Chapter 2.17: Birthday Spam Pt. 1

"You read Motorology in its entirety? Isn't that basically a car repair manual?"
"Yes. I could really use some simoleons for new books. My social life is pretty much nonexistent now."

Discussions about household funds over some dinner.

Sometimes Jolie sits in the yard well into the night. She doesn't know what her place in the world is. She feels like she doesn’t belong here. Like somewhere out in those stars there’s a home that calls to her.

Does her mother ever think about her? What would it feel like to be away from the only family she’s ever known? Would they even miss her? Would they care if she wasn't here?

"There you are," Vera says. "It is way past your bedtime."
"I thought everyone had gone to bed," Jolie mumbles.
"Well, I'm still up."

Vera lets Jolie sleep in her bed. It's just one night.

Jolie's room is a change of scenery. Vera tries not to think about Freddie but she fails. She falls asleep with fresh tears on the pillow.

Michael still has a photo of baby Jolie on his desk even though his youngest is almost a teen.

House handyman at work.

House bodybuilder at work.

With her parents' birthday around the corner Amira does something she never thought she would do, she calls off work. She has spent so much time focused on excelling at her job and not enough time with her family. She's taken their time together for granted.

Multiplying like. . . bunnies.

Amira hosts a joint birthday party for her parents at the Port-A-Party Mini Warehouse. The whole family is invited.

Birthday spam.

Maeve, Rickey (walking in the door), Selma, Roman, and Moira.

Vera, Marcie McCurdy (the proprietor), Jermey, Rory Cavazos (Claude and Varinia's co-worker), Selma, Moira, Claude, Jolie, Amira, Varinia, Roman, and Maeve.

They are happy to celebrate Claude and Varinia's long lives.

Vera, Laila, Dahlia, Marcie, Michael, Rory, Jermey, Moira, Jolie, Selma, Roman's arm, Amira, Maeve, and Rickey.

Calude. Claude Van Hofwegen.

Calude. Claude Egyptian Grandpa?

Ephraim, Selma's youngest son, takes time away from the festivities to finish his homework.

Varinia takes the opportunity to fulfill a wish to play Laser- Rhythm-a-Con for 6 sims. She plays for her entire family.

With old age comes old joints. Varinia needs a cane to help her ambulate.

"I'm proud of you," Michael says. "You took a day off to celebrate with your family."
"You all are important too," Amira admits. "I'm sorry I ever lost sight of that."

Vera has been at the library since 6am waiting for the school to open. Dahlia and Jolie barely make it out of the house in time to get to school.

So cute she is.

Varinia still plays music every chance she gets.

After school snacks for the girls.

MUSIC!

Claude focuses more on his painting. He has spent so much of his time plucking at strings and tapping keys. Painting brings him a serenity he never felt while playing music.

BUNNIES!

Varinia is proud of herself.

She has decided to retire. She wants to enjoy what time she has left with her family. In the blink of an eye her grandchildren have grown, she even has her first great-grandchild on the way.

Her family agrees with her choice.

Claude retires as well. Lucy the ghost from next door also cheers him on.

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Another filler chapter. Just trying to make my way to more exciting stories.

Salvatore married Leslie Jones-Goode and they have had a daughter, Vivian. Leslie is the daughter of Maurice Jones-Goode and Lindsey Jones-Goode. She is Rickey, Norman, Alonzo, and Edwin's cousin through their fathers. Her mother was Lolly's cousin. Lolly was Michael's mother. This family tree is already a mess.