The Atwood DITFT: Generation 4, Chapter 1
Author's Note: HELLO AND WELCOME TO GENERATION 4!!! If you're reading this, it means you've successfully become a member of the community atwood_legacy... go you! I will be posting this legacy here from now on, so I hope you're prepared for that. I'll put some reminders on my main page for awhile so no one gets left behind by accident. Anyway, this is just a little intro-type chapter, as I like to do at the beginning of each generation... get to know your heir (yes, two generations of women and I'm ready for a man! :D) and what the plot might be. Remember, this generation is writing and painting... and also drama. ;) Anyway, I will shut up (and if you read all of this, thanks <3) and let you get to the chapter!
The Atwood DITFT: Generation 4, Chapter 1
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Hi! My name is Graham Atwood, and I’m from Monte Vista, Italy.
This is my family: my sisters, Beth and Jackie, my big brother, Logan, and my mama and papa.
Beth, Jackie, and I are triplets, which Mama says runs in the family because her mama was a triplet, too. But Papa told me once that it was hard for him and Mama to get pregnant, because of his paralysis, so they had to do it “artificially,” and that’s why there are three of us. Beth and Jackie don’t know what any of that means, but I looked it up… Ewww! But at least that means Mama and Papa never did… well, you know.
My family is kind of funny. Being a triplet is kinda unusual I guess, so I get asked questions at school and stuff a lot. But it’s pretty neat, because I always have someone to talk to!
Then there’s my big brother, Logan. He’s actually just my half-brother, Mama’s son with a man from China. His middle name is Cai, which means “wealth and riches” in Chinese. He likes to brag that he’s going to be richer than me when he grows up, but I don’t know about that!
Logan never met his papa, because he and my mama didn’t get along. I feel kinda bad for Logan sometimes, because I know he really wants to go to China and meet his real father. But he knows our dad James really loves him too, and all four of us call him “Papa” just the same, so I guess it’s no big deal.
Speaking of my papa, he’s pretty funny too. Not just silly-he’s that, too-but he’s different because he can’t walk like everybody else. He rolls around in a chair with huge wheels on it. I’ve always wanted to try it out, and he says maybe when I’m big enough to pick him up and put him on the couch, then I can!
He loves my mama very much. They’ve known each other since they were littler than me and my sisters! He says that my mama was the only one who didn’t make fun of him for not being able to walk. I don’t see why anyone would make fun of someone for something like that! I told Papa that if I met a boy or a girl in a wheelchair, I would make friends with them, too. He seemed really happy about that. He told me I’m a lot like my mama.
I think that’s so awesome, because my mama is the coolest lady in the world! She has been to every country on the whole planet, and she’s probably like a hundred years old. That’s what I think, anyway, because she knows so much about everything. She tells the best stories, too! She says she has met a mummy… I don’t think that one is true, though!
My sisters and I are best friends. We go everywhere together! They really like to explore all over Monte Vista, because they want to be like Mama when they grow up. Especially Jackie. She thinks exploring the world is the best idea ever!
We got the ideas by listening to Mama’s stories. She has what seems like a million of them! Daddy has some too, because they have gone to France together a bunch of times. But the best stories are the ones from Egypt and China, when Mama raided tombs and fought mummies and learned to be a martial arts master. Oh, and found tons of treasure!
We also get inspiration from Mama and Daddy’s museum. We live right above it! It’s my parents’ favorite thing in the world, and it really is awesome! Mama found great stuff when she went exploring.
Jackie is most excited about finding treasure and having scary but fun adventures, just like Mama did. She is always the one begging to hear another story from Egypt. She’s so full of energy all the time, I don’t know how she ever sleeps.
On the other hand, Beth thinks it would be more fun to learn all the recipes from all over the world. Papa really likes to cook, and has learned all about the recipes they have here in Italy since my parents moved here. Beth thinks that’s awesome, and says she wants to learn every recipe that exists! She has to start with the toy oven, though, because Papa won’t let her touch the real stove until she’s older.
As for me, I don’t know what kind of explorer I want to be. I might not even want to explore at all. When we go on adventures, sometimes I think it would be fun to write all those stories down and make a book about “the adventures of Graham, Jackie, and Beth.” Maybe one day I will!
* * *
“You guys did such a good job on the airplane,” Rue said proudly. “I guess you all do take after me, if you can withstand twelve solid hours on a plane!”
Jackie grinned. “Twelve hours is nothing, silly Mama.”
“Not when we have you to tell us stories!” Beth piped up.
Graham smiled to himself, agreeing with what Beth had said. He thought Rue’s stories were the most interesting things in the world. She had sure told a lot of them on the plane.
Logan hardly looked up from his phone, which he was using to text friends back home. At fifteen, he was in what his parents referred to as an “angsty” phase, compounded by his resentment at his parents for keeping him away from his real father. (They weren’t intentionally preventing him from meeting Ho Sung; they just did not want to visit China and wouldn’t let Logan go on his own). “I’m just glad to be off the plane, out of the train, and done with car rides,” Logan mumbled. “And I finally have service, thank God.”
“Logan,” James admonished. “I know you’re tired; we all are. I think everyone is happy to be off the plane. But please try to keep a friendlier tone. We’re all stuck with each other for two weeks, whether you like it or not, so you might as well be nice.”
“Whatever, James,” Logan grumbled.
James and Rue exchanged glances. This was getting ridiculous. Logan had been asking to go to China to meet his father for almost a year, and of course they would not let their underage son go alone. But it was suddenly a large issue in Logan’s mind that he had never met Ho Sung, and Rue and James knew they would need to do something about it soon.
But for now, the family was on vacation in Appaloosa Plains! They had come to visit Rue’s parents, who were nearing 80 and getting frailer. Rue felt bad that she had not seen them in many years, and wanted to visit with them while there was still time. Plus, she wanted her kids to see the beautiful town where she had grown up.
“I’m so excited to explore a whole new place!” Jackie whispered to Graham and Beth. “Just think, there could be treasure anywhere in this town! We have to go look around right away, okay?”
Graham nodded, but it wasn’t treasure he was most interested in. He had taken a painting class at school recently, and now he wanted to paint everything he saw-especially the things he and his sisters saw and found on their adventures!
Unfortunately for the impatient triplets, before they could do any exploring, they had to be introduced to a whole slew of relatives.
“Oh, they are just so precious!” Grandma Reagan cooed.
“Look, Graham’s got my eyes,” Grandpa Finn said happily. “You’ll be handsome for sure,” he added slyly so only Graham could hear.
James’s parents had come to meet their grandchildren, too. Nana and Grampa Beaumont smiled the whole time and hugged each of their grandchildren at least three times-even grumpy Logan.
Both Rue’s and James’s parents were also thrilled that their children had gotten back together. “I knew all along you were perfect for each other!” Finn said jovially. “Have you kept up with that scrapbook?” Emmeline wanted to know. “I expect to see wedding photos in there!”
Rue’s siblings soon arrived as well. Uncle Jaden and Aunt Sandra were overjoyed to meet Rue’s four children. They had kids of their own-Graham’s cousins, Damian, Greg, and Angie-who were all teenagers.
Rue was surprised how happy she felt to see her family again. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed them. There was just one nagging doubt in the back of her mind… what would happen when-
“Norah’s here,” Jaden said quietly to Rue. “Look, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about her. She’s really changed since you two were kids, and I think it would benefit you both if you talked to her.”
“Ugh,” Rue moaned. This was the last thing she wanted to do on a day that was supposed to be a happy reunion. Jaden said Norah had gotten better, but Rue just couldn’t imagine how that could be true. From across the room, James shot Rue a sympathetic look. She felt a little better knowing he was there for her no matter what. In front of her, Jaden too wore a kind expression. “Okay,” she said, feeling a little stronger. “I guess I can do that.”
“Hi, Rue,” Norah said softly. She brought no husband with her-just a small son. “This is Aidan,” she said, bouncing the child gently against her hip. “I thought he might like to play with your sons later. He’s been missing out on male bonding lately. Would that be okay?”
Rue could see that Norah was trying her hardest to be friendly and upbeat, although it seemed superficial somehow. Rue wondered what had happened to her sister, and where the boy’s father was; and suddenly, Rue felt something like pity for Norah. She became aware that she had no idea what was going on in her sister’s life. “Sure thing, Norah,” she said. “Whenever you want.”
“In a little bit. I have a feeling we have a lot to catch up on,” Norah said. “But first, I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I can try to tell you what I think made me treat you the way I did, if you want, but I hope for now you can accept my sincere apology.”
Rue sighed to herself. She had never expected that Norah would come close to apologizing, so although she had prepared herself for Norah’s torment, she hadn’t prepared for this. What could she say? She wasn’t sure she was ready to forgive her sister just yet. Then again, it had been a very long time since Rue had allowed Norah’s bullying to affect her, so maybe forgiveness could be possible. Either way, Norah wore a look of intense regret on her face, something Rue had never seen before. “I’ll forgive you,” Rue finally said, “when you tell me your side of the story-and when you listen to mine. I don’t want to cause you unnecessary guilt, but I do need you to understand exactly what you did to me. But after I’ve told you that, I think it would be good for both of us to move on.”
Norah nodded in acceptance. “You’re wiser than I’ll ever be, little sister.”
“Not true,” Rue said with a small laugh. “You should hear how badly I screwed things up before I finally got my head on straight.”
* * *
“Come on, hurry!” Jackie yelled, dashing down the big hill behind their grandparents’ house. “Someone will notice we’re gone any minute!”
Panting, Beth and Graham raced to keep up. Minutes before, the three of them had evaded Grandma Emmeline and had pawned little Aidan off on Logan and their older cousins. “Aunt Norah said Aidan wanted to play with you most, anyway, Logan!” they exclaimed. He seemed resentful of this turn of events, but as they walked away Beth had spotted a little smile creeping on their big brother’s face as he tickled the youngster.
Having finally freed themselves from the stifling family reunion-leaving behind their brother, their pile of cousins, their father talking to his teary-eyed parents, their uncle Jaden and aunt Sandra laughing with Grandma Reagan and Grandpa Finn, and a rather sad-looking Rue deep in discussion with a rather sad-looking Aunt Norah-the triplets could now get started on the real reason they’d been so excited to come to Appaloosa Plains: to have an adventure!
As the three made it down the hill and came upon a road, they slowed their pace. They probably wouldn’t get caught at this point; and now they could start discussing their experience so far. “Did you hear Grandma Reagan saying she was going to make an Appaloosa Plains specialty for dinner tonight?” Beth said dreamily. “I wonder if she’d let me help her!”
“And did you see how nice the mountains look from the backyard? I can’t wait to try to paint that!” Graham exclaimed.
None of the triplets were fully aware of how fraught the family reunion really was-between Logan’s just-under-the-surface anger and Rue and Norah’s attempted reconciliation, the evening was sure to be an emotional one. Although the triplets noticed some of this, and indeed that was part of why they had been so eager to escape, at the same time they were blissfully ignorant about the true state of many things in the Atwood home.
So, they marched cheerfully through Appaloosa Plains together, skipping stones into the river, climbing trees, spying on people’s horses from just outside the fences, and generally getting a feel for the area. Although they didn’t explore the downtown-they had agreed to save that for another day, since they had two weeks here after all-they found many other ways to occupy themselves.
As the sun was beginning to sink in the sky, they happened upon a thickly forested area. They had been passing farmhouse after farmhouse for a while, and the woods intrigued them. Then, Jackie spotted what seemed to be a blond girl standing by a tree. “Hey, guys! Isn’t that a girl over there, by that tree?”
“I think so,” said Beth.
Graham, interested that they might have found a playmate their age, said, “Let’s go talk to her!”
As they moved closer, the girl continued to peer at them from the safety of the trees. She looked wide-eyed and terrified, but she didn’t run away. “Hello?” Jackie called to her softly when they were close enough for the girl to hear. “Who are you?”
The girl moved slightly more into the open, still wide-eyed. “Hi,” she said quietly. “I’m Genie Clearwater. Who are you?”
* * *
And there's the end of chapter 1! Can I just say: That family reunion was IMPOSSIBLE! Let's count: 4 grandparents, Jaden's family of 5, Norah and Aidan, and Rue's family of 6... That makes 17 sims that I was trying to coordinate. OMG. Took so long. Thank goodness for MasterController or I'd have probably died. Anyway, I thought it was important and cute so I stuck with it! I hope you liked it <3 Tell me what you thought! Norah and Rue?? Grandparent cuteness? How do you feel about our heir? (Isn't he precious though?) And who's this Genie girl? Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time!