Chapter 26 (Urias) - A Business Plan

It was the start of a new week and Marisa checked the help wanted ads.  No luck.

Since Marisa stayed home with the children, Urias hadn't needed to retire. He considered his career his life's calling, proud of being able to start the community school and help pave the way for tees in town to go to college.

"Why do we hafta come to school on Snow Days?" Syllabus pouted.

Theorem rolled his eyes. "There's always stuff to learn, even if it's snowing!" he said eagerly.

Marisa sat with the children while they talked, worked on some lessons, and had a quick lunch.

Theorem watched his cousin Teak joke around with a few other kids their age and wondered why he always felt it so hard to join in.

His little brother had no difficult with that, often running around wild with little Tina Traveller.

"You can't see me!" I'm a ghost!" Tina said from under the pile of snow.

Theorem was really excited that a friend from school actually came home with him!

It appeared that Samuel Vu was interested in logical things, as well. 

The boys hit it off fast.

Happy Birthday Syllabus!

For whatever reason, Urias had decided to stay outside after coming home from work.  He made himself comfortable on the patio bench.

He was freezing by the time he wandered inside.  Sometimes I wonder if he's actually a genius like he tells everyone that he is!

Uncle Urbain would be proud of Syllabus's effort at pirating.

"And so then they actually said, 'Urias, you're a genius!'," he recounted a funny story from work.

Since she still hadn't received any promising job prospects, Marisa began working on a business plan to show prospective employees how serious she was about getting an entrylevel business position.

"Hey Tina, I was wondering if you wanted to come over!"

"Bob's your uncle!" she said excitedly.

Theorem looked at his brother quizzically.  "It's Uncle Tetris, though."

Syllabus greeted Tina with a hug. She smelled so pretty!He was instantly smitten!

The feeling was mutual!

"What are you working on, hon," Urias asked as he read the latest on physiology.

Marisa sighed. "I'm still working on this stupid business plan.  Why won't anyone hire me?!"

Sometimes Theorem thought Syllabus was adopted.  He was so playful, instead of a serious grouch like him and Dad.

Ew!

The teens all hung out together up in their room.  Syllabus and Tina.

Theorem leaned back and his hand grazed Sam's.  He quickly glanced at his friend with surprise, but Sam pretended he hadn't felt anything.  He shifted his hand away from Sam, but the memory of the touch lingered. 

Syllabus asked for a little bit of time alone with Tina.  His brother and his friend shook their heads and headed to the loft to play chess.

Finally Marissa was finished!  She had high hopes for this business plan!

Syllabus was so in love with Tina. He knew they'd be together forever!

With a nervous pit in his stomach, he bravely asked her if she wanted to go steady.

She pulled away and said they were just having fun.  She didn't want to get attached because she wanted to travel the world when she was older.  She didn't want to get tied down in Calamity Canyon.

He watched her leave, heartbroken.

It was late in the evening when Urias got a wonderful idea for his next how-to manual.  He stayed up late into the night, scribbling away.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it!" Syllabus snapped.  "It's over, okay?"

Theorem felt helpless to help his little brother with his girl problems.

"It's not like you would understand anyways!" Syllabus snapped angrily.  "You've never even had a girlfriend!"

Urias set his pen down when his work alarm went off and headed over to the phone to call work.  There just wasn't enough time in the day to work and finish his lifes ambition of completing a full how-to encyclopedia.

Feeling satisfied, he headed back to the table to work on his draft.

"Sometimes, if you're at a loss of what to do - throwing yourself into a project is what is needed.  Have you considered getting a part-time job?" Marisa asked Syllabus.  He'd been so moody since Tina dumped him!

His mom was right.  And Syllabus happened to find the perfect job on his first try!  (Seriously, it was the first job offered for the teen career.  *facepalm*  Poor Marisa!)

Ever supportive, Marissa headed down to the Warehouse Depot (Backdoor Lane 16)  with her son.

There was a delightful mix of odds and ends, all at deep discount.  It was like a dream come true as she walked around the storefront.

 Downstairs, there were a few workstations.

Syllabus waited in the office to speak with his direct supervisor.

Urias finished another how-to manual with rave reviews.  He was proud of the work he had accomplished.  Starting a school & reconnecting the thriving town with a University, but this encyclopedia would be his legacy for his children!

Sometimes, when he was bored, Theorem liked to pull out one of his Dad's how-to manuals for fun.  There was so much that he could learn from his father!

"It's so good to see you again!" Marisa hugged Allyn and smiled at her husband, Urbain.

It was nice to see Tetris and his wife, Nicole.  They were such a cute couple!

Upstairs, all the children hung out and talked about school, love, and friends.

While downstairs the adults talked about much the same thing.

"And then I said, wouldn't it be great if we had another baby!" Allyn said offhandedly.

Marissa nearly choked on her last bite, sputtering.  "Allyn Sharp! Tell me you are NOT pregnant again!" she panicked.

Allyn just laughed.  "No, no, but I do love babies!"

Late that night, Theorem called the school registrar.  He was slightly young to be attending university, since he was only 17.  But, he'd always worked hard at school and taken accelerated classes. 

He was ready to learn new and amazing things at University!


(AN: I usually like to send kids to college when they have 3 or less days before they age up.  Theorem had 5 days.  But, I wanted to send him with Tesira and Teak!  And if any child mastered advanced placement tests and academic requirements, it would be Theorem!

Also, I looked through the rules and wasn't able to find anything about the workstations and when they can be used.  I am treating them like the career rewards.  You can use them if you are employed in business, they will be open to all when business is unlocked.)