"What should we call this?"...the making of a Sims story
Sul sul, Simmers. It's the holiday season, and it seems like as good a time as any to share my humble attempt at Sims storytelling with all of you. My twelve-year-old daughter, Z, is my Sims bud...
This chapter doesn't contain many pictures, because I couldn't figure out a way to get my main characters into the right venue together in order to take my screenshots. It's time to catch back up with Marcia Eldridge.
Marcia Eldridge didn’t sleep at all the night before her appointment with Dr. Xu. Fortunately, she was the first patient on his schedule, or she would have fretted all day.
When she arrived at T. Pose Medical Center, she checked in and was taken to an examination room, where she met her doctor. Jeremy Xu was a kind man who related well to his patients. He explained that Marcia would be given a variety of tests to determine what was sapping her energy so completely. “None of them will be painful,” he explained. “In fact, many patients find themselves relaxing while the tests are taking place.” “I could use some relaxation,” Marcia admitted, with a slight smile. “I’ll be back in a few moments,” Dr. Xu said. “Until then, if you’d like a snack or a drink of water, please feel free.” Marcia went to get a drink, and on her way, she met another doctor: a young woman who seemed to be walking on air. “Good morning!” she sang. “Good morning!” Marcia replied, almost as happily. She looked at the doctor’s name badge. Dr. Angela Reynolds, she thought. I believe Dr. Reynolds must be in love…
Dr. Xu had been correct about her tests being relaxing. She nearly fell asleep while they were taking place. “We should be able to share the results with you later today,” the doctor explained. “If everything is fine, we’ll simply send you a text saying so. If we need to follow up with anything, we’ll let you know that, too, and we’ll schedule another appointment for you.” “Oh…okay,” Marcia replied. This frightened her a bit. Now I’ll be waiting all day for that text, or worse, fretting because I haven’t gotten a text, she thought. Angie was trying not to eavesdrop, but she heard her colleague’s words anyway. She could also see Marcia visibly tensing up. There ought to be a better way to put patients at ease about these things, thought the young physician.
Marcia needed to find things to do to keep her calm while she waited for Dr. Xu to text her…or not. A workout might occupy her, but then she might not have her phone available. A walk would be a better option.
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of San Myshuno could be a welcome distraction, but today, Marcia needed a quieter setting for her walk. She picked the Foundry Cove neighborhood. She could stroll beside the canal, and since she didn’t know many people in Willow Creek, she wouldn’t have to make much small talk.
Back at T. Pose, Jeremy Xu was called into surgery. The patient’s condition wasn’t life-threatening, but the operation required a master’s touch. Until recently, this would have been a job for Dr. Mason Ross. With Dr. Ross retired and living his best life in Sulani, it fell to Dr. Xu, the most talented surgeon currently on the T. Pose staff.
As Jeremy was scrubbing for the operation, he called out to Angie. “Can you please take a look at Marcia Eldridge’s test results for me and take it from there?” “Of course,” she agreed. “Thanks. I think I know what you’ll discover, but I want to make sure.” Jeremy smiled, and set off for the operating room.
Angie thought she knew what she’d find, too. She checked Marcia's results. Her instincts turned out to be correct. She smiled and sent a text message to Marcia Eldridge, and then she gathered her things and headed home.
She had just reached Foundry Cove when, to her surprise, Angie saw none other than her patient herself, strolling through one of the small green spaces that gave the neighborhood its character. The doctor jogged over to greet Marcia.
“Hi there,” Angie beamed. Marcia was caught completely off guard by the appearance of the pretty young doctor she’d met earlier. “H..hello,” she stammered. https://i.imgur.com/oUsC8Mo.png “Looks like you’re enjoying a nice, quiet walk before you share your news with your partner,” Angie continued. Marcia’s face went white. “My…news?” https://i.imgur.com/V4eY50H.png Now it was Angie’s turn to be caught off guard. “Yes…the news I texted you about…” Marcia’s heart hammered in her chest as she reached into her pocket for her phone. “I let my phone go dead,” she confessed. “I can’t believe I did that.” Angie took a deep breath. “Oh, it’s all good. Now I can deliver the news in person. That’s much better.” “What news?” “You’re expecting a baby!” https://i.imgur.com/eBeLfLJ.png
