The Flowers waiting for Grim - Completed

[Schipperke]

Thanks very much for the comments.  One of the reasons I wanted to play a couple of elders was because I knew I'd be playing against the clock, which gives the story quite a different flavour than the usual YA storyline.  Of course, I didn't know the aging was going to go crazy.  The sisters are supposed to be the same age - that's why I made them twins - and it annoys me that they are now so far apart in age.  The aging issue does mean that we'll reach the conclusion of this story sooner than I intended.  As for what the conclusion is going to be, well ... I hope you'll be interested enough to keep reading and find out!

By the way, Chronic, neither of the girls has enough happiness points to buy the Young Again LTR. 

[TheChronicR]

Ahw, that sucks.

[Schipperke]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Saturday morning.  Leo rises early, tends the garden and then rides off on his motorcycle.



Sunflower, watching through the window, sees him leave.  She knows he's leaving early so he won't have to take her along and she feels a pang.

A couple hours later, Leo emerges from the Science Centre and sees a familiar figure walking toward him.



Mr Payne:  There you are!  I went to the house to see you.  The girls told me you had gone out but they didn't know where.   I never thought I'd see you wearing a shirt and tie and visiting the Science Centre!  Don't tell me.  You've met some sweet young science geek.  I can't imagine any other reason that would lead you to get dressed up.  I'm right, aren't I?  You're here to see a lady.  Who is she?
Leo answers reluctantly:  Judy Bunch.
Mr Payne:  Judy Bunch?!  Isn't she a little old for you?  Not to mention her husband, who's a cop.  I've never known you to take up with a married woman before!
Leo:  It's not like that!  I'm not - involved - with her.  She's just helping me with a project.



Mr Payne:  You amaze me.  A science project?  You???  What is it?
Leo:  ... I can't tell you.  Not yet.
Mr Payne:  Curiouser and curiouser.  Aren't you mysterious.  Well, fine, have your little secret.  As I said, I stopped by the house.  The girls told me you've been quite helpful to them.  They also told me that you've been doing a good job of dealing with the young ladies that keep coming over to your apartment.
Leo mutters:  No fear.  I'm not desperate enough to get hooked up with one of those Create-a-Sim girls.  The first bunch were all thoroughly nasty and the last lot were all criminals!



[I wanted to share that picture with you mainly because I like the effect of the foreshortening of Leo's arms.  Also because of Hank and Pauline in the background being all lovey-dovey.]

Mr Payne:  Well, I'm glad to hear you have that much sense.  You've done what I asked you to do, and you've done it well.  I know you didn't want to come and - how did you put it? - babysit a couple of old biddies - so if you're feeling ready to move on, I'll understand.  In any case, Marigold and Sunflower are nearing the end of their lifespan and the school won't be continuing much longer.  Where do you think you'll go next?
Leo:  I'm going to stay a while longer.
Mr Payne:  Really?  You certainly are full of surprises today. 

They say goodbye.  Mr Payne watches Leo ride off on his motorcycle, wondering what's going on with the boy.

Saturday afternoon Leo gives Sunflower a lesson on the training dummy.



Leo:  Faster!  Harder!  Give it a good kick!
Sunflower, panting:  I don't see why I have to learn martial arts, anyway!
Leo:  You need to be able to defend yourself.  Lift that leg!
Sunflower stops kicking the dummy and looks at Leo.  She says:  Mr Payne told us you never stay in one place very long.  He said you'd probably be moving on soon.  He was right, wasn't he.  You're going to leave soon and that's why you want me to be able to defend myself.  Because you're not going to be here.
Leo responds angrily:  Mr Payne-in-the-Neck should learn to keep his big mouth shut!  That's enough of a workout for today.  You don't want to be sore tomorrow.  You've got just enough time for a shower before your carpool comes to take you to work.

Leo abruptly turns his back on Sunflower and resumes working on his sculpture.  Sunflower trudges off to the shower, feeling very troubled by Leo's attitude and not understanding why he seems so angry.

[AnnBeiFong]

Well, then... What kind of experiment, Leo? I guess I'll figure in out. Eventually.

I loved it. And I can't wait for more.

[TheChronicR]

Sunflower learning Martial Arts! Haha.

Hmm, experiment, you say? Well, that doesn't worry me as much as that naughty Hank being lovebirds with Pauline. So that's why he's escaping all my Sims. So when they are at work he is making out with some other girl at the Science Center. Bad Hank, bad!

Anyways, awesome update!

[Lilygirl]

I had completely forgotten that this story was still in the being played and written stage! Oops, my bad but I have finally caught up with everything I've missed with my silliness.

I'm interested to see what Leo's up to and to meet the next group of girls.

[Schipperke]

I had completely forgotten that this story was still in the being played and written stage! Oops, my bad but I have finally caught up with everything I've missed with my silliness.

It's not your fault, lilygirl, but mine.  I put this story on hold for a month or so while I tried to do the Wishmasters Challenge (which I finally gave up on after 3 badly bugged attempts).  So it's no wonder people lost track of the Flowers and their story.  But I'm glad you're back with us.

[TallStar]

I have a few ideas to what this science project might be...
But my lips are sealed.

[Schipperke]

I have a few ideas to what this science project might be...
But my lips are sealed.

I bet you have!  But I appreciate your discretion in not sharing your ideas just yet.

[CarlosLordofTacos]

Schip, I hope this isn`t a hassle but could you start noting your chapters in the title? Like this: The Flowers waiting for Grim C[number]? Checking the thread everytime there is unread replies eats up my data allowance like crazy because of the screenies.

[Schipperke]

Schip, I hope this isn`t a hassle but could you start noting your chapters in the title? Like this: The Flowers waiting for Grim C[number]? Checking the thread everytime there is unread replies eats up my data allowance like crazy because of the screenies.

Sure, Carlos.  I wasn't aware of that problem and I appreciate you letting me know about it.

[Audren]

Let me just say that I love Mr. Payne. Best Sim I've ever seen. I was forced to end my original orphanage project, but my new one will have him in it prominently. I wonder what Leo's up to, right?

[Schipperke]

Audren, what a nice thing to say!  I've come to be rather fond of Mr Payne as well.  I can't remember if I told people this before, but when I first created Mr Payne I planned to just use him for the reading of the will in Riches Galore - I thought that would be his only appearance ever, so I didn't even bother giving him a first name.  Then it just seemed right to bring him back later in that story, and now here he is again.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him in any future stories I might do, as well.  The old Payne-in-the-Neck just seems to have a knack for inserting himself into my stories! 

And seeing him in other peoples' stories makes me smile.  I think he likes making the rounds of the various stories. 

I'll look forward to seeing your next story.

[Audren]

Well, as soon as I have Sims, I'll have stories, don't worry. You'll be seeing another Orphanage Project soon enough.

[Schipperke]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sunday morning.  Leo is working on a sculpture.  Marigold and Sunflower are sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying a last few minutes of peace before the next group of students arrives. 



Marigold:  I'm tired!  You don't mind if I close my eyes for a minute, do you?
Sunflower:  You just rest for a bit while I go over the information we have on our new students.  It was nice of them to send us their particulars ahead of time.  Now, we have four Scots lassies who will arrive wearing their tartans by Gheez and Ausette.  Very nice.  Let's see.  First, Imogen Innes:  Brave, Good, Heavy Sleeper, Hydrophobic and Inappropriate.  Wants to be an Astronaut.
Marigold:  So being Brave and a Heavy Sleeper, Imogen will be able to fight off burglars but probably won't wake up in time.  And being Inappropriate probably means she'll be running around in her underwear instead of her tartan.
Sunflower:  Number two, Joyce Jameson:  Dramatic, Friendly, Rebellious, Unlucky, Workaholic.  Wants to be a business mogul.
Marigold:  She'll do.  Next?



Sunflower:  Kay Kirkpatrick:  Disciplined, Evil, Frugal, Handy, Inappropriate.  Wants to be the emperor of evil.
Marigold:  Oh, goody - another criminal.  Of course.  And Number four?
Sunflower:  Laurie Leishman:  Charismatic, Kleptomaniac, Neat, Party Animal, Perfectionist.  Wants to have a bottomless nectar cellar.
Marigold:  Just as long as she doesn't decide to start her nectar cellar by stealing bottles while she's here.  But it will be nice to have someone who doesn't whine about having to clean the toilet.

The doorbell rings.

Sunflower:  That'll be the students.  I'll go and greet them.  You rest while you can.

Sunflower goes out.  A few minutes later Marigold, her eyes still closed, hears Sunflower's steps returning.



Sunflower:  Wake up!  We have a - situation.  It's Laurie Leishman.
Marigold:  What is it?  What's the problem?

Marigold hears someone coming up the front steps and a deep baritone voice says, "No problem at all!"  She turns to see a man in a kilt coming toward her.

Sunflower:  Marigold, meet Laurie Leishman.