Escaping Nowhere, Chapter 2
“You sure it’s a good idea to just randomly knock on someone’s door, especially one in some strange town? What would happen to us when we get out if this really is the alien hideout?”
Mary-Sue laughed. “Only one way to find out.”
“And I should believe you because?”
“Just ring the bell.”
On the other side of the door lies an average family doing average family things.
“PT, door!”
PT9 let Jill go and hobbled to the front porch. “Sorry, kiddo. Dancing will have to wait.”
Upon seeing the unfamiliar faces in front of him, he extended his hand towards Goneril.
Next thing Goneril knew, a jolt of electricity struck right on to her.
“HOWDY, FELLOW HUMANS!” PT9 bellowed at the top of his voice.
Before Goneril had a chance to even react, Jenny popped out to check what the hullabaloo was about. “Oh, hi there, I’m Jenny. Forgive my husband. He’s just excited to meet new people he’s not related to for once. How can I help you?”
Mary-Sue proceeded. “Hi. We’re just wondering if you know where’s the nearest hotel from here here?”
“Oh, the nearest hotel here is over at Viper Canyon. Probably would take you…probably around five hours if you can manage without a stopover.”
Goneril felt her already short patience get even shorter. “So you’re basically saying we’re stuck here? Why don’t you just shoot me?”
“For your information, Miss Old Money, Strangetown contributes to 90% of SimCity’s Research and Development.”, Mary-Sue said.
“Come on, Mary-Sue, you just pulled that figure out your arse.”
“Trust me, my best friend works in the lab.” Jenny simply chuckled at both of them. “Anyway, why don’t you two just come on in? We have a spare room upstairs.”
“Thanks for the offer, Jenny, but maybe we should hit the road if we want to get to the hotel in a decent hour.”
“Do you even have a ride?”
Mary-Sue and Goneril stared at each other and shrugged their shoulders.
“Thought so. Came here just in time ‘cause I’m just about to make some Berry Pie.”
They entered the Smith residence expecting some secret hideout with buried secrets and hidden contraptions, only to find out that it looks like…an average home for an average family.
Average as far as this town goes, at least.
On one end, a green-skinned teenage boy with his video games.
On another, a black-eyed girl taking a dip in the pool pretending to be one with the fish.
Overlooking her, their father decked in his signature floral shirt and shorts trying to get a hole-in-one for the nth time.
“So, how in the Watcher’s name did you end up here anyway?” Jenny inquired.
It was Mary-Sue who explained. “We were supposed to go on a cruise to Felicity Island yesterday, but our plane had to make an emergency landing because of a storm warning and the next flights back are booked two weeks in.”
"That's gotta be rough. You can stay here as long as you need to."
Once Jenny served the pie to everyone, she settled down on the chair next to them.
After a moment of silence, Mary-Sue, always the gregarious one, broke the ice. “Hey, Jenny. Where do you work?”
“I work as a nurse in the community hospital. I actually went to medical school once upon a time, but I decided to switch to nursing to get some semblance of work-life balance in. And you?”
“I used to work in the my local Mayor’s office until I got fired.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Should’ve seen the signs when Sims much younger than me were getting promoted, and I was still an intern. Now I’m taking up pottery again after giving it up for a while, at least I find another job.”
Jenny grinned. “That’s great! PT and I like to sew. I did those curtains out back by myself back in the day, but with work and the kids I barely have time for myself.”
“Ooh, those look amazing. And what about you, Gon? What do you do for a living?”
Goneril sighed. “On paper, I’m the Vice President of Capp Enterprises. In practice…let’s not talk about it right now.”
Jenny could sense that there’s more to Goneril’s story than she’s letting on, but decided that it’s best not to pry for more details. “Cool. Whereabouts do you both live?”
“She’s from Pleasantview, I’m from Veronaville. Yes, that Veronaville with the arsonists and all that, among other things.”
“Oh wow, I was assuming you two were a couple or something.”
“What? We just met on the plane ride! Besides, I am happily married to a man. Thank you very much.”
Mary-Sue almost choked on her drink the moment she said those words. “I’m telling you. I know it when I see it.”
Goneril pointed at Mary-Sue. “Don’t even try to test me today.”
“Alright, alright!”
Not to long after, Jenny extended an offer. “Hey. Why don’t I take you on a tour of Strangetown? I managed to squeeze a couple weeks of time off so might as well use it.”
“We don’t really have a choice in this, don’t we?”
The three of them went back outside, where they find a car in the same shade as the rest of the house.
“Time rev up ol’ Jadey here.” Jenny said. “It’s been a while since I took a trip. With work and the kids, I didn’t really have much time for myself.”
“Being a working mom is hard work.” Goneril concurred. “I have four of them and I’m just glad Albany decided to stay at home to take care of them while I work.”
Mary-Sue’s face fell upon conversation about their children. “Glad your kids get along though. I have twin girls back home and don’t know how I could get them to stop fighting all the time.”
Jenny took a step back and eyed the lady in red. “You know what, why don’t I take you to a shop and get you some new clothes? Those heels especially look mighty uncomfortable.”
“For your information, they’re probably worth way more than your nursing paycheck. No way am I giving them up, especially now that my luggage is gone.”
Jenny pouted and shook her head. “Can we at least get you new clothes? That blazer looks very cute on you, but it’s not exactly suitable for Strangetown weather.”
“Fine, have your way. By the way, ‘cute’ is the last word you should use to describe me.”
Not too long after, Jenny drove off, taking her guests along for the ride.