Chapter 3.20: Should I Stay or Should I Go

Amira needs a nap after all that slip and slide fun. It's a good thing that Michael is asleep or he would spend the next several days crying over his long dead wife.

Knight plays around because he is young and adorable and he knows it.

Cameo is still gorgeous in her old age. Michael takes some time to commune with her and revel in their old age together. He idly wonders if he'll outlive her too.

All the pet love is cut short because the family finally has the funds for a trip!

Hello, FRANCE!

Not two seconds after they arrive, Brooke runs up to her parents.

"There's a community performance in the park today! Can we go?"

Not much of the community is there but then again it is mid day and most sims are probably at work.

The Daring Duo begin their set with little in the way of introduction. It doesn't matter though because Brooke is almost immediately captivated. She is drawn to the stage like a moth to flame.

Then there really is flame and Brooke explodes in cheers.

"They're beautiful, mama," she cries out as the performers twirl their flame batons.

"I want to be like them," Brooke whispers and tugs on Vera's sleeve. "When I'm older, this is what I'm going to do!"

Vera nods and smiles and gently pats Brooke's hand.

The family follows the show with a trip to Le Gallerie d'Art at Lindsay's insistence. It's barely been a full day and the family has hit all their desired hot spots.

"It's breathtaking," Lindsay says as she enters a display room.
"That's just a rock," Jude replies.

"Jeez, dad. It's an ancient sculpture. Don't you have any concept of culture?"

Jude smirks as Lindsay breezes past him to observe the art.

"I didn't realize rocks were art."
Lindsay sighs, exasperated, "You cannot be serious."
"Help me out here, Vera. Sculpture or rock?"

Lindsay looks at her expectantly.

"It's a sculpture, Jude," she says with a chuckle.

The rest of the afternoon is spent listening to Lindsay go on and on about the significance of each piece.

"Now, this one is definitely a rock," Jude says.
"Really, dad, it's a copper pot fragment. Are you even bothering to read the descriptions?"

"You should be able to appreciate this one, Jude," Vera says while pointing to a tall marble statue.

"A statue made out of a rock. Everything in this place is some form of rock."
"You're hopeless!" Lindsay whines.
"Art's just not my thing," Jude says, "but I love that you love it."

Lindsay cracks a smile.

Long museum tours mean Jude takes a nap as soon as they get back to the hotel. This couch is much comfier than it looks.

Michael spends the afternoon impressing the locals with tales of his grandchildren.

"This one is Michele, she's got a little tyke of her own. My great-grandson Errol."

Vera heads out to explore first thing the following morning. This mound looks suspicious and she digs around until she finds Dropa Stone relics.

"So you think you want to be a performer?" Michael asks.
"Grandpa, you've seen me. I was made for the stage!"
"Can't really argue with that," he concedes.

They roast vegetables over the fire for dinner. Delicious and very nutritious.

"I'm not tired!" Brooke says while ducking the pillow whizzing over her head.
"But. It's. Bed. Time!" Lindsay says, punctuating each word with a swat from her pillow.

Brooke ducks out of the way with ease.

"You go to bed then!"

Five minutes later and they are both fast asleep.

The following and last day finds the family visiting the local nectary. Vera enjoys the free samples.

Lindsay plays with the nectar machines. Conjured apples will be just as good in nectar as actual apples, right?

Michael pokes and prods the machines until he understands exactly how they work. It's not that difficult and soon he's working on an upgrade.

Jude plucks ripe fruit from all the plants and trees on the premises. He can't wait to get home and plant some of these in the back garden.

Making nectar! It comes out terrible but she's thrilled to have something to bring home with her.

"I'm going to be a star!" Brooke informs Jude.
"Yes, you are. If anyone can be a star it's you, darling."

Michael has run out of locals to impress with tales of his grandchildren. He takes to impressing them with his guitar skills.

One last trip to Le Gallerie d'Art for Lindsay. Pascal Morel watches her from afar.

"'Allo," he says. "I am Pascal."
"Um, hello," Lindsay replies.

The silence stretches and Lindsay shuffles from one foot to the other.

"Well it was nice to meet you," she says and starts to walk away.

"Wait!" he says. "You're stunning! More beautiful than any piece of art here. Please, stay with me for a while?"
"You think I'm beautiful?"

Pascal nods quickly and says, "No one can compare."

Lindsay blushes furiously.

"Wow."

"I don't want to leave," Lindsay admits. "I met someone amazing and going home is making me very sad."
"You can always write or call or come back to visit."
"It won't be the same," she sighs. "What am I supposed to do about Arthur?"
"You have so much time to decide what to do."

If anyone knows about time, it's Michael.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I got no pictures of their return but this one. So funny!

Chapter 3.19: Can We Do It?

Brooke's ballet class  lines up next to Madame Upchurch for a class photo right before their recital begins.

Brooke is head of the line, of course, she's not about to let anyone else outshine her.

The recital is so exciting and fun. Brooke flows through the motions seamlessly, even as more experienced students flounder and fall. She is in the zone and it is obvious to everyone that she was born to be on stage.

Brooke is awarded the Star Student award and Madame Upchurch hands her a shiny gold trophy at the end of the show. Brooke revels in the applause. She closes her eyes and imagines a deafening crowd cheering her name. Jude applauds the loudest and Brooke beams at him from the stage.

After the recital the children sell baked goods and lemonade to raise funds for the after school club. Brooke watches Jordan Coon's table like a hawk. Outselling her would be the cherry on this marvelous night.

"Why do I have to make lemonade?" Casey groans. "I just danced for an hour. I need a break!"
Brooke rolls her eyes and responds, "Just think about the fantastic costumes we'll be able to get for next recital."
"I'm quitting ballet as soon as I get to high school so I'm not even going to be here for the next recital," Casey whines.
"You can't quit," Jordan chimes in, "You're the only boy and we have to have someone to lift us!"
"Find another boy then!" Casey shoots back.
Brooke makes a face at Jordan and says, "You can't make him stay just because you need him around to draw attention away from your terrible feet!"

Casey lets out a barking laugh that he muffles behind a clasped hand.

Jordan huffs angrily, "What do you know? You've only been to a few classes and I've been doing ballet since I was a toddler."
Brooke's eyes go wide like a fawn, "Really? Is that why I got the award tonight?"

Jordan's cheeks flush an angry red and she stomps off to find her gaggle of followers leaving her table unattended.

Brooke: 2 Jordan: BIG FAT ZERO

Brooke can hardly contain her excitement from the evening. She rushes to her room to display her beautiful trophy above her bed. That night she dreams about all the news stories that will be written about her when she's famous.

The following morning Jude watches proudly as his daughters head off to school. He never thought his life would end up this right.

He brushes Knight and thinks about how differently things would have gone if he had never met Vera. He'd have been a single dad of two and Brooke wouldn't exist at all. The idea sends a cold chill up his spine.

"That's not what happened," Jude says out loud.

Knight looks at him and gives his head a little shake.

"That's right," Jude says with a smile.

Vera receives a promotion to high school teacher and she eagerly takes the job, and the raise.

"I'm not going to be teaching elementary school anymore," she announces to Brooke. "I'm moving up to high school."
"Are you still going to be able to help me with my homework?" Brooke asks. "Or can you only help the high schoolers now?"
"Of course I can still help you. I'm your mom and I'll always help you."
Brooke shoots her mother a smile, "Then, congratulations on your new job!"

Lindsay is very confused about why Arthur invited her over and then insisted they sit around working on homework that isn't even due until next Monday.

"What are we doing, Arthur?"
"Hhhmm?," Arthur hums quizzically. "We're doing homework."
"But why? Why aren't we like on a date? Are you embarrassed by me?"
Arthur looks up startled, "Wait what? I'm not embarrassed! My parents just won't let me go out on a school night."
Lindsay's face flushes, "Oh."
"Yeah," he says.

Another derby another trophy for Jude's shelf.

Cameo is enjoying being an elderly horse. She gets groomed every day, can eat all the grass and hay she wants, and spends her days taking naps wherever she pleases. Being a horse has never been more relaxing.

Thursday morning finds Lindsay thinking of one thing and one thing only.

"I want to be an artist," she says after breakfast. "I 100% bonafide artist with paintings being sold in galleries."
"That sounds like fantastic goal," Vera says. "Have you thought about joining the art club?"
"I don't want to join the art club," she explains.

"I want to go to Champs Les Sims and experience real art."
Vera chuckles, "Oh, is that all?"
"I know it'll be expensive but it's for my future. That's gotta be worth more than a few thousand simoleons!"
"Have you talked to your dad about this?"
Lindsay bites her lip, "I was hoping you could? I think he'd be more open to it coming from you? Please?"
"I'll see what I can do."

Lindsay gives out a holler that brings Brooke running.

"You're the best, mom!"
"Don't get your hopes up just yet. Let's see what dad says."
"About what?" Brooke asks.
"About none of your business," Lindsay shoots back.
"Girls!" Vera scolds.
"Sorry," Lindsay replies sheepishly.

"I bet whatever you were talking about isn't as cool as my pirouette!" Brooke says.
"It's definitely cooler because I just asked for a trip to FRANCE!"
"I want to go!" Brooke yelps.
"We haven't agreed that anyone is going anywhere except for up to your rooms to get ready for school. Go!"

"We're totally going to France," Lindsay whispers to Brooke as they walk to the stairs.
"Totally," Brooke agrees.

It's an easier sell than Vera thought possible.

"We should all go to Champs Les Sims," Jude says as soon as Vera is done talking.
"All of us?"
"I think we've earned a vacation don't you?"
Vera nods, "I'll let the girls know."

Brooke is so excited she has to go tell the chickens all about their upcoming tip.

"We're going during winter break," she squeals at the chicks. "It's going to be so fun!"

Gnomes are the cutest!

"I'm going to have to leave you for a few days, girl."

Cameo nuzzles Jude lovingly. It doesn't matter that he knows she'll be well cared for, he hasn't spent a night away from Cameo since he brought her home.

Michael makes sure all the appliances are at top operating shape. No point in leaving things half done. This stove will be in it's best condition or else!

Brooke meets up with Ladonna Gates (her second cousin) after school to work on homework.

"Do you think Madame Upchurch will give me a leading part in the winter recital?"
Ladonna shrugs, "Usually, Jordan gets the lead."
Brooke rolls her eyes, "Jordan has two left feet. I'm a way better ballerina than she is!"

"It's true! I'll just be happy to be in any of the numbers."
"What? You're good enough to be in the front of our dances!"
"Not according to Jordan and her friends. They always tease me that Madame Upchurch doesn't even know I'm alive."

"Hhhhmmppphh!" Brooke says as she jumps out of her chair. "We'll show them! Let's practice now and that way next lesson you'll really stand out and Jordan and eat her words."
"You really think I can stand out?"
"Of course you can, Ladonna! C'mon, let's dance!"

Jude has a heart to heart with Knight before boarding him at the equestrian center.

"You're not too good for a homework date now?" Arthur teases.
Lindsay laughs, "Shut up! I'm sorry I'm so awkward."
"Eh, I wouldn't like you nearly as much if you weren't."

Michael just being Michael while waiting on a grim reaper who refuses to show.

Bodica is one step closer to meeting the reaper too.

Drew crashes Lindsay and Arthur's homework date. Neither of them minds at all.

"I love handing out with my best boys."
"Your best boys?" Drew asks.
"Yeah, " Lindsay answers. "My boyfriend and my best friend slash second cousin. My best boys. It's a rather exclusive club. You should feel honored."
"I know I do," Arthur says.
Drew rolls his eyes, "Gag me already."

That evening Amira appears and instead of doing something deep and meaningful with the time given to her to walk the mortal plane, she plays on the slip and slide.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 Michael is an astonishing 132 days young. The reaper is never coming for him.

I swear the family is really going to France, I just didn't get to it this update.

Arthur is seriously the most understanding boyfriend ever.

Sorry for the long break between chapters, work has been so insane!