November 12

There was a time, very briefly, in my childhood, when we looked like a happy family.

There was a time when Mom, Dad, Imsety, Satis, AJ and I lived together in peace and joy. 

Somehow, that peace and joy was broken, and we became the fractured clan that we are today.  A clan that bears little resemblance to the one with which I grew up.

I think it started with the birth of my little sister Sierra.  Mom and Dad were not expecting her, and Mom just seemed overwhelmed with it all.  And by that time, our nanny Halima had already left, so mom and dad were on their own with her.

The other big bombshell that dropped for us was when my brothers, AJ and Imsety, were sent to Fort Starch.  I think that, even more than Sierra's birth, was the straw that broke the camel's back.

At the time it happened, I was still a child, so I couldn't understand why my brothers had to go away, or what they had done that was so bad that they had to go away.  It made me depressed.  My sister Satis tried to make me understand, but her gentle explanations still didn't help me feel better. 
It wasn't Sierra's fault that our family started tearing apart when she was born.  Nor was it AJ or Imsety's faults.  I just think it was the stress that combined to just tear us loose, to the point where none of us have real relationships anymore.

Dad, he tried to duct-tape us together, eating dinners with us and doing what he could to hold us together, but mom just seemed, you know, checked out.  It was like, she got so caught up in her career and its successes that she lost sight of what was really important.

By the time my youngest sister and brother were born, Mom had really checked out, and our butler Max made it really easy for her to do it.  Poor Max was so overwhelmed with my little sister Skylar when she was born that he almost quit. 
Whatever happened, somewhere along the way, we forgot how to be a family.  We forgot the basics.

Mom reveals a secret!

Recently Mom called us into the dining room of our place in Hidden Springs.

"Girls, there's some things I believe you should know," she began.  "I think you're old enough now." 

She took deep breaths as she revealed some secrets to us about our heritage.  "Your grandfather - Grandpa Plumb - when he was a very young man, he did an impromptu performance for the Grim Reaper.  And he liked it."

Sierra, of course, was ecstatic.  She rubbed her hands and clapped in glee.  "Grandpa played guitar for the Reaper?"
Mom nodded. 
"Your grandfather owes a lot of his success to the Reaper's blessing."

"There's something else, too.  You know your father was adopted, right?"

I nodded.  I remember him telling us that when we were teenagers.

"Well, I made an accidental discovery while doing some research about Dragon Valley."

She pulled out this picture, of a man that looked a lot like Dad.  And he was dressed in medieval attire, standing outside of what looked like a manor house.

"His name was Kirk Patten.  He may be an ancestor of your father's.  He worked for the O'Connell family in Dragon Valley as their cook."

Sierra and I studied his portrait carefully.  Even though there were some differences - this man had curly hair while Dad's is straight, and this man had freckles where Dad does not - gosh, they look a lot alike.  

"Here's the problem I'm having.  The records in Dragon Valley are sealed to everyone except blood relatives.  And that's where you guys come in.  My job is done - it's your turn now."

Sierra, of course, is game for time-travel, it's right up her alley.  I don't know about Skylar and AJ, though. 

I was able to find this painting online of the O'Connells, the family my dad's possible ancestor cooked for.  They were the ruling family of Dragon Valley.  The father was Seamus, the mother was Shauna, and the older daughter was Morida, Morrie for short.  The family also had twin boys, Aiden and Brien, and a younger daughter, Aileen.

What I've read about Morrie, she sounds a lot like my little sister Sierra - feisty, tomboyish, and stubborn. 

I know that the O'Connells wanted Morrie to get married - and she refused. Instead, she took over in Dragon Valley as its ruler after her parents' deaths. During her reign she brokered a peace between her family, the O'Connells, and the other powerful clan in town, the Mithrilens.

Now, my possible ancestor worked for this family, and it's said that he had a special relationship with Morrie.  So special, in fact, that there were rumors about them getting together romantically.  But Morrie was free-spirited and anti-marriage.  

Sierra says we can use mom's old time machine in the garage, Dad had bought it for her for an anniversary gift.  That my dad bought my mom a time machine instead of, say, flowers and candy, tells me he knew exactly what she was into.

September 4

 

 

Mom is now officially a Dr.!
She received two doctorate degrees recently, an honorary one in creative writing and Simlish literature, and an actual doctorate in Simlish history and paranormal studies. 

The other night we were at our house in Hidden Springs (we have residences in Sunset Valley, Hidden Springs, and Moonlight Falls, although we haven't been to our MF property in awhile) when Mom said she wanted to talk to us after dinner.

Sierra and I were sitting at the table, and we both looked at each other like, "Huh?"

"Girls," she began, "you're old enough now, I think there's something I need to tell you."

When Mom decides she wants to talk to us, it's usually because she has something very important to tell us.  "Girls, you do know that I'm not getting any younger.  And you're of an age now where it's time for you guys to find out some things about your heritage.  I've told you that I'm an ambrosial.  That's a trait I inherited from my mother - Grandma Plumb.  Your Uncle Bassy did not inherit the trait but I did.  But there's also something else you need to know.  My father - Grandpa Plumb - when he was a very young man - he performed for the Grim Reaper."

Sierra, being Sierra, was ecstatic to hear this news, and was intrigued to hear more.
"The Grim Reaper was impressed by his playing... so much so that he extended my dad's life span.  Those blessings have also come down to the rest of us.  But - those gifts have also come with a price, as the two of you either have learned already or will learn soon.   When I was little, I discovered I had the ability to communicate with specters, which is why, after I came back from France the last time, I became a ghost hunter.  It's fairly likely that the two of you, and your brother too, don't know what gifts you have.  You may have gifts that are completely different from mine, or even your father's. 

"As far as your father's family is concerned, you do know he was adopted, I told you guys as soon as you were old enough.  But - I was able to track down some of his pre-adoption records.  I don't have everything as most of them are sealed, and only blood relatives can access them.  That means you guys.   I do know that his family was originally from Dragon Valley and that an ancestor of his worked for the O'Connell family.  Are you familiar with the O'Connells?"

"Vaguely," I said, "from my history books."

"Captain O'Connell came in and tamed the dragons during a dragon outbreak.  Here's where you guys come in.  I'm leaving this one to you guys to track down.  I could probably do it, but I've pretty much done my job.  It's your turn now."

August 27

 

After I got off the phone with Sierra, I started to wonder if AJ actually believes her story that Samantha came on to her.  Sierra has told so many tall tales, but Samantha's track record leads me to believe that this actually happened and Sierra is telling the truth.  After all, AJ caught her with a girl once before and took her back.  How many times does she have to do this for him to get the point?  And this time, she stoops low enough to come onto his own little sister.  Ugh. 

 

Speaking of which, Sierra tried AGAIN to convince him that she's telling the truth.  Can't say the girl isn't persistent. 

"You don't believe me, do you?" she said. 

AJ managed a slight little chuckle.  "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, AJ.  About your girlfriend coming on to me."

 

 

"What do you mean she 'came onto' you?"

"AJ, did you hear a word I said?  She flirted with me, in front of everybody.  It made me very uncomfortable.  I reminded her that she is dating my brother and I wouldn't do that to him."

 



 

"Come on, Sierra, maybe you misinterpreted her.  Maybe she was trying to be nice.  You are my sister after all, maybe she --"

 

 

"AJ, I know what she was doing.  She was flirting with me. I got uncomfortable so I left the party.  I can't believe you, you're going to believe some whore over your own sister."

 

 

"Sierra, I believe you, it's just -- it's just so -- why would she do this?"

"Why would girls do anything, AJ?"

Will the real Sierra please stand up? Part 3

I decided the way to answer Miles and Hank was to work my tush off.  
 I spent long hours in the gym, using every ounce of energy I had, doing whatever I could to maximize my workouts.  

 And it wasn't just about the gym.  I had to put in the work in the classroom, too.  

 

Down time is pretty hard to come by.  I wanted to use the dorm TV to work out, but someone was watching a show on it... so I flew off the handle.  I couldn't control it.  The rage had just built up inside of me and I let out a primal scream. 

I went back up to my room, took a gulp of elixir, and calmed myself down.  Like they taught me at the hospital.  I decided to look at the trees swaying outside my window.

 

The next day, I was walking to class when I was struck by lightning.   But unlike the unfortunate Jake Sammon, I survived the lightning strike.

After a workout, I did some light stargazing, but the clouds and hail got in the way. 

Kaz Nasri was a little surprised that I was using the men's room... but I used the excuse that I was in a rush.  Honestly I prefer it to using the ladies' room.

Oh, and remember that girl Sarah?  She and I have been getting to know each other over the last couple of days.  
"So you're Sierra Cheesman, right?" she asked me over coffee. 
I nodded my head.
Sarah's a computer science major, and when I told her I was majoring in physical education, she said she hoped to get into video game design. 

"You beat Richard Randall in the chess competition?  Wow!  He's won that two years in a row."
"Really?" I said, "I didn't know that."

"Where are you from, Sierra?"
"Sunset Valley via Hidden Springs and Moonlight Falls - it's a long story."
"Good, I've got all day."
I was pretty sure if she researched our family she knew all of this already, so I didn't feel like telling her again.  So I just said, "Mom's career took us all over the place."
"I read, your mom sounds awesome.  I wanted to take her class last year but it was full.  Traveled to Egypt and China and France, and then came home and caught ghosts."
"My dad played pro soccer for 7 seasons for the Llamas," I said.  "He quit when I was born to raise us."

 

Sarah took a few more sips of coffee. "So let me guess, you took your sporty side after your dad and your brainiac side from your mom."

I didn't say anything.