Wainwrights Forever -- A Townie decaDynasty (failed -- move to Graveyard)

[MarianT]

Chapter 2 - Andrew (continued)


        Things have been hectic lately. We had a fire; Dad had a near-death experience; and Bruce – well, I should slow down and take things in order as my English teacher advises.
   The fire started when Mom left the waffles in the oven to go congratulate Dad, who had decided to retire. I don’t have any pictures because I was in my room doing homework at the time.
   The excitement must have been too much for Dad because that evening, he really thought he was a goner. He turned into a ghost,



and the Grim Reaper came for him.



But Dad had something they’d given him at the Science Lab. He says he’s had a new lease on life. He even chewed me out for a prank I pulled (not the one with the sink, but a scary screensaver I put on his computer). I don’t really mind, though; I’m just glad he’s sticking around a while longer.



   Mom bought a time machine. She went back to the past and rescued some people named Thibodeau, and now we have friends with the same name. Coincidence? Or is it karma?
   Bruce has been playing with his doll some more, in the bathroom as usual.



   He showed me this photograph, trying to convince me the doll was real. I think he just did some clever posing and stood up on a chair to take the picture.



   But then this afternoon, he asked Mom for some potion.



   The next thing we knew, there’s a little boy named Jody running around. He has green hair and is dressed like the doll used to be.



Spooky stuff. I’m looking forward to the day I can move in with Abbie and experience normal life. Insane sounds pretty good right now.

[MarianT]

Chapter 3 – Andrew

   So much has happened so quickly. I graduated from high school and made valedictorian. That was a surprise because I’m not nearly as brainy as Mom and Dad, as you can tell from my photo.



   Then I went to Fort Gnome and signed my selective service papers. I can’t wait until I get to fly something, but at least I’m not cleaning latrines anymore.



   We definitely need to get a bigger house. Bruce and Jody are teenagers now, and we all sleep in the same room. I’d like a little privacy when I invite Abbie over. I suppose we could try the time machine…

[MarianT]

Chapter Three -- Andrew (continued)

        Not long after I wrote the above, we moved to a new house. It’s the one next door, very similar to ours but with three bedrooms and two baths, also a garage that’s been converted to a rec room. I have my own room, but don’t know how much privacy I’ll have what with the picture window next to the bed.



   The move was Mom’s idea. She’s been going through a mid-life crisis lately, and moving to a new house was one of the things she wanted to do. Mom and Dad have both been great about helping me with my goals. Dad’s been collecting gems, while Mom makes friends with everyone who comes to the house. That’s a big help because working out wears me out.
   Bruce and Jody went to their prom the other night, but not as dates, although with Bruce wearing a purple tux, I’m sure people wondered. He got into a fight with someone, but Jody was named Prom King, which is pretty good for someone who’s the figment of someone else’s imagination.





   They’ve both gone off to Le Fromage Art Academy, which means the house is fairly quiet. I was able to connect with Abbie finally. I’m pretty sure she has an evening job, possibly at the Mausoleum. I say that because for a while every time I called to ask her over she was heading out the door. I realized I couldn’t expect her to wait forever, so I proposed.





   And she accepted. Now I just have to accomplish all my goals and then we can get married.

[ratchie]

Congratulations Abbie and Andrew.

Rachel

[MarianT]

Chapter Three -- Andrew (continued)


         I’m still working on everything. I’ve completed ten opportunities, but I want to do a few more, in case someone forgets and goes to their badge ceremony as a child. I’m moving up the promotion ladder, and I’m working on jogging and weight-lifting.
   One interesting thing I did was to go to China. I spent a night at the Martial Arts Academy and brought back a board breaker. I plan on breaking a few space rocks for their gems. While I was in China, I explored a tomb and found a relic. That was pretty exciting. I’d like to do more traveling, but I think I should leave it for my heirs.



   Bruce and Jody came back from Le Fromage Art School. They’re pretty cheesy, all right (sorry guys, couldn’t resist). Bruce is planning to become a composer (or maybe a rock star), and Jody has quite the talent for sculpting.



   Today I joined the ranks of the fully adult. As you can see, it was a hair-raising experience. I guess the good news is that I wear a hat to work.





   Mom is an elder now, and Dad just had his 100th birthday. Having me around has certainly lengthened their lives, and I think they’ve enjoyed the extra time. Mom has become quite the artist, not to mention the most popular lady in town. Of course, that has its drawbacks. She had to sue for slander the other day – I won’t dignify the rumor by repeating it.

   I’ve begun the Wainwright takeover of Sunset Valley with the purchase of Stoney Falls.

 

        I've completed my Black Ops:  The Muscle Hustle, Becoming More Logical, Flightless Birds, Late Night Latrines, Extreme Digits, No Whining, More than Awesome Shades, Keep it Up, Aerial Laser Tag, and Promote Military.

   One final note – the Grim Reaper just came for Dad. We’ll miss him. More I cannot say.

[chrissie]

I love this, you have a great writing style, and a great sense of humour!

[TheChronicR]

Ahw, I'm so sorry Boyd died so soon.

However, I see you have great progress towards your requirements! Good job.

[MarianT]

Chapter Four – Andrew

   I can’t believe that I’ve been promoted to Astronaut! (picture later)

   Thanks to Bruce and Mom, we have 10 best friends:  Abbie Hart, Jack Bunch, Miraj Alvi, Vincent Thibodeau, Aurora Thibodeau, Michael Bachelor, Stiles McGraw, Jody Wainwright, and Mom’s best friends with Bruce, and I’m best friends with Mom.

   I’ve acquired the Wainwright Healthy Eatery (formerly Hogan’s Diner).



   I have supermaxed the Athletics skill.



   We’ve made friends with the repairman, the papergirl, a paparazzi, our maid, a pizza delivery guy, a policewoman, a tourist from Egypt, a bartender, a ghost, and a butler. (Mom’s especially friendly with the ghost.)



   Dad’s remains sit in the front yard.



   Thanks to Dad and Jody, I have a gem collection worth $12,884.

   So Abbie and I have gotten married.

[ratchie]

Congratulations Andrew for completing all your challenges.

Rachel

[MarianT]

Andrew thanks you. I was so nervous at the end -- afraid that Abbie would turn into an elder or a vampire before they could get married, or that the papergirl would cease to be a friend, that sort of thing.

[MarianT]

Chapter Five – Abbie

   On the whole, Abbie thought she liked being married. Before, she had wondered how she would adjust to having another person in the house. She and Bebe didn’t bother each other much, which suited Abbie just fine. Andrew was a bit disruptive, but in a fun way. How could she not like someone wanting to give her a massage when her back was aching?

   Andrew’s moving in had been like a joyous earthquake. First of all, she’d gotten pregnant, which had been a mini-earthquake all by itself.



        And then, when he found out that she’d always wanted to be a novelist, he’d bought her a computer immediately. He had also bought the most marvelous car – Abbie felt wonderful every time she rode in it, and it appeared big enough to hold an entire soccer team of children.



   But the latest surprise had been the most amazing. Right after Byron was born, he had whisked her off to France. Since they’d had such a small wedding, he wanted her to have a lovely honeymoon.
   Andrew did have an ulterior motive, he’d explained. Actually, two. The first was trying for nooboo number two – Abbie could hardly object to that. In fact, she was already hoping for a little sister for Byron.



The other was that Andrew was planning to make life fruit nectar to extend her life and his a little bit. They could even make some for Bebe if they hurried. The catch was that she would have to spend a lot of time reading gardening books while he went off on an adventure.



   Abbie considered the plan. Reading. Alone. No messing with fire traps or piles of rubble. She leapt into his arms with joy. They might be different, but Andrew really did understand her.

[ratchie]

Good thinking Andrew. Always keep your wife happy and you won't go far wrong.

Rachel

[Lilygirl]

I absolutely love how this story is written!! (Yes, 2 exclamation marks.)

Congrats on moving out your first heir and I can't wait to see pictures of Byron and meet the nooboo once they get back from France.

[MarianT]

Chapter Six – Andrew

   I feel really sad. Bebe passed away last night. If she could have held on two more days, we would have had some life fruit to make nectar with, and she could have stayed with us a little longer – but maybe not. She was already 91 when Abbie and I got married, 98 when the Grim Reaper came for her.



        The thing is, we always say someone had a full life, but I don’t think Bebe did. She told me that looking after Byron when Abbie and I were in France was the happiest time of her life. And she was so pleased to be finally getting recognition for her painting. Her portraits of Abbie and me hang in the upstairs hall. They're both worth more than they were yesterday, which seems unfair.   



        Oh, well, to more cheerful topics. Byron is quite the fireball. Like me, he doesn’t much care for lime green (what is it with high chair manufacturers – don’t they realize there are other colors out there?)



        Unlike me, he gets a high chair in his favorite color, however. I have to watch it, though. I want everything to be easy for him, but that’s not how you build character. So I should have his room done in lime green – no, that would be too cruel.



        Abbie would like him to be a writer, but his eyes tend to glaze when she reads to him. The head drop is next, followed by the backward flop.



        Anyway, Abbie has other concerns now.



       Her name is Claire, and I don’t care how strong her character turns out to be. She’s going to have everything her little seafoam-loving heart desires. (Note: Abbie says that’s sexist.)

[ratchie]

It is the duty of all fathers to spoil their little girls. Congratulations Abbie and Andrew.

Rachel