Teenagers are famous for ruining their life while actually trying to rule it. Like hanging out all night when they think they are well prepared for the big test in school the following morning.
Paula got back home late at night, quite exhausted. She had been out with friends all night, was there even a potential boyfriend involved?
Next morning she was still asleep while her older sister Edith had a complaint to their mother, Ochana...
Edith: So the bathroom is busy again, how on Earth do you and dad think that we can all get ready in time for school and work?
Ochana: Calm down! We have already discussed adding one extra bathroom.
Edith: But I need a shower today, not two years from now!
Ochana: You know we are short of money, otherwise we would have equipped the bedroom floor upstairs. How about you and your siblings taking a turn, bringing in some money?
Edith: Huh? What do you mean? We are like students!
Ochana: When your dad and I got settled here, we had to look around for stuff to collect and sell. If all four of you did the same, we might have a chance to take use of the second floor within a month.
Edith: Nice try, mom! I will not ask Miranda, Pivian and Paula. Will you?
Ochana: Oh, oh, oh... the stove is breaking down! Oh no, we will need to get a new one!
Chad: Good morning, dear! Kids are off to school, I enjoy our pleasant breakfasts, just the two of us!
Chad worked evenings, meaning he had at least until lunch at home.
Ochana: Well, this day seems to be different, Chad. Somethings need fixing...
Ochana: The stove is broken. The shower is broaken. The TV-set is broken. You happen to be the handyman around here. I order a repairman ages ago, but they never seem to show up.
Chad: What are you looking at? Wanting to learn to fix this yourself?
Ochana: I'm just guarding you, dear! You never know when you will get electrified!
Chad: Never tried this one before... Frankly, I'm not sure what to do...
Ochana: Don't worry, I'm guarding you!
Ochana was invited over to next door Willow Farm to eat lunch with Sonia and Agaton Oaksdale.
Ochana: Yummy!
Ochana: Agaton, I always wanted to ask, how come your farm is named Willow Farm when it was run by the Oaksdale family?
Agaton: Oh, that's simple. The farm was surrounded by Willow trees. They were cut down when Glomville expanded and land was sold for building new homes. That's why this hood was named Willow Fields.
Sonia: You remember the Glee people? Well, they used to live in that willow forest. Until they were forced to leave.
Ochana: Nice painting of the two of you, is that a new one?
Sonia: Yes, have you not heard that one of the painters at Rose von Kaching's gallery do portraits?
Ochana: You mean Gallery Ex-Po? No, I didn't know.
Sonia: His name is Vince Remerez, you should contact him if you like a family painting, here's his number! Oh, I got something to show you, Ochana! We just found several old paintings in the basement. Come!
Ochana: Oh, I recognize those persons from the family tree notes you gave me!
Sonia: The couple is Petra and Marton Oaksdale, Agaton's grandparents on his dad's side. Petra was born Grossing. Marton was son of Victor Oaksdale, who founded this farm. The woman to the right is Agaton's aunt Rita Oaksdale, who took over the farm while Agaton's dad moved to Sunset Valley. She had no kids, that's why Agaton got his hands on this place.
Ochana: Interesting!
Ochana: So, Agaton's grandmother was a Grossing? A relative of old detective Niels Grossing. Do you know if he is still alive? I might need to pay him a visit again.
Sonia: Niels Grossing died recently, but his son, the violinist, might fill me in.
Days went on, and both Ochana and Chad were busy with everyday matters. Now that all the kids were older, they also spent more time away from home.
Chad was pushing elderhood, but was still fit like a young adult thanks to spending hours exercising.
Ochana on the other hand was too old to care any more about her weight. Exercising never did her any good. She spent nights practicing her writing skills. She would soon need to start her book to be added to the Gloomville Diaries line up.
Edith and Miranda would become young adults in just about 4 years, by then Ochans should try to complete her task, and pass the Secret Mission on to one of the kids. According to Rules & Directions she would need to choose wisely.
Although they couldn't really afford it, Ochana knew she would regret it if they had no family portrait painted. So, she phoned the painter Vince Remerez, and stopped by his atelier at Upperton hood.
Ochana: I might be interested in a family portrait. How can it be organized, and to what cost?
Vince Remerez: Well, there are two options, either you all come to my atelier, I will arrange a nice backdrop, I can even equip the room exclusively for your taste, and the cost will be §10.000 per person.
Ochana: Oh...
Vince Remerez: Or, I can bring my easel to your home, squeezing you all into a corner and make a quick painting with now arrangements, cost §1.000.
Ochana: From those two options I think we'll go with the latter, thank you.
The girls were of course pretty excited about being painted.
Edith: So, what shall I wear? I never was painted before!
Miranda: I wonder if we arrange it outside, in the garden, if he will include my plants in the background?
Edith: He works at the Gallery Ex-Poo, run by the wealthy Mrs Rose von Kaching! This is so cool!
Miranda: The gallery is named Ex-Po. Only children call it Ex-Poo!
Few days later Vince Remerez attended. They all skipped their jobs and got seated on the terrace for a quick painting session.
Hm, does it look like Paula wanted to have a look at the painter Vince, or was she just curious to see how their family painting turned out?
PS: Sorry for lack of updates lately. Another chapter will be up within a week - promise!
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