She did not normally stand by the front door wishing each of the for children a nice day at school. Most mornings the house would be a pure chaos, and they would be gone before she noticed. But today she was eager to get on with her investigations. She planned a trip to Upperton hood!
- Have a lovely day at school, Paula! she greeted.
- Huh? How would that be possible? You know my teacher doesn't like me!
Upstairs Chad was already exercising on the treadmill. Pivian walked by.
- I'm off for school, dad! Don't forget what we talked about! he said.
- Sure, Pivian, I'll look it up!
- All the boys in class have a chemistry set. I need that much more than anything else!
Then the house was silent. And after tidying up a bit, Ochana got ready to visiting the Crumpleton house at Upperton hood. Then her phone rang, and Sonia Oaksdale next door sounded rather excited!
- Ochana, I'm having the day off. I found those notes on the Oaksdale family story. If you have the time...?
- Oh, Sonia, that's great! I'll be right over!
Sonia T. Oaksdale was home alone, and they could speak freely in the living room. She was a painter, but worked part time at the library. Some time ago Ochana met her at the library, and Sonia told her about the Glee people, but had forgotten the Oaksdale family notes at home.
- Well, I'm ready! Ochana said.
- I'm not sure this will be very interesting, but at least you will have some names and see who run this farm, Willow Farm. I think I might be able to find even more, but this is a start, anyway.
- So, you only know us living here currently. Agaton moved in here about the time when you moved to Gloomville. Agaton and his brother Mark grew up in Sunset Valley. It looks like their great-grandfather Victor Oaksdale founded the farm on year count 100, that's 107 years ago. Then their grandfather, Victor's son Milton Oaksdale, took over the farm 30 years later. He had a daughter Rita and a son Oscar.
- No Glee people involved? Ochana asked, actually a little disappointed.
- Not that I know, Sonia replied.
Sonia had made a nice sketch of the tree, even with old photos!
- You see this green line, it shows who had the farm. Rita Oaksdale obviously had no kids, or they should have been here today. When Rita took over the farm, her younger brother Oscar Oaksdale moved to Sunset Valley where he married Milly Fondue, and they had Agaton and Mark.
- When Rita died, Agaton moved in here. His father inherited the farm, but there were some restrictions tied to the property, so Agaton had to pay quite a lot, besides buying out his brother Mark, of course.
- Wow, you found a lot of information, Sonia! said Ochana. Although she had been hoping for some grander news, at least she got a good overview. If she only knew what year Mr. Flock was forced to leave the hood, it would be easier to know whether she should concentrate on Rita Oaksdale or her father Marton Oaksdale.
(click here for a better look at the family tree)
Then Ochana walked up to Upperton hood. When Edith was up there, she visited the wrong house, the Bootwig house next door. Ochana had visited the Crumpleton house once before, during the Sims by Numbers Show. Back then Mr. Martus Christo Crumpleton had told them just a little about the family's pride and how they built up Gloomville through the first timber industry. But then his wife Wilma F. B. Crumpleton had returned from her work, and commenaded the group to leave.
In a way Ochana wished it was Wilma Crumpleton who was dead, and not Mr. Crumpleton!
Both the children, Charloman and Charlotta, were now young adults. Charloman Crumpleton was the new head of the household, but his elderly mother was probably still pulling some threads?
- You must be Edith Mox's mother? Charlotta asked. - You look just like her!
- Yes, I am, Ochana said and got seated. Somehow she had expected Charlotta to be more social than her brother, who was still poking the fireplace.
- Our father died from a heart attack 3 years ago, Charlotta said. - He would...
- I'm head of the house these days! said Charloman and turned. - So, what brings you here, Mrs. Mox?
- Well, I visited here once before, and even talked with your father. I'm generally interested in Gloomville's history, and your family story fascinates me. I'd love to learn more!
- Really...? said Charloman, sounding as if he didn't quite believe her.
- That's nice, said Charlotta. - Our ancestors founded Gloomville, and we are of course very proud of them!
Then the sound of someone walking through the hall could be heard. Elderly Wilma Crumpleton was entering the room!
- Why are they so tough? I can't get a word from... oh, a visitor?
Charlotta stood up, and even Charloman turned to his old mother, respectfully. - Oh, nothing mother! Mrs. Mox just wanted to stop by!
- Why didn't you inform me, Charlotta! You know how sensible I am to surprise visits! You can't invite your friends in just like this!
Ochana sensed some family disagreements between those lines. She strongly felt that she should leave.
Then Wilma Crumpleton told her so. - Mrs. Mox, I'm afraid your visit must end! I will now get myself a glass of nectar, and when I return, I expect not to see you in this room!
Well, what point would there be in setting up an arguement? Ochana left as soon as Wilma was out of the room.
Back home, Ochana was still a little upset about being thrown out from the Crumpleton house just like that. But there were more surprises for the day. The kids had a new toy!
- Where did you get this... thing? Ochana asked, silently wondering what the price tag had said.
- I'ts a chemistry table, mom! said Pivian enthusiastically. - It's so much fun, and dad said we will do better in school if we play with this stuff every day!
- We play? said Paula, standing back there. - Did you say we? This far you didn't allow any of us to try it, Pivian!
- Oh, said Ochana, looking around. - Where is dad?
- He just left for work, mom, said Miranda sitting on her bed. - And I think it's a bad idea having a chemistry set in a bedroom. I'll risk getting poisoned any day!
- Look! It's a magical mixture! shouted Pivian. - I just created it!
- Can I make one, too? asked Paula.
- Of course, siss! I just need to make ten more of this first. You see, it might be needed if a dragon attacks us!
In the dining room, Edith was checking her text messages.
She was not interested in chemistry, at least not unless it had to do with her performances. She had become rather good at telling joikes at Club Captain Blue in town. But she also had seen a boy there that she wanted to get to know. But this far, no messages from him.
Ochana took advantage of the kids being busy downstairs. She walked up to the secret office in the attic, and organized her findings on those three empty cork boards.
The left one was reserved facts from Upperton hood. She knew that the Crumpleton family history would be essential to learn about Gloomville's early story. The middle board was dedicated facts from Willow Field hood - this hood. She put the Oaksdale family tree there, and wished she also had a picture of late Mrs. Aileen Gleeson. A picture of the mysterious Mr. Flock would be nice too, and the even more mysterious Edwin. Who were they? Finally, the right board was reserved the Muggerdale hood. This far she only put a drawing of tree there, the old tree that was the entrance to Flock Hideaway.
A little later, Chad was back home from his Sports job as a Water boy.
- Chad, what is the chemistry table all about? We never discussed buying one!
- Well, we did discuss to buy them some sports equipment, but I figured Pivian and Paula are too young, and neither Edith nor Miranda are much interestd in sports anyways.
- And just how much did it cost?
- Oh, not that much. 250 simoleons, I think.
- Mom, did you know that Pivian is still the only one trying the new table? I thought it was for all of us!
- Oh, you had no go yet? Of course it's for all of you.
- But he won't let me! He just says I can use the old drawing table while I wait.
- Well, can't you?
- Nooooo, mom, the drawing table is so old! That's not fun!
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