The Checkered Life of Erik Cantrell

Chapter Twenty-Three: Blind Spot


After taking his family on vacation for a few weeks and then spending time in a luxury hotel, the new house Erik planned was ready for occupation. He hoped the beauty of it would be enough to quell Kayleigh's apprehensions over it. Once again, he thought wrong. While she was thrilled with it, very much liking the floorplan and the look of the house overall, what she feared the most slowly began to break out among their children. Like a contagion, the boys again had monsters under their beds, and the girls started acting up. Unrelenting, there was almost no relief.

Out came the long unused "Monster Spray", which was in all actuality plain water with a dribble or two of Holy Water. As Andrew and Peter screamed, hollered "Mommy, Mommy!" Kayleigh grabbed the bottle from the cabinet and headed upstairs. She sprayed both beds and then her eldest was in the midst of a meltdown. So, she went to the room he occupied by himself and again, she sprayed the bed and demanded, hand raised, for the monster 'to be gone.'

This wasn't enough, however, even with Erik's help, the monsters were winning.

Erik, in the meantime was very busy with his career. He held interviews with the Paparazzi, acted in bit parts for major movies, and played concerts. He even took a Selfie with a fan, trying to work passed his own misgivings.

In front of his new residence, the director and cast, along with the two camera Sims came to do the Shoot. The Paparazzi was also there. A chill ran through Erik when he sought a word with the Director on just how he wanted Erik to play the upcoming scene. "You want me to do what?
"Slap him, good. Listen, he's done you wrong and he deserves the punishment. I know you can do this, Erik."
Despite his reservations, Erik managed to pull it off, in one take, thankfully. the other actor's face was on the reddened side, however.

Back at one of his favorite venues, Erik promoted his twenty-fifth album, "Lyrics from the Edge". As he sang, a few off-key sounds met his ears. They were coming from the piano. Looking to the side, he was very greatly surprised to see his friend, Thorne Bailey, sitting there, appearing to play. What the heck?
"Ha-ha, I would like to thank my accompanist, Thorne Bailey. That's right, give it up for the Sim." At the end of the last set, Erik busted a move, as was his custom. "Thank you, you've been a terrific audience!"

Cadence, the youngest of the brood was also showing just how spoiled she had become, to the parents' chagrin. She was unrelenting. Caught in the act, splattering paint on the new wood flooring of the Foyer, she was duly chastised by Erik, who was all but fed-up. He found himself struggling to keep his sudden anger in check. "What do you think you're doing?" Erik had to keep from exploding at her.
Thankfully, after Cadence just stood staring up at her Daddy, clearly tolerating his rant, Kayleigh stepped in.
"You," she growled, pointing a finger in the direction of the dining room, "pick a chair in the dining room and sit down. You are in Time-Out, young lady."

And so Cadence sat.

"I'll be out back, if you need me," Erik stated just moments later. He was angry, angrier at his own child than he had ever been. He needed an outlet. So, he took it out on the Training Bot. It had been a little while since he had given it a good workout. Erik punched and kicked until he was nearly worn out.

"Erik, do you mind if I have a turn?" Kayleigh said, a short time later. "The kids are all in bed, for the moment. I need to unwind. Hee-YA!"
"Wow," Erik said as he watched his wife go through the differing steps. She could even launch herself into the air and kick the bot with her feet. When did you take instruction?

The very next day, Cadence was at it again. This time she chose to redecorate the flooring upstairs. she chose a spot in front of the Girls' bathroom. You little Imp, setting a trap for them to track footprints around the house?
The parents held a conference, Harmony, as if on cue, went downstairs. Harmony, the second daughter in the family.

She knew the rules and that's what caused her parents so much grief. Not only that, she was an A student. And, yet, she climbed upon the coffee table as if she never understood it wasn't a chair. She knelt there for quite some time. When nobody showed up, she sought a different tactic. To make matters worse, she stood up, and began to tell a story aloud. Was she looking for attention?

As the youngest two boys, Andrew and Peter, continued to freak out over the monster(s) under their beds, despite how many times the beds were doused with "Monster Spray" until the bedding was damp, Erik finally gazed over at Kayleigh. "I guess you and I will have to pull out the sleeping bags and sleep on the floor." Kayleigh sighed but knew he was right. They all needed sleep.

Erik then proceeded to put the boys to bed. His and Kayleigh's bed, that is. The two quickly fell asleep.
"Enjoy your night of luxury, boys, this won't happen every night," Erik whispered as he tucked them in.