Gloomville Diaries - Gen 1 - Ch 21 - The Hike siblings

Ochana decided to organize her finds in the secret attic office, and recently she got some more information from old Mrs. Raven; all suspicion leads to Willow Farm.

Some nights, after Chad and the children were all asleep, Ochana would sneak up into the attic, to read the old diaries. She already completed Aileen Gleeson's book twice, and then a book written by someone named Edwin. Edwin who? She ought to find out!

Sitting in the secret office was both exciting, cozy and a bit scary. The poisons up there on the shelf waited to be emptied, and soon Ochana would need to start writing her own book! Some times the entire Secret Mission felt just silly, but some nights she felt that someone was watching her.

Days flew, and most days focused on ordinary family life. With 4 kids in the house there was plenty to do. Soon the older twins, Edith and Miranda, would become teenagers!

This morning Edith was eager to go to school, while Miranda was still eating. Pivian and Paula left already.

- Hurry up, Miranda!
- I'm still hungry! Hey, soon it's our birthday!
- Yes, so what?
- Do you think we will get a new room upstairs when we are teens? Because I do! I heard someone in there yesterday, I think they made us a surprise room!

But Edith was too impatient to listen. She walked out of the kitchen to go to school.

Ochana was cleaning the bathroom, and could hear the girls' conversation in the kitchen. She wished they could afford making use of the rooms upstairs, but would the girls still be interested if all they got to bring there was their beds? No new wallpapers, no new flooring, no new furniture?

Chad was up a little later. He worked late at the club last night, and was still tired.
- We really need more bathrooms, Ochana said.
- Is the toilet clogged again?

- No, she said. - But we are 6 persons, and soon Edith and Miranda will be teenage girls. Do you know how much time teen girls spend in a bathroom, dear?

- We'll give them a new mirror in their bedroom. Would that help?

Ochana was a bit obsessed with their lack of money.
- We also need a better fridge. How many times did you fix it already?

Chad stopped and stepped away from the old fridge.
- There's so many things we could need. I think we'll start with one mirror, then we'll see...

Thinking of birthdays, Ochana realized that as the holder of the Secret Mission she would need to invite one person from each house here in Willow Field. Her birthday was still a few years away, but there were neighbours she had not met yet. It was time to do something about it.

Agaton and Sonia Oaksdale at Willow Farm she already knew pretty well. But across the street there were 3 houses, too! The left one was the Hikes siblings, and she already talked to Adrian Hikes. The middle house belonged to the Grossing family, where old Niels Grossing lived, with his son's family. Ochana met all adults there in the past. To the right lived the two young women, Zilla Brox and Brenda Kammin, Ochana had met them both.

So, she chose to visit the Hikes siblings.

Adrian was at home, and it also turned out that his brother and sister were there, too!

- Nice of you to stop by, Adrian Hikes said. He had been stalking Ochana's door in the past, and she thought he might have been interested, but back then she already met Chad and things were pretty much settled.

- It's on time, Ochana replied. - No kids in your house though? Kids seems to be better at visiting the neighbours. We've got 4.

- I know, Adrian said. - We are all single and no kids. My sister Ella is a super clever computer whiz, she spends all her time on those machines.
- I hear ya! Ella said silently from the counter.

- And my brother Hector is... well, busy with his business most of the time. And myself, I... just didn't find the right girl yet.
- Did you ever hear about a local man named Edwin? Ochana asked, thinking of the secret diary she was reading these days.
- Nope, Adrian said. - We moved in here about the time you did, so we don't know much of the past.
- But do you know who lived in this house before you? she asked.
- Not really. Some real estate company helped us.

- I'm just stoppin by to fetch my belongings! Hector said. - I just moved in with someone at Muggerdale hood. It's better that way.
- Someone I know? Ochana asked.
- Mind your own business, Hector cut her off.

Ochana didn't stay long with the Hikes. She definitely didn't want to waste time on Hector. He was leaving the hood anyway. Adrian seemed the easiest going. Ella might be interesting too, maybe later.

Then she traveled to the library. She planned to practice writing on one of the computers there.

But the library was quite busy, and she really couldn't concentrate while others came and left, and some even talked.

- Quite hard to work in a library these days, she thought, but kept writing for a couple hours.

The next day there were still no bills delivered. They had bought a gift for Edith and Miranda's birthday.

- I was thinking that we should get a computer, Ochana said. She actually wanted a computer for the attic, and her plan was to buy 2 cheap computers while Chad thought she bought just one medium expensive. That way she could keep one of them in the secret office.
- We should wait, Chad replied. - Or maybe we could get a secondhand computer? Just stay away from Hector Hikes' offers, he is a criminal, you know.
- He is? Ochana whispered. - I visited them yesterday!
- You did? Well, he is into shady business somehow. That's why they hardly get involved with their neighbours.

They didn't notice Pipian playing in the trash back there, listening carefully.

Detesters - 11 - Family life

Winter is here, and seasonal fun for all! Well, perhaps except my testsims Pauline and Hector Detester. They are working hard these days, and on top of it all, the last thing you knew is that Pauline was giving birth!

She had 1 girl, no wait - 2 girls! She had twins! Ouch!

Pauline: Isn't this kinda suspicious? I was not a twin, were you, Hector? No, you weren't! So, what did I do to deserve this?

Hector: Oh my, I don't think I can get any happier! I'm just still in a state of shock after witnessing the birth. You screamed like a wolf, Pauline! The nurse was terrified!

The girls needed names, and all my sim worlds have had the same naming traditions for the first born son and daughter; when it's a girl, first letter from dad's mum and last letter from mum's mum, and anything in between as desired.

Pauline: How funny! I never thought about it before, but both our mum's are named Sally! So, at least they won't quarrel over which S and y we based the name on. They both get both ends, so to speak!

Hector: So... will it be S...y, Sa..y, Sandy?

Pauline: Ha, definitely not! It got to be Sally. After them both! You can decide the other name...

Hector: I want to name her after Sabby...

Pauline: Naming a daughter after an elderly, farting dog? Shabby doesn't deserve it!

Hector: Sabina!

Pauline: Urg... Sally is a stink bomb! Not even Shabby smells this bad!

Hector: She is too little to control anything, that's why she needs us. Ahhhh... Sabina is so cute, I really think she likes me! Yes, I'm the dad, Sabina! Dad, can you say DAD?! Awwww... she can't yet, but I'm quite sure she tries hard!

Pauline: Oh my! This baby clump must be leaking! Do you think they will stop leaking if we stop feeding them?

Hector: Pauline! Why did you put my stockings in here? They should go over the fireplace!

Pauline: We got no fireplace!

Hector: Pauline, did you forget about tomorrow's gift giving party? There's lots of stuff waiting to be done!

Pauline: Arg... can't you see I'm exhausted? I didn't have a nap all day! Now, will there be any testing today? Could we just do a small one?

Hector: Sure! I prepared it already...

Hector: The office equipment! Notebook, printer, archives...

Pauline: Great! What do they do? What is there to test?

Hector: They are just for the decor. I guess they are sold to anyone who want to make the impression of a busy day at the office. Let's view them, that's all...

Pauline: Arg... hum, good! Done!

Hector: And now for the planning for tomorrow! I checked, and a gift giving party involves gifts... which needs lots of room... We also should add some seasonal decorations to please mum...

Pauline: So, we'll simply empty the livingroom and add some decor? Did you forget that elders prefer to sit down? Some of us might even like to take a quick nap...

Hector: Oh, some delivery outside! Did you order?

Pauline: It must be the imported Christmas tree! I ordered it!

Pauline: Oh my! There's not just one, but four of them!

Hector: Now, how will we make room for the guests?

Pauline: If your folks stay home, it will work!

Pauline: Hi mum! Hector and I wanna invite you for a gift giving party! Yes you can bring dad! Hector's parents might not make it, though. Ah, yes, we had twins!

Hector: Hi dad! Pauline and I would be very happy if you and mum would like to join us for a gift giving party tomorrow at 3 PM! We had two lovely girls, waiting to meet you! Pauline's parents will be here, too!

Pauline: So, they will both come?

Hector: Sure!

Pauline: Even if they get buried by a snowstorm during the night?

Hector: Sure, this lovely snow will be the perfect setting for tomorrow's party!

Pauline: I really needed some fresh air now!

Hector: Hey, did you call a babysitter? Where is Sally?

Pauline: No, why? Did you? Sally is on the kitchen floor.

Hector: We better hurry back!

Gloomville Diaries - Gen 1 - Ch 20 - Mrs Raven

Ochana had learned from neighbour Agaton Oaksdale that Aileen Gleeson, who lived in this house in the past, was actually related to Mr. Flock. He had also suggested that she could look around more at Muggerdale hood.

Lately Ochana had been thinking a lot about her Secret Mission. She really should visit Muggerdale hood again! The only house she had visited was the Raven house, next to that old tree that was the secret entrance to Flock Hideaway.

- Mom, are you done eating?
- Sure Edith, how nice of you to clean up!
- I will ask you for some pocket money afterwards, mom...

Then Ochana's cellphone rang.

- Yes? she said after picking it up.
- Hello, Ochana Mox? This is Mrs. Elvira Raven. You might not remember that we spoke in the past, you stopped by to ask me about Mr. Flock, and I told you to leave.
- I remember, said Ochana.
- Well, I changed my mind and now I need to talk to you. Please meet me at Café Lavender tomorrow night at 11 PM. Don't tell anyone, and please come alone!

Then the line was disconnected.

Ochana was thrilled, but also a little nervous. What would Mrs. Raven tell her? It would be wise to look over all those notes again, so Ochana walked upstairs secretly, to do some thinking.

Standing there in the secret office in the attic, she realized that if she had some more cork boards it would be easier to organize her findings.

The following day Ochana and Chad had a talk in the dining room.
- We really need to discuss our finances, Chad stated.
- Oh, were those bills delivered? Ochana asked.
- Not yet, but I think we should buy some more stuff to allow for Edith, Miranda, Pivian and Paula to build skills.

Ochana had been thinking that she would need a computer pretty soon, in order to write her book for the Secret Mission. She had thought that after the next bills delivery, they could afford it. She knew that Chad wanted to get some sports equipment so encourage the kids' physical skills, and a computer might be less suitable.
- Great, she said. - We also need a computer, but I guess it can wait a while. I would need a few small things too, but nothing expensive.
- If we only knew when those bills will be delivered, Chad sighed.

Well, Ochana felt guilty when she ordered 3 cork boards from a webshop on her cellphone. They were delivered the same day, and she placed them in the secret office upstairs.

- Perfect, she thought. One for each of the hoods, Upperton, Willow Field and Muggerdale. She could hardly wait to add the very few facts that she gathered this far.

But soon she would need to walk to town to meet old Mrs. Raven at Café Lavender.

Café Lavender was a tiny but popular establishment, located just behind the library. This time of night it was very quiet though, probably why Mrs. Raven had chosen it for their chat.

Ochana walked inside and found Mrs. Raven waiting as the only guest.

- Hello Mrs. Raven, she said.

- Shhh, hello! Mrs. Raven greeted. - Thank you for coming. Did anyone see you?
- I don't think so, Ochana replied.
- Good! Please sit down.

- What did you want to talk about? Ochana asked. - Anything related to Mr. Flock?
- Yes, the old woman said. - It was bad of me turning you away like I did, but this is not something I like to talk about. I'm getting older though, and my son Ollie is not interested in this stuff, so I decided to answer your question while I still can.

- Mr Flock was forced to escape, she said. - Otherwise he would have been killed!
- By who?
- I don't know. I assume it was someone at Willow Fields. He lived up there, or at least his folks did, it's a bit complicated. He hailed from the Glee people, you see. They kept to themselves for the most. Then I think their land was cleared as Gloomville grew, and the Glee people's existence was under great pressure, very dramatic to them of course!

- Oh, the Glee people? Does that connect to Gleeson?
- What? What you mean with that? I don't know the answer to that question of yours!
- I knew a woman named Aileen Gleeson, I just wonder if she was of the Glee people, too?

- Oh, Aileen Gleeson? That name sounds familar, I think she must have been the insane woman who used to talk to the old tree at Muggerdale hood. But I probably never talked to her. And I don't really know her family either. Keep in mind that it's many many years since Mr. Flock had to escape, a couple generations the least.

Then old Mrs. Elvira Raven had emptied her coffee, and obviously also had got her worries off her chest, and she stood up to leave Café Lavender.
- Please don't tell them about our meeting, Mrs. Mox. Goodbye!

Seagull Cottage - Ch 18: The Pettonta tie

[Year count 200]   Yesterday Cathrina and Alexander Wooblershield had most Moon District neighbours over for meet and greet. They now plan to open up for anyone, not just lodgers, couple nights every week. Offering some food and beverages, providing a few games.



When Alexander woke up, Cathrina was not there.

Cathrina had slept poorly, she was up walking several times during the night, and Alexander had noticed. But she had not told him about the phone call from Margreta Gripp yet. So how could he understand that it was Master Fernando 1-58 paying them a visit late last night, that ruined Cathrina's sleep?



Alexander: Cathy, what are you up to?

Cathrina: Morning, dear! I'm tending the grave...

Alexander: The grave...?

Cathrina: I just realized that this stone is where Gloria buried Gabriel! Don't you see? The blue flowers were mentioned in her diary. This must be where little Gabriel died. If we only knew what killed him...

Alexander: Wasn't he sick? She wrote that he was sick, didn't she?



Cathrina: Gabriel was sick, and he was never enrolled at school. Neither Priest Lavandula nor Mr. Tackott at the Library could find him in school lists. And there's no other grave. He definitely was buried in our garden.

Alexander: So this was his room?

Cathrina: Yes, obviously. If he was 6 or 7 I would have expected more kid's stuff, though. These toys are not something a 7 years old boy would play with.

Alexander: But Gloria was a bit... weird in her older days. Didn't she first clear this room, then bring some toys out again? Maybe she chose these toys randomly, just for the memory of him.

Cathrina: I wish there was a picture of him. I worry that he wasn't a normal child...

Alexander: You mean, like if MSW affected... something...?



Alexander: Gloria's diary is completed, just one more page to go...

Cathrina: I didn't want this day to arrive, Alex. I'm gonna miss reading that old diary. Well, let's get over with it...

"The garden looks horrible, but I can't go out there. My legs just won't carry me. I can't even walk the stairs, so I sleep in the blue room. It feels like I'm a lodger at my own bed and breakfast, except there is no one around to serve my breakfast. I can hear the rats in the yellow room, but I don't care. They can't come through the locked door..."

Cathrina: Hey, wait! Didn't Emma Hydront tell us that Gloria slept in the red room? Not the blue?

Alexander: Why would she lie about something like that?

"It's cold. No income in a long time... From my window I can see Gabriel on his rock. He doesn't understand why I don't join him out there. If I only had a handful seagull feathers to put under my own sheet. Or cockatoo feathers. I remember... the golden jar is upstairs, but I can't reach it... The seagulls are more noisy than ever, and it's hatching season... again..."



Cathrina: Oh... I just remember... there is a golden jar upstairs... Alex, come!

Alexander: What? You know where the feathers are stored?



Cathrina: Empty! The jar is empty, but there's traces of feathers, this is the golden box, or jar...

Alexander: I thought it would be smaller, but thinking of it, feathers would need that size... but she wrote there should be some feathers left...?

Cathrina: Don't you see the picture, dear? Great Aunt Gloria made use of those final feathers. When we moved in here, there was a seagull trapped inside the blue room... it must have been Gloria! Oh my!

Alexander: What?

Cathrina: Hold me Alex! We found Gloria without knowing it! She was in there! I'm so glad we didn't kill that bird, we easily could have!

Alexander: But how did she get those feathers if she couldn't even walk? She couldn't walk the stairs! Someone must have assisted her!

Cathrina: There's something I have not told you yet, Alex. Margreta Gripp phoned me yesterday, she told me that I might be related to Count Gustav Pettonta of Galucca... you know the guy at the castle...

Alexander: ?

Cathrina: She even said it might be bad news, and I'll meet her in Old Town later today. I'll tell you more while I walk you to the gas station.



Cathrina met Margreta at Heisserclump Bakery, just in front of the Town Hall in Old Town. Margreta had brought another woman that Cathrina recalled vaguely, Anitra Seylouse. Leader of Galucca's historical society, and working at the library.

Anitra Seylouse: Well, you ARE distantly related to the Pettontas, and yes, you shuld not tell anyone!

Cathrina: Why not? I mean, I'm not planning to claim a throne or something...

Anitra Seylouse: There is some old hate between the Pettontas and Moon District. You really need to understand this, because you are double involved. Being a Pettonta in Moon District might be more complicated than you wish for.

Margreta Gripp: Cathrina, listen carefully. Anitra helped me tracing your local ancestors, you do indeed descend from Lady Esphella. She was daughter of the first Count to settle here, exactly 200 years ago. He had 2 sons and 1 daughter, Esphella inherited Moon District which was less valued. Her brother Jonathan got the main land and became the next Count, while their brother Maurice Pettonta settled west of Gal River, and became head of the old mines and related industries.



Anitra Seylouse: Lady Esphella brought magic to Galucca, that probably caused her brother the Count, or her father, to have her killed. She had a daughter, Luphelia who married to Don Moonster of Moon District. They had 2 daughters, Gloria and your grandmother Esmia. From there, you know the rest.

Cathrina: All that is fine, I just don't undersand why this is a problem...

Anitra Seylouse: The Pettontas want to get rid of all of Lady Esphella's DNA. You are the only person alive who carry her memory. I don't think the current Count Gustav Pettonta is a mean person, but there is another person with strong ties to the Pettontas; Master Fernando 1-58. He is not related by blood, but was raised at the castle. I think he intends to get in charge of much more than his little association for alien descendants.



Cathrina: Alien descendants?

Anitra Seylouse: There are a few of them born in Galucca about 40 years ago. Master Fernando 1-58 is their leader and he is insane, Cathrina. Insane in the most dangerous way, so stay away from him! If you can.

Cathrina: But, I think he was at our door last night! He said he will stop by again!

Anitra Seylouse: Just don't tell him who you are! And try not to tell your neighbours. The Moonsters already know the conflict by heart, and the Silvers, too. I think you can turn to them for help, but do stay out of magic!

Margreta Gripp: If you ever have children, you must warn them, too! All your descendants, actually. The old curse will never fade and the warning must be passed on.



Alexander: So, what did Margreta Gripp tell you, dear?

Cathrina: Not much, really...

Alexander: Come... I've missed you all day!

Cathrina: Mmm

Alexander: We should move on... now that we are done with the old diary and all... just a couple questions remaining...

Cathrina: Move on...?

Alexander: With our lives, silly! I love you, you know. I want us to get a happy life. And I think it's time we start our family for real. Don't you agree?

Cathrina: Yeah, Alex. I agree...