Pleasantview
Nina Caliente had been drinking. A lot. She had been almost constantly drunk since her sister married that rich old fart across town. Now Nina had to live alone. She also had to get a job. Nina? Work? Those two words didn't belong together. She was used to freeloading off her gotta-getta-dollar sister, not going out into the world to work.
She wouldn't say she hated Dina, but she was definitely mad. Furious, even.
Attempting to drown her sorrows away with something else, Nina called up her longtime lover. Don was only too happy to answer a late-night booty call.
She and Don had been teen sweethearts, but they knew they could never be together. Neither of them ever wanted to settle down.
Yet, Don had. Nina didn't care much. He wasn't her only fling on the side, just like she wasn't his. She was aware of Don's practice of dabbling in her family. Obviously, she was also aware of his marriage, having attended the wedding.
Neither cared. Each was only in it for the sex.
Later, when Don had gone home, Nina soaked in the tub and wondered what Cassandra would do if she found out about her husband's adulterous ways. The thought put a smile on her face.
...
Dustin Broke was his mother's oldest son. He remembered the day his father drowned in their tiny backyard pool. Where had the ladder gone, anyway? In any case, he was the man of the house now.
Brandi was teaching her youngest to talk. Things weren't progressing very well; the boy was shy. Beau would just shake his head and shove a han in his mouth. It was very discouraging, but she pressed on, eager to spend time with him.
Her determination paid off when he gurgled 'bottle'. Oh, she loved children!
Well, most of the time. It was embarrassing to both her and Dustin when she lectured him about his grades. If he'd just try harder. If she'd just help him.
Luckily, Dustin had ways to distract himself from his mother's disappointment: work, and Angela. She was easily the best-looking girl in town. Definitely much better than her twin sister.
She even let him get to second base once in a while!
Brandi always took long baths. It was the only time she could get any thinging done. Tonight's topic: why hadn't she remarried yet? Her best friend Dina had scored big time with the hotshot in the rich part of town. It was hard, though, to love someone again. She washed her leg and sighed. How was she going to get by without a husband and another baby on the way?
She and Dustin had talked, finally. She agreed to help him with his homework when needed if he agreed to keep his after-school job. They were living off his money, since they didn't have much to sell.
It was really hard for Dustin. Working, going to school, doing homework, caring for his little brother when his mom was too exhausted, having a girlfriend. This wasn't the way life was supposed to be. Life was about dying with the most possessions, not struggling to keep afloat. Unless his mom found a man soon, they were going to end up on the street.
Homework helps! Dustin was ecstatic about his first-ever A+. He knew he could do it!
Angela called one night to see if he wanted to go out. Of course he would! Any chance to get out of that trailer!
The cops found them fast enough. Angela's parents had noticed her missing (Lilith probably told them) and sent out a description of her, and Dustin just in case. Luckily for him, his mother had passed out on his bed. He didn't need another lecture tonight.
Brandi was a little worried what the new baby would do to their finances. She knew Dustin was upset about it, too, but she couldn't do much while practically bed-ridden with pregnancy, now, could she? She contented herself with making a large bowl of chili to surprise Dustin. It was his favourite.
Beau had grown up into a shy, neat little boy. He loved to rake the leaves that were all over the yard.
Of course, he just raked them into piles that he could play in. It was kind of cute, if unproductive.
Beau loved his mother very much, but he always seemed to catch her at a bad time. He just wanted her to be proud of him.
She had no time for pride when the labour pains struck her.
Little Skip looked exactly like Brandi.
She loved the little guy. He was sweet and quiet and his brothers adored him. A house full of boys...
Dustin loved Angela to pieces. She didn't even care that he was poor and lived in a trailer, as long as he made and effort.
This afternoon's effort was to take her out to a sleazy bar for fried chicken. He hated not having the cash for something more classy downtown, but he didn't have a car and the bar was just around the corner.
GOD she was beautiful. How had he landed this one?
"Dustin, quit staring, you're embarrassing me!" she teased.
After dinner they commandeered the jukebox and danced their problems away. Ang was a great dancer, and they were the only ones one the floor. Dustin was proud to show off his girl to the whole bar, even if it was mostly shady guys with their eyes on her.
As always, she thanked him for a wonderful time and kissed him. Nothing could ever go wrong as long as they were in love. He swore as she walked away that he would start improving himself for her. If he wanted to be with her, he'd have to have a hefty chunk of change, since he couldn't expect her to move into a trailer.
He strolled inside and found leftover chili. He really had to get the recipe from Mom. He might be able to cook it and impress Angela.
Skip was growing up fast. Dustin couldn't see why this black-haired baby was named after their father, but he just assumed the natural void in his mother that caused her to name the kid after the father it would never meet.
Brandi had the pool turned into a pond. No more accidents were going to happen, not with Skip around. Plus, it provided a free source of the food and fun they always seemed to be lacking in the household. She could fish while Skip napped. The only thing it took was time.
Time she could be spending with her new love.
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Production Notes
-I hate Brandi's borked-up pregnancy.
-Interesting things were happening at the bar that afternoon
-Nina's section is short, but I tried to make up for it with the content. Also, Coral Oldie made an appearance.
-Have I mentioned I'm playing the households evenly? I keep tick marks on a piece of paper so I know which households need to be played a bit more.
-I love these characters.
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