Generation 3, Chapter 7

Vacha Family
Satellite House


*sighs loudly* Aaah, such a happy normal well-adjusted family. Everyone's so loving and considerate of each other.


Well... almost everyone. Suzie seems to be rapidly making the rounds of eligible men (and I'm sure some not-so-eligible men) in Strangetown. I think this is her 5th affair to date. And with Nervous, no less!



~Damnit, mom, the baby's in the house and you're pulling that crap? Bad enough you do it when I'm home...~


"It's okay, Aspen. Let's go downstairs and I'll get you something to eat and we'll watch a little television. Really loudly..."
At least one of the two people home is concerned about the little one's needs. Someone else seems to be concerned only with her needs.


"Sweetheart, I just wanted to tell you how very proud I am of you. You're doing so fantastically in school I have no doubt you'll get some great scholarships for college!"


"Thanks, dad. But look, I'm halfway through high school and I really think we need to talk about this again."
"I'm sure I don't know what you're referring to, pumpkin."
"Yes. You do. I'm talking about mom."


"Look, it was bad enough when she had her flings leaving when I got home from school as a kid. But now she's bringing them home and doing them with Aspen in the next room! I don't want her growing up with that sort of crap like I had to."
"Arizona, stop!"


"Look, I know your mom's a bit of a space cadet, but I really don't think she'd be doing what you're implying she's doing."
"I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you flat out. Mom's screwing around on you with half the men in town. And if you don't deal with it, then at least find a way to shelter Aspen from it."

Poor Basil. He really doesn't want to face what's going on.


~God, is Arizona right? Is Suzie really cheating on me?~
~Man, he's so gorgeous. But why does he look so worried?~


Good try, Suzie. But I'm thinking it might be too little, too late. But I suppose we'll see. It's not like my Sims haven't surprised me before...


But now, on to happier events. It's time for Aspen to transition into a child! *cheers*


"Help daddy blow out the candles, swee'pea!"


Daaaaayyyaaammmm, that girl outta try out for the basketball team! :-)


And I proudly present to you Aspen Vacha. In a rather hideous outfit and with a hairstyle I'll go change momentarily.
~My little girls are growing up so fast...~
*hugs Basil* Poor guy.


Heh, well, ditzy me forgot to take a post-makeover picture. But the next few pictures will let you get a good idea of what Aspen looks like. :-) And what is the fascination little girls have for makeup?


Yup, the girls are still the best of friends, despite the differences in their ages.


Basil takes the time to each his youngest daughter how to study properly. No matter what else goes on in one's life, it's important to get good grades.


Basil, what's that?
"Huh? This? Oh, it's nothing. Just a new toy I picked up."


Uh-huh. Methinks someone is having a bit of a midlife crisis there.
"I am not!"
So then what? Trying to prove your verility with a powerful motorcycle?
"Um, no. I'm having a midlife crisis."
Okay. *grins and wanders off*
"It's a midlife crisis and don't you go saying otherwise!"


Ouch. Poor Arizona. That really looks like it had to hurt.
"Thank goodness the school photos were last week, 'cause I'm going to have one heck of a burn on my chin!"
And think of the rumors that will start...
"I'm a Family sim, not Romance!"
That just makes it all the more fun to tease you.
*Arizona pouts and stomps off*


"Charisma is important, sweetie. If you can schmooze well, you'll get far in life. More importantly, people will give you what you want if you can phrase your desires well."
"And I believe air pollution should be curbed. Especially hot air emitted by people who should simply keep their mouths shut." ~Not to mention their legs...~


"...and so the kids at school were talking about this new game and it's got this neat race car stuff and controllers and..."
~Why has Basil been so distant lately?~


The girls playing SSX3 together, with Basil watching and cheering each of them on. Have you caught on who's usually missing from most of these family pictures... *shakes her head* She really is a space cadet, isn't she. So darn tired from all her extramarital affairs that if she's not studying for a promotion or eating a meal, she's usually asleep when everyone else is home.


Speaking of extramarital affairs, Suzie has brought Carmen home from work. Lover number 6 (7 if you count Basil). She's either completely oblivious that her family is on to her or she no longer cares. Arizona is taking care of cooking dinner as Aspen takes a short nap, while...


...Suzie heads upstairs with Carmen.


Apparently, the ladies were loud enough to wake Aspen up from her nap.


"Carmen, my husband should be home soon, so you've got to hurry out. But we'll definitely head out for lunch tomorrow, okay?"


Just a shot of young Aspen greeting Basil when he gets home from work. You know, I'm realizing, the girls have NEVER once rushed out to welcome Suzie when she came home. I guess children aren't quite as oblivious as Suzie would like to think, eh?


Burdock and Jill get an evening off from watching their own kids and come to visit (they were both autonimously walking by outside, so I had Basil rush out to greet them before they left the lot).

Jill and Suzie were friends while Suzie and Basil were still in college (but I didn't realize it until the boys were both graduated and starting their own families). If only Jill caught on to what was going on with her brother-in-law's family, maybe she could have said something to her friend. But, being the Diva she is, she's mostly interested in her own affairs. (No, not THOSE kinds of affairs!)


We'll close out this chapter with a shot of the brothers reconnecting. They've lost touch over the years, dealing with their own family issues and, although still friends, they'd drifted apart and had a lot to catch up on. They talked late into the evening and were the best of friends again by the time Burdock went home (Jill had left hours earlier).