A year past since the death of Abraham's brother, Henry. Because of Abraham's age and his bittersweet status as the only man left in his family, he avoided going to war. During this time Florence aged up into a child and Abraham committed himself to raise her alongside the women in his life to the best of his ability.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628400216_b576c663e2_c.jpgAt first, he did not know where his place was, so he watched how his sister, Thelma handled Florence since she was only a little younger than him. She seemed to treat Florence like a younger sister and helped her have fun and forget the war that went on and on in other countries not too far from Salmon Woods.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49627881258_3a346c4f6a_c.jpgThroughout the winter he and Thelma did just that, all they needed to be were friends for Florence and Abraham was fine with that. As a result, he and Florence grew closer than they were before.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628403276_438c4670a1_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628403281_0fdc7eb7b5_c.jpgAs time passed though and both he and Florence aged being Florance's friend did not feel like enough. To make matter worse all the loss they experienced began to take a toll on his mother. She dove deeper and deeper into politics, protests and biting articles about the pain the war was bringing everyone. The town of Salmon Woods ate her work up. It validated their pain somehow as his mother told him all the time. As a result, she grew into a minor town celebrity and spent less and less time at home. Even when she was home she chose to be alone with her work and sometimes an easel if she just couldn't muster the energy to put her fingers to the typewriter.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628677562_de5ff52d32_c.jpgAbraham began to realize he needed to step into the too-big shoes of fatherhood Clifford left behind so long ago, especially since Vickie couldn't bring herself to look for someone to remarry. As a result, he began to ask her how he could help at every opportunity, usually after praising her for the amazing work she had done already done by herself to raise Florence. The two of them never hid such conversations from Florence either, although Abraham never voiced the role he was trying to fill and Vickie never asked she just gave him things to do, sometimes skipping school in the process. Education simply felt less important than making sure Florence was raised correctly and Vickie's life was easier.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628674122_2c31d8c0cf_c.jpgOne of the first big projects he did for her was remodeling the house. Before the remodel he, Florence, and Vickie shared the same room, (Vickie in Clifford's old bed, he in the bunk bed he used to share with Henry and Florence in a cheap crib, later graduating to sharing a bed with Vickie), for a long time it almost felt like a violation of their grief to change the house, as if his father, Clifford, and Henry never existed. However, Florence was nearly nine years old and far too big to share her mother's bed and would soon need privacy. By then Abraham and the rest of his family felt like their lost loved ones would want them to move on. The final decision was to move Vickie and Florence to Thelma's room since hers was bigger, Thelma would then move to the room they all used to share and Abraham would make a small space for himself later, all with brand new furniture, much of which Abraham built himself. Vickie would add the final details to make the bedrooms personal. The two of them worked long hours together planning , building and decorating the rooms. They even congratulated one another each time a task was complete, to make sure they remained enthused by the project.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49627888838_a944cf39cc_c.jpgThe end result were two beautifully done rooms, that fit their owners perfectly.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49627888823_979c9d9b3e_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49627888788_59588c16f8_c.jpgAfter that, the two of them were all set to start on Abraham's space, but due to budget concerns and some bad sales of his mother's articles the plans were delayed and Abraham took to sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor with plans to add onto the house as soon as their financial situation improved again. Abraham didn't mind the delay at all, because he gained something else from the project and other smaller ones they complete; he began to enjoy Vickie's company. Even when the house was quiet, and Abraham wasn't doing much of anything besides passing the time, he was doing it with Vickie. It started to feel almost domestic, despite the age difference between them.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628403311_5d4f0e7685_c.jpgAll of it came crashing down when they got one more morning visit from a military official . Once again Abraham answered the door.
"We're low on men, but close to victory, the military needs as many able-bodied soldiers as possible," the official said without pleasantries.
"I'm sorry Sir, but I refuse to leave, V...These women need me here, otherwise, they won't have a man to protect them."
"That's a shame, but you have no choice, a draft has been established. If you refuse to join the military you'll be arrested as a deserter," The official said. "Imagine what that would do to your family's reputation."
"There has to be a loophole somewhere that would allow me to stay here," Abraham said.
"I'm afraid not." the official said. "Son, the war is near its end, we just need to proper numbers to seize victory."
Abraham was tempted to argue for a substitution or something but thought better of it. He'd be arguing with a wall, so he agreed to go to war as long as he had some time to say goodbye.
The military official allowed it and he broke the bad news to his mother and Thelma first since they were still his immediate family and Vickie was not. Furthermore, for one reason or another, he wanted to speak to Vickie in private about it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628410496_b47cd46636_c.jpg Thelma simply accepted his explanation and went back to her room. Whatever she was feeling she kept it to herself as she always did ever since she became a teenager. Abraham guessed it was because she wanted as normal of a life as possible and he really couldn't blame her.
His mother lingered though her face contorted with determined rage. She gripped his hands. "I will protest this, rumor has it that I and my other protestors are causing policy talks. You won't be fighting long, I promise you that." His mother pulled him closer. "Stay safe until then all right."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628684652_6d2755d9cc_c.jpg"I will," he said. "In fact, I promise you that no matter what happens I will come home," he said.
A heavy silence fell between them, full of grief and loss until at last, his mother broke it. "You better."
He saw her eyes bubble with tears and wanted to comfort her, but instead, she left to once again to be alone, probably with her ease; or the powerful words she could create.
Finally, he had to talk to Vickie, the thought of which turned his legs to lead. However, he needed to tell her, so he put one foot in front of the other until he found her outside; fittingly a spring storm rumbled in the distance.
"What's wrong?" she asked the moment she saw him, it was strange to be so close to someone that they could read his body language.
"I was drafted for the war. I have no choice but to fight," Abraham said.
Thunder rumbled above them. "There's no way out of it? None at all?" she asked.
"None at all, but I shouldn't be gone long. We're close to victory, they just need more men," Abraham said.
An uncomfortable quiet filled with unvoiced feelings fell between them. Despite the silence, they unconsciously moved closer together.
Inches from one another Abraham broke it. "Things have changed between us, haven't they?" he asked Vickie.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49628410471_3d12f900c4_c.jpg"They have," Vickie said as if giving a name to what had changed between them would prevent him from returning home.
"Will you write to me?" he asked.
"I will," Vickie said.
After that, not another word or touch was shared between them and they parted ways.
Author's Note: I know I've credited the dress Florence wears as a child in another thread, but not here, so props to simromi at The Sims Resource for creating it. Find out next time whether Abraham survives the war and happy simming everyone!
