Chapter 18 - The Kids Are All Growing Up

Urias tapped the mic.  "Testing, 1, 2, 3," he announced in a serious tone.

**BUUUUUURRRRRRP**

This is why kids aren't allowed to play with the teleprompter, Urias!

"You called me honey?" Xerxes asked as he stepped into the bedroom, only to find Camryn fast asleep.

He didn't hear the lock click behind him.

"Huh, the fiddle got moved upstairs!" he glanced behind him to make sure Camryn was still sleeping, then picked it up and began playing.

Happy Birthday Wasabi! You are now one of my favorite Sims!

Urias had a quick birthday party, too.

Oh dear, I should've seen this coming with her poor track record with the boys.

Her Second Aspiration is Fortune.  Just in case anyone thought she was standing on the street corner for other reasons.

Poor, poor Wasabi.

"You okay Aunt Wasabi?" Urias asked hesitantly.

It was time to get his first kiss, Vito thought confidently.  He checked his mirror and made sure his hair was still styling.

"Hey girl!" he greeted her breezily.  "How's it going?"

Meadow shrugged. "I'm cool," she said.

Vito made his move, leaning forward and pressing a chaste kiss against her lips. 

Man, she is totally digging me! he thought happily as the two canoodled on the sofa.

"You called me up here again?" Xerxes asked.  "And why is there a box blocking off my side of the bed?"

"You only need to gain a little bit creativity and you can get your Top of the Career!" Camryn told him enthusiastically. "You can do it!"

"But, but," Xerxes sputtered, thinking of excuses.

"Play!" Camryn ordered him, locking the door and then taking a seat to watch.

"Vito! Urias! Wasabi! Anybody! She's locked me in the room!" Xerxes called.

"Oh quit being so dramatic and play!"

Vito and Vivi were so close in age that sometimes he felt a little left out, like a little brother that was in the way.  Right now, they were talking about jobs and growing up. 

Urias raised his hand, "I'm going to get a job too!" he announced, semi-awkwardly.

"Hey, great job, bud!" Vito said, punching his brother in the arm.  "Like Dad says, it's never too early to prepare!"

The boys work on mastering the finer arts of chess.

"Wait, what is the balled up piece of aluminum foil again?" Urias asked. 

"That's the black knight," Vito told him.

Urias glanced down at the board and studied it.  "Oh, I thought the crumpled up piece of paper was the knight."

Vito shook his head and shrugged.  "Easy mistake to make, though!"

Apparently Xerxes is shy. He only plays when someone in the room is asleep.  Also, I noticed that when he plays, he doesn't have a skill meter above his head.  *sobs* So much for Xerxes reaching the top of his career!

Happy Birthday Urbain!  It looks like he got his Dad's long, pointy nose!

Vivi was a chess legend!

Just another cute pic of the teens talking amongst themselves.  I love how much they get along!

Urbain loved the little wobbly wabbit, choosing to play with it whenever he got a chance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMRYN! You've been a wonderful mother, so you should be so proud!

Wasabi tries to make up for lost time by getting involved more in Vivi's life.  "Don't pin your hopes and dreams on a man, that's all I have to tell you!"  she said, adding, "If you want to make something of yourself, you have to do it yourself!" 

Vivi nodded politely.  Her mother had been bashing men since she was a child, especially after that random visit by her father.  Wasabi had railed for days afterwards.

Way to go Urias! Way to make us proud!

Now that he was getting older, Vito used the teleprompter to practice for mock arguments.  "I object, your Honor!" he shouted, shaking his fist.  Wait no, that was too aggressive.  He tried again.  "Your Honor, I object!" he repeated, this time pointing his finger.  Yes, much better!

The family knew this awful day would come.

Sadly, they said goodbye to their dear friend, Barx.  She'd been a loyal dog and brought immeasurable joy and happiness to their lives! (even if she skipped work and got fired from the wrong career!)

It was a random chance the a doggy walked by the very night they lost Barx.  Vivi thought it must've been fate.

She spent hours trying to win it's trust and affection.

In the end, the dog got spooked and ran off before Vivi could adopt her.

This is going to be worse than 3 nanny's trying to take care of a baby!  Vivi finally got fed up, shoved the silly elders out of the room and locked the door so she and little Urbain could get some sleep.

From the near constant smothering mothering he'd received before his birthday, it was no surprise that Urbain grew up poorly, immediately wetting himself.  "This is the worst birthday ever!" he cried, embarrassed and incredibly tired.

Happy Birthday Vito! He came home, elated that he'd received a promotion to level 5.

Deciding it was time to get out of the house, Vito took the family down to the Community Center.  Xerxes would've joined, but he was at work.

Wasabi looked around. "I feel like I recognize this place," she said, squinting at the building.

"That's because you used to work here," Camryn told her, then paused.  "What did you do again?"

Urias sighed.  "I'll keep an eye on Mom and Aunt Wasabi," he told everyone.  Plumbbob knew these foggy elders needed a babysitter!
 

Urbain greeted the pretty little girl in the yellow shirt.

"Hey, we match!" she said.

TOO CUTE!

All the girls swooned over Andres.

"What does he have that we don't?" the townie wondered pitifully.

On their way home, Vito ran into the lovely redhead, Kaylynn.

It was love at first sight.  Meadow, who?

He wasted no time letting her know he was interested.

She wasted less time letting him know she was interested.

"Do you want to come inside?" he asked.  And be my wife?  Obviously Vito didn't say that outloud, but he certainly thought it!

Happy Birthday Vivi!

Everything about her fascinated him.

Of course, it was hard to make a real connection with his family always in the way.  Someone needed to lift the Law restrictions fast.

"Can I get a raincheck?" he asked her hopefully. "I have a big case tomorrow and need to get some sleep."

"Sure, sweetcheeks," Kaylynn told him.  "I'm so glad we met!"

Vito headed upstairs to his small, twin size bunk bed.  They would need to rethink their sleeping arrangements now that everyone was growing up! 6 available spots in a bed & 7 people in the household did not add up!

Vivi nervously called up someone she'd always enjoyed talking to, despite the gap between their ages.

"Hi Marylena," she said, pressing a kiss against her soft cheek.

"Hi, I'm glad you called me! How was your birthday?"

"It was great," Vivi said, "Thanks for asking."

Then, taking a deep, nervous breath, she had her first kiss.

It's the sometimes dull afternoons that make the fondest memories.  Vivi was hanging out with Uncle Xerxes, Urias and her little brother, joking and laughing.  Urias had teased his dad about not remembering something and Uncle Xerxes had tickled him in retaliation.  "I'm not so old that I can't win a tickle fight!" he'd laughed.

"I surrender!" Urias had joined in the laughter.

It was a wonderful memory she would cherish always.

Because only hours later, Uncle Xerxes had passed away before their very eyes.

"I hate the Grim Reaper!" little Urbain had cried, stomping his feet and wailing.  "I hate him!"