The Whittaker Saga - 1960s (updated 04/01)
I was vastly inspired when reading the decades challenge, and as a history teacher, I could not stop myself from giving it a try. Of course, true to my nature or refusing to do things by the book, the first thing I did was break the rules. How? By creating as my protagonist a single, working woman living on her own! Gasp! Why? Partly because a story popped into my head, but also, partly, to honor the many women who - by choice or necessity - actually worked, and worked hard for their living in the 1890s. We tend to forget them, but the working women were there - from the hard working farmers that we often downgrade by calling wives, as if they weren't an essential part of the economy of the farm, to the working class women working as domestic help or in the factories where they were only payed half of a man's wages. So with that, I introduce Abigail Spencer, a single, working, middle class woman in 1890s Willow Creek: As middle class there is only a few jobs available to Abigail, that of governess or that of teacher. Abigail is therefore a teacher, teaching at Willow Creek Elementary School. She lives right next door to the school, in a small shotgun house with a few chickens and a patch of land to help her make ends meet (teachers really were not payed a lot during this time either). Obviously, her biggest goal in life is to find a husband, get married and start a family so that she won't have to work. (In fact, a teacher, as well as many other working women, automatically lost their job if they got married during this time.) But to get married, she needs to find a husband. Meet Willow Creek's eligible bachelors: Matthew Godeau: Matthew is one of the richest men in Willow Creek. A bit too old to still be a bachelor he lives with his widowed mother in Ophelia house (yes, eventually this family changed their names and became the Goths. Ophelia house is named from Matthew's mother). Pro: Matthew is creative, just like Abigail, as well as a romantic and would be sure to bestow lots of attention on a wife. He lives in one of the biggest houses in town, and is a wealthy business man. Abigail would have a good life with him. Con: His mother. Ophelia is a woman set in her own ways and she is not about to let some silly girl interfere with how she runs her house! Ophelia is mean, materialistic and an overachiever. She is not likely to see some middle class teacher as good enough for her son. Add that she has raised her son to be not only creative and romantic, but also incredibly self absorbed and the household may prove hard to be comfortable with. Joseph Whittaker: Joseph is a novellist, living in the stately Whittaker house, which with time, will be turned into the well renowned Willow Creek Archive. He has no mother (a definite pro), but two very young children. A son and a daughter, from a previous marriage. Pro: Joseph is a bookworm, just like Abigail and is sure look favourably on her past as a teacher. They are also both family orientated which means they are a good match in personalities and would likely find a lot of common ground. The house is ripe with books, and Joseph's two motherless children desperately need a mother to tend to their needs. With two live in maids it's a comfortable life focused on the family and the books she so loves. Con: Joseph very much mourns his dead wife, and keeps her picture on the wall over the fireplace. Can he ever truly love again, or will Abigail forever live in the shadow of the woman he loved and lost? Loyd Brennan: Loyd is the owner of Brennan's Groceries and Dry Goods, the biggest (only) shop in town. He lives with his sister Mary and their dachshund above the store. Pro: Loyd is outgoing and friendly and easy to get along with. He's self assured, but unlike Matthew, not self absorbed. He works hard and provides a good home. As a working man he does not mind a working wife, so Abigail would do more than sit around being pretty. He loves dogs, and anyone who does cannot be bad - right? Con: Living in a store would mean working in the store. There is no way the wife of a store owner is not in that store working along side her husband. Without money for a maid, this involves not just working in the store but running the household as well. The apartment isn't really big enough for a large family and unless Mary gets married, it's bound to be crowded. Then there is the fact that she and Mary does not really get along well. Paul Heydale: Paul is a farmer, living with his entire family at Garden Essence, a farm with a cow, chickens and a whole lot of crops. They're a tight knit family who works hard for what they have. Pros: Paul, like Abigail is both creative and family orientated. He dreams of becoming a painter rather than a farmer. By marrying him, Abigail would be wrapped up in a large family who would be there for her, something she'd never had before. His family is also very friendly, and Abigail teachers his younger sister and has already met and chatted with his mother and father and really likes the entire family. Con: Marrying a farmer would be a step down the social ladder, and the life of a farmer is hard! Is Abigail cut out for working out from early morning to late evening without ever more than making ends meet? And the house is crowded as is, with Paul's parents and two younger siblings (so far). Where would more children live? Is Abigail prepared for the hard life that accompanies this choice? Now I wanted to make a poll, but apparently you cannot do this in this section of the forums. So I'll leave you with a question instead - who do you believe Abigail will most likely fall in love with and why? Matthew Joseph Loyd Paul Finally, here is my Willow Creek in 1890: *** An important note about the future postings in this story: After trying and fighting the forum to get the posts up and running as they are supposed to work, I have now decided that it's simply too much work. Instead, I have started a blog that (hopefully soon) will contain all of the chapters from here and the old forum. I am currently at 1891 and moving forwards quite rapidly. Here the posts of each chapter will be replaced by a link to the chapters in the blog as I move forwards, though I will leave any comments as they are. The massive perk with this is that I do not need to worry about editing in all images manually, and the loading time will decrease enormously without them. The process of reading is also easier at the blog - and while the blog itself is in the wrong order, I have set up a list of all chapters in chronological order for new readers as well as a search function if you are looking for a specific chapter. Another perk is that I have some new options, like character pages where you can get a summary of each of the main character in the story (warnings for spoilers) and a separate page about the challenge, how time moves. I hope I will be able include a link to the family tree as well. It will take some time to get everything set up, and I do appreciate input in the process. I do promise that the story will go on, and hope you will keep reading it and commenting on it either here or on the new blog. Link to the blog.Diary of a Country Girl
Hi everyone. š This is the continuation of a story I started back in March on the old Vanilla forum. If you were a regular follower of the 'What Happened In You Game Today' thread, you already know Aurora and her little family. Her save started out as just for fun. To explore things within the game that I never had before. I was just going to share a few screenshots with captions. The original idea for this save was to only be about Aurora and her sidekick, her Bernese, Piccolo. But I realized a couple of weeks ago that, yeah, it had become a story. And it deserved its own space here on the new forum. This post and the next couple will help those of you who aren't familiar, become familiar. And since the previous updates were scattered over like 75-100 pages of the old WHIYGT thread it's a nice reminder for everyone that had been following along. The title is also a hint at another change. I'm going to start writing each update like it was an entry in Aurora's diary. I may still write something here and there in a more traditional style with dialogue though. I'm also getting ready to start the reboot of my other story and by writing this one like a diary it's a lot easier to do both and still keep this interesting. So let me introduce you to everyone. Aurora Westbrook-Carter Aurora came back to her country roots. Her parents left Chestnut Ridge just as she entered her teens. She still came back to see her grandparents during the summers. She loved those visits and getting away from the city. After graduating high school she went to art school where she honed her painting and photography skills. But she never lost her love for the quiet country life in Chestnut Ridge. Now she's back where she feels most at home. Tre Carter Aurora's husband Tre came from an entirely different background. He grew up on the streets of Del Sol Valley just like his father. His mother came from Ciudad Enamorada. Yet Tre has always fascinated by the country life. He has an abiding love for horses too. Even if his first real life encounters weren't exactly smooth. Piccolo Aurora's loyal sidekick. Peanut (l), Nashville(back), and Spirit Peanut is Aurora's champion American Saddlebred. Nashville is Tre's horse and Spirit is the newest addition to the family. **Table Of Contents** Recap Part One Recap Part Two Recap Part Three Recap Finale Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine
Simmer Tales š¤·š»š
These are the adventures of Jonš¤·š» and Jacš. I that hope you find them enjoyable to read, I certainly find them enjoyable to make. They were originally posted on the forums.thesims.com but I am copying the story here as a repository due to the announced closure of those forums this year.
Cantrell: The Early Years
And So We Moved, a Cantrell: The Early Years Save āLulu,ā Joseph said. Seeing her frown at his chosen nickname for her, he began again, gently taking her by the shoulders. āLouise, I know youāre in your second trimester, but not that far into it. Besides, the journey normally only takes about two monthsā time. This is a tremendous opportunity for us,ā Joseph continued. āHere I get peanuts for doing the same job Iām being recruited for. Iāve already been promised over 200,000 Simoleons up front, if I take the job. The only catch, itās on Vulcan. I served some of my time as a Marine on the red planet. Itās really a lovely place. Good people, if not a tad stiff in some manner, but youāll adapt to it. I promise. I personally know Ambassador Sarek. Oh, and his wife, Amanda, is human. Sheās also a teacher.ā āBut weāre to live in a compound? They keep all of the human residents in a compound? I donāt like the sound of it. Joseph, I donāt.ā āItās not what you think. The Vulcans rely on Logic and have trained themselves to avoid emotional statements as much as possible. Neighborhood implies emotion by the very nature of the word. Itās a very nice neighborhood, Iāve been there. Weāll likely not see too many Vulcans there. So, youāll have the opportunity to make some friends. Human friends.ā Louise lowered her head for a moment and let out a long, audible sigh. She really didnāt want to go. Gazing up again at him again, she said, āIāve got one very active baby with another baby on the way. Being cooped up in a small spacecraft spells nightmare for me.ā Josephās light blue eyes were aglow at the prospects of finally getting ahead in his chosen career. Another look at Joseph and Louise relented. She did love him so. Against her better judgement, she found herself saying, āOh, all right. Weāll give it a try. But, if things donāt work out, please tell me you have an exit strategy.ā āExit strategy? Oh, sure. Yes Maāam.ā His smile was tentative, since he had already signed a two-year contract, renewable if he performed well at the job at hand. *~~*~~*~~*~~* The trip was long and arduous. The craft, already old, had several breakdowns along the way. Having to be towed, via Tractor Beam, to a Space station equipped to make repairs took way more time than expected, its location drawing them several parsecs off course. Again, due to the availability of out-dated parts. The advanced simoleons were meant to cover their housing. Sadly, the almost ancient Skiff took most of it just to get there. They could not afford the costs of repair, let alone the expenditure of time. Repairs took weeks. Waylaid as they were, virtual prisoners in their own ship, the repairs notoriously slow, suddenly Louise found herself in labor. āOh, Joseph, this isnāt gas at all. This is the real deal. This baby is coming now. And I mean, right now.ā āBut weāre still parsecs away from Vulcan. The mechanics have assured me weāll be on our way again very soon. Canāt you wait for another hour?ā āYes, Mr. Genius, Iāll just tell the baby to put things on hold,ā she said, the humor curiously lacking from her pretty face. Then narrowing her eyes as if in contact with the baby inside of her, she shook her head. āNo . . . no, somehow, heās just not listening. He says heās done baking and wishes to come out, now.ā Joseph gazed at his young wife, āIām in trouble, huh.ā *~~*~~*~~*~~* True to their word, the mechanics finished up their work and bid the Cantrell family a Bon Voyage. The ship was still slow, which left Joseph in a near panic. Soon their toddler, Aaron was walking. Louise having to chase after him, who seemed to have a very bad case of the wanderlust. Or, perhaps he was just Inquisitive. At any rate, Louise was certain the mite was intent on exploring every nook and cranny of this sad vessel. She longed for the moment she could beam down and check out the only house they could afford with the leftover funds. *~~*~~*~~*~~* Five months after their second child arrived, their craft all but drifted into Vulcanās atmosphere, where again, a Tractor Beam was used to pull them into the active space port where they offloaded. A crew was there to secure their luggage and little Aaronās stuffed bear, that lay neglected on the deck. When his parents were able to interpret his anxious squawks, it was soon recovered. āHeaven forbid, Bear should get left behind,ā Louise said, presenting it to the tot. By the iron grip the child had on the brown, stuffed replica of the Terran mammal, peace reigned once again. Their second child, another boy they named Erik, was no longer a newborn when they finally reached Vulcan space. Emerging from the craft in the hangar, a small delegation of Vulcans and Humans greeted them. Joseph had kept them apprised of his travel woes, which phased them not at all. He was given the day off to get his family situated in their new home. The couple only saw it virtually and had contracted a builder to make an archway between the two smaller bedrooms the boys would share. Among a few other alterations. Getting a chance to tour it, though soon brought Louise almost to tears. Beaming down to see the house in person shattered her expectations. If she found being cramped in a small spacecraft for nearly eight months was a nightmare, these quarters were equally small if not smaller. Two bedrooms, as per their changes, one bath, but the entire place was just small, the rooms cramped, not at all like the pictures online. Being rather adept at photography she should have realized the angle used was in an almost deceptive way. The kitchen was a bit of a joke. Strictly speaking a one-butt kitchen--- if it was even large enough for one. They had a small island added, for more working surfaces. No laundry room, whatsoever. She had the movers place the stackable washer and dryer in the corner of the main bedroom. There simply wasnāt anywhere else it could go. Joseph quickly settled into his new job, taking over the recently vacated 5th grade class at Province Elementary School, serving the Human Compound. So on top of having to adjust to the stronger pull of gravity on this planet, the thin atmosphere, which made breathing a bit harder for them, the hotter than blazes temperature, even in winter, which dropped to nearly unbearably cold temperatures once the sun went down; she also now had a new challenge before her. Louise found herself confronted headlong with Sibling Rivalry. Being an only child herself, this was foreign to her. Yet, Aaron was clearly jealous. He had a nasty case of it, she noted. So far he contented himself to pull at little Erikās feet whenever Louise sat down to breast feed him. Louise had to be on her guard to make certain her toddler didnāt further act out his feelings *~~*~~*~~*~~* Having learned of such beasts as the Sehlet, often domesticated to her confusion, the bear-like animal had six-inch fangs. Or worse, the known predator called Le-matya, which bore poisonous claws. She worried Aaron would wander off someday and they would forever lose him in this almost hostile and alien world. She still just didnāt understand what it was Joseph found so enchanting about this place. Despite it all, Louise found a job in the Painters Career. She was something of a prodigy, herself, when it came to translating images to canvas. She painted to relax. The more she created, the better she felt, as if driven to express herself in this manner. The fact that her work was drawing notice was nice and it did help to keep her at the easel. When she wasnāt running after Aaron, that is. He was most certainly a handful, that boy, with his rather reckless desire for adventure. She was already making her mark on the Art world, having achieved the status of Proper Celebrity. She refused to let it go to her head, and instead decided the Paparazzi who hung around outside of their little dwelling, would be her first friends in this alien place. Busy taking care of her two children, in between dealing with Morning Sickness again, she soon realized they had been a bit on the capricious side when they āinitiatedā their new home, shortly after moving in. What were they thinking? Faced with a third child under the age of four, she worried that the Daycare wasnāt being run as well as they promised. Often, Erik came home hangry with a wet diaper and exhausted. But, could they afford a nanny? This prompted her to produce more paintings which she sold to an Art Collector, which returned many more Simoleons that just selling it straight out. All for now. Thanks for reading! :)A Traditional 100 Baby Challenge
Thought I would start a traditional 100 baby challenge inspired by other baby challenges, but this one has a twist, you must marry your forever sim and stay with them till death and try to have at least 6 babies per generation till your sim and their generation gets to 100 Babies the old fashioned way!! I wrote up a little set of rules to follow along with. I may not post everything here but I wanted to just add the sim and who he/she is marrying at the time and how far along I've gotten. It will be a very slow play-through and will take a long time for me to complete so this is more so a look-back area for the things I've done within this challenge.. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bo_LjUpW_gT6IwmLeInAOwH-_bs54HJdcSULSgJP6dA/edit?usp=sharing Meet Kolby West He is marrying Nalani Mahi'Ai and their Generation will start here!! Enjoy their journey
How Clement met Agnes , Holiday magic!
(Note: This happens in alternate simverse, there is no lore between her and runaway gentleman in Chestnut here. š ) One Winterfest, Clement was walking around Henford. He was sad, as unlike common believe, there was no Mrs Frost. He was lonely. But then someone walked by him... This was it!!!! Love at first sight! But oh no... his compliments only made things worse! What to do now? He met the sister of said Lady, Agatha, who told him more.. "You cannot win her heart, it's too cold and bitter now." "But if you use the time machine, travel back in time, maybe then..." "Time machine? Ho ho ho, what a fairytale..." Clement laughed. "Hmm.. and some people don't believe in Santa Claus!" Agatha replied with strange look in her eyes. "Fair enough, show me." "You go in to the booth and dial this number... but you can stay for one week only." Clement was not believing this still. but gave it a try... he stepped in the booth and dialed.... And all the sudden boot started to sparkle, later he stepped out. It was summer.. he was young... thin!!!!! He needed clothing! "Way better!" And his luck was amazing... he saw pretty girl walking to him... who looked familiar! Time flew..... they got to know each other.. But.... before Clement knew, he had to return back... he could only hope he had done enough to change things. When back in present day, he met Agnes again. This time it all went well. She even said he reminded her about young man she had known for a short time and always regret she had not asked his number. It was wonderful! Later, when he met Agatha again, he thanked her for everything! Apologised he did not believed the booth being a time machine at first place. "What time machine? You must of had interesting dream, young man. That is just a regular phone booth what don't even work!"My little gameplay moments.
I already posted about my sim in my main save in favorite families thread, but I will post every now and then here too. My playstyle is very slow, some would say boring, but we each on our own way š Its first week of spring, she will spend weekdays for whole sim-year in Selvadorada. Only travels home to city at every weekend, to pay bills, go to festivals, and Sunday lunch every week in Hendford with her Aunt and Uncle, who are closest to parents she has š Her goal is not even go to jungle yet, just learn the culture, dance, and get to know locals. And top archeology skill. Simple living lot trait in her hut, so she has few plants and rooster and a chicken. Mainly now she learns rumbasim, (lots to learn, lol) learns many magic books she has, but not yet learned (slow play, spellcaster) or is fishing.Under The Tartosan Sun
Welcome everyone to my little love story.š It began almost two years ago with just one sim, Danielle Chabert. When I started I had no idea it would grow to be as big as it is. I wasn't sure if there was going to be more than a handful of chapters. Now it's my baby and it has a loyal group of readers who've grown to be like my family. Danielle grew up in Willow Creek along with her best friends Summer Holiday and Liberty Lee, and their guy pal Travis Scott. Their families lived on the same block in Courtyard Lane and both parents and kids became close friends. Danielle's mom inspired her to embrace creativity but where her mother Jennifer painted, Danielle's favorite form of expression was writing. She got her hopeless romantic nature from her mom and dreamed of becoming a romance novelist. Danielle grew restless in the early days of her career and decided to throw caution to the wind and seek her romantic muse in the capital of romance, Tartosa. She found her muse, but she also found the love of her life in Tartosa, aspiring actress Londyn Huntley. Summer was likewise inspired by her mother but instead of the arts Summer and her mom Brenna live to cook. Summer dreamed of making big in the culinary world and she worked in kitchens all across the foodie paradise of Willow Creek (in my mind a sims New Orleans). She quickly began making a name for herself. After high school she and Liberty decided to share a place with their friend Travis. Summer was attracted to Travis but he barely noticed. Liberty meanwhile was going nowhere fast in her career with the Sims Space Agency. Travis, it would turn out, wasn't the friend they thought. Now, not only does Danielle call Tartosa home, so Summer and Liberty. Liberty even has a new career that is anything but stagnant. Danielle wasn't the only one to find her soulmate, so did Liberty and Summer. The cast of characters has grown and grown and many of them have found their way, not only into my heart, but those of my readers. I look back and shake my head at how my storytelling has grown and improved. I'm sure as I copy the old chapters from the original Sims forum over here I'm going to cringe at those early attempts at writing, but it's also fun to see how it's changed over that time too. I hope you enjoy the story. It will continue here and on the original forums until the move later this year and then it will be on the new Sims forum and here as well. I'm going to start out by bringing over two chapters a day from the original forums. As the chapters get longer I'll cut it back to one a day and go from there. If you all like them and don't mind the longer reads I can always step up the pace. And absolutely feel free to leave comments afterwards and I will do my best to reply or at least give some XP to say thank you for reading.ā It Came Upon a Christmas Twist ā
Hey friends! š Thank you for being here once again for the debut of my 5th (almost) annual Sims 3 Christmas story for the year 2024! š Holy cow has it been 5 years already!? š® Anyway, This story stems from the depths of my active imagination. š As y'all know, Christmas is my favorite time of the year and watching romantic Holiday movies - coupled with a cup of hot cocoa - are the icing on the sugar cookies! They are my jam! š So of course, being a romance writer, I jump at the chance to contribute to the "Hallmark Christmas movie" craze. In book form. š I'm so excited to present to you today the very first Chapter of: It Came Upon a Christmas Twist. š It's written in the perspective of the leading man, as opposed to the leading lady which is so commonly done in most Holiday movies and books. I like to change things up sometimes because normal can get to be quite mediocre after a while. And it's fun. š So now, without further adieu, please enjoy Chapter 1 as well as all the subsequent Chapters that will be released in the days leading up to Christmas. ššš» Thanks for reading! š Sincerely, emorrill *HERE'S QUICK LINKS TO EACH CHAPTER POST* ššš» (Because this forum layout is confusing...) Chapter 1 - Is on this post, scroll down Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 QUICK BIG THANKS: To Rflong for their amazing "Christmas Village" world where this entire story takes place šš», Bmitjessesue from "Poses by Bee," Danjaley from "Clutter and Curiosity," and other creative simmers who have so graciously shared their poses with the world. ļæ½ļæ½ My stories would not be complete without your talents so thank you, thank you! š¤ Also a big thanks to Sandy at ATS3 and many others from TSR, MTS, and the internet for their incredible custom content that give my stories that look of reality that I'm always aiming for. ššš» And one last very appreciative thanks to me1620 for finding the perfect premade sim from the Exchange - and fixing him up for me ā¤ - that fit the look I had in mind for the leading man in this story. š„° ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- It Came Upon a Christmas Twist Written by E. E. Morrill; copyright: 2024 āChapter 1ā It was early winter in the town of Larkspur, Wyoming, just two weeks before Christmas. Wispy snowflakes fell and swayed gracefully to the ground amidst the rays of the noon-day sun. A welcome change from the usual blizzard conditions due to the stateās chronically strong winds. The snowy, unblemished landscape stretched out for miles, in between every sagebrush and tree, blanketing the rolling hills in a stark whiteness. It was a desert winter wonderland if there ever was one. Declan Hayes gazed out the frosted office window by the water cooler, casually sipping from a paper cup while dreamily watching the snowflakes fall. Wishing for once that he was actually outside doing something fun in such nice winter weather instead of being stuck in the office. But alas, such is the life of a working man. Itās not like he was complaining or anything. Work was actually pretty great: friendly co-workers, a semi-quiet, organized working environment, and his job was a pretty essential one. As the official Computer Systems Analyst for the Wyoming branch of Paperclips, Etc. his job was to manage the officeās computer systems and IT software - as well as the company website - making sure everything is running efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the companyās profits, security, and growth. He had hoped to land a CSA job in a more upscale business company rather than an office supply company, but one has to start somewhere. Taking one last sip from the paper cup, he swiftly tossed it into the trash can and turned back towards his desk, pressing his black, Ray Ban glasses more securely on the bridge of his nose as he did so. He was a tall, well figured man of 27 years, who wore his ebony hair in an upswept fashion, short cut in the back and neatly trimmed at the sides. Sideburns and well groomed facial hair framed his jawline down to his chin, made complete with a mustache resting suitably above his lips. Sporting a dark blue and green plaid shirt, with sleeves down to his fair skinned wrists and black slacks, he was the picture perfect image of your typical computer IT guy; with handsomeness and charm blended in. And he had a great sense of humor. Once Declan sat down in his chair he heard the familiar ring from the main office telephone and briefly cast a glance over at the secretary's desk which was about fifteen feet away. The secretary, and Declanās co-worker friend, Andres Montoya - Andy for short - promptly answered the phone and greeted the caller in his normally kind and professional manner. Declan cracked a smile at his Mexican friend, always impressed by his work ethic and felt he deserved so much better than a secretaryās job. But the guy truly seemed to enjoy it. Andy was also one whom most would consider handsome. A man in his late twenties as well, with mocha colored skin and dark brown hair and eyes. He too wore his hair in an upswept fashion, but had it mostly buzzed on the sides and in the back, with a single, thick strand of bang hanging over his left eye. His jawline wasnāt as defined as Declanās, but it was nicely complimented by some subtle stubble that also wrapped around his faint pink lips. The two became fast friends in the workplace after discovering they had similar personalities and chuckled often at each otherās simple or witty remarks over anyone else that was present. The office the two worked in looked like your normal, modern day office. With light earth tone colors on the walls and floor, ambient overhead lighting, and dark-stained wooden desks with rolling chairs. Most everyone had half-walled cubicles except for the Branch Manager, of course, who had her own office right next to the conference room, and Andy. His reception desk was adorned with stacked flat stones in a variety of colors leading up to the flat and shiny marble surface where people would stop to greet him or drop something off. It was basically the focal point of the whole room, for obvious reasons. Andy often joked about how being at the center of attention was a blessing and a curse, Declan was reminded of with a chuckle. And naturally with it being the holiday season, various decorations lit up the entire office in all their splendor, bringing in that everlasting spirit of Christmas. Declan took it all in for a brief moment. This was his favorite time of the year. Just as he was about to return to his normal office duties, the front door to the office sprung open, bringing with it a blast of frigid air as well as a tall, slender, and fair-skinned woman, whose commanding presence always got the attention of every employee. Harper Williams. The Manager of the Larkspur, Wyoming Branch of Paperclips, Etc. And Declanās boss. Well, everyoneās boss. She had returned from her lunch break. āWere there any calls for me while I was out?ā she asked Andy through shivering lips while removing her snowflake speckled knit hat. Short strands of her pulled back, dirty blonde hair stood up like peach fuzz as she did so. It was always a humorous sight for Declan to see since the woman was a textbook perfectionist. āYeah two,ā came the reply, āone was the regional managerā¦ā Harper puffed as she strode over to her office, her high heeled boots clicking on the floor with each harsh step. āWhy does he always have to call when Iām out?ā she muttered, firmly closing the door behind her. Declanās eyebrows bounced as he turned back towards his computer, positioning his fingers over the keyboard. Maybe because he really doesnāt want to talk to you, he frankly thought as he began to type, then shook his head with a half-cracked smile. He didnāt mean to be harsh. Itās not that Harper wasnāt a nice person, she just wasnāt the easiest person to get along with. Especially to him. āHey hombre,ā Andy greeted Declan with on approach to his desk, turning and leaning against it with folded arms. āWhat do you thinkās got Harper all flustered this time?ā āNo clue,ā Declan simply replied, continuing to type and study the screen. āBad lunch date maybe?ā Andy shook his head with a closed-lipped smile. āYouāre terrible.ā āReally not trying to be.ā āBesides sheās not one to set up a hot date on her lunch break.ā Declan bobbed his head, eyes still glued to the screen. āGuess youāre right about that.ā āI didnāt think she was dating anyone right now. Do you know if she is?ā āNope.ā āWell she really should be, a gorgeous woman like herā¦,ā Andy mused. āHonestly, I don't understand how sheās still single.ā Declan smirked. āHonestly, I don't understand how youāre still single.ā He shot him that same smirk before looking back at the screen. āHey! Speak for yourself hombre!ā Andy cried, playfully slapping his friendās shoulder. Then he turned his gaze back to Harperās office door with a dreamy expression on his face. āMan if I wasnāt insecure as heck I would ask her out myselfā¦ā No surprise there. Declan knew about Andyās silent little crush on Harper for a while now. āYou should. Tell your insecurities to take a hike.ā āRight. Like sheād ever be into me anyway. A lowly secretaryā¦,ā Andy trailed off with a sigh, feeling a sense of hopelessness. āWould you ever ask her out?ā āHarper?ā Declan unnecessarily asked, pulling his eyes away from the screen for a second. āNo. No, I donāt think so.ā Then he started typing again. Itās not like he hadnāt ever considered it, because Harper was indeed attractive. But her - pun unintended - bossy nature and poor sense of humor was a bit of a turn off. He needed someone a little more compatible with himself. Someone fun, easy-going, andā¦sweet. He knew Harper was a good person and even considered her a casual friend in the workplace, but that was about it. āSeriously!?ā Andy interrupted his thoughts with. āIs it because sheās your boss?ā āThat and seriously, sheās not my type.ā āOh yeah, I forget how much she gets on your nerves. Well,ā Andy paused, standing up straight and clapping Declanās shoulder this time. āAt least youāll get a nice break from her when she goes to the company conference tomorrow.ā Declan hated to admit it, but he kind of was looking forward to it; not catering to Harperās everyday demands. Which seemed to be more frequent lately. Then out of the middle of nowhereā¦ āDeclan can I see you in my office for a moment?ā the woman herself asked. Declanās eyes and brows shot up from the computer screen at Harper's sudden appearance, hoping she hadnāt heard the tail end of his and Andyās conversation. āUh, yeah. Iāll be right there.ā Harper nodded with a closed smile and turned back towards her office. āOh boy,ā Andy shuddered with a grimace as Declan stood up from his chair. āYou donāt think she heard that, do you?ā āNah. Otherwise Iām sure sheād be asking you into her office, not me,ā he answered with a smirk, pushing his chair in. Andy shook his head at him. āWell good luck, hombre. Whatever it isā¦ā āThanks.ā Declan couldnāt remember the last time Harper asked to see him in her office. Most of the time he was under her radar and he did his best to keep it that way. He was just the computer IT guy - she had way more important things, and people, to concern herself with. So why then would she be asking him into her office? āYou wanted to see me?ā he addressed Harper, after closing the door behind him and gradually approaching her desk. āYes, thank you. Please,ā she gestured with her hand, āhave a seat.ā Declan froze. āIādā¦rather stand. If thatās alright?ā he asked. He didnāt know why, but sitting felt like trouble to him. Harperās eyebrows bounced for a split second at his response then her lips turned up into a smile. āWell then I guess I will too." She slipped into her desk chair. "And relax Declan, youāre not in trouble.ā That actually did make him relax. A little. āIām sure youāve heard about the company conference going on in Boise the day after tomorrow?ā she began. āYes.ā āDo you know what itās about?ā āNoā¦ I usually donāt receive that kind of information.ā āNo one has,ā she informed, coming around to the front of the desk now to stand before him. āBut I felt you should be in the know before the official word gets out.ā Wow, me? Declan thought curiously. What exactly is she getting at? He couldnāt deny it felt kind of nice that she considered him. Harper folded her arms before continuing. āAs you all know, the company has been struggling with sales for a while now due to the emergence of more modern, online office supply companies.ā Declan nodded. āCuts have already been made, but when they tried making more cuts, they discovered that Paperclips, Etc. would be unable to deliver the quality products and services that we have always adhered to since day one, running on such limited man power. Now before going to the extreme - as you and I both know what that means for us - the company has decided,ā she paused to sigh, āto do a rebranding.ā āRebranding?ā Declan asked with a furrowed brow. āAre they sure thatās such a good idea? It might put the company deeper in the hole.ā āI knowā¦and they know that too. But itās a risk theyāre willing to take to preserve the company values and take care of the people working for it. Hundreds of employees have been with us for the past twenty-five years, Declanā¦need I say more?ā He shook his head. It was truly an honor to work for such a good company that didnāt treat its employees like replaceable numbers. āSo that is the purpose of the conference. To discuss the rebranding and all the changes associated with it. The main focus being on creating more of an online presence and experience for our customers. Advertising, offering more products and flexible delivery services, and stuff like that. We want to go into the new year with a fresh start.ā āSounds good,ā Declan acknowledged. āSo why are you telling me all this?ā He had an idea as to why, but he wasnāt exactly sure. Harper paused briefly. āBecause I would like you to attend the conference with me.ā Declanās eyes widened. That was unexpected. āI know itās last minute and Iām sorry for that, but the regional manager just mentioned to me that the company website will be undergoing a massive revamp during the rebranding process. And I thought that with you being our CSA - one of the very few in the company, actually - you should be present at this conference. Perhaps even provide some valuable input before the company moves forward.ā Wow, Declan thought again. It was certainly an honor to be extended the invitation, however since when has he himself ever been considered valuable to Harper or anyone in the company? Was there some other reason at play here? Then again she did mention how much the higher ups value its employees so maybeā āYou with me Declan?ā Harper interrupted, a curious look on her face. āY-Yes of course,ā he stammered. āGreat! Itās settled then.ā She piped up. āBut, ummāā āPack your things because we will be meeting here bright and early in the morning - eight oāclock - to take the company car up to the airport and catch a flight to Boise.ā āUh, okayā¦ā āAnd then from there we have to get a rental car for the two-hour drive up to Oakridge, stay the night at a hotel there, and attend the conference the next morning. Got it?ā Oakridge, Idaho. The city where the company first started. Fitting, Declan thought. āYeah I got it,ā he reluctantly answered. Sheād stomped all over the words he tried to get in edgewise anyway. There was no backing out now. Plus it was probably preferred if Harper had a companion come along with her for safety reasons, especially since there was some driving involved. But why does it have to be me? he groaned in thought, eyes pressed shut. Harper went back to her computer and reached for the mouse. āThereās some papers thatāll need to be signed immediately so Iāll email you those now.ā Her mouse clicked. āAnd Iāve already got the plane tickets and booked two hotel rooms,ā she emphasized, āso weāll be all good to go for tomorrow morning.ā āGreatā¦ā She already booked an extra ticket and room? What if Iād said no? āAnd donāt be late in the morning Declan because you know how I feel about that,ā she added firmly. Of course I doā¦, he almost said aloud, but nodded with a fake smile instead. āNow go get those papers e-signed right away please,ā she ordered, then, āthank you!ā dismissing him with a wave of her free hand. As Declan left Harperās office and headed back to his desk, he removed his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. This was not how he planned to spend his weekend. He slumped into his desk chair with a loud sigh which instantly caught Andyās attention. āHey,ā he came over and greeted Declan in a quiet tone. āWhat happened in there?ā āOhā¦nothing much.ā Declan sighed again. āJust that Harper wants me to accompany her to the conference tomorrowā¦ā Andy gaped at the revelation with wide eyes, but soon grinned. āHo ho, you and Harper going on a business trip together? Thatās new! For like what, two days?ā āThree.ā He facepalmed. āOhhh man! Thatās gonna be torture for you!ā āYa think!?ā Declan exclaimed, raising his head from the palm of his hand. āGotta admit, Iām kinda jealous,ā Andy went on, but when Declan didnāt say anything he changed his tune. āLook hombre, Iām sure it wonāt be all that bad. I mean, maybe this is a good thing.ā Declan shot him a questionable look as to how. āMaybe itās a chance for the two of you to get to know each other better, understand how the other ticks so you gain some empathy, and then that way you wonāt get on each otherās nerves so much anymore.ā He shrugged. āI suppose youāre right,ā Declan acknowledged. Even though right now he really wasnāt looking forward to the trip. āYou gotta keep me updated on everything that happens ok?ā āUpdated on what?āā Declan curiously questioned. āI can assure you that nothing exciting is going to happen on this trip.ā He was sure of it. Andy smirked. āWeāll see.ā āāā Next Chapter will be posted Dec 3rd. ļæ½ļæ½ Stay tuned!Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two
The Shaking of Foundations, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Two Update The call came in the dead of night. Joseph grabbed his cellphone. āThis is Joseph Cantrell,ā he said. The voice on the other end was unfamiliar. The man introduced himself as Walter Noel. āIām your grand uncleās lawyer. Iām very sorry to bring this news to you. But the old gent deceased last night. Kitchen fire.ā āSo, he was still able to care for himself.ā āOh, absolutely, in fact he insisted. Said heās always been on his own and it would be a cold day in Hades were he to surrender himself to the care of another.ā āThat sounds like Uncle Joe. Capable, except for the fire.ā āYes. We were all very shocked, didnāt see that coming. Listen, Iām calling because you have been named his sole beneficiary. As the eldest, you get the house, the property and the horses he left behind. Also the contents of his bank account. Your uncle was a very rich man. You are required to attend the reading of the will. How soon can you get here?ā Joseph ran a hand over his head, catching the stray wisps of hair unleashed from the tie that held it together, by his slumber. āTwo months at the earliest. Weāre currently residing on Vulcan.ā āVulcan! He told me you were far away. I didnāt anticipate off-planet. I shall postpone the reading, then. Since no one else is mentioned in his will, we have that luxury.ā *~~*~*~~*~~* āDad, what is it, whatās wrong?ā Erik said, all but stumbling into his parents room. His father was seated on the edge of the rumpled bed, his mother surprisingly fast asleep. Must have taken a sedative. For the first time in his young life, his father looked on the worn side. Haggard. āItās your Great-Uncle,ā Joseph said, struggling to get the words out, lest he give into the grief that battered the back of his eyes. āThe one you were named for. Heās ancient, isnāt he?ā āYou might say so, he just had his one-hundred and fourth birthday. Last time I saw him he was still so full of life. You canāt keep that one down,ā āDad?ā āKitchen fire. He apparently tried to put it out, but his efforts were fruitless. Smoke inhalation.ā āIām so sorry.ā āWhat a guy he was, though, I remember when . . .ā āSo youāre saying Uncle Joe basically raised you and your siblings,ā Erik said. āAfter your Grandfather passed, Uncle Joe did come to live with my siblings and me. You see your Grandmother died years before. Uncle Joe was great. He used to tell such outrageous stories. Iām guessing thatās where you get your penchant for such. In many ways you remind me of him.ā Joseph shook his head. āWe didnāt know you couldnāt see, but you made up some of the most delicious stories about what you were seeing in the picture books.ā āOkay, maybe.ā Erik had never met the man, but he used to relish the stories his aunts and uncles shared whenever they came over. His fatherās family was very close. He knew his dad was really hurting over this loss, too. Reaching over, he placed a warm hand on his fatherās shoulder. āAre you going to be okay?ā Placing a hand over Erikās Joseph nodded, slowly. āThatās enough reminiscing for now. Why donāt you turn in and get some rest. We have lots to do, in just a few hours. So many loose ends . . .ā *~~*~~*~~*~~* Come the morning, Joseph began the business of resigning his post at the school, and formally withdrawing Aaron, Joey and Brianna from school, securing their records for transfer. Since Erik had already graduated, his last task was to contact TāLar, as she expected Brianna to return to the Temple upon her seventeenth birthday, so she could sit the time-honored Test, the KāMatra; which would be the final assessment of her control over her skills; how far she could project her thoughts, if she could truly Mindmeld with another. These were crucial tests. Bree would be the very first human to do so. TāLar who had been amazingly accommodating to this human family, secured Josephās oath that he and his daughter would return upon Briannaās seventeenth birthday. He obtained a realtor and listed the house for a quick sale. Within two weeks, the family was on their way back to Earth. *~~*~~*~~*~~* āI have to say, that was a rather pleasant, and short trip,ā Louise said. āI told you two months was the norm. Taking a commercial ship, this time helped. Ah, hereās our cab. Come along kids, slide into the back two seats. Iām anxious to see what the old place looks like.ā āHm,ā Brianna said, ālooks remarkable considering its age. When was it built again? Eighteen hundred-seventy-four?ā āExactly four hundred years ago, thatās right. Joe took care of it. He always felt that was his mission, after your Grandpa died. The lot always goes to the eldest son.ā Turning halfway in his front seat, Joseph looked at Aaron āThat means you. I always told you there were perks to being the firstborn.ā āBut itās so big.ā āSolution,ā Erik said, āget married and have children. That should fill the olā place up in no time.ā āBut I donāt even know if I like kids.ā Joey shrugged, āNo worries, I can just move in, wife, kids et al.ā Erik waved his hand under his nose, āJoey, if you donāt learn to bathe more often I doubt youāll even get married. Let alone get physically close enough to make babies.ā āWhat are you saying?ā Joey said. The cab stopped at the curb and the family debarked. Taking their luggage, the family began to explore their new residence. āWow, look at this place, itās like a moment out of time,ā Erik said. As they entered the front door, a small living room space was to their left. On the right was a set of wooden double-doors, he top half of the doors also made of ornate glass leading into what Erik spied was a music room. āWhoa, look at that grand piano! Oh, hey, I love this place already.ā Moving through the hallway, veering to the left the family found themselves in the kitchen. Sadly, the island, with half of it burnt remained, a solemn, sad memory of just why they were here. Joseph caught his breath, āI thought Mr. Noel said this had been cleaned up.ā āSpooky,ā Joey said. āItās okay, heās not here,ā Brianna said. āHe was a steadfast Believer, and he has gone to his reward. This place is not haunted,ā she told Joey in no uncertain terms. All for now. Thanks for reading!
