maressa

Flash Fiction

It’s been a busy few weeks, the windy weather made me feel my life was being blown along at ridiculous speeds as well! The beginning of the school year always bring lots of “firsts”: First ballet lessons for the kids, first play dates, first…first tears over maths that doesn’t want to add up, words that can’t be spelled.

Firsts for me too, a few firsts that actually made me feel…odd…like a fraud! After all, I’m not really a writer, am I? Alright, I self published a book on Smashwords, but they were just little stories that I really enjoyed bashing out! It’s true that I’m now writing my first “real book”, but again, I just love the story. Does writing away, having a great time with the story and the characters, and the conversations they have, count as “writing”? Does that really make me a writer?

Anyway, I went to a real writers’ circle nearby, and had a fantastic morning. The topic was “Clouds” and everyone had such a different way of writing! I was the only one with fiction…but they were very kind and gracious, so I took their advice and entered it at Mslexia, the Flash Fiction Entry! Again, I just love looking at a title, and the people around that. Their conversations and manner of speaking will just come, and it’s wonderful just to imagine them wondering, talking, thinking and laughing together!

Anyway, the deed is done, my story about Storm Clouds has been entered into the competition! When I know for sure that I didn’t win, as there will be heaps of very clever, experienced writers entering, I will let you read my story… It was based on the Facebook pictures I saw of these huge, billowing storm clouds, and I just went from there!

New beginnings

It’s All New!

Writing has been amazing. Most evenings I sit down with my tablet+keyboard and work on stories. It started off with stories about this little family in a house in SiMobile. I loved looking at their little lives, and imagining their interactions, their joys and fears. I then started looking at real life in that way too. Interactions, people, happenings…it all started growing in my mind. Words attached themselves to images, scenery was commented upon by imaginary people. The first few chapters of a new novel got me very excited, and a new hobby has been born!

Now I have just written chapter 24, and the end of the book is coming nearer and nearer. This time I’m hoping to find a publisher mad enough or kind enough to publish my book. It will be a new experience, one that worries me already… I have talked to several new people, made new connections, and only just started to find my way in this completely new world. So far so good, and in between Real Life I’m following my main character through her new experiences as well, quite relieved it’s not me that has to experience her life. I’m very happy to live vicariously through her, thank you very much!

Ralph

The kindest eyes, and sweetest smile goes completely unnoticed by Anselma. All she sees is the worst face in SiMobile, a body out of shape, and ears…well…Anselma quickly averts her eyes, her cheeks burning with anger, humiliation and horror! This man in front of her is her Adonis, Ralph Snowdon? Her hero, her muscular man, with the handsomest face in town? The one that she was going to show off to all her friends, watching their eyes turn green with envy? Anselma gasps for breath, and suddenly mumbles a quick excuse, something about choosing bad leftovers, and dashes to the nearest bathroom. Not that bathrooms can’t be invaded, but she just hopes for a few minutes respite. Anselma just needs some quietness, in order to process this disaster. Staring in the mirror, clutching at the cool sink, Anselma tries to get her head round the facts. This young man, this…this man that must have the worst looks in SiMobile, is really and truly Ralph Snowdon? Could there be a mistake, somewhere? There are a lot of people called Snow, because of the Townie family with that name. The same could be true for Snowdon? Maybe he is not the one that she thinks he is? Surely her parents called him a good match? Surely they mentioned his good looks, and how they wanted to make sure she knew that good looks weren’t everything?

Anselma groans, bending over the sink in despair. In her heart she knows that there is no mistake, no doppelganger, no second Ralph Snowdon, with amazing looks and a body to match. She has just met her future intended husband. She starts to shake, and sobs flood over her before she can stop them. “No,” she whimpers, “no, it can’t be true, I can’t be promised to this man! There must be a mistake somewhere, oh…what will I do! I can’t even bear to look at him! Those ears..” Her sobs give way to wails and groans, and Anselma allows her grief to overwhelm her. How can she marry him? How can she even spend time with him? She can’t possibly be seen with him, what will that do to her aspirations and plans? How will she ever get a career in the fashion industry if she is spotted with a husband as ugly as that! She briefly stops when the word ‘ugly’ comes into her head, feeling guilty even thinking the word. Surely nobody should be called ugly? It can’t be right to call anybody by that word to describe them, and Anselma actually glances over her shoulder, suddenly worried that somebody could read her thoughts. She worries that somehow it will get known that she called her future husband ugly. She can feel shame wiggling into her heart, and suddenly she understands her parents words.

They were not urging her to get her priorities right before meeting her stunning husband. They were urging her to get her priorities right, because she would need to see beyond people’s outward appearance, before meeting her…her…”Ugly,” she whispers softly, new tears splashing on her cheeks, “there is just no other word available! He is just so ugly, and I could never look past that! If he had a few problems, you know, sticking out lips, or bright ginger hair, or if he was a bit overweight, of course I could learn to look past that. This is too much to ask though, for everything about him is awful! His face…!” and she bends over the sink again, clutching on for dear life, grief pouring over her in huge torrents. The party noises start to get through to Anselma after a while, and she somehow manages to calm herself down. She blows her nose, dries her eyes, and checks her appearance in the mirror. This brings new tears, as she has a vision of things to come seeing her beautiful face in the mirror. She can just imagine his ugly face with ridiculous grin next to her face… Anselma manages to pull it together though, and with a deep sigh, ending in a groan, she leaves the bathroom, and rejoins the party.

Within seconds Ralph is at her side again, his face contorted in a concerned frown, doing nothing to improve his looks. “I hope you will feel better soon,” he says, surprisingly beautiful eyes looking at her with kindness, “it can take eight hours before the effect has worn off! Could I get you something to drink?” He continues, his face with the huge mouth grinning at her. Anselma cringes every time she looks at him, and finds herself focussing on his eyes. They are totally the wrong shape, of course, and in the wrong position as well, but they sparkle, and are a beautiful stormy grey. It’s the only redeeming feature, she thinks, a seed of bitterness firmly planted in her heart. She manages to nod, and mumble something. Ralph nods enthusiastically, and lumbers off to get her drink. She watching his retreating bulk, and shivers.

“What were you two thinking?” she hisses under her breath, the seed of bitterness cracking open, when she thinks of her parents choosing this man for her groom! “How could you,” she moans under her breath, gulping down salty tears, whilst keeping her bright smile firmly in place. She looks around, and promptly gives up. Where ever she looks there are tall, handsome men, laughing, smiling with well shaped mouths. Their well trimmed bodies complementing their wives and girlfriends, and Anselma can’t bear to see anymore. Ralph returns with their drinks, and smiles his smile at her. Anselma accepts the drink, even somehow finds the strength to smile at him, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on his eyes. “Thank you,” she says, only the slightest tremor in her voice, “I wasn’t really expecting you at this party. I thought I would have to wait till the one at our house, and I was so disappointed!” She stops suddenly, and her hands start to shake, almost spilling her drink over her new Izzy gown. Yes, she had been so disappointed, and so impatient! She had been counting the days, she had been complaining about the delay…but all that was before he had actually met Ralph! Now she wished, oh how she wished that they had never met, that their party would crash before he managed to get in, that the party setting had gone wrong and the party had opened to all and sundry… Anselma can feel her cheeks burning again, and her eyes sting with unshed tears. So many things could go wrong, so many arranged marriages fail because of the Government interference. The one arranged meeting that she would have liked to fail actually took place before schedule. Not only were they at the same party, they met up early on in the party as well. They even established contact.

She clutches at her drink with both hands to stop the glass from slipping from her shaking hands. She tries to sip, hiding her face in the glass tumbler, hoping it will hide her tears and the desperate look on her face. As a fashionista in training she manages to control herself after a while, however. Ralph seems oblivious to her little breakdown, and the first thing she sees when she raises her face from the glass is his idiotic grin, making her shake all over again. “It’s a wonderful party, isn’t is?” His warm voice is rumbly and clear at the same time, his oddly shaped eyes roam the house where the party is held. “I’m so very glad to see you here,” he continues, his eyes looking at her, “I was disappointed too that we would have to wait so long. Here we are, all of a sudden, and it’s such a blessing too! I was just chafing against the wait, so I feel very grateful that the wait is finally over. Till meeting you I mean,” he adds hastily as he sees Anselma’s face turn as pale as chalk. “I really can’t wait to spend more time with you, and as all the arrangements have been made, and the papers can come any day now, I don’t think we ought to hang around! I know from somebody in the office that they will process my Moving Permit as soon as I meet you, so I will let them know straightaway when I get home. I’m so excited and your parents told me that you want to get married as soon as possible as well, which I think is great. It prevents a lot of common problems if people marry sooner rather than later, don’t you think?”

Anselma nods, and somehow manages to squeak out a sound that sounds like an affirmative noise. Marry this man as soon as possible? Really? How dare her parents suggest that to this man! Of course, she had been very keen to marry quickly, and to have a family as soon as was appropriate, but that was when she was still convinced that she was betrothed to the most handsome man in SiMobile… Not to the worst looking one! Anselma feels trapped. She feels that Ralph is kind and thrilled to meet her. Well, she thinks, with an edge to her words, at least he has good taste when it comes to women! “I can’t tell him different now, can I,” she groans in silence. “He might be ugly, and I just dread the thought of marrying him, but I couldn’t ever tell him. He has kind eyes, and it isn’t his fault, really.” She nods and makes agreeing noises whenever he says something, and Anselma manages to retreat into herself far enough to block Ralph out. Then his rumbling voice breaks through her slight trance, and Anselma hits the ground with both feet.

“Shall we leave the party now, and go to the café for our first date? It’s still quite early, and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s best not to waste any time.” She looks at the ugly face, his eyes happy and hopeful, huge mouth wider than ever, and just manages to nod. Then Anselma makes another dash to the bathroom, and throws up in the glittering golden toilet. Her legs are to shaky to support her, and she lowers herself on the tiled floor, sobbing, and groaning. The café! She really and truly has to go with Ralph to the café? She shudders, and wonders how to disguise herself enough to not be recognised. She runs through the list in her head of people she normally encounters at the café, and which ones will cause issues. She groans, thinking of the Simstagram posts going up! Pictures of her and Ralph sitting in the café, dancing, contemplating the beauty of nature…

Anelma decides to make it look like she is doing an interview with somebody. An interview with a random Sim, for her fashion blog… She giggles then, for who would believe that? Doing an interview with the worst looking Sim in town, for her fashion blog with its many glowing reviews! She drags herself back on her feet, and leaves the bathroom, determined to make the date look like a business meeting, in case any of her followers spots her with this man. Ralph is very polite and kind, and if he is surprised by her insistence to just sit at the table and chat he doesn’t show it. He gallantly holds the chair out for her, and orders their teas. They talk about all sorts, and Anselma feels herself relaxing a little. He isn’t pushy anyway, she thinks, and he is actually very kind. I like the way he treats the waiter, although I do think that waiter is a bit forward. Oh well, hopefully that means that this doesn’t look like a date, for surely the waiter wouldn’t be that flirty with a very young woman on her first date? “Thank you Will,” she says to the waiter when he brings their bill at the end, and flashes him a bright smile, hoping to convince him even more that this is definitely not a date, but a business meeting…

Ralph and Anselma leave for home, and she feels herself relaxing a little. Her parents are very pleased to see Ralph, treating his with respect and kindness. Anselma grinds her teeth, bitterness growing inside her. She watches her parents, and when she sees them sharing a smile, she spins round and storms off to her room. “I knew it!” she sobs, hot angry tears appearing instantly, “I just knew it as soon as I saw him! They chose him to punish me. They think I’m too vain, and too concerned with outward appearances, but I’m not! There is nothing wrong with liking beautiful things, is there? There is also nothing wrong with enjoying the company of beautiful looking people. I hate how they promised me to the most ugly lump in SiMobile, just to teach me a lesson! They have ruined my life, and everybody will be laughing at me!” This isn’t actually true, but there would be nothing her parents could have said to Anselma to convince her of that. They liked Ralph, and saw his kindness and godly character straight away. They found him a good listener, somebody with a great interest in others, and a calm and steady man, strong and capable. They realised that his character would be just right for Anselma, and that of all the young men in SiMobile he would be the best suited to her moods and vain personality. Neither of them paid much attention to people’s looks, having learned over time that looks can be deceiving… It hadn’t even occurred to them until Anselma told them…

The courtship is progressing well, and Ralph seems happier than ever. His large round face carried a permanent blush, and his large fleshy lips are puled into a fixed grin. His heavy lumbering steps seem somehow more bouncy, and his warm generous laugh can be heard in every room. Anselma on the contrary looks more and more sulky, struggling to keep an edge out of her voice. It isn’t that she dislikes Ralph, in fact, she has started to find him quite acceptable. In the Mortina House that is. She has learned to enjoy his company, still thinks his eyes are beautiful, and finds herself wanting to hear his laugh. Going out with him is a different matter though. She somehow manages to block out the terrible ears, ugly face and huge bulky frame when she is at home. As soon as they leave the house, she becomes painfully aware of his looks. She just imagines people looking twice in horror, expecting people to raise their phones to take a picture to put on Simstagram, and Anselma finds herself checking all social media anxiously every time they have been out together.

“No! Oh, I can’t believe it,” her voice sounds so desperate and distraught that her mother, Tessa, comes running up to the hobby room, in spite of her stooped shoulders and grey hair. “Look, she has put a picture of me and Ralph up!” Tessa opens her mouth to correct the grammar, but changes her mind when she sees her daughter’s face. Anselma looks like her life has just ended, and Tessa peers at the computer screen. All she can see is a lovely photograph of her daughter and Ralph at the restaurant bench, engrossed in conversation. “Can’t you see?” wails Anselma, when her mother looks at her with a blank expression, “everybody will know that we weren’t together for business! They will know that we are in some sort of relationship! Now the news will come out soon, for they will look into it, and more pictures will probably turn up! That’s it, I’m ruined!” Dropping her head on her arms, Anselma sobs and wailes and speculates about her ruined social life and career.

Tessa is stunned, she had never expected this! She genuinely thought Ralph and Anselma got on well together, and she was pleased that her daughter seemed to be over her obsession with people’s looks! “Sweetheart, what do you mean?” she asks, confusion written all over her face, “I think that is a lovely picture of the two of you! Such a sweet couple!” Her eyes widen when Anselma sits up with a shock, eyes blazing, her wet face red and blotchy, and her mouth pulled in an angry sneer.

“Exactly! We look like a couple, and I have done everything I could to avoid that! I don’t want people to realise that I’m in a relationship with him! How will anybody take my fashion advice or my career seriously if they know that I’m married to the worst looking man in the whole of SiMobile? This picture will ruin me! I will lose my followers, and what sort of fashion shop will promote me, knowing that I don’t even know what a handsome husband should look like?” She glares at her mother, and carries on in a voice filled with bitterness, “How could you do this to me? What sort of parents choose a husband as a punishment for their daughter? How could you do this, when you knew I would be unhappy for the rest of my life?” Fresh tears pour down her cheeks, and Anselma buries her face in her hands, and cries like her heart is broken. Tessa is stunned, and far too shocked and upset to speak. Erik has come in, drawn by the commotion, and it is Erik who answers his daughter.

“We had no idea, Anselma, and we hadn’t even thought about Ralph’s looks. We can assure you that the thought of punishing you didn’t come into it at all. Of course, we realised that he might not reach your ridiculous high standard when it comes to handsome young men, but we think that character is far more important. Somehow we never managed to instil that into you, and as such we have failed as parents. On the other hand, you are an adult, capable of making your own decisions, as well as responsible for your own attitudes and actions. I think it is scandalous the way you think about Ralph, and if you lose friends over him? Well, good riddance I would say! No proper friend would dump you over this, and if they do, it just shows how shallow and conceited they were. I cannot imagine that Ralph will harm your career, that is just the ramblings of a vain young girl, who has a lot of growing up to do! It hurts me to say this, but as your father I’m horrified by your attitude and your weak character. I can only hope and pray that you will change and mature, before you cause more grief. Your words and thoughts are harmful to yourself and others, and only a change of heart can bring healing, I fear!”

He storms off, worried that he may say too much, sadness clouding his eyes. Tessa is in tears, of course, and Anselma sits at her desk, looking sullen and grieved. Guilt makes her insides wobble, as she knows her father is right. Her eyes fall on the picture on the screen again, and she groans. She is still convinced that all her friends will look down on her and laugh at her behind her back. Why did she have to be promised to Ralph… Then she remembers his kind eyes, and his care for her. She knows deep down that her father is right, and she also knows that her attitude stinks. Anselma struggles, as she knows all that, but on the other hand is her glowing career prospects, and her blog with its beauty loving followers… She sighs, and looks at her mum, guilt winning it this time. “I’m sorry, Mum,” she sighs, hugging Tessa, “I will do better, I promise. I don’t know how, but somehow I will get there, and I accept that you didn’t choose him as a punishment. I do actually like his company, it’s just that…”

She looks at the picture, and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ slides through her mind, and she shivers. “It’s just hard for somebody like me, you know, somebody who makes a living out of fashion, it’s hard to…to…” mmmm, how is she going to put this, without getting in trouble again? “It will be fine, Mum, I’m sure it will be fine. Don’t cry over us, for I’ll manage…” She cringes inside, as somehow she doesn’t think that was the thing to say. It doesn’t sound like she has changed really, and she knows for a fact that she hasn’t. She also knows that she will have to find a way to deal with it, as she refuses to give up on her career and her dreams. On the other hand, she knows that she has fully accepted her pending marriage to Ralph. Somehow she will have to merge the two. She smiles at her mum, the effort making her jaws ache. It is one of the important skills in the fashion industry though, to smile at all times, and Anselma is a great fashionista, and Tessa soon smiles back at her daughter. Anselma sighs with relief as the drama seems to have passed. Now for some damage control, she thinks, turning back to the computer.

Moving Around

Solveig comes into the house, her usual red cheeks brighter than ever. “The Gems are here! Oh, I can’t believe it! They were in time as usual, which is great. With the complex arrangements for the Active Papers to be handed out in order, I’m not sure what we would have done if the Gem had been late!” SiMobile Government isn’t known for its punctuality, but this time the Gems arrived in time. Solveig and Anselma do a rather wild dance, Anselma’s long dark hair neatly braided. Her large eyes sparkle, for now things will start rolling! She feels ready to burst with excitement, and finds it a little hard to look at Solveig and Bjorn. Both of them are filling in their Promotion Papers, and Solveig keeps a very close eye on the mailbox, hoping that the party invite will come soon…

Zahra and Michael fill in their retirement papers, Zahra looking a little anxious. When Tessa asks her, she admits that her main worry is that this short Active time in SiMobile hadn’t been enough. “I just don’t know,” she had said, a sad undertone to her voice, “I feel that my time had just been so short. When I look back, what have I actually accomplished? Of course, hobbies had been completed, job promotions had been received. Somehow that feels so empty though, and I feel so many regrets… There are so many Sims aimlessly walking along the streets, and some of them so young! They look like Active Sims, but they seem so lonely and clueless. I should have spent a lot more time with others, I realise that now. Michael said that when we’re retire we’ll still be able to talk to people. I hope so, as I feel I want to spend my last days amongst people, befriending them, helping them, giving advise like about careers or hobbies, mentoring people in the family…” She had looked dreamy then, and a little sad. Tessa’s eyes had looked like large pools on a cloudy day, filled to overflowing, and her lips had trembled in sympathy. Tessa and Erik were staying Active a bit longer, but she was dreading the day already! What if she really needed something? She couldn’t actively ask somebody…

Bjorn and Solveig were elated when their papers arrived. Both got Llama Flu, but just the Weebles Strain, and they had laughed it off soon enough. Solveig was the one that spotted the invite of course! The day of the party arrived, and both went off in high spirits. Anselma felt a bit lost that day, and she actually hinted at the unfairness of life to Keziah. Keziah just smiled at her and with her sweet voice said, “Oh, our time will come soon enough! Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere, and it’s actually quite relaxed to just hang around the house, getting to know people… Once we’re Active, we’ll be working and doing stuff all the time… The thing that worries me the most is having to work when the baby is still small, you know, it just feels a bit sad…” Anselma had smiled back, and agreed with Keziah of course, but inside she had thought Keziah was soft like Tessa…

“She should have had my mum, really,” she had grunted later, “I like Aunt Zahra, she is so pretty, and no nonsense, apart from the stuff lately about making a difference in SiMobile… She’s great fun though! Now, let’s find an empty bathroom, I just want to redo that one braid.” Anselma is often found in the bathrooms, chatting, or checking herself in the mirror, wondering if she will have to wait long for her Promotion opportunity. “The best thing about it is the fact that I can actually choose my own outfit,” she sighs, stroking her top smooth, checking its colour, and wondering which colour would suit her dark hair, grey eyes and slight tan the best. She would love some of those cropped tops, but she knows that there isn’t much chance of getting the family approval…

Soon Bjorn and Solveig return from the party. Bjorn is grinning, a special gleam in his eyes, and the name ‘Nadia’ is often mentioned. Solveig smiled, and says that Damian looks sweet, and then the days begin to fly by. Bjorn is gone for hours on end, hardly spending any time with the family. Anselma makes sure to hang around when he comes home, just in case he has met Ralph. She is desperate to know what he’s like, and she hangs on Bjorn and Solveig’s every word. Soon Bjorn and his sweet Nadia are married, sending pictures home of their sweet wedding. Anselma sighs as Bjorn leaves, partly with relief that she is one step closer to her own Active Papers to arrive, partly because the wait seems forever. Keziah’s eyes sparkle as she fills in her papers. She is still hoping to meet Nicholas somehow. Bjorn leaves in a whirlwind of emotions, leaving Tessa in tears, Erik grinning proudly, Solveig bursting with excitement as Erik will be calling her over a lot now, and Keziah will a sweet smile now her own papers have arrived.

It’s Solveig’s turn to be gone a lot now, and again Anselma hangs around every evening when Solveig returns. She feels the jealousy growing, as Solveig is full of wonderful stories of the stuff she and Bjorn discussed. Anselma loves her younger brother, and misses him, and to hear Solveig’s accounts…well, it grates on her! How she wished it was her turn instead, as she feels it should have been anyway, being older than Solveig and all that. She does value the Dynasty of course, and she does realise it’s an honour to be chosen to carry on the Dynasty It’s just…it’s losing her brother, and missing his fun and cheerful voice! It’s hearing and seeing Solveig get closer to him every day… Solveig hasn’t mentioned Damian very much, or given a very good description yet. She is obviously concentrating on her friendship with Bjorn, for that needs to be at the right level for her to apply for the Moving Permit. The fact that she is Bjorn’s sister doesn’t make any difference to the application. All the SiMobile Government wants to see is that you have one of the highest levels of relationship possible with somebody before allowing you to move in.

When the day finally arrives, and Solveig comes home, they all celebrate, apart from maybe Tessa. She is relieved to see two of her children married or getting married to other Sims, and therefore setting up new homes, building new families. The idea that she won’t see them again, or at least hardly ever see them again, makes her very sad. Anselma feels like rolling her eyes; honestly, she really doesn’t get her mum sometimes… Here she is, with four children, two married to other Sims, and one taking over the Dynasty, and she still weeps and wails! She watches Solveig fill out the papers, and actually feels sadness deep inside as well. Solveig was her little baby sister, and she had watched her take her first staggering steps after the blue cake had appeared. Now she’s off and they will both be busy soon. Until Anselma is allowed her Active papers she won’t even be able to call Solveig! She sighs, and wishes again for the Government to allow more people to be active. At least let us have different outfits, so even if it’s Mum choosing an outfit, I will have some input at least. She pulls a face, thinking about some of her parents’ friends whose kids grew up into dreadful looking adults. Potbellies, camo shorts, plain t-shirts… Anselma shudders, fancy some of those styles, she’s be mortified if hat had happened to her! She would definitely have protested strongly at the Family Meeting in that case, as she would just refuse to walk around in that sort of getup for longer than necessary…!

Anselma’s papers arrive, and she’s off! New outfits are tried, makeup styles are tested, jewellery comes out… Anselma loves it, and finds it hard to be with Keziah! The sad news had come that Nicholas and his sister would definitely not receive their Active papers till almost the new Gems arrive! Keziah was heartbroken, and nothing would console her. Of course, she refused all offers of new traits, as the worst thing would be to look like an old spinster, she had said. Anselma had rolled her eyes, as the traits only become an issue once you accept the last one, but Keziah had been adamant… So she is not interested in Anselma’s new outfit and keeps her own style simple. Anselma sighs, and for the umpteenth time thinks that really, Tessa should have been Keziah’s mum! Anselma is a bit hurt though, for she feels that Keziah could make the effort! After all, it’s just a short wait, and the date for the party has been set. Nathalie, Nicholas’ sister will be throwing the party. Keziah seems to cheer up a little whenever the party is mentioned, but apart from that she’s very upset. She has been Active for a while now, and the waiting has become unbearable, which Anselma thinks is a little melodramatic.. “Nothing really changes,” she explains, “you still need to work and have a hobby, the relationship is done in between all that.” Keziah promptly bursts into tears, and leaves the room, complaining bitterly about Anselma’s lack of understanding.

Anselma heard that she would have to wait as well. The family isn’t quite sure how the arrangement with Ralph will play out. Her parents have met him, and said he was a wonderful young man; kind and helpful, polite and sweet, they said. They wouldn’t describe him though, and Tessa pointed out that Anselma was far too obsessed with the outside, and people’s looks. “Looks isn’t everything, it’s the heart that’s important. It is time that you grow up, Anselma, and realise that the most beautiful looking people can have the blackest hearts. The other way round is true as well, that the most common looking people, and the plainest looking people can have hearts of gold. This is a time for you to grow, and to learn to focus on what is really important in relationships, before you get to meet Ralph.”

From that vehement statement Anselma came to the conclusion that Ralph was very good looking, and that as far as her parents were concerned that was the only problem about him. They thought she, Anselma, was vain and shallow, and they feared that an incredibly handsome husband would feed into those ideas and ideals. She grins to herself that evening, looking into the starshaped mirror in the golden bathroom. “Oh hi, Mr Handsome, you must be Ralph… I know a great man when I see one…” Mmmm, as pick up line it would be way too cheesy, but the dream was sweet enough, she smiles, eyes in her mind feasting on the well build, handsome young man, with smoky, smouldering eyes, “Whatever that looks like, it just sounds so poetical… I can just see his muscular arms, his strong chin, and his slow grin, as he drawls back his answer, complimenting me, seizing me up, and…” Anselma has to hug herself, and wishes almost as strongly as Keziah that the party was here. She even starts to feel a tiny twinge of sympathy for her cousin, for this waiting game is really awful.

Life is exciting though, and Anselma fills her days with the Internet Hobby. She absolutely loves it, and whenever she is at a party she asks people for their contact details. In between some more important internet stuff she messages them, and chats with them. Some of the young men are truly very handsome, and Anselma longs for their own party, where she will be standing next to her husband, pointing him out to her friends, watching their envious looks when she stands that little bit closer to him…

Anselma loves parties, especially the big ones, with all the family friends; so when the day comes when there are no large parties she goes to somebody she has never met before, and her parents are very vague about it. Her father remembered adding the party goers to his list; they were friends of friends he remembers, but that is all he knows. Anselma is the one to go, and soon after her arrival has been announced she hears a calm, steady, smiling kind of voice saying her name, double checking that her name is really Anselma Mortina? She turns round, blushing, the blush turning into a painful scarlet as the young man before her introduces himself as Ralph Snowdon.

Arrangements

“Well, I can’t see why not? After all, you have your traits, you have your retirement letter, your children have all grown up, so why ever not?” Erik doesn’t sound angry, or even annoyed, but Tessa can tell that he is fast heading that way. She sits next to him, her large grey eyes looking anxiously from face to face. She hates confrontation, hates heated debates, and she never imagined that this meeting, this family meeting is turning into exactly that. Erik had casually announced the day before that there was going to be a Family Meeting, and Tessa had actually felt excited! A Family Meeting, how civilised and organised! “Trust the Mortina Family to do things properly,” she had grinned.

Erik smiled back at her and said, “It’s important to get this right. We need to reserve the Dynasty, and it’s important that the right person is chosen to take over the running of the family home. We have four children, so some of our children can be married off, but that will need to happen before the Family heir is married, as there are only so many adults allowed in charge. This generation somehow seems more complex than other generations, so hopefully it will all work out.”

Nothing had warned Tessa for this debate though, and she can feel her shoulders getting tighter by the minute! Zahra is looking daggers, her beautiful face slightly red, “The thing is, I have only got two daughters, and one marriage has been arranged. Bethany has made other arrangements, so Keziah is the only one from our line to carry on the Dynasty. Surely you’re not suggesting that our Line should die, just because we only have two daughters? The fact that you have four children does not give you more rights to the Dynasty, you know!” She leans back in her seat, lips clenched, eyes angry, refusing to look at Tessa, for Zahra knows that Tessa’s eyes will probably look like pools after a rainstorm, filled to the brim! That really would make her lose it!

Erik sighs, he feels so caught. To turn his children out onto the streets of SiMobile without any provision made for them hurts his heart, and he knows that Tessa would be crushed! He look at Michael and Zahra, notices her flushed face and feels grateful for Michael’s calm smile. “I’m not suggesting that your Line should die,” he says calmly, and looking at Michael with a sudden grin he continues, “Michael is a Knight, you know how special arranged marriages are with friends, so no way would we let your Line die. All I am saying is that as we have four children, I would like a chance for at least some of them to marry out before settling the Dynasty. It…” Erik suddenly feels very hot, and clammy, and he has to stop for a moment. “It would be awkward for example if Bjorn took over the Dynasty. You know he was named after my Dad’s cousin, so we feel that is special. Too special to just push him out of the family home, and have him roaming the streets.” That was probably not the wisest thing to say, for he hears Tessa gasp, and her small hand clasps his much larger one.

“The streets? You mean…you mean that our children who do not carry on the Dynasty will be made to roam the streets?” Tessa’s voice is shaking, and so are her hands. Tears hang of her eyelashes, making them seem longer, magnifying her eyes. “Is it really not possible to have more adults active in the home? I mean, do spouses necessarily need to be active?” Her voice is starting to reflect her desperation, and Erik hugs her. Tessa sobs suddenly, “What about my precious children? What about my little Solveig, she is still so young, and…and to see her wandering around the park…Is there nothing that can be done?” Her voices rises on a wail, and she cries, her heart breaking for her children. Her sweet Kari, her eldest, so strong and capable. Her Anselma, strong willed, impulsive, needing so much guidance, if she lives on the streets, what will ever become of her? Bjorn, her one son, strong and manly, looking just like his dad. Little Solveig, smiling and happy, but not for long if she has to sleep on the streets! Tessa weeps, and the others wait, uncomfortable, embarrassed and wishing this meeting was over!

Erik explains to Tessa as well as Michael, as he is from outside the family as well. “The Dynasty has had people who married Townies, who moved into the house upon marriage, but never had the Active status granted. This made many things very complex. They couldn’t change their names for example, or what they were wearing. They couldn’t contribute to the family either. So quite a few generations ago it was decided that really the spouses of the Dynasty ought to move into an Active position.”

Once Tessa has finally calmed down, they all look at the family list again. Michael speaks up this time, very unusual for him. He is normally happy to watch proceedings, and will only step in when necessary. His calm voice breaks through the fog in Tessa’s brain, and calms the stormy thoughts in Zahra’s mind. “Actually, I’m sure it can be done. Maybe not for all four of your children, but certainly for some.” He smiles at Tessa, and his strength stops her from breaking down all over again, and she even manages to lift the corners of her mouth in reply. “The thing is, Keziah has been promised in marriage to the son of one of our friends. Seraphina and Noel got married very late, as you all know, and they had a son, Nicholas.” They all nod, yes, they even went to Seraphina’s wedding, glad that she had found true love after all! “Well, her son hasn’t grown up yet, and Seraphina and Noel want to delay their retirement a bit. They still have jobs with pending promotions, so therefore Keziah could delay her promotion as well.” He smiles at Keziah, who smiles back, but both Tessa and Erik can tell that she isn’t happy about it!

She is a very pretty girl, with a sweet face and dark hair. It is clear that Keziah has many plans, and the fact that she will have to wait till Nicholas’ parents retire doesn’t make her happy! “Child, you have plenty of time,” grins Michael at his youngest daughter, “there is lots of time to get all your traits, to have a family, to make friends and go to parties. We need to make sure that nobody in the family loses out though, and there is no reason why you should apply for promotion, only to wait for Nicholas till he has got his!” This makes sense of course. Life in SiMobile is short, and you don’t want to waste it hanging around for somebody to get promoted! Keziah sighs, she can’t wait, and she just hopes that Nicholas will get his papers soon. She isn’t sure how long she can hang on, doing nothing, just counting the days…

Michael looks at the papers again, and then looks directly at Erik. “Which of your children have other arrangements already?” he asks, his finger resting next to the four names. Erik looks at Tessa, then at his four children.

Kari speaks up straightaway, flicking her long hair in dreads over her shoulder. “I have, Uncle Michael,” she says, with her kind smile. “I have plans to go as soon as things are sorted out. I’m quite excited actually!” She laughs, and looks at Keziah’s dreamy face, and only just about manages to swallow down her words. She would like to tell Keziah to grow up, and to learn to be patient; to accept that life will be very short, and that it’s sometimes better to relax, and just walk round the house without pressing duties!

Bjorn speaks up as well, sending a shock through Tessa, Erik can feel it through her hand in his large hand. Bjorn smiles at his mum, to encourage her, and says proudly, “Well, I know about a girl that I like. Her name is Nadia, she lives in the home where my mum comes from. She seems very kind and sweet from what I have heard, so I would love to meet her and marry her. One of her relatives will be throwing a party any day now, so I’m planning on going along.” Tessa gasps, and Bjorn laughs, “You will like her, Mum, she is lovely. She has beautiful brown eyes…” He dreams off a little, his own eyes shining, and suddenly he turns round to his father. “Dad, Nadia has a brother, a nice looking guy, called Damian. He would like to marry as well, but he doesn’t want to leave their home. As you know, the house is fairly new, so it needs some good families to live and work there. He is very young, much younger than Nadia. How about Solveig?”

Solveig shrieks, and jumps up. “Me? Oh, Mum, surely you can’t make me marry yet? There are other guys, surely, surely?” Erik laughs, and strokes Solveig’s arm. She looks very pretty, with short, curly blond hair and brown eyes, her face red and hot at the moment.

“Sit down, Solveig, it won’t happen today! Listen, finding a good husband is not easy, and I think this idea sounds very good. We know the family, and it is important to become closer with our friends. This young man sounds fine, and it seems your brother has met him already.” Solveig pulls a face, but the others can see that she is no longer opposed against the idea. In fact, they can see her thinking about it, and he face relaxes each minute.

Michael clears his throat, taps the paper with his finger, and his calm voice states the facts, “So Kari has her own arrangements, Bjorn is betrothed to Nadia, and it sounds like Solveig will soon be promised in marriage to Damian.” He smiles, polishes his glasses, and looks over at Anselma. “That leaves just you, Anselma,” he says, and somehow manages to keep his kind smile in place when he sees her face. Anselma rolls her eyes, smooths out her hair, and shrugs her shoulders in as graceful a way as possible.

Her lips pout even more than usual, and she sounds a little bored, “I suppose so. I’m not that familiar with the whole Dynasty thing, but I do know it’s a big issue. I do think it’s important to raise awareness, you know, get our family on the map so to speak. Not that many people have heard of the Mortina family, I have to keep explaining to my friends.” She sounds aggrieved, making it sound as if she blames the rest of the family for this lack of knowledge. “I know SiMobile is only small, you know, just one club, one small fashion studio, that sort of thing. I do believe it’s important to work together as a community though, and to get the SiMobile Government to be more proactive in raising a standard. I mean, when you see some people walking round, covered in flies… It really needs sorting out.”

Michael looks down at the paper, suppressing a groan, or a sigh, he isn’t even sure which one. Honestly, he thinks, the girl needs taking down a few pegs… When Michael looks up he sees Erik watching him. Erik looks a bit flushed, and he pulls an embarrassed grimace. When he turns to Anselma, Erik manages to keep his voice even though, and says kindly, “I’m sure we can find you a suitable husband, sweetie. Of course, he needs to be from a suitable background, and he needs to be prepared to live here and take our name.” Anselma nods, her face sullen.

“I’m sure I could sort it out once I was promoted,” she says, her voice cool, “I could look it up using the internet. I don’t know why not more people use it to find spouses. Anyway, I understand, and I accept the fact that he has to have a good background.” She looks sideways at her uncle. He might be from a good family, and a kind and smart guy, but she prefers somebody even more handsome than her uncle. No glasses, for starters, bad genetics, she pouts to herself. She catches Erik’s look, and hastily explains, “I was just thinking about the sort of husband I would need. I agree that his background is very important, not for wealth reasons, “ she adds quickly, seeing her mum’s shocked look. “I’m not like that, people are far more important than stuff. I meant in looks and hair colour. It’s just that genetics are important, so the right man is needed to secure the line. I mean, Llama Flu is very prevalent nowadays, although it tends to be the Weebles Strain. Even so, it’s just something to remember,” she ends, coolly, and dreamily tugs at her curly hair, wondering what hairstyle to choose. Not too short, she decides, I want it long, maybe long dreads, like Kari. It will make my eyes stand out more.

Erik looks at Bjorn, who is already getting up out of his seat, his phone in his hand. “I’ll give Nads a calls,” he grins, making Anselma roll her eyes. “Nads! They haven’t even met properly yet, how cheesy… well, I hope she’s good looking and pretty and all that. Bjorn deserves it, so she better be worth his time and effort!” Soon a broadly smiling Bjorn is back in the room. “I presume your ‘Nads’ thought of somebody?” Anselma asks, intonation leaning heavy on her brother’s future wife’s nickname, as if trying to put pressure on the poor girl from a distance already. Bjorn is looking very pleased with himself, looking at Anselma with an enigmatic smile.

“Yes,” he smiles at Erik, “Nadia knows a chap called Ralph. He is a lawyer, and a very nice man. She says he is one of the kindest guys she has ever met. He is very generous, patient and great fun to be with, apparently.” She says that after their family throws the party for me and Solveig to meet, they will arrange the next one soon after, so Anselma can meet Ralph.” Erik nods, smiling and looking relieved at the arrangement.

Michael takes over again, and tapping the sheet once more, says, “So, that means that Bjorn and Solveig will need to be active first. Once they have their Active Papers, they can go to Nadia’s house to meet her and her brother. They will also make connections and links to make sure that Anselma can meet Ralph. That could be done as soon as one of them marries and moves out though.” Michael smiles at Zahra, who is looking tired and very bored! “Well, dearest, how about we go and accept our papers? We can then spend more time at home, meeting friends, helping out with stuff. In that way, Bjorn and Solveig can apply, and we’ll set the ball rolling for the next generation!”

The rest of the family agrees, apart from Keziah, who looks very sad and disappointed. She had so hoped to meet Nicholas, and it seems they have forgotten her! This is not the case of course, and she is relieved to see her name appearing on the list drawn up carefully by her dad. “You could be promoted as well, as soon as Solveig and Bjorn are both gone, I suppose?” he winks, “seeing that you are so keen on starting adult life!” She is, and you never know, there is always a chance of bumping into betrothed spouses at other parties… Anselma doesn’t look too happy either, feeling that really, she actually has a plan to improve living standards for everyone in SiMobile, and why should she wait anyway? Solveig is younger, so is Bjorn, so surely she should be given priority? She is wise enough not to express these thoughts, although she has the uneasy sensation that her uncle, Michael Knight Mortina, somehow knows what she is thinking… very awkward!

Coloured Hair

Colourful

“…so you see, it has to be colourful, you know, pinks, greens, reds, that sort of thing.” Erik is grinning, his blue eyebrows waggling. “It sounds great fun, I just don’t know if I can do it, although my family will be disappointed of course. I mean, my father loved his family, they all stayed very close even after he married my mother. It would be a little awkward if no Mortina would attend. We normally attend so if we didn’t this time, well, that would be…well, we can’t of course, and…”

There is a gasp from the doorway. Tessa and Erik swing round to find Zahra standing there. She has just come back, and overheard the last few words. “Not going? What do you mean, not going to a party? Why ever would we not go to a party? Is it an invite from our friends? I saw the postman on my way here, and I did wonder about the late post,” she rattles, eyes shining with excitement. Zahra loves parties, and since her last trait and the upset it caused, she has been determined not to miss out on anything fun in SiMobile. “You were going to tell me, weren’t you? So, the theme is colourful? Great, I love colours, and those pantsuits from the Summer Sale, well, I know the Mortina tradition has always been skirts and dresses, but that pantsuit, is so bright and just shouts ‘Summer’ at you! Where is the party?”

Erik and Tessa glance at each other, looking a little uneasy, and Zahra is starting to worry. “They’re keeping something from me, I just know it! I wonder if the invite was for younger people only, and nobody with all their traits is allowed in or something. I bet that’s why the theme is colourful, thinking that those that will retire when the Gems arrive won’t wear gaudy colours. Well, they’re wrong. I’m quite happy to wear something colourful for a party! I know Michael and I have missed out, because we were so busy, and I know it tends to be younger people going to all the fun arties, but not exclusively! So what is in the invite that I shouldn’t go? I wonder why they are looking at me like that for?” Zahra looks at Tessa and Erik, who are clearly embarrassed; in fact, Tessa’s eyes are starting to fill up with tears! Erik sighs, and takes a deep breath.

He picks up the invite and hands it to Zahra, “You see, cousin, it’s not colourful clothes. It’s colourful hair!” Zahra gasps! Hair? Colourful hair? A party theme that specifies colourful hair? Subconsciously her hand reaches up to touch her dark brown hair, pulled in its usual tight bun, every hair in place of course. So if she wants to attend this party she will need to dye her hair? She looks at the invite, reading it, her lips moving along with the words. She gives another shocked little gasp at the end, and has to read the invite again. It is only after Zahra has read the invite three times, word for word, that she looks up from the invite, and wordlessly hands the invite back to Erik. She looks at Tessa and Erik, and can’t help but notice the difference. Tessa looking anxiously at her, thin hands clasped, eyes large and grey and filled with sympathetic tears, her whole thin body tense. Erik, on the other hand has a massive grin, and won’t stop waggling his blue eyebrows. In fact, he even looks excited, as if dyeing your hair some absurd colour just for a party is…is…well, acceptable and even something to look forward to!

Zahra is about to make a scathing remark about families that throw parties for hippies only, when she remembers the family name on the invite! It is only then that the name registers, as well as Erik’s words that she overheard just as she was coming into the room. It’s Erik’s father’s family! It’s the Lothbrok family throwing the party! Zahra gasps again, and stammers, “It’s…oh, it’s your father’s family…I suppose, well, I mean, do they really expect us… Well, what I mean, everybody in SiMobile knows the Mortina Dynasty and the name we have to keep up, and surely…” She doesn’t know what to say, for Erik is grinning at her, his head to one side, as if enjoying her discomfort, wondering when she will dig herself into the muck so deeply, that she won’t be able to get out unaided! Tessa looks more tense than ever, actually wringing her bony hands, tears hanging off her eyelashes; tears magnifying her beautiful grey eyes.

Zahra sighs, this is getting awkward, I mean, surely Erik doesn’t think it’s alright to go? “Oh, cousin,” he says suddenly, sounding exasperated but in a good humoured sort of way, “it’s just for a laugh. You just dye your hair for one evening, go to the party, meet with friends, talk to friends, and then you come home, you dye it back to normal, and well, you’ve only got great memories and pictures to show for it. It’s just…well, really it’s just like wearing a coloured hat!” He grins at her, and chuckles when he sees the horror on her face. “Look, my dad had blue hair, and nobody seemed to really mind! You know, not everyone dyeing their hair is a hippie, and not everyone with dyed hair is going through an identity crises, or has such low self esteem they can’t live with their natural looks… Some people just like it! Some people just want to do it for fun.” He stops, a bit breathless after such a long speech.

Tessa is nodding vigorously, and adds with a shaky voice, and even shakier smile, 2It can be really good fun, you see. I mean, I know it could look, well, running away from reality really, but it…it is different for a party, I’m really sure it is. Just imagine how colourful it will look, of everybody joins in, you see, it will be alright again afterwards. These parties do only happen once every now and again, and…well, you might not get many more chances…” she breaks off, as she sees Zahra’s face crumple, and tears drop suddenly onto Zahra’s cheeks. Tessa stands in horror, stricken dumb by the consequences of her words! She, Tessa has made the cool, calm, composed Zahra cry! She holds her face in her hands in shock, and then rushes over to Zahra, throwing her slender arms round her. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I really should have thought, I’m…” she whispers over and over.

Zahra shakes her head, her tears drying already, and manages to drag her lips into a very watery smile. “No, don’t apologise, it’s just that I keep forgetting how little time I have left. I keep forgetting that Michael and I promised to actually do some good, and have some quality time whilst we still can! No, really Tessa, I am fine, don’t worry. I…I will need to think about this, and discuss it with Michael. It is not something we Mortinas have ever done, and, well, frankly it doesn’t sound like the sort of thing the Dynasty is known for. On the other hand, you are right, Erik, there is a lot of prejudice around, and I really wouldn’t want to put your family in that light, ever. So I will have a think about it…” Zahra looks at her pantsuit and suddenly grins, adding, “As I’m wearing trousers, it seems like I have broken the Mortina mould anyway!” They all laugh and Tessa looks relieved, Erik looks bursting with anticipation, and Zahra looks thoughtful and eager to find Michael…

Tessa is in the hobby room, stretching, bending, day dreaming on her yoga mat. She and Erik are by themselves in the room, but she can hear Zahra’s voice. Zahra is becoming very firm friends with Charlotte Wayne-Knight. The two are seen together a lot, talking about art and artists. Tessa pulls a face, she really has no idea about art. Of course, there are some paintings that she likes, and some that she abhors, but that is as far as her art knowledge goes. She is pretty sure that Zahra doesn’t know that much more, seeing that Zahra’s mother came from the same household as Tessa, so not that high flying either. Tessa chuckles, she has seen that look in Zahra’s eyes, a look that says she’s winging it, trying to look intelligent, and making stuff up as she goes along. Charlotte, well, that is a totally different story. The girl has got class, it shows in the way she dresses, and her whole bearing shows her background and upbringing. Thanks to Charlotte, or Charlie as Zahra loves to call her new friend, thanks to her Zahra has actually learned quite a bit about art. Tessa giggles as she wonders if anyone from Charlotte’s household will attend the party….fancy seeing them, with their stylish dresses and pale skin, their regal way of walking…and coloured hair? Well, it would be a great fun, she sighs, not holding her breath on that one!

The thing that makes Tessa lose her balance and spin round is the very loud intake of breath, followed by uproarious laughter from her husband. Tessa feels her face burn, and tears sting immediately, as she is sure that he is laughing at her. After all, the tree thing position she tried to do didn’t go too well. When she looks at him she realises that he isn’t looking at her at all! He is looking at the kitchen, where Zahra is standing. Wait, is that Zahra? Tessa actually rubs her eyes, thinking that the sheen of tears must have made her imagine things. It is Zahra, but what a change! The flowery pantsuit with its reds and pinks is complemented by…Tessa stares, gaping, not believing her eyes! Has the prim and proper Zahra really got bright pink hair? Seriously? Tessa snorts with laughter, her knees wobbling, and soon she is gasping for breath. To see Zahra of all people with a bright pink, tightly done up bun, pink sunglasses and summer outfit… Priceless!

Zahra come into the room, looking a little self conscious, but actually rather pleased. “What do you think?” she asks, a little nervously, adjusting her pink sunglasses, “I just feel, well, a bit silly really, but I just wanted to do it! I talked to Michael about it, but he didn’t want to do it. He said that his brothers won’t dye their hair either, but are planning on wearing towels round their head!” Zahra giggles then, the sudden sound making Tessa jump, “I don’t know what I’ll do if I meet them at the party! I mean, those big, burly Knights…with bright coloured towels wound round their heads? What if I laugh, I mean, it would be terrible; it would look like I’m taking the mick, and of course, I would never do that!” Zahra sounds outraged by the mere idea that somebody might think she’s laughing at another Sim! Tessa smiles, and looks at the pink hair rather wistfully. It would be a laugh, just to try it out… She would never want to keep her hair dyed, and not pink…visions of her brothers’ blue eyed ‘concubine’ float through her head, and she shudders. No, not pink! Erik is still laughing, but he tells Zahra that he likes it.

“I’m really chuffed, cousin,” he laughs, “I love to see you trying something out, something different! You go and enjoy yourself. I’m just going to finish my guitar practice, then I’m going for a bit of a makeover as well…” He smooths out his blond hair, and smiles at Tessa. “What about you, Tess, you’re going to go wild tonight as well, and throw caution overboard…?” He looks at his wife, feeling his love for her beating inside his heart, struggling to not drown in her large eyes, and finding his breath come faster, just by looking at her sweet face! He manages to somehow come down to earth again, and looks at her, his head to one side, wondering if Tessa will actually do it! He has seen the woman that her brother was with, her pink hair and large, cat like blue eyes drawing attention. So he can understand Tessa’s aversion against dyed hair.

To his joy she nods though. “Yes,” she says, her voice sweet and quiet, “not pink though!” Her frail body shivers, just the thought of having the pink air like…like that woman…no chance! Zahra laughs, and is soon off to the party, excitement making her laugh out loud! Tessa smiles, and soon Tessa and Erik dash off to get changed. Tessa looks in the mirror, and wonders what will go with her outfit. She just loves the canary yellow top and green skirt… She takes a very deep breath, and resolutely grabs the green dye. It worked! Tessa looks in the mirror in astonishment! It looks so…so different, but good! She twirls around, trying to catch glimpses of her green curly head, giggling like a schoolgirl. When she steps out of the room, she gasps, then shrieks with laughter! There is Erik, his hair bright blue, as well as the two day beard…

He laughs, and hugs her, lifting her off the ground as always. “My gran, Kiera, apparently had this colour, so I thought it would be great to wear it at the house where she used to live…” He grins at Tessa’s sudden tears as she gushes over his words, telling him that he is the most caring man ever, just to think of things like that! Erik laughs, he loves his emotional wife; loves how she reacts so strongly, her heart showing in her tears. He touches his blue hairdo, and laughs. He is really looking forward to the party!

Zahra is having a great time, and is stunned by the different colours! She looks round the lovely house, having had a quick tour. One of the Lothbrok girls showed her round, as the house had recently been done up! Zahra loves it, and exclaims, “Oh, I love the wallpaper all round, the effect is just great! Oh, that kitchen, the floor! Brilliantly done, I love it. It is so stylish, so artistic,” she says quickly, thinking of her new growing friendship with Charlie, as she loves to call Charlotte. “very artistic, I must say, and I love the colours and ehm…” Zahra tries to think of something else to say that will prove that she is a bit of an art expert herself, but her mind has gone blank. Is that really one of the Knights, smoking, pretending he is sitting on a chair? Zahra wanders in and out of the house, finding her smile growing and growing. So many wonderful people, so much laughter! Her face lights up when she sees her friend, Charlotte Wayne-Knight, walk into the house, having her beautiful long hair dyed green! Zahra and Charlotte have a laugh together, and before Zahra realises it’s time to go! She feels a little sad going home. It was such a wonderful time!

The three of them have their picture taken, posing in their weird and wonderful hairdos. Zahra laughs when Michael asks her how it went. “It was better than I thought! The colour makes you feel so different, it’s very odd. I can see why people do it now. I will be relieved to get my own colour back though, that’s who I am, and that who I want to be. It was fun to see all the different colours, I’m very glad I went. Something was a bit off with the bubble blower I’m sure, a lot of people seemed affected by the bubbles,” Zahra says slowly, picturing in her head Charlie and the Knight family, sitting down in random places…. “I’m glad, so glad I went. I realise how important friends are, and how important it is to be with others, to talk to them, to laugh together, and to cry together. To actually do something special, something out of the ordinary together, it’s…well, it’s made me feel like I belong, like I’m alive. I’m glad I went, and I’m glad to be me again too!”

Sunglasses

“Oh, what have I done? What have I done to myself, and…and to Michael, and…Oh I can’t believe I never saw it!” Zahra is sitting at her large desk in the hobby room, tears dripping on the papers in front of her. She cries and cries, and for once forgets what those tears will do to her eyes… The morning started so calm and organised, just like any morning. She just went to get the post, and her life, or at least the day, changed.

Sitting at her dark oak desk, Zahra goes through the morning post. As the Mortina household is rather large, they always have a lot of post. Having many friends means that a lot of the post consists of invites, letters, notes and postcards. Zahra is the one that is doing the Writing Hobby at the moment, so it’s her job to organise the post each morning. This morning is no exception, so Zahra had gone to the post box, thinking like her artistic mind does every morning, “Why can’t the post box be moved? It’s not aesthetical at all! At least if we could give it a colour…” Whist flicking through the stack of mail she spotted two SiMobile Government envelopes, one for her and one for Michael. There was another interesting envelope addressed to them all, and right at the bottom she found an envelop that had the Knight insignia on it… Zahra walked a little faster into the house. An envelope from the Knight Family?

She slides onto her chair with her usual graceful moves, something she tries to maintain, even though her traits are stacking up. She smooths her hand over the polished wood, taking in the smell of her wonderful desk. A desk that has been in the Mortina Dynasty for generations. She loves this desk, and she loves her hobby. At first she just chose the writing hobby to be near Michael. She smiles whilst sorting the post by names. She adores Michael, and he plays the piano exceptionally well, having many useful skills that he says he uses… As soon as she found out that Michael was going to do the piano hobby, Zahra had picked the writing one! After all, the desk is right next to the piano. Her smile grows bigger, as she remembers how both of the used to spend time on their hobbies… She would be writing a poem, or edit an article for a cousin; behind her, Michael would be practising. Even simple scales he somehow managed to make special. Once she had asked him why he managed to do that, and he had grinned at her, and whispered, “Because of you, my darling! Whenever I play, I can feel your presence just behind me. So I play with love, which is any Sim’s secret weapon…!”

She put the two SiMobile Government envelopes to one side, then the invites in the middle, and the rest she sorts by name. “Now, let’s see,” Zahra sighs, and picks up the two stacks, holding a stack in each hand. “What shall I open first, the government ones or the ones that are clearly invites…!” Zahra hesitates, smiling still. “It’s a case of swallow the nasty medicine and have a sweet after, or line your mouth with honey first so the horrid taste doesn’t get noticed… What shall I do?” In the end Zahra decides that she will need some honey first. She has been a bit down the last few days, seeing her sweet daughters Bethany and Keziah all grown up, looking very alike, has made her realise how fast Simlife can change! So Zahra picks up the first special envelope, and excitedly opens it She was right, it is an invite! Aria and Garrett are throwing a party, to celebrate their wedding! Zahra beams at the envelope, as if somehow passing on to the happy couple how pleased she is for them. Garrett is a little older, and was starting to wonder if he would be left on the SiMobile shelf…

Now for the envelope from the Knight Family. Zahra feels a little thrill opening this one. She still can’t believe she married Michael Knight! She fell for him the first time she saw him, but every night after meeting Michael she would secretly cry herself to sleep. She worried about that, as it could ruin her complexion, but somehow she couldn’t stop the tears. She was so very afraid that Michael would get the dreaded Llama Flu, that it almost made her ill, thinking about it! One day, Michael noticed that she was worried and upset, and he had asked her about it. Being a Knight, he soon had her pouring out her heart and she had actually cried! Zahra had been mortified, but Michael had taken it all in his stride, of course. He had assured her that he would do all he could to stay healthy. He also pointed out how rare the Pink Blob Strain was, and that most families seemed to get hit with the Weebles Strain, the vaccination in the local hospital obviously not being very effective. He has assured Zahra that things would be alright, and that he loved her, and would never do anything to grieve her. She had calmed down after a while, and somehow managed to enjoy the wedding. She didn’t sleep a wink the night before Michael moved in, and felt quite weak and sick in the morning. That day Michael had moved in, and had been fine! Zahra had cried tears of relief in the golden bathroom, and since then had been absolutely fine.

“I’m not really the worrying type,” she muses, looking at the envelope, thinking back at those early days. “Mind you, we were very young, just promoted and all that, which puts a lot of strain on anybody. I hope Michael has forgotten how I wept and wailed… Bit embarrassing that; I hope the girls won’t do that to their future spouses…!” That makes her look down at the envelope again. She pulls out the letter, another party invite! The whole family is invited to a Red, White and Blue Pool Party. She sits back, smiling. Pool parties and the Knights? Perfect combination!

She grins, thinking about some of the stories Michael has told her. “There are a lot of stories that I won’t be able to tell you, the information is classified,” he had explained. She had shivered a little with excitement and pride. She was proud of her sweet, kind Michael, who had been on some secret missions, as she imagined. Michael told her that a lot of the work was very low key, and not spectacular at all. Well, Zahra had figured that some of the activities they engaged in had been spectacular in that case. Hence the shiver, and her heart swelling with pride. Now they had a pool party, and Zahra sat their, wondering who would wear speedos, and who would wear towels. After all, not everybody had taken part in the Hot Tub Event… She sighs with happiness, a long, drawn out sigh. In her head she starts working her way through her wardrobe. Red, white and blue…that shouldn’t be too impossible! Should she start looking for an outfit now…she remembers the other two envelopes, the Government ones, and hesitates. Should she ignore them, and sort out her dress first? Duty calls though, and she knows Michael would approve. He is a real stickler for duty, she grimaces.

So Zahra sits down again at her desk, and opens the envelope addressed to her Zahra Mortina. She pulls the letter out…and feels herself going cold. The letter drops onto the wooden desk, and Zahra stares ahead, not seeing anything, not feeling anything. She is frozen up; unable to move and unable to think, apart from the one thought: what have I done! After a long time the shock starts to wear off, and Zahra returns to herself. She looks down at the letter, and the tears begin to form in her beautiful eyes. There is no way she can stop the flood of tears, and they splatter on the Government letter, and they drip on the party invites, making the ink run. Zahra doesn’t notice and doesn’t care either. She is sobbing, her face buried in her beautifully shaped hands. “I’m sorry,” she sobs, “I’m so sorry, so, so sorry! Please give us more time, please Lord, give us more time! I have been so foolish, please give us some time together!”

That is how Michael finds her when he comes home after working in the hospital all morning. He quickly walks up to his precious wife, who is always to calm and composed. Now she is sitting at her desk, a sniffing, snotty mess! He worries at first that somebody in the family has been struck down with Llama Flu, but no, as a doctor he would have heard! He hugs her, and Zahra cries on his shoulder. Eventually he manages to get her to calm down, and she says, her voice all shaken and raw, “Our last trait has arrived! I know we accepted the Trait application, but now it has arrived! Michael, I don’t want to retire yet! We have just been living like…like simple, straightforward…well, bog-standard Sims! We have worked hard at our hobbies, we work hard at our jobs, we had children, who are now all grown up…now we have our last trait, so in a short while we will retire…and…” tears overwhelm Zahra again, and she finishes her sentence in a wail, “We haven’t lived!”

Michael sits back a little. In his heart, he agrees. He has felt so all along, but didn’t want to upset his wife. She seems so cool and calm, but he saw the mess she got herself in when they got married and he was about to move in… She had worked herself up in such a state, that he didn’t want to rock her world again. He had been quite bored though; missing the excitement and thrill, as well as the job satisfaction after…well, after their missions. He loved his wife, and he really enjoyed playing the piano, but he still wished for more. He learned to be content though, and he adored his two pretty daughters, roughhousing with them when they were little, cheering them up once they grew older. He feels a sense of loss as well, thinking about the last trait. Now all they have to look forward to is the letter to offer them retirement.

He hugs Zahra tighter, and soon she grows a little calmer. “Don’t apologise, my love, don’t. I knew we ought to make better use of our time here in SiMobile, but didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to upset you, but it’s not too late yet, my sweet. We can start today, and we don’t have to worry about the retirement notice. For one thing, even in the retirement home they’re probably desperate to have some help. You do know that Miriam and Lucille were plotting something? Those two together…well, there will be some rescue missions there too, I would think…!” This cheers Zahra up, and she grins suddenly at the mention of her mum’s name.

She relaxes at little, eyes dreamy, and giggles suddenly, sounding a bit like Miriam there all of a sudden. “Yes,” she giggles, “yes, those two together… I’m glad I don’t have to deal with it by myself…! She shows him the invite to his family home, and Michael is thrilled. “You know, I think you ought to go,” she says, smiling at him, love pouring from her eyes, rather than tears, “After all, it’s your family, and I think we both ought to have some good times before it’s too late!” Her smile wobbles then, and Michael holds her tighter. “I know it would mean losing your suit, but that’s alright by me,” she says, and he looks at her, pride shining in his kind eyes. Zahra loves fashion, and insist on people dressing properly, so for her to tell him to ditch his special suit, and wear red, white and blue…! He looks at her, and realises how much he loves her.

They stay close together for a while, and then Michael tries to persuade Zahra to go too. “You could do with some fun as well,” he says, looking into her eyes, “it would do you good! Wear that lovely blue dress you had the other day, and just go for it!” She smiles then, a little watery, but definitely a smile. Until Zahra looks in the mirror and exclaims that she can’t possibly go to the House of Knights with red eyes, sore from crying! Michael chuckles, “Darling, it’s a pool party, just wear those new sunglasses we just won! You know what my family will be like, they’ll all be wearing speedos and sunglasses.” He can see the doubt in Zahra’s pretty face, and says, more persuasively, “Sweetie, they’ll be way too polite to ask you, you do realise that? And the other Knights, well you don’t think they’ll worry about it, do you?” He grins at her, and Michael is relieved when he sees her face relaxing, her eyes drifting, clearly going through wardrobe choices…he recognises the signs…

Zahra sighs, yes she would love to go, she just needs a bit of light hearted fun. A pool party at the House of Knights sounds exactly like it… As long as sunglasses will really do the trick… She checks in the mirror, and yes, the red sunglasses will do the trick. Zahra is excited by now, and all dressed and ready. She loves parties, and tends to be the one attending the more formal ones, as Tessa is still a little bit shy. She spots Michael walking past, and gasps! He walks in, the biggest grin Zahra has ever seen on his face. He is still wearing the hat, coins flying everywhere, but now has a bright red shirt… “Goodness, that shirt is…so red!” she giggles, and she can feel a terrible attack of the Giggles coming on, “it does suit you though,” she gasps, and soon both are hanging in each other’s arms, unable to stand up unaided, totally overcome with giggles, and Zahra manages to grunt, “Like it says, ‘Two are better than one (…)For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.’ I’m glad I have you, and I’m so excited about the party. It will be special, I just know it! I feel better already, and more alive than I have been all this time, even having the girls… Thank you, dearest, for pulling me up!”

Tessa and Erik

“Mum, do I really need to be there at the reception?” Tessa’s large grey eyes are already filled with tears, and she can feel her lips trembling. “I haven’t been to work yet, and nobody in this family has completed the fashionista career yet. At this rate I will have all my traits before I finish the career. I had to do the exercise Bootcamp as Brandon and Camilla didn’t want to leave the baby with Brooklyn, so can’t I go to the studio now?” Tessa feels desperate, not so much about her career, although she does love fashion. She is desperate to escape Brandon and Camilla’s wedding reception. “Why are they having a reception now? With Brooklyn’s toddler running round, and their own baby in the bassinet? They really have no shame, have they?” she says a bit more vehemently to her mum. “Mum, I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to meet Brandon’s friends, and I don’t want to lie…what if somebody asks me if they really have two children, what can I say? ‘Just one, the older one is from Brandon’s concubine…’, Mum, please say I can go to work!”

Her mum is adamant though, “It’s your own brother, of course you need to be there! We’re expecting just a few guests, which means that it will be difficult enough to get the party up to the high standard that the SiMobile Government demands from parties. We need the Gems, and the blue tickets. Brandon has already used up four tickets to have his two children, we will need more. You are part of this household, so you need to contribute. Besides, your career is not that important, as you will be married off soon enough. Brandon says he will look for a good husband for you. Careers don’t transfer, so no need to get too high up. Maybe Camilla can work in the studio once you have left…” Tessa has gone very pale, her freckles standing our like little dark mud splats. That is the main reason that she does not want to be at the reception! The fact that Brandon is looking for a husband for her!

She rushes back to her room, tears streaming down her face, sobbing, gasping for breath. There is no escaping the party though, and Tessa dresses as conservative as she dares for Brandon’s party. Brandon and Camilla are waiting for the approval of the SiMobile Government to start the party. Papers have to be checked, and Brandon and Camilla have a quarrel about the question that lets you choose between ‘Anyone in SiMobile’ or ‘Friends only’. Brandon wants everyone to turn up, you never know if somebody good looking will be there… Camilla insists on Friends Only, as she really hopes somebody from her family might turn up. However much she wanted to escape their lifestyle and what she sees as narrowmindedness, strangely enough she does miss them. Misses their hearty laughter; misses her mum’s rather wild ideas; misses her strong Viking uncle and his lovely wife; misses her many siblings and little Viking cousins… She secretly admits to herself that she is just a little homesick…

Finally the approval is granted, and Brandon dashes out to get all the party things: the board next to the post box, the table with the cake, the book for guests to sign…he comes rushing back, and it’s a real scrum to get the house decorated before the first guests arrive. Tessa helps with the decorating, as she loves it. She is very good; her grey eyes taking in the décor, studying it, looking for ways to improve it… Once she is satisfied she finds a very quiet corner, and from there waits to see what will happen. “I wish I could make myself invisible,” she sighs, “and just hide in this corner till all the guests have gone… What will I do if Brandon brings one of his horrid friends to me, to introduce us? What if one of these louts makes a flirtatious introduction? What if they want me to come to the little café? How can I refuse? The SiMobile Government only lets you refuse the risky advances, but not the small standard ones… I have no way out…!” Panic is climbing up her, twisting round her, choking her like bindweed, and it seems just as impossible to eradicate… Tessa can feel herself sinking deeper and deeper into a panic attack, when suddenly Camilla appears.

She could tell from her side of the room that Tessa wasn’t doing very well. She isn’t surprised, as she has met quite a few of Brandon’s friends herself. There is Brooklyn as well, of course. No, Brandon hasn’t got the best reputation, and now that she has come to know Tessa a little she can just imagine the young girl’s fear! Quickly she sidles up to Tessa, and says softly, “Don’t panic, Tessa, I’m quite sure some people from my family will come. I will make sure that you get introduced, and then we can ask them to take care of matters! Brandon is so busy with Brooklyn and me, and our children, that he’ll be more than happy to delegate… Just trust me, I won’t let you down,” and she smiles at the terrified girl. Tessa just nods, fighting her panic, willing it to stay under control…

Whenever she looks round the room she can feel it wriggling at the base of her throat though, trying to get her to scream and run… Some of Brandon’s loud friends are already here, but at the moment Brandon is kept entertained by Brooklyn… Brooklyn’s huge blue cat eyes have taken it all in, and she overheard some of what Camilla said to Tessa, and thoroughly approves of the plan. She has no regard for Brandon at all; all she wanted was to be made active, and to leave her job behind. Brandon was her ticket out, and all she needs now is for Tessa to leave, so Brooklyn can take her place. So she decides to lend a helping hand by distracting Brandon, so he won’t have time to drag Tessa over to one of his friends, or to even point her out to his friends.

Tessa stands in her sheltered corner, feeling her bare knees shaking, rubbing her freezing, clammy hands dry on her little skirt, when she hears her name mentioned. Her heart stops, then starts its rhythm again, but at twice the normal speed. She glances up, and gasps in horror! Camilla is talking to this huge, blond guy, and is pointing where Tessa is trying to blend in with the paintwork! “No,” she breathes, “no, please, Camilla, no… Lord, please, not me, don’t let him come to me…” Her voice trails off into a little whimper, as the big blond man lets out a loud, hearty laugh, hugs Camilla, then turns round, and strides up to her with purposeful strides. Tessa can’t breathe, and she can feel her body starting to shake. She can hear his footsteps stopping just in front of her, but she daren’t look up.

Then, a warm, deep, manly voice says, “My cousin Camilla tells me your name is Tessa. That has such a sweet ring to it; I think it suits you. Please allow me to compliment your hairstyle as well, my cousins will be very jealous. You see, my family is saving up for one of the expensive hairstyles, so they won’t be able to afford that cut. I think it’s beautiful, and makes you look like a pixie.” He laughs, a warm, caring laugh, rumbling like thunder in the distance. Tessa looks up then, and meets the kindest eyes imaginable, with cute blue eyebrows above them! She can’t help it, she has to smile, and her little face lights up. So do the young man’s eyes, she notices.

She blushes a little, and says softly, “I love your blue eyebrows… And that was the kindest flirtatious introduction ever heard in SiMobile, I’m sure!” They both laugh then, Tessa’s light, tinkling laugh, its silver bell effect matching her grey eyes. The blond young man’s laugh is loud and hearty. He stands at a respectful distance, not crowding her at all. He doesn’t look her up and down with leering eyes, like Brandon’s friends do. He doesn’t try to impress her; he just stands there, smiling, patient and with an inner calmness that calms Tessa as well. She can feel her heartrate settling down, and realises that there is no sign of panic now at all. Just a curiosity about this giant! “I’m sorry,” she says, going red, “I didn’t get your name… You say that you’re Camilla’s cousin?” She looks over at Camilla who is chatting to another guest, and looks back at the blond man with the blue eyebrows. “I can’t spot anything blue on Camilla…?” She makes it sound like a question, as the blue eyebrows somehow really intrigue her!

The giant laughs, and says with his deep voice, “Sorry for the oversight; my name is Erik, son of Magnus, the Viking. As for my blue eyebrows, well that is quite a story. May I buy you a coffee at the little café and I can tell you the story if you’re interested? It’s…ah…rather noisy here?” His voice goes up at the end of his sentence, making it sound like a question. He looks round at the other guests, and looks at the little toddler, Deborah, with her cat like eyes and dark hair. A look of great sadness glides over his face for a moment, but when he looks back at Tessa the look has gone, and only kindness can be seen on his smiling, handsome face.

Tessa feels ashamed of her messy family, and greatly relieved that Erik has offered her a way out of the party… “Yes please, I’d love a coffee,” she says, blushing at her eagerness. I won’t need that Izzy Creation effect with the fire at this rate, she thinks, my face will self ignite any minute now if I keep blushing like this! Erik looks relieved too, and he guides Tessa out of the house, somehow, without touching her. People make way for him, only glancing at the slim girl next to him. One of Brandon’s friends, one that Tessa really can’t stand, tries to look at Tessa too long. Erik moves so he is blocking the guy’s view, as well as glaring at the man. The man goes bright red and hurries off into the hobby room.

When they pass close by Camilla, Erik says softly, “I’m taking Tessa for a coffee at the little café. We will see you later. You better let Brandon know, so he doesn’t get any ideas in his mind with regards to his cronies!” He looks quite stern, his green eyes looking right into her heart it seems, and Camilla can feel the heat creeping into her cheeks. She can only imagine what her burly cousin must be thinking… She looks over at Brandon, sees his burning eyes fastened on Tessa, his hand resting on the arm of one of his obnoxious friends. It is clear that he was just about to point out Tessa to the guy. Now he is too late, and Brandon is too much of a coward to even dream of confronting Erik, or to try and argue with him. Tessa is safe, and Brandon’s evil plan has come to nought. She knew he would find a nasty piece of work for Tessa, as he can’t stand his sister’s faith, and always tries to hurt her emotionally or cause her distress. This time he is too late, and when Camilla looks at Brooklyn she can see the bright blue cat eyes sparkling with malicious pleasure. The two women look at each other, and their glee is a precious shared moment.

Camilla almost does the fist pump used for pulling off a risky action, for Brandon’s friend has just missed out. Her plan worked, and her handsome cousin has obviously taken a liking to the petit girl. “Good for him,” she grins, “good for him, I’m really pleased. Tessa is a sweet girl, way too emotional for my liking, but in the Mortina household she’ll be fine. They will look after her, and show her the kindness she deserves. As she doesn’t mind looking modest, and staying faithful and all that, she will feel right at home! I hope the first date goes alright, and I just hope, or maybe even pray, that they will continue in a relationship. I like Erik, he’s lovely, just like Uncle Magnus. I think its nice that he dyes his eyebrows blue, as a sign of belonging to his father. He really is a great guy, and it’s a shame he is my first cousin, hahaha, otherwise Tessa might have had some competition!”

She is shocked out of her pleasant daydream by a harsh voice in her ear, “You look like the cat who got the canary. I take it you planned this? Arranged a marriage for my sister without bothering to tell your husband, who happens to be the girl’s only brother?” She looks round, and can see the fury in his dark eyes, but Camilla doesn’t care anymore.

She looks as haughtily as she can and over her shoulder, whilst walking over to one of the nicer guys, she says, “I didn’t arrange anything. In fact, you know that I wasn’t sure anyone from my family would attend. As the guy is my cousin, I think Tessa has made a perfect choice; as Tessa is a sweet, kind girl, I think my cousin has made a perfect choice too!” She briefly makes eye contact with Brooklyn again, who looks more like a cat than ever, and Camilla is sure she can actually hear her purring happily to herself…

Erik and Tessa have a lovely time at the café, and by the time the choice for relationships crops up, Erik doesn’t hesitate to apply for ‘Soulmate’. He adores Tessa, he loves her lithe frame, and those grey eyes…well, they’re large enough for any man to drown in! As they are walking over to the Mortina home to start their courtship, Erik realises with a shock that he has fallen for the girl hook, line and sinker! He tries not to worry about that fact, but he keeps seeing his cousin, bare midriff and all; his cousin’s husband with his piercing eyes; he remembers the disgusting guys at the party…and for a split second he wonders if Tessa fits in the same picture… Immediately those nasty images are replaced with his first sighting of Tessa. The tiny girl, more modestly dressed than anyone else in the house, standing in the corner. He actually could see her knees knocking together, and when they shook hands he felt the icy cold fingers; could feel the trembling of her hands and his heart had melted for this young girl, who was obviously not having a great time… No, he decides, she is nothing like anybody in that family. Let’s hope she’ll get on with cousin Zahra…

She does, and Erik is relieved. He likes Zahra, and values her opinions. She has recently married one of the Knights, Michael, who has just moved in. The wedding was very special, as it’s not the first time that a Mortina married a Knight. Zahra had glowed with happiness, and kept saying, “He is so wonderful! I just feel so honoured, I mean, think of all the things Michael has to give up… There is also the risk of…” and she had stopped, a worried frown appearing. The others knew what she meant though. The last time a Mortina had married a Knight, it turned out that he was suffering from Llama Flu. Not the Weebles strain, which was very easily cured. No, this Knight, Richard Knight, had been struck down, literally, by the Pink Blob strain, and his life had hung in the balance for several days. He was cured, eventually, but the stress had been terrible on all the family. His cousin Victoria had been in the house at the same time, as they had had a double wedding. Erik can’t imagine what it must have been like… After Michael and Zahra are married, and Michael moves in, Erik can tell that the whole family is holding their breath. It turns out that Michael is as fit as a fiddle though, and life had settled down.

Tessa is amazed at how her life has been turned round. Here she is, little Tessa, with nobody to talk to, nobody who understands her, all alone; transformed into Tessa, Erik’s girlfriend. She has to keep pinching her arms to check that she isn’t dreaming. Surely this is too good to be true? She adores Erik, and thinks the world of him, even after a few dates, and time with his family. She loves the house, and they are more than happy for her to use their yoga mat. She loves it, as the yoga mat is near the piano where Michael is playing. He smiles at her whenever she looks at him, and is very kind and polite. He loves to help, she can tell, and she likes to watch him interact with what he calls ‘his three girls’, for Michael and Zahra have two daughters.

Tessa leans over, and this time happy tears drop onto the yoga mat. “Thank you, Lord, thank you! I can’t believe how my life has changed. I’m so very grateful; I love Erik, and I love the way he speaks to me; I get goose bumps from the way he looks at me, with respect, and warmth, kindness and love…He makes me feel special. Thank you Lord, for sending the right man at exactly the right time…” Her thoughts drift off for a moment, and she shivers. In one of her few moments at home Camilla had told her in quiet whispers what had happened at the party; Camilla had in just a few words made crystal clear to Tessa what sort of life she had narrowly escaped, for Tessa knew the man Camilla described.. How awful, she thinks, how utterly and profoundly unhappy my life would have been…

Then Tessa looks up again, catching a glimpse of one of the Mortinas in the kitchen, and smiles to herself, and breathes out, relief flowing off her in huge waves. “Thank God for this family, and thank God for my…well, fiancé in just a few hours!” It is true that Erik has been patient, not wanting to push Tessa, but the proposal comes at the right time. The whole family rejoices with the happy couple, and before anyone realises it they are wearing the SiMobile Government issued wedding gear, their faces beaming. They make a striking pair, the blond, giant, muscular Erik, his Norse blood showing. Standing next to him leaning on his strong arm stands the frail looking Tessa, with her tanned skin and large, grey eyes filled with happy tears! Tears that splash onto her freckled cheeks when her blond Viking leans over and kisses her under the wedding arch, and whispers with his face aglow with wonder and happiness, “Welcome home, Mrs Tessa Mortina, wife of Erik the Viking!”

Tessa and Camilla

The door opens with a bang, making Tessa jump. She can hear Brandon’s voice, sounding pleased and cheerful. “Long may it last,” she mumbles, whilst quickly walking back to her yoga mat. Doing yoga stops Brandon from talking to her, or asking her difficult questions. Lately he hasn’t bothered her at all though, as he has been too busy chatting up Camilla. Tessa stares ahead, lifting both arms in a stretch. She doesn’t know what to make of Camilla, her soon to be sister in law. She seems kind enough, and doesn’t make the same sort of remarks as Brandon does. Something feels a little off though, and Tessa can’t figure it out. There is a feeling of desperation, of needing something hanging around Camilla. She shakes her head, as if shaking the thoughts out of it, “Never mind, it will all become clear once she moves in, no doubt.”

Tessa catches a glimpse of Brandon and Camilla as she leans over to one side. She sighs with an air of disappointment. Still no wedding garb! They finished the engagement ages ago, and Tessa has been expecting Camilla in a white wedding dress any moment. She dreams away then, imagining pretty Camilla in a white flowing dress, and Brandon in a tux. She smiles, yes, they’ll make a good looking pair. Both are dark haired, although Brandon looks a lot darker, because of his beard and his very dark brooding eyes. Tessa wished they got married; she does like Camilla in spite of this little niggle in the back of her mind. To have Camilla living in the house will be so much nicer. Camilla is completely taken up with Brandon, which doesn’t leave any girl time, Tessa thinks; when she lives here I might get to spend some time with her.

She feels puzzled though, “They spend so much time together, surely they will be almost at the level where the SiMobile Government will issue the Moving Permit without any problems? Why aren’t they doing the Wedding event? Is Brandon aiming for a top level relationship before asking Camilla to be his wife? I wouldn’t think that Brandon would wait that long…” Tessa bends over, wondering when she will have her Promotion papers, and whether her promotion will cause problems in the household. Being promoted means that she can find a husband, the thought making her shiver. Brandon has already been hinting that he will be able to find lots of his friends willing to marry a tiny slip of a girl like her… She hadn’t said anything at the time, but had left the room as quickly as she could without it looking like she was running away. She had made a b-line for the bathroom, and had been sick; the thought of one of Brandon’s cronies eyeing her up, leering at her, holding her hands… The though had been enough to make her lose her entire breakfast!

Tessa is startled out of her thought by the door of the hobby room being opened. Camilla comes in, carrying a red suitcase. Tessa forgets all about her yoga, and just stands there, staring at the suitcase. Why did Camilla bring a suitcase with her? SiMobile Government doesn’t normally allow overnight stays where you can bring a suitcase. Bedding down on a friend’s couch can happen, but to bring your overnight things along in a suitcase is a different story! Camilla smiles at her, an exuberant, glowing smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you,” she laughs, “we’ll be off in a minute anyway, just to finalise the last bits and bobs before our wedding.” And she’s off, before Tessa can even open her mouth.

Tessa sinks down on her mat, remembering just in time to stretch her leg out, just to make it look as if she is still engrossed in her yoga exercises. Her mind is spinning, and she struggles to catch her breath. Camilla is moving in? Before her actual wedding? Tessa is incredulous; she knows it happens a lot in SiMobile, people move in together all the time. Some people have very loose relationships with other Sims, having a child when they haven’t even had their first date at the café yet. She knows all that, but she had just never expected it of Camilla. You can tell that she comes from a very respectable family, and a very proper one. She has told them some stories about the Mortina Dynasty, and the faith of some of its members. Tessa had never once dreamed that Camilla would move in, like she just seems to have done! Tessa feels her eyes filling up, and before long tears make tracks down her cheeks, making her nose runny. She walks to the bathroom to blow her nose, and to pretend to have a shower, just so she can have a good cry. She feels so disappointed; somehow it has spoiled things, even though she would struggle to explain that to an outsider. To her it has marred the relationship. That is one of the ways that Tessa is different, she realises. “I just can’t see things in a relaxed way. I know I’m being fussy, and very old fashioned, but I can’t see it any other way. I believe that doing things properly is always best, the rest will lead to heartache and issues, I’m convinced of that,” she sobs, hot water running over her, washing away her tears, the warmth calming her down.

That afternoon Camilla and Brandon are walking round the house in their wedding outfits, looking as handsome as a pair can look, their faces glowing with happiness. Tessa has to smile at them, in spite of her disappointment; they just look so beautiful! The way the stand together under the wedding arch, holding hands and smiling into each other’s eyes… The way they dance slowly to the music…Tessa’s heart melts, and she sheds happy tears this time. She prays for their happiness to last; for peace in their marriage; for blessings to multiply each day and on and on Tessa prays, wishing them all the good things she can think of.

As soon as the wedding is over Brandon returns to work. He has taken a lot of time off, in order to spend time with Camilla. Not that he has achieved his goal he needs to go back to his job in the restaurant. Camilla is left behind, looking a bit forlorn. She realises that she misses her family, she confides to Tessa. “There are so many of us, it being an old family home. Most Mortina families have multiple children, so the house is just never quiet.” She starts to giggle, and when she sees Tessa’s confused face, she giggles even more. “You see, my parents had a bit of a scheme going. They needed to put some ancient Injustice straight, so they decided that the way to do so would be by having as many children as there are letters in the alphabet. So I was number three, Camilla, you know. I have two older brothers, Albert and Daniel. The problem was that my aunt and uncle were getting upset, as the bassinet was always filled with my parent’s babies. In the end they talked to my mum and dad, and they agreed to just have one more child, which was Zahra, my little baby sister.” And Camilla’s laughing face sobers then, remembering her sweet little sister, just staggering round the Mortina home…

Tessa laughs as well, imagining Camilla’s family… It mases her wonder though, so she asks, “Did they mind you moving out, and, well, and moving out without being married I mean?” She blushes a bit, as the question sounds so judgmental, but she would like to know what the people in Camilla’s large family thought of it. She worries for a moment that she has gone too far, and made Camilla feel offended, as Camilla doesn’t immediately answer the question. She is staring out of the window, her mind clearly back with her family. Then she smiles again, and the old Camilla reappears.

“Yes, they did mind. In fact, my parents were very upset, and so were my aunt and uncle. My uncle is from a Norse family, and although they are quite easy going in that respect, he felt I should have been different, as I belonged to the Mortina family. You see, my family is very old fashioned, holding on to morals, and their faith very much dictates their actions.” She pulled a bit of a face then, clearly not approving, and Tessa feels very sad all of a sudden. So Camilla’s family would maybe accept her, but it doesn’t look like Camilla will have much time for her views and concerns! She glances at Camilla’s clothes, and suddenly feels her lips trembling. Camilla got changed out of the wedding dress as soon as the event was over, and is now wearing a short top and mini skirt.

She catches Tessa’s glance and her face lights up, her family’s disapproval a thing of the past, it seems. “Do you like my top?” She asks, eyes shining, “I just got it this afternoon, as present from Brandon, for he knew I was desperate to have it! I just love it!” and with one hand she strokes her bare midriff, making Tessa cringe. “It just feels so light, and I feel so special in it. It makes me really feel liberated, and glamorous. Although,” and her face clouds over for a moment, “although I didn’t like some of the comments from the other guys. You know, Brandon’s dodgy friends…” Camilla pulls a face, a disgusted face; just thinking about Brandon’s friends gives her goose bumps. Whatever has he got those friends for, she wonders, and where did he find them!

She turns back to Tessa, feeling a little annoyed with the girl’s obvious disapproval. “I like to wear things like this, and to feel I’m free,” she says, her tone a little sharper and more defensive than she meant for it to be, “all my life I had to wear modest clothes, and I just wanted to be…well, not slutty of course, I’m not like that. I just wanted to know what it feels like to be really attractive, and to have men appreciate you. I must admit that men staring at me creeps me out though, I’m obviously more of a Mortina than I thought, hahaha.” She laughs, and Tessa has to smile in spite of her upset, for Camilla really has a great laugh. “Inherited from my mum, I’m afraid,” she grins, when Tessa tells her how she loves her laugh…

Soon, Camilla seems to have lost the ability to laugh though… For the very next day he brings his work colleague home. Her name is Brooklyn, and she has large cat like eyes and hair that is dyed pink. She looks at Camilla with her slanted eyes gleaming, and even has the audacity to chat to Camilla as if they are friends, before disappearing with Brandon to fill the bassinet! Camilla is heartbroken, and struck down with grief. Tessa tries to comfort and support her, but Camilla is just overwhelmed with grief. Tessa herself isn’t feeling much better, and she can feel her hatred against her brother growing inside. To bring Brooklyn home, and to betray his wife so utterly and totally just leaves her stunned. Poor Camilla! Brooklyn goes as soon as the baby is born, and Brandon acts as if nothing has happened. In the end, Camilla can’t stand it any longer, and Tessa sees her marching up to Brandon’s room to confront him. Tessa makes herself scarce; she hates confrontations…

The house is large enough, but the walls are thin, so Tessa can’t escape their raised voices. “Darling, you don’t understand,” Brandon’s voice sounds calm and tired, as if speaking to an ignorant child. “It is important that we have beautiful children; I’m an artist, I need to surround myself with beautiful things. So Brooklyn is my concubine, not my mistress. Mistress sounds so common, and dirty, and secretive. She is my concubine, and you’re my wife, and my life is complete, for beauty encompasses me. You’re artistic too, so surely you understand what I mean. When I turned up for work there was this new co-worker. Have you seen her eyes? They are so unusual, so I knew I just had to bring her home. We’re married, nothing will change that, so I don’t quite know what your problem is. I promise that as soon as the bassinet is empty you and I will fill it, alright?” Tessa hadn’t heard Camilla’s reply, as she had to run to the bathroom. She only just made it, and was sick until she thought her stomach would turn itself inside out. “How absolutely disgusting; how dreadful, oh, poor Camilla! What will her family think? I wonder if she will divorce Brandon…?”

Nothing of the sort happens and Tessa is shocked to see Camilla and Brandon laughing together, and even more horrified to see Camilla chatting to Brooklyn! They look as if they get on well, striking up a tentative friendship. Tessa can’t understand, and again she realises she is alone, with nobody to talk to; nobody at all who she could trust. All she could do was drag her weary body back to the yoga mat, and use the time to pray. Pray and cry, it was all she did these days, it seemed. Brooklyn was at the house a little more often, and Brandon was spending a lot of time with her. He hadn’t forgotten his promise to Camilla though, and as soon as Deborah becomes a toddler, Camilla and Brandon filled the bassinet.

Camilla smiles at Tessa’s upset face, and even gives her a hug. “Don’t worry about it, Tessa, it happens all the time in SiMobile… Lots of families live like this. In fact, Brooklyn can’t stand Brandon, but she has her own scheme to get him back. I’m a bit angry and admit I felt hurt at first, but I do agree with Brandon, that to get the right genetics, you need to be a bit openminded sometimes! Personally I don’t really care much for her huge cat eyes, but Brandon thinks they are so special, he just wants to have them mixed with his dark eyes… he knows you’ll be promoted soon,” Camilla continues, a sly smile making her face look very different. “He says you’re the marrying type, so as soon as you have married he wants Brooklyn to move in!” Camilla can’t continue, as Tessa has literally fled the room in tears. She goes to find her after a while, rolling her eyes over the girl’s sensitivity. “Those tears appear at the drop of hat,” she thinks to herself, “I hope she has calmed down by now!”

Tessa has calmed down, and Camilla tells her as a matter of fact that Brooklyn has a plan… Once she has moved in she will start a relationship with her lover. As both she and the young man she fancies are Townies it is impossible to have a relationship. SiMobile doesn’t allow two Townies to get together. Once she has moved in she will no longer be a Townie though, so she is using Brandon to have her own way… Camilla thinks it’s brilliant, beating Brandon at his own game, and is exasperated when Tessa cries even more. “Can’t you see how wrong it is?” The slender girl cries, “You can’t make a right out of two wrongs, and it’s definitely wrong! I don’t care that loads of families do it; that doesn’t make it right at all. I know Brandon is…is horrible, but surely that is not an excuse to do this…this evil scheme! Can’t you all see the grief and sadness and heartache this family has and will have in the future?”

Camilla looks at Tessa with astonished eyes, and says, “No, I can’t! You’re the only one, to be honest; we’re all having a great time! It’s called freedom; we all do whatever we like, wear what we enjoy, and just make friends and relationship that are free of restrictions and narrowminded rules!”

She walks off, feeling that Tessa is hopelessly old fashioned, and stuck in her narrow world view. Tessa lies back down, and weeps bitter tears, her heart breaking over her family’s brokenness. She knows grief and heartache will be there. There is spitefulness and jealousy already. Brooklyn and Camilla get on quite well, but it sickens Tessa the way they both vie for Brandon’s attention. He sits there, like the king, and both of them hover around him, waiting on him hand and foot. There will be fighting between the children as well, and.. “Lord, it’s all so wrong, and soon I will be promoted, and…and the idea of one of Brandon’s friends flirting with me… I really can’t do this anymore Lord, please…” Just before she drifts off to sleep, worn out from crying, the words of the hymn she heard last week floats into her semi consciousness, calming her, comforting her more than anything else can. “Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.” Then sleep overtakes her, and Tessa sleeps, a peaceful smile now round her sweet lips, her black curly hair framing her little pixie face.

Tessa

“Why? Why am I so different, Lord?” Tessa leans against the window, her grey eyes looking larger than ever, brim-full with tears. “Nobody in this house, in this family, is like I am. Why?” Tears drop onto her cheeks then; the drops magnifying the freckles dotted across her nose and cheekbones. She leans her forehead against the cool glass, her unseeing eyes drifting past the people on the pavement outside the house. Some just walk by, with maybe a very short pause, before walking off briskly again. Others loiter on the pavement for ages, standing, twisting, checking their phone, doing nothing at all, before suddenly walking off. Unless somebody from the house speaks to them, then they will come in and hang around in the house. Brandon likes to bring people in; it’s artistic, he says.

Tessa gives a small sob, “Lord, I don’t want to be…so different; why am I so different? It’s too hard…” She sobs quietly, making her tiny frame fit into the window, as if drawing strength from the glass; as if by hugging the window pane people will see through her just as much; becoming like a glass figurine. “I wish I was invisible,” she whispers, her tiny hand trailing the glass. “I wish…” She stops, as a verse comes to mind, making her blush under her tanned skin, showing up her freckles even more… ‘who art thou to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay…’ She sobs even harder now, unable to stop the tears flowing freely. “I know, Lord, I do know, but…but it is so hard, I don’t know how to do this anymore…”

After a while Tessa stops; she is exhausted, her frail frame supported by the window, her eyes still glittering with unshed tears. She wipes at her eyes, sniffs, her shoulders still quaking slightly from the exertion. Just as she turns away from the window she spots a dark shadow out of the corner of her eye, on the far end of the house. Brandon! That makes her forget all self pity, all questions and even her tiredness. Tessa rushes over to her room, and slides into her yoga outfit as fast as she can. “Quick,” she whispers frantically to herself, “quick, before he is in the house; before he comes looking for me…oh, do be quick! Oh! This zip, oh…oh!” she manages just in time, and Tessa is found, standing on the yoga mat, looking serene and composed when the door to the hobby room bangs open, and Brandon struts in. Tessa wills herself to stay looking serene, refusing to look round; making herself stretch and lean over to one side. She has learned that with Brandon that is the quickest way to get him out of the room. It works this time as well, and Tessa breathes out a huge sigh of relief, feeling her eyes filling up again. She takes another quivering breath, determined to stay calm, to not let the tears win again.

Brandon… It is hard to stop the bitterness, the anger rushing up into her heart. Brandon. Spiteful Brandon, hateful Brandon; Brandon the Charmer, as she calls him. His intense eyes always following her, despising her, mocking her. Her brother, just a little older, but totally different from her. She has their father’s darker skin, he has his dark eyes. From their childhood his dark intense eyes have taken things in with a ferocity nobody could tame. He claimed to be an artist, with a temperament to match his claim. He grew his hair longer, let a beard grow, and the dark hair seemed to frame his dark burning eyes, always following people, following girls especially. Trouble started as soon as he was promoted, although their mother stayed on with him for a while. Their mother had married a Townie, and Tessa had heard the rumours. Heard how marrying a Townie was asking for trouble. “You don’t know anything about them,” the whispered remark loud enough for Tessa to hear, “you don’t know anything abut their family, their heritage, or the sort of heirlooms they could give you. Of course, there are never any good upbringing traits either! You see, you never know what sort of genetics they will bring along. Marrying them is bad enough, but to have a child with a Townie…”

The voice had stopped rather abruptly, as the speaker had spotted Tessa nearby, her pixie like face scarlet with embarrassment. Tessa had spun round, and fled he room, throwing herself on her bed, crying buckets of tears. Tears of grief, of shame, and of embarrassment. That is when she had started to look at her family more closely. It didn’t take a genetics expert to see the problems in their family. Brandon was very much unlike their quiet father. Their mother was not the brightest, although she was very kind. She didn’t even have a job, just did her yoga, speaking to them in a calm, drawn out voice. Brandon was incorrigible, and made it clear that he was going to do things the Brandon Way, as he called it. He would sneer at his mother, and look down on his father. Until they had visitors.

Then suddenly Mr Charming would appear. Tessa feels tears welling up again; how she despises his charming act! He could trick anybody, she thought; anybody at all, even close relatives. He can be very witty, and kind, and very sweet. Until he feels at home with you, then the real Brandon will appear. She had hidden in her room the day he was promoted, fearing his spiteful remarks; fearing his choices and actions now he could make them independently. He had been pleased as Punch, looking down on his father even more vehemently than usual. Brandon had always felt Townies were there to serve, to be used, and the fact that he was now Active, and his father had never been served his Promotion papers was used to make his father feel less valued. Tessa had cried, feeling her heart breaking with sadness; she loved her father, thought he was the kindest, most patient man in all of SiMobile. She couldn’t bear her brother treating their father like that, but she was shaking with fear when she even contemplated talking to Brandon about it! So Tessa had watched from a hidden corner or a quiet room, as Brandon made himself the head of the new household.

Brandon had taken on their mother’s surname, Snow, for he said, “I don’t want the whole of SiMobile to realise my father was a Townie who managed to persuade my vulnerable mother to marry him.” This wasn’t true of course; Caitlynn Snow adored Layton Johnson, and had been thrilled to marry him. Many Townies aged at an alarming rate, so falling in love with one could easily lead to heartbreak. Caitlynn and Langton had been fortunate, and although he couldn’t have his promotion papers as the Active household was full, Layton appeared in all the family portraits. Tessa was proud of her parents, their achievement, and their long and happy marriage. She was pleased to have the Johnson surname, and as it turned out, some of the Johnson traits as well.

Tessa is in the bathroom, having a drink and a quick freshen up, when Brandon barges in. She freezes, and clutches on to the sink with one hand, to stop her hand from trembling too much. Brandon leans against the wall with one shoulder, sneering at her reflection in the mirror. “At least, when you’re promoted, or rather If you are promoted you will never need a Moving Permit, the wind will carry you anywhere in SiMobile!” he taunts, making her grey eyes sting, tears forming and making things look misty all of a sudden. “Anyway, just to let you know, it will be a while before you’re promoted, as I have just arranged a marriage with somebody. So of course, my wife will be promoted when our uncle lowers himself enough to actually accepts his Retirement papers.” He scowls the way only Brandon can scowl, his face contorted in anger. Tessa can feel her hands starting to shake more and more. Once Brandon is angry, he tends to wind people up…

“Anyway, you’ll meet her soon enough, as she can’t wait apparently! She is a fashion designer, so she will suit me perfectly. She’s obviously the arty type, so she’ll understand my sentiments, no doubt.” Brandon marches out as abruptly as he had come in, leaving Tessa standing at the sink, shaking. She clutches on to the ceramic washbasin, her legs trembling so much that they wont support her slender body anymore. Feeling sure that Brandon won’t come back in, she lowers herself onto the ground, tucking her chin between her knees, and feeling like a hedgehog seeking protection. Tears drop on her bony knees, sobs make her shoulders heave for a while, then she grows calmer. She blows her nose, and leans back, the cool tiles helping her body to cool down as well. She dries her tears, and breathes in as deeply as she can, then slowly releases her breath.

“Brandon has found a wife… I wonder what she’ll be like,” and hope plants a tiny seed in Tessa’s heart. To have another woman, about her age no doubt, here in this house…she smiles a little, and her tiny face lights up. Brandon would never agree to a marriage with an older woman, or somebody with three traits already, so it must be somebody young. Tessa leans back, her eyes staring at the ceiling, dreaming happy, wistful dreams of another young girl, a smiling girl, in the house. “Somebody to talk to, and laugh with,” she murmurs quietly, her grey eyes shining, “somebody kind and generous, and who will accept me…” Tessa sits there for a while happy daydreams making her cheeks glow, and her lithe body relax.

Suddenly, a shadow sweeps across her face, and she gasps in horror, “Oh no, Brandon says she will be like him, the artistic type; the one who will understand him!” And the spacious bathroom shrinks it seems, so Tessa struggles to catch her breath. The idea of another copy of Brandon living in the house, taunting her, and making biting remarks all day long…”Oh Lord, please not that! I couldn’t bear it, Lord, I just can’t live like that…” All during her yoga practice Tessa does what she always does during practice: she prays. She begs God to send the right kind of woman along; a kind and gracious woman. She prays for strength, for…for peace in the house as well as in her heart.

Brandon goes off one morning, wearing his smartest coat, a special Izzy Creation coat. Tessa can’t stand Izzy or his shop, so she refuses to wear any Izzy Creation clothes. Brandon doesn’t say anything, but he looks at Tessa with his dark eyes, mocking lights dancing in them. He is daring her to ask him about the girl he will meet, but Tessa refuses to fall into his trap. Brandon looks a little disappointed, he obviously had thought of a way to tease her. His parting remark is made with his sharp eyes looking at her directly, even though he addresses his remarks to their mum. “Well, I’m off, Mum. I might bring the future Mrs Snow along, you know, just to show her the house, get to know her a bit, that sort of thing… As soon as I’m gone, can you make sure to set the party things up? Don’t get it wrong please, first impressions are important…” He had laughed a mocking laugh at Tessa’s distressed face, and then he was gone.

Caitlynn had rolled her eyes, and in her calm voice had complained, “I don’t know why he always has to be like this. It’s not necessary to speak to people like that. It’s unkind as well, and it will give him a reputation if he isn’t careful!” Tessa had somehow managed to refrain from pointing out that Brandon already had a reputation which is why he so desperately needed an arranged marriage through a private network, rather than the usual SiMobile dating site. Instead she asked her mum about the girl Brandon was going to meet. “Oh dear, I don’t really know that much about her, your uncle arranged it all! Said he would retire as soon as the relationship was progressing well. He knew the family, I can’t remember just now, Italian sounding name I thought. The girl’s name reminded me of a flower, Camomile, something like that; oh no, it was Camilla, I remember now.”

Camilla it was, and a proud and beaming Brandon showed off his new girlfriend later that day, right at the start of the party. He was all over her; Tessa, watching from a distance, was horrified. The girl was falling for him, that much was certain. Tessa noticed the tiny tremors though, and the shocked expression on the girl’s face when Brandon kissed her right in front of other party goers! She saw the girl trying to slow Brandon down, but to no avail. By the time they went off to the little Café for their first official date, their relationship had progressed a lot already. Way more than usual, Tessa noted. “Camilla seemed alright,” she thinks, looking at their disappearing forms at the end of the pavement. “She has a nice smile, and a friendly open face, and she dresses very conservatively, so I think she might come from a nice family. I wonder what she thinks about Brandon, and whether she trusts him and his charm, or whether she realises he’s an actor; putting on a show to catch a girl. They do look happy together, and I’m pleased she managed to persuade him to tie his hair back at least. Now he doesn’t look so wild, and…and untamed…”

Tessa’s eyes mist over, she just fears what the future will bring. Her mum has talked about retiring, which means that Tessa might get the Promotion Letter. The idea of running the household with Brandon makes her feel physically sick every time she thinks about it. Yes, Camilla seems nice and friendly, but Camilla is also very outgoing, and ready to laugh. Camilla was dressed very modestly for the party and the relationship events with Brandon, but she already told Tessa that as soon as she is moving in, her wardrobe will make a most dramatic make over. Tessa’s heart sank at those words, especially when she sees Camilla lovingly fingering the material of various short tops, a dreamy glowing look in her eyes. Tessa frowns, and again wonders why she is so different! What is wrong with her; why can’t she laugh with abandon at Brandon’s edgy jokes, just like Camilla? Why do tears spring in her eyes every time Brandon mocks her, or says something nasty? Camilla just laughs, and elbows him, saying something witty back to Brandon, and the two will laugh and hug… Why can’t she do that? Tessa sniffs, her nose is running, and she walks to the bathroom to blow her nose, grief churning inside her; doubts flooding her heart, and the weight of loneliness making her feet struggle to carry her through the house. “Why am I like this, Lord?”