The Flowers waiting for Grim - Completed

[Chopsticks]

Liking the nicknames Schip. Nice update.

[Schipperke]

Chapter Eight

Mr Payne has errands.

First he goes to the Spa where he gives the receptionist a sheaf of bills and a piece of paper with an address written on it.



His next stop is the Salon.  Again a sum of money changes hands.



Next on the list, a construction site.



Mr Payne:  Are you sure it will be ready on time?  It's quite urgent, you know.
Foreman:  No problem.  I've got the best crew in town.  It'll be ready.   Don't worry about the mess, it'll be all cleaned up.  That's the apprentice's job.



Mr Payne:  Make sure you get the plants right.
Foreman:  I got it.  Want to stay and have a coffee with the crew?
Mr Payne:  I wish I could, but there's one more errand I need to do.  Confound the fellow!  I don't know how I'm supposed to find somebody who never answers his phone!
Foreman:  Maybe he don't want to be found.
Mr Payne:  Oh, I'll find him.  Count on it.  And when I do ...
Foreman:  Don't think I'd want to be in his shoes, whoever he is!

Mr Payne goes off to track down whoever it is he's looking for.  Meantime, Marigold and Sunflower dutifully go back to the "house" to check for mail.  By the way, the limousine just happened to be passing.  It definitely has nothing to do with our girls.



Sunflower:  We got mail!
Marigold:  Don't tell me.  More bills.  Do you think they'll repossess one of the urinals?
Sunflower:  It's not bills.  It's a letter. [reading] "The Sunset Valley Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome you to our friendly community.  To welcome you to our town, we enclose vouchers for complimentary treatments at the Spa and Salon.  We hope you enjoy the services provided by these fine businesses.  Thank you for choosing Sunset Valley."
Marigold:  Really?  Well, isn't that nice of them!  My, what a friendly town.
Sunflower:  Let's go now!

But before they can leave the phone rings.  It's Cornelia, from the Consignment Store.  She says:  A donor just brought in several bags of clothes that have hardly been worn.  They're all in your sizes.  We don't have room to store everything, so if you want any of these clothes you need to come over right away or I'll have to throw them out.  You can have anything you want, no charge.

Marigold and Sunflower hurry over to the Consignment Store.  The clothes look brand new.  They both pick out several outfits.  Then they go to the Spa, and finally to the Salon for a cut and colour.  By the end of the day they both feel and look much better.

Marigold's new look:



I laughed out loud when I saw Sunflower reacting to her new look in the mirror:

[Audren]

Mr. Payne sure is skilled.

[Chopsticks]

Sunny didn't have glasses before did she? Liking the looks anyway

[Schipperke]

Sunny didn't have glasses before did she? Liking the looks anyway

No, she didn't.  Either she started needing glasses as she got older or she just liked the look of the new Generations glasses.     Thanks for the comment, Chopsticks.

[Schipperke]

Chapter Nine

Living at the Fire Station isn't so bad.  Marigold and Sunflower soon get the hang of using the poles.



They set out to explore their new town.  Some might say the girls are a bit old to play on a teeter-totter, but they're having fun.



Every time Sunflower meets a new man she wants to kiss him.  Of course, she's never had any romance in her life, so it's probably natural for her to want to have this experience before Grim returns for her.  But the topic she chooses to talk about isn't to everyone's taste.



They are careful to check the mailbox every day.  Wednesday morning a letter arrives.



Marigold:  It's from "The Payne and Fears Law Office, acting on behalf of the Sunset Valley Chamber of Commerce."
Sunflower:  A law office!  Oh no!  They made a mistake sending us those spa vouchers and now they want them back!
Marigold:  No, it's not that.  Listen:  [she reads] "Sunset Valley is committed to providing the best possible education for its young people.  As you are aware, we have recently opened a number of new schools.  We are looking for someone to manage and run our newest educational facility.  We wish to hire you to operate Sunset Valley's Finishing School.  The building is ready for you to move in and decorate according to your requirements.  When you are ready to open please place an announcement in the newspaper so prospective students may apply.  We suggest naming the school The Flowers Finishing School.  We are in the process of retaining an assistant for you.  Your assistant should arrive in the next day or two.  Thank you for helping with this important educational project."  It's signed "Mr Payne."  Oh, and there's a ps:  "Don't mind the rabbits.  They're harmless."
Sunflower:  Is this a joke?  What do we know about running a finishing school?  We should be attending a finishing school, not running one!
Marigold:  It's the man we met at the Consignment store, the one from my dream.  He seems to think we can do this.  Probably our assistant will be a teacher, a nice middle-aged woman who will know what to do.
Sunflower:  It would be so nice to have a real kitchen again, instead of living on cereal at the Fire Station.
Marigold:  Look, let's try it.  What's the worst thing that can happen?  They'll fire us and kick us out and we'll be back to living at the Fire Station.  What do we have to lose?

And so they embark on a new adventure.



The new house is big and mostly empty.



But the bathroom is quite spiffy, with the new Gheez pattern on the wall.

[TheChronicR]

Three cheers for the brave Goldie and Sunny! I love their clothes, house, personality, and, of course, Mr. Payne. I just can't describe how I admire this story - bravo!

[Schipperke]

Thanks very much, Chronic.  Coming from someone with your writing talent, that comment means a lot.

[TheChronicR]

Aww, thanks so much, Schip!

[Schipperke]

Chapter Ten

On a sunny summer day, a group of friends enjoy a picnic lunch in the park.



All too soon it's time to return to work.



Mr Payne:  There you are!  Don't you ever answer your phone?  Put down that chainsaw, I need to talk to you.



Sculptor:  To answer your question, no, I don't answer the phone.  I see no reason to waste my time on idle chatter.
Mr Payne:  Wasting time never bothered you before, Leo.  You're avoiding someone, I can tell.  Who is she and what did you do to her?  Oh, never mind, I've heard it all before.  I've had quite a time tracking you down.  When did you leave your job at the bar?
Leo:  Oh, that was ages ago.  That gig got old real fast.  It was time to move on.
Mr Payne looks around at all the sculptures and says:  You've been busy, I see.
Leo:  Oh, yeah.  My brilliant idea - immortalizing the fine citizens of Sunset Valley.  But I tell you, some of them don't deserve to be immortalized!  Would you believe that Vita Alto - she actually complained that my sculpture didn't do her justice.  Looked in the mirror lately, Vita?  Or did the last one shatter when you came near it?
Mr Payne:  Diplomacy was never your strong suit.
Leo grins broadly:  You know me too well, old man!  Yeah, I was rebellious long before it became fashionable.  But I doubt it was a burning desire to see my handsome face that led you to track me all over the known Sim universe.  You want something.  Out with it!
Mr Payne:  I have a job for you -
Leo:  No!  Absolutely not!  No way!



Mr Payne:  Just listen.  There are these two old ladies, in the sunset of their life.  They've had a raw deal - abused, unloved, old, poor -
Leo:  My heart bleeds. 
Mr Payne:  You're bone idle, selfish -
Leo:  - and totally incorrigible.  That's me, alright.
Mr Payne:  Do I have to remind you of all you owe me? 
Leo:  You believe in hitting below the belt, don't you?  Oh, all right.  To tell the truth, I'm getting tired of living on hot dogs.  I was thinking the other day it's about time to move on.



He continues:  Somehow I never saw myself as babysitter to a couple of frail old biddies.  I don't suppose you could find a couple of young damsels in distress for me to help?
Mr Payne:  They're not frail.  Just beaten down by life.  You know what that's like.
Leo:  ... yeah.  So you want me to be nice to them -
Mr Payne:  No.
Leo:  No?
Mr Payne:  They don't need to be patronized or treated with kid gloves.  They need to learn their own strength.  You're the person that can help them find themselves.  I want you to be your usual cheeky, mouthy, obnoxious self.
Leo:  Gee, you really do like me.
Mr Payne:  I understand one of them is a very good cook.  And tell the truth, aren't you getting tired of sleeping on a park bench?



Leo:  Why is it so hard to say no to you?  Okay, you've got your "volunteer."
Mr Payne:  One more thing.  Neither of them has any happiness points to speak of, so you'll have to use some of yours to get the No Bills reward. 
Leo:  Yes, master.  Anything else, master?
Mr Payne:  Thank you.  Oh, and this is for you.



Leo:  A present?  For little ol' me?  What is it?
Mr Payne:  Open it and see. 

[TheChronicR]

Nice to meet you, Leo. I hope you can help Sunny and Goldie! Well done Mr. Payne, and awesome update, Schip!

[Chopsticks]

Why does the present remind me of farfetch'd? (signature move: exploding present). Love the update.

[Lilygirl]

Awww, I want a Mr Payne in RL so I can get presents like that!

Nice to meet you Leo, treat those two ladies well.

[Schipperke]

Awww, I want a Mr Payne in RL so I can get presents like that!

Which present are you referring to - the house or Leo?   

Thanks for the comments Lilygirl, Chopsticks & Chronic! 

[Lilygirl]

Oops, I assumed the fancy bike was the gift from Mr Payne to Leo. My bad I guess.