Chapter Five

Though Almond's life dream was finally within his grasp, and he was the head chef at the town's finest restaurant, his family still wasn't wealthy. In fact, their bank account rarely exceeded five thousand simoleons. However, they had enough to begin achieving a higher standard of living.

They expanded their recreation area, creating a space for a hallway that would someday allow the house to grow beyond its current apartment-like means.

His daughter Sage received her own computer. She wouldn't have to wait for her brother's to become available anymore. She set eagerly to writing a new children's novel.

His son Amaretto took the family's new car out for it's first drive. . .

Only, he couldn't remember where it was that he'd wanted to go.

He ended up at the beach somehow, and as he stood amid the brush, staring out at the bay and trying to remember, he noticed a girl on one of the wooden lounges. He had often been encouraged to be more socially active, so he figured, why not introduce himself? What was the worst that could happen?

He never found that out, because this girl - Shannon Carnes, was her name - had very nearly the best combination of traits possible. She was a predominantly kind and thoughtful person, like he was. She was an excellent cook, something which already ran in his family. And she loved to garden, so she could help his dad keep up their small plot if no one else could.

He felt like playing chess at that moment, so he decided to challenge this stranger to a game. Being an easygoing sort, she accepted, and they talked as they thought over their moves. Apparently her bizarre fashion sense stemmed from the fact that her family wasn't exactly well off either, and they made do with hand-me-downs from garage sales and thrift stores.

Amaretto mentioned that his mother had been raised in a mansion just down the street from their house. It was vacant now - his grandparents were deceased, and she had been their only child.

Holly sat down to a family dinner with her daughter and husband.

Sage had volunteered to make the Goopy Carbonara herself, and she had managed it perfectly. They were all quite pleased.

The sun set entirely, and a cold breeze swept across the beach. Shannon was starving, so she left the chess table to go to the picnic she'd set up.

Amaretto ran over and invited her back to his place. To his surprise, she accepted again. It would at least be better than cheeseburgers.

Though he would never admit it, he couldn't wait to get home. Being in the dark - even when it wasn't pitch-black - made him nervous and uncomfortable. He calmed when he entered the bright living room.

To his disappointment, dinner was waiting for them, but his family was nowhere to be seen or heard - it was almost midnight; they were all asleep. His dad had work and his sister had school in the morning. His mother almost always went to bed last, because her job was the family's professional artist. Shannon couldn't meet them today.

They still enjoyed dinner together, while Shannon started up a conversation about recipes. It was her goal to memorize them all.

She helped him clear the table, and then yawned and stretched. Time for bed.

Amaretto was enjoying her company, but he felt the same way.

That didn't stop him from cheering as he reflected on what a success that memory slip had been.

Shannon heard and thought it was a little strange, but wasn't in any mood to investigate further. She walked out and went home.

He was truly astonished when she agreed to come over again the very next day.

He greeted her with a charming compliment about her smile.

He wondered if, perhaps, his compassion and above-par intelligence might help him excel in the medical field.

His mother's natural affinity for art certainly helped her in turning out a remarkably accurate portrait of his dad. And soon, it would help to immortalize the family's next heir.

He didn't know if that would be him or his sister. But Sage hadn't ever brought home any boys, nor expressed anything more than a mild interest in them, so her chances weren't looking bright.

She woke early one Saturday morning and sat down in front of her computer to write, before she remembered what today was. She went out to the garden to wish her dad a happy birthday.

She brought up the subject of insects being included in some foods, and Amaretto agreed with her that the likelihood was unsettlingly high. Holly couldn't believe that they were having this discussion over lunch.

Amaretto invited Shannon over afterwards, and on an impulse, she kissed him.

He didn't exactly mind much.

Even though she was considerably older, he thought they had good chemistry.

She moved in, bringing what little money she could, and he discovered that yellow was her favorite color. She came from an overall nice, wholesome family. (Although her brother dated a woman old enough to be his grandmother when he got out of high school, and her father was a good person like she was, and yet also a professional thug - how did that work out?)

And although she didn't mean to be, she was almost perpetually in a sour mood.

Amaretto gave her a massage to try and soften her up.

Almond happened to see the two together as he stopped in the kitchen to age, and it was at that moment that he realized who would be the most likely to succeed him.

By this point in their lives, the Savorys had managed quite a lot.

Their tiny house was turning into a livable home.

They added on a second story, with three more bedrooms (the largest going to the firstborn grandchild), a second bathroom, and a future study.

Shannon decided to give the garden some much-needed attention, gaining a considerable amount of skill in the process.

A few hours later, she dropped a freshly-made bowl of macaroni and cheese onto the kitchen floor, and ran into the bathroom to throw up.

Nikki Grayson came home from school with Sage, and immediately took to gossiping with her mother.

While Amaretto shouted for someone to let him in because he'd lost his keys.

Sage asked her mother to tell her sister-in-law to wear some actual clothes after taking a bath. She was mortifying her in front of her guest.

Shannon paid her no mind.

She was happy to discover that she was pregnant, however.

Almond wanted to retire, but that was wishful thinking - he knew that his family needed his income. When he wasn't at work or tending the garden, he upgraded the household objects to be unbreakable.

Shannon really began to show, and the other members of the household took notice.

Almond cheered loudly at the prospect of becoming a grandfather.

Amaretto decided that it was finally time to take their relationship to the next level.

Mrs. Shannon Savory leaped for joy at his proposal.

Sage became a full-fledged adult at last, now charismatic.

At the same time that she was moving out on her own. . .

. . .Amaretto and his mother were simultaneously freaking out over Shannon going into labor.

Amaretto finally decided to take her to the hospital, but Shannon insisted on driving.

Faced with that sort of death glare, he didn't try to protest.

They returned home with a daughter, Milk Savory.

A genius like her father, a brooding harpy like her mother.

Interlude

So, that's it for the founding generation! I had a lot of fun with my part of this challenge, and I can't wait to see where the family goes from here.

While we're waiting for the first update of generation two, I thought I'd do a quick recap of what I did for my part.

Almond, the founder, completed his lifetime wish of becoming a Celebrated 5-Star Chef. He got to level 10 in cooking, gardening, and handiness, and level 5 in logic. He upgraded all the home's appliances/electronics to unbreakable, other than the stove (which got improved food quality). He learned all the recipes available from the bookstore, including Ambrosia.

Holly's lifetime want was to become a Rock Star, but she never completed it. Instead, she reached level 9 of the painter profession. She maxed painting, and got to level 7 in gardening, 5 in logic, 2 in cooking, and 2 in handiness. And, of course, she raised two kids. She also managed to paint Almond's portrait, as well as portraits for both kids (since I didn't know who SQ would choose as heir/ess).

Amaretto, or Rett, learned all his toddler skills, as well as everything he could from the xylophone and the shape sorter. He got to level 5 in painting, 4 in writing, 4 in logic, and 3 in cooking. He wrote and published one book and is working on a second. His lifetime want is to be an Illustrious Author and max the painting and writing skills.

Sage learned all her toddler skills, as well as everything she could from the xylophone, shape sorter, and block table. She got to level 4 in painting, writing, and logic, and level 3 in cooking. Her lifetime want, like Rett, is to be an Illustrious Author.

I had a lot of fun working on the house, and here's a shot of what it looks like as I pass the reigns over to SimQueenie9. :)

I hope you enjoyed reading the first generation as much as I enjoyed writing it.

-StyxLady

Chapter Four

Sage's birthday was coming up, which provided a perfect opportunity. Holly talked to Rett the next morning and asked him to invite a friend or two from school to come to the party. Rett looked at his toes for a moment and then sighed.

"Is everything okay, Sweetie?" Holly asked him.

"I...I just don't really have any friends, Mom." Rett's mouth turned down in a frown, and Holly thought he looked about to cry.

She gathered him up in a comforting hug. "Well, that's easily fixed," she said confidently. "Everyone loves parties, Rett. Invite someone, and I bet whoever it is won't turn down cake."

Rett looked a little uneasy, but finally agreed.

That afternoon, he came home with a look of triumph on his face. "I got someone to say yes, Mom!" He exclaimed as though he didn't think it would happen.
Holly smiled. "There, you see? Nothing to it."

The big day was that weekend, and Rett was more excited for his sister's party than Sage was. Of course, Sage was young yet, and didn't really understand.

Rett's new friend, Kenya, arrived right on time, and the two hit it off immediately.

Kenya was a lot more outgoing and confident than my boy, and she lured him out of his shell with little effort. She was exactly what he had needed.

They were too wrapped up in talking and playing to come outside and watch Sage blow out her candles, but Holly and I decided to let them be. This is what we had hoped for, after all. We wanted Rett to have as much interaction with an actual person as possible.

Even after Kenya left, her influence remained. Rett spent the rest of the evening playing with his dollhouse again, but he actually invited Sage to play with him, this time.

From that day on, if Rett wasn't playing with Kenya, he was playing with Sage. They played with the dollhouse, but they also played with blocks, and sometimes even played chess at the park. Sage begged me for a chess table of our own, and I promised her we'd get one when I got my next promotion.

Luckily, that promotion wasn't far behind. Along with it came a fantastic new refrigerator; one of the perks of my position. It had tons of space, and kept leftovers fresh for a very long time. Holly was ecstatic.

True to my word, I also purchased Sage a chess table. She clapped and thanked me, giving me a sweet hug. Holly, who was an accomplished artist by this time, had finished a portrait of me which we hung over the chess table. I have to admit, it felt kind of odd watching myself stare out of the canvas.

My promotion also allowed us to expand the house once again, as well as update some of our older appliances. We even purchased a dishwasher, much to Holly's relief. I did my share of dishes, and didn't mind the sink, but she hated when her fingers got all wrinkly.

Rett retained his friendship with Kenya, and called her often, just to chat. Their relationship continued to strengthen as they grew from children to teenagers.

Apparently, Holly was working on her latest painting when Rett got up the guts to steal his very first kiss. He thought Holly's back was turned, but she sneaked a peek.

Neither Holly or I was sure their romance would last, but I was glad my son was getting past his fears enough to experience life to the fullest.

Sage still idolized her older brother, and took an interest in everything he did. When he started painting, she gave it a try.

She sat next to him on the school bus in the morning, and did her homework with him in the afternoon. Luckily, Rett had built a friendship with his sister, and he didn't mind his little shadow, most of the time.

He even cheered the loudest of all of us when it was time for Sage to join him in teenager-hood. My little girl grew up beautifully, and looked so much like her mother. Like Rett, she soon announced she would like to be an illustrious author someday.

Both my children wanted to be masters in painting and writing. For Sage's birthday present, I sent her and Rett to a writing class. I regretted it later, when she came home begging for their own computer. I have trouble denying my little girl anything. They both immediately began working on writing books, while I kept up my performance at the bistro.

Then, one day, it happened. I received my final promotion to 5-star chef! I had accomplished the goal I set for myself so long ago, when I first moved to Sunset Valley.

Now that what I had worked for for so long had become reality, I was left pondering what to do with my spare time. I learned every recipe the bookstore and library had to offer, and started keeping better track of my previously neglected garden.

I checked out a book on plumbing and other do-it-yourself projects, and upgraded every single appliance in my home so that it would never break again. I even found a trick to make the stove cook more evenly!

One of my co-workers, Jared, found out about my endeavors and asked me to upgrade his stereo for him. He was so pleased with my work that he paid me quite a bit of money for the job.



Holly was doing well in her career, also. She had sold so many paintings that the mayor of the city awarded her with a special ribbon. I was so proud of her for accomplishing so much while raising our kids, and I loved her even more now than I had when I married her.

And now, as I watch my eldest blow out the candles on the cake, signifying his transition to young adulthood, I realize I've accomplished everything I set out to do in my life, and more. Even in all my imaginings, I had never dreamed I'd be as happy as I am. I only hope my children can find as much happiness in their lives.