still with her employer, she hasn't been to work in four months. I'll leave the caseworker a message later.
Things could be going better with Johhny. "Hey, Lucy. Do you have work tomorrow?"
"No, I have the day off. Why?"
"I think I'm going to sue a vacation day. Let's wait a bit on opening the shop in the morning, I think we need to talk."
It might be time for me to ask Devan if he wants a more permanent position with Burb and Broke.
After spending the day together, our relationship is doing much better. We did wind up opening the shop up after the kids got home, and it's worth over $60,000 now. I spent some of it getting the upstairs apartments looking a little better.
A day off together was all we needed. I wound up telling the kids about being pregnant before I told Johnny. I probably should have told him first, but Beau looked so happy when he discovered he was the first one to know that it was all worth it. That, and the headaches he was having seem to have disappeared, so long as he remembers to wear the new prescription lenses.
When I did tell Johnny, his reaction was somewhat unexpected.
"Ha! Wait til I tell my family I'll be the first one to bring in the new generation."
"Does your family live in town? I think now would probably be a good time to meet them."
"Uh..yeah, maybe. Hey, hold on a sec, I dropped something."
"Lacy Burb, will you marry me?"
"Oh Johnny, I was hoping you would ask. Of course I'll marry you, I'm 8 months pregnant and I have a family name to uphold. Besides, the boys could use a father figure in their life, I'm sure you'll be a wonderful step-dad!"
"Wait-what-"
"How did you manage to jump like that in your condition?"
"I know krav maga, a little jump like tht is nothing."
"...is it safe for the noo boo?"
"Of course it is. The game prohibits unsafe actions during pregnancy."
We eloped immediately, and then Johnny headed off to work. With a noo boo on the way, it would be really great if he could get more invested in his career. I'm halfway up the ladder now, and HR still hasn't realized how pregnant I am, so I haven't had to go on maternity leave. Back home as soon as you got a positive they treated you like an invalid, and you missed at least a week of work. It's one of my favorite things about newcrest.
I should never have mocked Thornton about having to deal with a nooboo for two weeks. It's Sunday and my time is up. My back aches, my ankles are swollen, and my labor still won't start. I guess now we'll find out if i'll have the noo boo while the watcher is gone. I kind of hope so. I don't mind if my baby is auto-named...much. I don't knwo if I can handle being pregnant for another two weeks.
"Hey Beau, do you think Aunt Lucy will still like us when the baby is born?"
"Probably. Mom still likes me and Dustin...well, she still likes me. Think she'll ever stop being mad at Dustin?"
"I dunno, I barely remember him. I was three when he went to collage, and four when they arrested him."
RE:RE: Hey Lucy
Brandi is settled up in Bridgeprot now. They've got a diagnosis now, it's something to do with her heart. I've got some medical files attached for you for my brothers. The caseworker didn't want to release them until we knew for sure about you adopting the boys, but Mom trusts you, so she released them to me to give to you. I guess legally they can't tell family not to share medical files, and I'm related to you by marriage, so this way everything works out.
It'd be nice if Beau could get into sports up there, but you should know he's been having some problems for a while now. See the attached files from his shrink. I'll do Fiesta Tech online if it'll make you happy. I don't really see the point, but I guess I have to do something besides lift weights while I'm here.
I'm not super thrilled about the Dreamer's running our old store, but I guess it's alright. Lilith deserves better then what she has, but Bobby, Darla and Lily won't be toddlers forever. Things will get better for her over the next few years.
I don't want to talk about Angela, don't bring her up again.
What's my tab up to anyways? Seriously though, if there is anything I can do for you let me know. I can get online everyday here, so don't be a stranger. Maybe bring my brothers in to see me sometime? Mom wouldn't ever bring them, and over the phone just isn't the same. I'm not sure Skip knows who I am.
Author's note: I got really lucky. When I adopted 'Beau Broke', he happened to be a little older then 'Skip Broke', so their ages will almost line up with where they should be. Huzzah!