And so time went on, the dry season passed and the rainy season was introduced by this.. well, dry and quiet night, but surely the rain would come soon. And it a little less than 6 months time, Aaron would have had his 6th birthday and be old enough to have his first day at school. Exciting times!
https://i.imgur.com/HiFZYn8.jpg In recent news Arsil Hanson, a local inventor, had come up with the idea of sleeping mats for pre-school children, and finally they were on sale in stores. No more confining cribs for the little ones. Natalie was a bit skeptical of this new invention, though, and would still prefer to put Aaron in his crib. "I feel it's safer there", she thought. "I don't want him to get out on his own at night and try to walk down the stairs. I'm afraid he could fall and hurt himself".
https://i.imgur.com/RMsPhNx.jpg Next morning...whats on your mind now, Natalie?
https://i.imgur.com/hmohkrM.jpg Natalie: Oh, Aaron.. what do you have there? Can mommy take a look? Aaron: I got candy!
https://i.imgur.com/OmfFPiO.jpg Aaron: That was mine, mommy! My candy, give it back!
https://i.imgur.com/MtgiAsK.jpg Natalie: No, Aaron. Mommy's got it now! Mmmm, this was some good candy! Aaron: You're mean, mommy!
https://i.imgur.com/SDi7nin.jpg Natalie: You didn't need that candy anyway, Aaron.. it's not good for your teeth.
https://i.imgur.com/XtRxBQz.jpg Natalie: Here comes the claw, Aaron! It's the dangerous claw, raagh!
This is so.. random. https://i.imgur.com/IBZEAIX.jpg Natalie: That teddy bear hasn't been moving for a long time now.. so I guess whatever had possessed him has left.. maybe..
https://i.imgur.com/uPgZODp.jpg Øyvind Svarstad (via text message): Hey, Natalie! I'm having a party tonight, and you are invited!
https://i.imgur.com/QhO7kMR.jpg Natalie: Awesome! A party! I'm going! At the same time Isaac just came home from his after-school activity at the art club.
https://i.imgur.com/UJJ4bEt.jpg Isaac: Hi, mom! Natalie: See you later, Isaac! Isaac: ...mom? Where are you going? ... mom?
Natalie saw no time to answer as she rushed out the door. She would never turn down a party invitation.
https://i.imgur.com/sXHH9LU.jpg Øyvind Svarstad is a human, living in the poorer area on the east side of town. The homes in the poorer areas are typically just some tiny wooden shacks.
https://i.imgur.com/Ii3Btmb.jpg Here is Natalie in a group conversation with Torfinn Gran to the left, and Avigail Pammy-Vasquez to the right. Avigail is the mother of Ragnar and the grandmother of Isaac and Aaron. Avigail is inappropriate, and insults Torfinns home.
https://i.imgur.com/B5q3yht.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3bSDy80.jpg Øyvind decides to flirt with Natalie, but Natalie does not seem to be to interested.
https://i.imgur.com/4rQcIvT.jpg The drawback of living in these shacks is especially felt during rainy season...
https://i.imgur.com/NJZC1hL.jpg After Øyvind said the party was over and it was time to leave, Natalie delighted herself with the thought that there are poorer people in town than her.
https://i.imgur.com/V2sPqOO.jpg The following day when Natalie was at work Aaron had been playing in the toy chest because he had found a box of crayons at lying at the bottom amongst the other toys.
https://i.imgur.com/PV1LmSV.jpg Aaron had also mastered something new. His walk is a little stumbly and awkward, but it was about time he learned to do that! No more being stuck upstairs!
https://i.imgur.com/2P1qJzh.jpg Uh oh. What do you think mommy will say when she gets home from work?
https://i.imgur.com/ixwTm1p.jpg Aaron: I think I should hide in here...
https://i.imgur.com/0GKXH9c.jpg Mommy's home...
https://i.imgur.com/VQ8OX5P.jpg Natalie: Huh? What's that on the wall there? Babysitter: Oh, this little one was scribbling around with some crayons. Natalie: Oh, that's beatiful! Lovely artwork! ..really? https://i.imgur.com/dEJVRCp.jpg Natalie: Oh..
https://i.imgur.com/EQRE1EU.jpg Natalie: Uhh... wait a minute? Are those scribbles on the wall? Yes...
https://i.imgur.com/nDd169K.jpg Natalie: Well, it will have to wait until tomorrow.. I'm to tired to deal with that now..
https://i.imgur.com/O5xjcCQ.jpg Natalie: You're going into the crib, young man! We will talk about those scribbles you made on the wall tomorrow.
https://i.imgur.com/uy92Je2.jpg Natalie: Now Aaron you're going to tell mommy about those scribbles on the wall, hmm? Aaron: I wanted to make you a drawing, mommy! Natalie: That's sweet, but not on the wall.. mommy doesn't like drawings on the wall. Aaron: I want to be like Isaac! He has drawings on the wall! https://i.imgur.com/bL94s9p.jpg Natalie: Isaac has painted on canvas. That is very different! Aaron: What is canvas? https://i.imgur.com/bTvuiFm.jpg Natalie: It's what paintings are painted on. When you start school next year, you can paint on canvas too! Aaron: I want to paint on canvas! https://i.imgur.com/xX6tYUi.jpg Natalie: Aww, mommy's little one.
Isaac now wanted to make best friends with his cousin, Isabella Pammy-Vasquez, so he had invited her over. https://i.imgur.com/2oT4HZf.jpg Natalie: Oh, look how you have grown, Isabella! I remember when you were just a little baby girl!
https://i.imgur.com/dQJdhxK.jpg Natalie: I remember how worried we were when your mom was pregnant that you were stillborn! Ultrasound showed no movement at all! We thought we had to take you straight from the womb and to the grave!
Hmm, is that something you should say to the kids, Natalie? That's a little.. grotesque. https://i.imgur.com/r75gwzg.jpg Natalie: But one of the nurses working at the hospital was also a witch, and uhhh.... she cast a spell on your mom or something, and you came out alright!
I don't know, Natalie.. there's something about your stories that are a little strange.. are you sure you're not just making this up?
https://i.imgur.com/dCXOxp6.jpg Natalie: Oh, I remember how fond your mommy was of you when you were born! She always said you were here little shiny diamond!
Shortly thereafter it was time for Natalie to head to work for her Saturday evening shift at the Zombie Restaurant.
https://i.imgur.com/OFT0l6N.jpg After she had left, Isaac began retell one of the many stories he heard from his mom as best as he could. These stories always revolve around the same topic; some newborn baby girl and her home situation when growing up.. strangely enough! And typically something about witches and/or unicorns taking someone or something away.. someone has a vivid imagination... Isabel was nonetheless listening with keen interest, and eventually fullfilled Isaacs wish by thinking of him as one of her best friends.
https://i.imgur.com/Gc3ZhB4.jpg
....
https://i.imgur.com/UMfSSq7.jpg Placing the clothes line under the boys bedroom wasn't such a bad idea, the clothes did actually dry even during rainy season (it just took a little longer time due to the high humidity). But Natalie found it very impractical as she always had to rush inside quickly after picking them up, to prevent them from getting wet again from the rain. So for this reason, she had long wanted to buy a tumble drier, and with the last pay raise, that was definately possible. She even had enough cash now to begin planning a new bedroom. As Aaron was soon old enough to start school, she thought it was time for the boys to get seperate rooms. .....
https://i.imgur.com/w7b0VhY.jpg Sunday evening Isaac got a call from Samira Mørch-Engebakken asking if they could hangout. Now it seems that the people of Lagash have gotten a bit sloppy with closing their front doors, because even at the Mørch-Engebakken household, the door is wide open.
https://i.imgur.com/8yGWCfi.jpg Samira wants to play the dragon, but Samira's mom, Line, does not agree. Line: Do your homework, Samira!
Everyone is telling different stories around town... https://i.imgur.com/IIN61jF.jpg Line: ..and then they got married, and lived happily ever after!
https://i.imgur.com/c33VwSX.jpg Isaac: Have you heard about the witch living in the forest?
https://i.imgur.com/wdQv6uy.jpg Line: Don't they teach you anything in school nowadays? Witches don't exist, everybody knows that!
Said the angel thats married to a werewolf!
And meanwhile, some news from the town, Friederich, Natalies grandfather, had now moved in with his new lover, Ingebjørg Skullerud-Goth.
https://i.imgur.com/XQVqztP.jpg https://i.imgur.com/S3uMUJ3.jpg "Aaron will have his birthday at the end of rainy season, and I want to hold a party for him. I suppose I should clean up the house a little bit beforehand... and probably get rid of this broken dollhouse, too... I don't want to have people asking any questions..."
https://i.imgur.com/2aRUd5D.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QTXJU7n.jpg And next door, romance is blooming between Ragnar (Isaac and Aarons father) and Ina.
https://i.imgur.com/0NM3TY5.jpg Isaac had visited the household because he wanted to make friends with Ina. He didn't get to much contact with his father, though.
https://i.imgur.com/9LbSfTC.jpg The evening before Aarons 6th birthday, Natalie was tired and in a bad mood when she came home from work, shouting profanities at the baby sitter. Her moods are a little unstable sometimes.
https://i.imgur.com/8EbggvY.jpg
The next update will be about Aarons birthday, where we will get to meet some more of his family members...
@DivaDoodle Thanks for enjoying this update once more. ;)
About the first image for this chapter, it was a bit of a last minute decision to include, and it is not an image I made fully myself. The original image is a screenshot from a 1997/1998 action/adventure game called "Shadowman". The scariest, creepiest game I have every played.. probably because its the only game of the type I have ever played. ;) (I got it as a bithday gift.. typically I would be more into racing games, or more chill games like Sim City or, well, The Sims...) Link to original creepy image found at shadowman.fandom.com.
And yeah, that conversation Natalie had with Isabel, I was thinking that was a bit "over the top" maybe, but.. Its in line with the type of character Natalie eventually became... and there was the gravestone in her speech bubble, so it felt natural to have her say that..
(If it is a problem for the forum I will be more than happy to go back and censor her comment.)
Oh, well, sims can clean up graffiti, so I thought it would be just natural that they could also clean up crayons drawings.
@DivaDoodle Well, leave it to me to worry unecessarily about things in regards to forum guidelines and other things, but thanks for the supportive message. :)
Also, it wasn't supposed to take this long before posting this chapter, but I got umm.. distracted.. <_<... >_>
~~
Chapter 3.14 - Aaron's birthday party https://i.imgur.com/nVDTD0D.png
Say your prayers, little one Don't forget, my son To include everyone
I tuck you in, warm within Keep you free from sin Till the Sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light Enter night Take my hand We're off to Never, Neverland
Something's wrong, shut the light Heavy thoughts tonight And they aren't of Snow White
Dreams of war, dreams of liars Dreams of dragon's fire And of things that will bite
Now I lay me down to sleep Pray the Lord my soul to keep If I die before I wake Pray the Lord my soul to take
Hush little baby, don't say a word And never mind that noise you heard It's just the beasts under your bed In your closet, in your head
Exit light Enter night Grain of sand
Exit light Enter night Take my hand We're off to Never, Neverland
- 1989 -
Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep If I die, before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take...
https://i.imgur.com/2McjStV.jpg
Isaac was the first to get out of bed at four in the morning. No clue as to what could be so exciting to make him wake up this early.
https://i.imgur.com/oQWqLPA.jpg
He wasn't fully rested, so he decided to spend the rest of the morning in momma's rocking chair.
https://i.imgur.com/JHNwyvg.jpg
At ten minutes to six, Aaron was the next to wake up. Even Aaron looks excited. Well, he should know it's his birthday.
https://i.imgur.com/MkziVBp.jpg
Well, his excitement soon wore off once he realized he was hungry. Typical.
https://i.imgur.com/3lVtiOk.jpg
Now I just wish that both Natalie and the babysitter could have let him sleep on the sleeping mat. Then this wouldn't have happened. He broke out of his bed again... like so many times before. From his perspective, though, it is very understandable. First of all, he is just about to turn six years old and still sleeping in a crib. Secondly, that crib must not be a pleasant place for him at all, given all the times he has been left there, alone, hungry and filthy from an unchanged diaper. So, in a way, I can't blame him.... but this will be the last time you will have to do that Aaron, because tonight you are going to sleep in a proper bed for the first time!
https://i.imgur.com/SW2HalP.jpg
Which brings me to just that.. this is Aaron's birthday gift.. his own room! Of course, it was still a bit empty looking as Natalie hadn't gotten around to furnishing it properly, but it had the essentials. A bed and two lamps for light. Furnishing would have to come later, because this home expansion had made her a little short on cash once more, but certainly the investment was worth it, she thought.
https://i.imgur.com/LDrR5gV.jpg
Once Aaron was up, he would naturally start the day by playing on his favorite toy, the xylophone. Maybe one day he will be a musician, only time will tell.
https://i.imgur.com/9t6Ccl0.jpg
Isaac's reaction to his brothers new room was a blank one, a little bit like the room itself, but it was what it was.
Natalie was of course the last to wake up at 11 minutes to ten. Isaac had already gone to school, and Aaron had been alone (and hungry) for a couple of hours.
https://i.imgur.com/Rd4O9La.jpg
A little later, shortly before the party was scheduled to start..
Natalie: You smelly, filthy rotten little child... this will be the last time I will change your diaper!
You are right on the second half, but I really don't think you should be talking to children like that... what you should be saying are pleasant things like, you know, happy birthday Aaron...
https://i.imgur.com/FrM9BRG.jpg
And look who showed up uninvited.. Ragnar is even the first guest to arrive! I kind of wasn't expecting that, even if he lives next door, given his absence from both of his sons lives all this time..
https://i.imgur.com/TT9Rzlb.jpg
He even shows excitement to be there....Natalie doesn't pay him any attention though.
https://i.imgur.com/eFIwbv6.jpg
And Natalies mother, Bianka, was the second guest to arrive. It looks like she didn't bother to put on her formal wear, but that isn't very surprising. She never paid much respect to any of her daughters...
https://i.imgur.com/DgOBEDs.jpg
Though I am surprised to see Ingun there, Natalies younger sister. Ingun, when she is her usual self, is typically very reclusive and quiet. "Hi, m-m-mom" she says, but mom is looking kind of sour...
https://i.imgur.com/mprU3DS.jpg
Ina Hammurabi, Ragnars new female company, was the fourth guest to arrive. She was only invited because Isaac had started to like her.
https://i.imgur.com/lq5BIAl.jpg
"Hi, Natalie!" says Ina, happy to be invited. And then something happens to Ingun. Sometimes its as if a switch is flicked inside of her, and she can become quite the handful. And this handful doesn't like her mom.
Ingun: Boo! Don't come any closer to me, you mean old #$%#@!
Bianka shows no response. She knows that this behaviour will go away after a while if she just ignores it long enough, and if it gets to much of nuisance, she has her methods...
https://i.imgur.com/0uhpnbz.jpg
Bianka: What are you doing here, Ragnar? Pretending to be a family man that finally cares about your son, is that it? Or should I tell everyone the truth about why Natalie had to leave you in the middle of the night?
https://i.imgur.com/lEqISTM.jpg
Ragnar: Don't talk to me about your delusions! It wasn't me that she had to leave in the middle of the night... and secondly, don't you dare lecture me about parenting! know a thing or two about you and what kind of parent you were, or should I say, weren't!
https://i.imgur.com/MXSgH6g.jpg
Ragnar and Bianka clearly have a thorn in the side for each other...
https://i.imgur.com/HE6imfC.jpg
And there is Eva, Natalies grandmother, eyeing the birthday cake as she enters. Unfortunately, or luckily, for her this is not an apple cake.....
https://i.imgur.com/FArytwq.jpg
Natalies mother, Bianka, is not very popular. And Eva decides to lay it at her grand-daughter. I'm not going to retell what she said in its entirety, because a lot of it probably breaks the forum guidelines..
https://i.imgur.com/zdg8m6a.jpg
Eva: You're pathetic, Ingun! I'm surprised you're here, instead of sitting at home all day! What, did momma finally let you out of your room? You're even worse than Natalie! What did I do to end up with such £%#@& grandchildren!?
What a glorious family... happy birthday, Aaron... it's starting to feel like a mistake to have invited them over...
https://i.imgur.com/690eEiN.jpg
Natalies grandfather and Eva's ex-husband Friederich just entered. Has he come to save the day? From what I have seen so far, I am not keeping my hopes up..
https://i.imgur.com/NDmzrKq.jpg
Now I don't know what happened over here, but the snarling sound she just made doesn't sound good.
https://i.imgur.com/46TtrOg.jpg
And this, my dear friends, is Natalies mother.. she is truely a beatiful person...
https://i.imgur.com/0McPpXp.jpg
Aside from the kids, Ina is probably the most likeable person in the room. She is the only one that has given any attention to Aaron thus far.
https://i.imgur.com/7Gd8J5k.jpg
Friederich just discovered that Eva is also at the party...
https://i.imgur.com/zNujC0N.jpg
That is probably the worst looking face I have seen you display so far, Natalie! What is going on here!?
https://i.imgur.com/ErPy9cY.jpg
And just in time for the candle blowing comes Matityahu, one of Natalies uncles with a.. empty hand of nothing.
Matityahu: Well, I had made a delicious apple pie, but an angry unicorn blocked my path and wouldn't let me pass unless I gave it to him...
Right. This has probably nothing to do with why you came so late to the party. Nothing at all, I would assume...
Matityahu: No, its true.. I swear! It was a giant angry unic-
Spare me.... well, you haven't really missed out on much at this party so far anyway... You came just in time for the most important part..
https://i.imgur.com/GtRKIkq.jpg
Now lets see how many people are cheering for Aaron's birthday. Two people, Ragnar and Ina, that's how many.
https://i.imgur.com/NR56cFJ.jpg
Matityahu hasn't let up with the unicorn story, and tries to imitate how it supposedly threatened him. Friederich is still terrified that Eva is there, and Ingun just flat out decides to leave. Probably couldn't stand her grandmothers insults anymore. Lovely.
https://i.imgur.com/8c1X2vS.jpg
Oh, well.. happy birthday Aaron! Best of wishes.. and best of luck with your rather special family...
Well, hello there, monsieur! Aaron inherited the night owl trait from his father, Ragnar.
https://i.imgur.com/lyMh8Eg.jpg
And then Ina laughs evilly for some reason...
https://i.imgur.com/XNdq9JO.jpg
No way, you're evil, too? Isn't anyone around here nice!? What is this evil force that seems to have corrupted this town? There must be something...
https://i.imgur.com/4jXv9ik.jpg
Yeah, maybe you're better off enjoying your cake in the sofa, as opposed to over in the kitchen with all those lunatics...
https://i.imgur.com/Qfw9rSp.jpg
I guess he's had enough already. He wasn't really that tired, but immediately after finishing his cake, he decided to go to bed.
https://i.imgur.com/lqJEAxj.jpg
Sleep tight and uhh.. yeah, just gotta do the mandatory check for monsters under the bed first, of course. The monsters aren't under the bed, Aaron.... they're downstairs!
https://i.imgur.com/pdXFuMF.jpg
I promise you, that there is only your imagination..
https://i.imgur.com/qIFLYVf.jpg
Aaron: Well, I'm not sleeping in there...
https://i.imgur.com/GQfqMA5.jpg Natalie: Did I tell you about the one time I went deep into the forest to hide that creepy teddy bear, Aaron? https://i.imgur.com/ooOeSef.jpg
Natalie: I went there after dark, late at night, and I could swear I saw the glowing eyes of a unicorn amidst the trees!
https://i.imgur.com/fooiVJH.jpg
Natalie: They say a dangerous, evil witch lives in that forest! And if you see her, or her unicorn, never look them in the eye if you want to get out of there in one piece!
Really, Natalie? Whats up with you guys and making up these stories.. of witches and unicorns? You think he's going to want to sleep in his room now?
https://i.imgur.com/1IIjEL3.jpg
Of course not, he just asked Natalie to read him a bedtime story. And he wants to sleep downstairs in mommy's bed alongside Isaac. Of course, that bed doesn't have monsters under it!
https://i.imgur.com/wnlmt1A.jpg
Momma can use the rocking chair...
https://i.imgur.com/mIzaz5U.jpg
Well, this picture says a lot, I guess. Ina is all head over heels about Ragnar, whereas Eva feels sick to her stomach at the sight of Friederich.. beatiful.
I suppose Aarons birthday party is over now. Eva said something about not finding a place to walk before randomly leaving, Natalie is outside playing tag with Friederich, and the three remaning guests inside all at the same time changed from their formal to their everyday wear just like that.
https://i.imgur.com/HA7hWDB.jpg
And finally the guests decided it was time to leave. Matityahu still thinking about unicorns. Maybe he didn't make up what he said and his story is true? Do they really exist...?
https://i.imgur.com/gg821VM.jpg
Finally when all this madness had left the building, Natalie found some time to enjoy a piece of the birthday cake, as well.
https://i.imgur.com/BoZp7F7.jpg
And Aaron having aged up from child to toddler marks the end of chapter three. Good night! ;)
@Sprottenham That was quite a long distraction! I hope it was pleasant! you and your stories were missed and I am so happy you have a new update here! :)
Such nice words to that song, I had no idea!
Was Aaron Standing without hold on, in his crib? Oh I love this little escape artist! :)
That is nice for Ragnar to show up for his sons birthday! Oh and Natalie's Mom with her expressions, and 'nice' talk! ;) ''Ragnar and Bianka clearly have a thorn in the side for each other.'' yep!
haha I love the invisible plate of food Matityahu brings!
Aww Aaron ages up in a little tux! hehe too cute!
No way would I ever sleep in a bed that had a monster hand come out from under it! :o
Oh good, sleeping with Isaac is a much better idea!
I'm glad little Aaron had a good aging up and got to have cake, even if the guests seem to be a bit evil.
@DivaDoodle Thanks that is very kind of you to say!
Was Aaron Standing without hold on, in his crib? <-- I am not sure if understand your question, but he managed to figure a way to unlock the crib so he could walk out. ;)
I will soon post the next chapter, just have to get to upload all the images first (there is a lot of them).
@Sprottenham, sorry I meant to write ''holding on''. Was Aaron Standing without holding on to the crib's rails, in his crib? It's just that I have never seen it, always having my little ones ion the napping mats.
Jag har bränt mina skivor Eldat upp dina brev Och askan ligger i drivor Solstickepojken han ler
Han bönar och ber
Tänd eld på dina tankar Med dina svarta tysta tårar Och vi vet och du vet allt tar slut Långsamt genom rummet går hon ut
Kent - Those who disappeared
I have burnt my records Set fire to your letters And the ashes lie in drifts The matchstick boy, he laughs
He pleads and prays
Set fire to your thoughts With your black silent tears And we know, and you know Everything comes to an end Slowly through the room She walks out
Now, Aaron wouldn't start school immediately after his birthday, but have his first school day towards the end of the dry season, or in mid-august, as it usually is called. So he does have some days to simply enjoy the dry season before he starts.
https://i.imgur.com/0vRDyHP.jpg
Good morning Aaron! Momma went to bed very late last night, so she will be sleeping for a good while still. Which means that you will have the house "to yourself" for some hours, that is, as long as you can avoid waking up mom.
https://i.imgur.com/GHmAK1H.jpg
Oh yes, grab the last piece of left over cake for breakfast. Well, it is yours, so have at it!
https://i.imgur.com/lSoLBJ3.jpg
Isaac is almost 10 and a half years old, 4 and half years older than you, so he is not so lucky. He has to go to school.
https://i.imgur.com/PLUWli2.jpg
I think mommy should get an easier time and be a little happier now that her second youngest son can be more self-sufficient and even help out around the house.
https://i.imgur.com/TlfvMA4.jpg
Natalie woke-up at almost half past two this "morning".... Good day, Natalie! Rise and shine...
https://i.imgur.com/F90RDBw.jpg
And Natalie does one of the things Natalie does best. Playing around with kids toys...
https://i.imgur.com/jIq00Ua.jpg
Now that Aaron had gotten older, he had become a bit of a caretaker for Billy. They had always had a close relationship when both of them were toddlers, due to their shared experience of being so poorly looked after by their own biological mother... and how none of them have never really had the experience of having their father nearby. It has always been worse for Billy, though, because to Natalie he has most of the time been treated like a toy, rather than a child... The way she would nurture Billy looked a lot more like a little girl playing with her toy doll, rather than an actual mother taking care of a child...
And what happens to a kid if you leave it alone in the dark for to long? Their imagination starts running, and the faintest sound becomes an omen of something terrible. An unseen monster lurking in the dark; hiding under the bed, in the closet, or waiting tenaciously for you outside your bedroom door when you want to go downstairs to use the toilet at night...
https://i.imgur.com/Pmslo4Z.jpg
Aaron: I just hope there aren't any monsters under mama's bed..
https://i.imgur.com/ET6exVo.jpg
Aaron: Monsters! I knew it! I can't believe I slept in there!!
https://i.imgur.com/HDueYbG.jpg
.....
https://i.imgur.com/FueOXi1.jpg
Natalie:Hrmmph! He's sitting there playing with that stupid plush toy thing he got from.. I don't even remember who gave it to him, some stupid distant relative..
Oh, these children and their imagination. That's just one of Natalies weird stories again. She has completely denied and repressed that she was the one that gave birth to Billy five summers ago...
https://i.imgur.com/CG8leuX.jpg
"Oh, that toy, he came to me as a package in the mailbox" is what she would tell herself. And she had contemplated getting rid of him, but didn't dare to go there..
....did she really want to give birth to a child she had not planned for, and that came from her one off affair with her boss at work? She was in on it then, because she thought it was a good way to get a promotion to fulfill her lifetime wish a little faster.. and instead she got this.. a ruined reputation in her former workplace and a child she never wanted....
https://i.imgur.com/zpCduLW.jpg
Natalie: Get out of the way Aaron, I need to take a shower!
https://i.imgur.com/RKQWai9.jpg
Aaron: I want to host a tea party for the teddy bear, but I there is not enough space where I want to do it..
Sigh.. well, then you're just going to have to find another space.. there is enough room, stop being so darn stupid... :P
https://i.imgur.com/LLLDM7f.jpg Well, he figured it out..
https://i.imgur.com/AQeX6La.jpg
Well, that was a new one. I guess Aaron and the toilet (?) won't become best friends any time soon!
https://i.imgur.com/Ho22BWR.jpg
Natalie: I need to use the toilet, but there he is blocking my path again playing with that silly toy..
https://i.imgur.com/aS61N4R.jpg Natalie: Aaron, go do something sensible such as improving your skills instead of playing with that stupid toy everywhere, or I will take it from you!
https://i.imgur.com/mUq8B7w.jpg
Later in the evening, Aaron was playing tag with mama in the backyard.
https://i.imgur.com/f6UicCi.jpg
Natalie: Tag! You're it!
https://i.imgur.com/Iql09V9.jpg
Aaron: Mom.. can we buy a dollhouse?
https://i.imgur.com/VaXJCHI.jpg
Natalie: Hmm...
https://i.imgur.com/LcpIUFN.jpg
Aaron: Please, mommy, please.
https://i.imgur.com/MSMn3no.jpg
Natalie: Ok, Aaron.. we can go to Sir Duncan's Treasures and get one tomorrow.. now, let's go inside and get something to eat. It's getting late.
https://i.imgur.com/sZhYHJH.jpg Aaron: Just don't take me to the swimming pool, mom.
https://i.imgur.com/cGD8RvE.jpg
Aaron: I'm afraid I will drown and die if I go there.
Hmm. That was random. Anyway... Sir Duncan's Treasures is a toy store (with some other kids related items) on the second floor up from the Misterious Bookstore downtown, just across the river.
So, the next day they went there, like momma had promised.
https://i.imgur.com/T7KJl8f.jpg
Oh, come on.. smile a little! You're going to the toy store kids, not a funeral!
https://i.imgur.com/FsEubBd.jpg
Aaron: Hmm.. so this is where we can buy a dollhouse?
https://i.imgur.com/FR5oxqK.jpg
Natalie: Follow me, Aaron. The toy store is upstairs.
https://i.imgur.com/i6y5vKB.jpg
Aaron: Wooow, look at all those toys. Do they have doll houses here, mommy?
https://i.imgur.com/FwF4ixV.jpg
Natalie: Yes, the dollhouses are over there to our left. You can pick one of them, and we will go downstairs to pay.
https://i.imgur.com/qgnSVho.jpg
Aaron: Oooh, thanks mom! You're the greatest!
https://i.imgur.com/RBjqY9S.jpg
Aaron: I want this one with the blue roof! Can I have it mom?
https://i.imgur.com/scCu92t.jpg
Natalie: Of course, Aaron. Now let momma carry it downstairs, so we can pay for it and take it home.
After taking the dollhouse home, Natalie had to go to work. When Isaac came home from school, he decided to share one of those weird stories with Aaron.
https://i.imgur.com/7LnU0W5.jpg
Isaac: So there was this little baby girl that was born many many years ago.
https://i.imgur.com/i7ZNPpV.jpg Isaac: And she had two parents, and they were both married to each other.
https://i.imgur.com/j6rc3Ow.jpg Isaac: And they loved each other very much, but they loved their baby daughter even more.
Hmm, this is a bit different than usual.. I guess you're mixing up your mom's stories with others you have heard around town. Or imagining things. Like wishful thinking, maybe.
https://i.imgur.com/kC96WxL.jpg Isaac: But then one night, a unicorn came to their house. Oh no, here it comes..
https://i.imgur.com/yw7KCPv.jpg Isaac: And he ate all the leaves from their garden trees! Really? Was that it? Well, ok then.. :P
https://i.imgur.com/C19pSw7.jpg
Then the boys play tag with each other outside.
https://i.imgur.com/D5FBGSB.jpg
And as they were doing so, it was time for Billy to age up. He was now six years old, and soon of age to begin school.. of course Natalie never thought about having a birthday party for him, because even if she was childish, she wasn't childish enough to throw parties for her toys...
https://i.imgur.com/SjMBw9l.jpg
..but she would have to acknowledge that he was getting older...
https://i.imgur.com/dPnJlpR.jpg
Aaron continued playing tag with Billy.
https://i.imgur.com/xlWfW4Q.jpg
Natalie had done her best to instill in her children the same weird stories that she had come to believe in, which left in particular Isaac very confused. "Mommy says he is just a toy, but he is just like me and Aaron. He is kind of stupid, though and he doesn't talk very well".
https://i.imgur.com/BITLLEB.jpg
Not so strange, because everything Billy knew, he had to learn by himself, and his exposure to anyone but Aaron and Natalie was extremely limited. No one ever taught him to walk, talk or use the potty...
Isaac didn't understand Billy. He thought he was weird, and that Natalie probably had adopted him from somewhere.
https://i.imgur.com/p2DmcSr.jpg
Aaron: Once upon time there was a little baby girl...
https://i.imgur.com/YuoW9Dx.jpg Aaron:.. and she got a teddy bear as a gift from a far away grandmother.
https://i.imgur.com/INhwGZM.jpg
Aaron: And the baby girl loved the gift very much. It was the best gift she had ever gotten. Hmm.... but why are these stories almost always about a baby girl? Who is that baby girl you're always talking about!?
https://i.imgur.com/dNhRLB6.jpg
Aaron has the night owl trait, and had spent the entire night playing tag with Billy outside, and didn't go to bed until daybreak. So when everyone else was up and ready, Aaron was still in bed, sound asleep...
Natalie hadn't bothered to buy a bed for Billy, but he had tried his best to make one out of the dirty clothes lying around, which their certainly was no shortage of in this home..
And poor Billy would still sometimes think of himself as only a "toy" that was unable to take care of himself, which typically rendered him immobile whenever he was in his "mental toy state". He had become so brainwashed, literally, that in his world, he sometimes became this toy his mother always had told him he was...
https://i.imgur.com/ttTKdMk.jpg
And finally Aaron woke up, at almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon..
Billy saw Aaron as his best friend because he was the only one that seemed to care for him when he was in his toy state, and so he would always follow him around, sometimes to Aarons annoyance. Aaron was what had kept him alive by sharing his bottle of milk with him everytime his mom had forgotten about him...
https://i.imgur.com/eOUxTei.jpg
Aaron: Get out of here, Billy! I want to take a shower, you don't have to follow me everywhere!
https://i.imgur.com/wgZZZLS.jpg
Then I let the day and night pass whilst rotating through a few other households in town to fix some minor issues. When I return to Natalies household the next morning, I find Aaron outside the Solebant second hand store. To his left is Samira Mørch-Engebakken, an angel-werewolf hybrid.
https://i.imgur.com/5DctuGW.jpg
Mom was still in bed sleeping, and Isaac was just about to go home from a nearby graveyard after pretending to be an austronaut visiting a different planet.
https://i.imgur.com/iZlRkdh.jpg
Inside the second hand store Samiras parents, Line (angel) and Eric (werewolf) Mørch-Engebakken is having an argument about whether or not they should buy the family a dog. Eric, the werewolf, really wanted one, but Line put her foot down and said no. There was enough fur in the house already, they didn't need more in her opinion.
https://i.imgur.com/w70bwOb.jpg
Samira hopefully hears none of her parents arguing when she is outside doing her homework.
https://i.imgur.com/iwalObR.jpg
Then Aaron realizes he is hungry, and heads home. His thought bubble indicates he wants attention from either mom or dad.
(Well, you know where the refrigerator is.. you can help yourself this time!)
https://i.imgur.com/9xdDs7n.jpg Natalie: Just the other day I had my five year anniversary at the Zombie Restaurant, and they gave me a hefty bonus! Now I can buy something expensive, but I am not sure what to buy. Do you have any ideas Aaron?
https://i.imgur.com/eXmowCn.jpg
Aaron: Congratulations on that bonus, mom! They must really like the food you're making!
https://i.imgur.com/uVZe7bx.jpg
Aaron, Aaron.. you just wasted a brilliant chance of wishing for something expensive! Don't you want anything.. furniture for your room? Toys? Really?
https://i.imgur.com/BoplNMe.jpg
Aaron hasn't even once played with the dollhouse he himself wished to get.. but Natalie has sure found it! Let's just hope she won't end up destroying this one too some time down the road..
https://i.imgur.com/BBLtRDD.jpg
Aaron is most of the time to caught up with taking care of Billy to have time to care about much else...
https://i.imgur.com/YgdmXw1.jpg
Hmm, I wasn't expecting to see that. Isaac had gone to bed much earlier than Aaron, so he woke up fully rested basically in the middle of the night to go to Aarons room and play with Billy.
https://i.imgur.com/MFUpcbd.jpg
He spent the rest of the night.. resting in the rocking chair.
https://i.imgur.com/LG7MJwO.jpg
The day before Aarons first day of school was leisure day, so everyone had the day off.
Natalie had received a letter in the mail that day from the Philosophical Center. They had somehow heard about Billy and his close relationship with Aaron, and thus wanted him to find some rainbow gemstones to make an elixir to "bring him to life" as they called it.
https://i.imgur.com/o1Z8kVC.jpg
Aaron didn't know where to find a rainbow gemstone, but he had noticed a few strange rocks lying about on the neighbours lot, so he went there to pick them up. Aaron did not know what type of stones they were, so he went inside and gave them to mom.
https://i.imgur.com/gq4egKS.jpg
Aaron: Mom, I found these two stones outside.. are the rainbow gemstones?
Natalie: Hmm, probably not. They look like space rocks to me.
https://i.imgur.com/Vynb1tH.jpg
Aaron: Do you know where I can find rainbow gemstones, then mom?
Natalie: Sorry, Aaron. I can't be of much help there.. maybe someone at the Philosophical Centre can help you with that. I suggest you go there and ask.
Aaron: Ok, can we go there mom?
https://i.imgur.com/d9PVMEl.jpg Natalie: Sure, I'll take you there.
https://i.imgur.com/mMz6KnL.jpg Picture: The Philosophical Centre.
https://i.imgur.com/uYfgA0Y.jpg Dr. Tristam P. Calami: Hi miss, how can we help you?
https://i.imgur.com/SzhCg53.jpg
Natalie: We received a letter today about my other s... about Billy, my son Aarons little plush toy, and were told to locate some rainbow gemstones to make him come alive. You wouldn't happen to know where we can find something like that?
https://i.imgur.com/b3BYdPk.jpg
Dr. Tristam: Aahh, you must be Natalie Goth, young Aarons mother. You can call us Dr. Tristam.
He pauses for a while as if thinking up what to say next.
Dr. Tristam:Well, to answer your question.. not really. We are in the process of mapping gemstones all over town, but so far we have not located any rainbow gemstones.
https://i.imgur.com/c4Tm3Oj.jpg
Natalie: And yet you would ask my son to find one and bring it to you... if you can't find it, what makes you think he will? He's just a kid, he hasn't even started school yet!
https://i.imgur.com/PA7XhyY.jpg
Dr. Tristam: We can understand your questioning Miss Goth, and surely we will be more than happy to aid him in the search. We have something for you.. if you would follow us into the next room.
https://i.imgur.com/KU6DCoX.jpg
Dr. Tristam: It may not look like much, but the small item on the table behind us could help you. We call it a collection helper. On it, we have installed a map of the entire town and surrounding areas, and using our very own Finders Technology, it will point you in the direction of any collectible type of object you choose, such as rocks and stones.
https://i.imgur.com/dnsPiqz.jpg
Natalie: So it will tell me where to find rainbow gemstones?
https://i.imgur.com/XrcJIdN.jpg
Dr. Tristam: Well, not excactly. We haven't been able to fine tune it to that level yet. It can only point you to where stones are, but to find out if it is the stone you seek, you will unfortunately have to go there yourself. But rest assured, we are looking into it!
https://i.imgur.com/Q4bpPqN.jpg
Natalie: But you must have some inkling of where they are most likely to be?
https://i.imgur.com/x3irlze.jpg
Dr. Tristam: Yeah, uhmm.. you are probably better off starting maybe around the Forest of Illusion by the Deathfish Pond, and then moving up towards Harlequin Forest and possibly around the cliffs up there. That is as far as we have come. If those rainbow gems are anywhere to be found, it must be up there somewhere.
https://i.imgur.com/wXIqqIz.jpg
Dr. Tristam: That is as much as we can tell you for the time being..
https://i.imgur.com/hCEP6cU.jpg
Natalie: Ok, well, we might go up there and have a look later, and if we find a stone we will bring it here.
https://i.imgur.com/AAluZ7V.jpg
Dr. Tristam: Splendid, Miss Goth! But don't forget to pick up the collection helper on the way out.
https://i.imgur.com/C8c6RnQ.jpg Natalie: Alright, come along Aaron! We're going home! You're going to start school tomorrow, and we will probably have a long week ahead of us if we are going to find those gemstones...
@Sprottenham Oh that's nice to have some time before school starts for Aaron. Poor Isaac had to go, I wonder if that is why his face is sad or maybe a bit envious.
Ah! the mysterious Billy! absolutely brilliant! *claps* This is the child of her affair with her boss, if I remember correctly.
Oh the horrible monsters under the bed! And on the double bed?! Noooo! That is so scary and it happens so frequently! Yikes! Poor Aaron.
oh I love how Natalie never gets dressed and plays tag outside in her sleep wear! haha
That was darling coming back and Isaac had been exploring the different planet in his space suit, at the graveyard!?
Your toy store is so cute! It's so nice that Natalie has made enough money to buy Aaron a doll house! I bet she wants to play with it too!
haha love Isaac's fairy tale.
Yay Billy aged up! So Isaac does think Billy is just like himself and Aaron, only Natalie thinks he is a toy. (usually)
omg lol 'Natalie hadn't bothered to buy a bed for Billy, but he had tried his best to make one out of the dirty clothes lying around, which their certainly was no shortage of in this home..'' so sad but looks so cute and funny.
This next part is very sad, poor Billy. ''sometimes think of himself as only a "toy" that was unable to take care of himself, which typically rendered him immobile whenever he was in his "mental toy state". He had become so brainwashed, literally, that in his world, he sometimes became this toy his mother always had told him he was.''?
Oh cool Natalie got the letter about the rainbow gem! (very exciting for me, I haven't done this in years and years!) Cool! I love how persistent Natalie is, asking all the questions to the proprietor! and now they have the collection helper!?
I loved your update, Sprottenham! It's so imaginative and just so fun to read! ??
