MURKLAND - MONDAY - CHAPTER 9

ANOTHER DATE AT THE PUFFER DOME

The next day, I am up early ready to put together the shower tarp! I was so excited!

 In no time at all, it's all together! And, it's Monday! It's shower day and I've paid my bills! Yes!

But before taking that nice, long shower I've been dreaming about (I was also day dreaming about pizza apparently), I had better do some gardening. Gee, this was going to be a lot of work...it'll probably take me all day. I decide to fetilize the plants with some ground-up fish that were caught in Granite Falls.

And all of a sudden, all these sims show up and want to help me with my garden. Lucky me! There's Ridge and Crag and Veegan...

...and Moira and Karim. They all have "green thumbs" in gardening and I sure am glad they came!

To thank them for coming, I decide to make a little lunch.

Well, my cooking skills haven't really improved, and yes, you guessed it...

...I started a fire! But Ridge is fast and puts out the fire lickety-split!

EGADS! I'm on fire! I run around trying to put myself out and then realize I can use my new shower tarp! Duh!

Luckily for me, I had put together that shower tarp earlier, and so I ran to extinguish myself! Water...water...give me water! Phew! It worked!

And even though lunch was a bit charred, everyone enjoyed it. We sat and chatted for awhile and decided that we should have a "Trashplants United" gardening club. Everyone thought that was a good idea. After finishing up some weeding, everyone said their goodbyes. Well, everyone, except Karim.

We hang out and chat and laugh and reminisce about the weekend we both had in Granite Falls. He even shows me a photo that someone had snapped of the two of us [above]

Then he takes a deep breath like he wants to ask me something...
Kate would you like to go on an adventure with me?....I mean....

...I've been meaning to ask you this since I saw you again at Granite Falls...

Will you have dinner with me tonight at the Puffer Dome?

I think my knees feel like liquid Jello....and I think I mutter something non sensical like...YES! Not even thinking straight. Until it's too late and he has already gone.

I think...why does it have to be the Puffer Dome? Bummer! What about Paolo and that horrible date I had there the last time?

I still like Paolo, but...well, he left me there to pay the bill. [flashback to date with Paolo above--NOT a good memory] 

Should I go on this date with Karim? I don't know what I should do. Ahhh heck, it's only dinner...and a sim needs to eat!

Even though I convince myself that it's only dinner, I take special care in getting ready. Where's that darn top? (rummages through box).

When I arrive, Karim is already waiting for me at the bar and I sit down and thank him for inviting me.

I hear an intake of breath as he says, "Kate, is that you? Wow! You look amazing!" 

I brush it off with a "What, this old thing?" line, but I secretly feel special.

Karim orders us some drinks and he pays for it! Hmmm...this is going to be different indeed!

I walk up to the little podium booth and put our names in for a table. It was going to be a long wait because the restaurant was busy. I know, even on a Monday! Who would believe it.
"Hi, any tables in the non-earthquake zone?"


Karim suggests that we hit the dance floor...he is such a great dancer...and in no time, they were calling us to our table.

We are seated at a very secluded, romantic table, and Karim again tells me how stunning I look. I think I may have blushed a bit at all these compliments he was giving me. And thank goodness we are NOT sitting at the same table as last time.

"Do you like adventure, Kate? Let's be adventurous tonight. Hold that thought and I will be back!"

Oooooh mystery...I'm left alone at the table thinking about what I should order. Adventure, huh....

Karim returns to the table just as our waiter arrives to take our order. Ummm...Karim...where is your shirt? Ok, never mind....we are going to be adventurous tonight and have the Pufferfish Nigiri! Karim smiles in agreement.

We both laugh...maybe a little nervously...(me because I'm staring at his chest the whole time)..and we talk non-stop until our dinner arrives. Karim tells me there is a little pool behind the building, and he took a quick dip...but his shirt got wet. Uh huh...

Our dinner is  here...and, well, here goes nothing...you only live once!

What a fragrant aroma! It smells so good...I can't wait to taste it! I think Karim feels the same way.

I take a taste...and...it's SO good!

Want a bite? Just a little one now...and don't bite me! Yum!

After we finish our dinner, Karim gives me a big hug..."you are one adventurous gal, Kate..."

I decide to head downstairs to pay the chef a compliment. "Hey great meal, thanks for not killing my date!"

Back upstairs, Karim suggests we stay a bit longer so we hit the dance floor once again! This time we jive to Murkland's most popular dance, the Murky Boogie Woogie.

We are having so much FUN!

We even go to the little pool behind the building...uh...is that the lifeguard?  I don't want the night to end... and then IT happens....

We hear someone shouting..."he's choking, he's choking, someone do something!"

 Oh no...bad pufferfish....

But by the time we rush over to see what's happening, it's too late...death in the Puffer Dome...

Everyone is standing around...crying...and just staring at the poor victim...and then I see HIM appear... the Grim Reaper...

Before I know what I am doing, I jump in front of the Grim Reaper and plead for Scar's life.
"Please Mr. Reaper...don't let him die".
I keep babbling on about life and the right to live and it's not fair...blah, blah, blah...I have no idea what I am talking about. But, I am terrified...what if the Grim Reaper decides to take me instead...what was I thinking?

 Oh my gosh! I guess all my babbling worked!
 He's alive! He's alive! I can't believe what I am seeing!

"Oh, ummm...Grimmie...I just wanted to say thanks..." Hey, did you guys buy your clothes at the Murkland Mercantile Store? They totally match! Ok, bye!"

I see Crag at the bar and tell him what just happened....but I feel a bit dazed...and my words aren't forming too well...like I have a big wad of cotton in my mouth.
"Yah...the Rim Deeper gave Scar laugh...yep, I plumbed it!" Crag looks concerned and he and Karim escort me home.

...Karim tells me that he thinks that Scar's near death was not an accident and that he fears for my life...Karim thinks someone did voodoo on me...

Voodoo? How? Why? Are you kidding me? Who would do that? Ummm...what is voodoo exactly?

...Karim says he doesn't know who put a spell on me, but it would be someone with high mischief skill...

"I am not going to let anything happen to you, Kate, because, I, because I....

I snap out of it suddenly and look at Karim. What? What is he trying to say? Because you what Karim...? Oh my gosh...is he the one? No, can't be...we're just friends...sure, just friends...

...because I...because I...(I hear Karim swallow hard)...Kate...how would you like to go on another adventure tomorrow to the gym...to get you stronger...so no-one can hurt you...Yeah...that's it!

Oh yah...that's it....give me a muscle makeover! Woot! Woot! So excited! Uh huh...high five it over here...

Well, Karim kind of misses the High 5 and stumbles into me and holds me close for a second. Then without a further word, he quickly kisses me on the cheek (I think he was also chewing on my hat), and then hi-tails it out of there waving goodbye. "See you tomorrow Kate...my adventure gal"

Ummm...bye....see you tomorrow. Oooh la la!

Things are starting to get murky!

9 - BEAU WEBB - UNKNOWN WEEK - DESOLATION & DESPAIR

MANNY, CAN YOU HEAR ME....

It has been several weeks now and I have not heard from Manny. I have no idea what happened. Did she forget about me? Did something happen to her? I feel so all alone. It's hard to stay positive in a world where there is no-one but yourself. I am beginning to think that there is no-one out there who can help me get out of this wrinkle in time. This parallel universe.

And...to top it off, there was a fire in my cave and I lost some of my items...and part of my journal was burned...

Days come and go. I don't even know what day it is anymore. Is it night? Is it day? Days just roll from one to another. 

I wake, but I don't want to get up. I lie in bed thinking, always thinking...maybe thinking is a bad thing...thinking of happier times...will I ever be happy again? Will I ever eat pizza again?
I eat....it doesn't matter what...some trash fruit...anything I can find. I eat but everything tastes bland. I am not sure why I keep eating...just habit I guess.

But I can't eat anymore fish...that lovely fish I caught the other night, well, the waters here must be contaminated...I was SO sick for three days...so, no more fish. 

My prized trash gardening plants are withered and parched...almost like a reflection of how I feel.

And I lay down beneath the stars and ask why...why am I here? I don't have any more answers...I don't have anyone to talk to...even if it's just reading some e-mails...I have run out of ideas...

I am always tired...even after sleeping all day and night...I am tired.

..and when I think of doing something, I just feel so TIRED thinking about what I am going to do that I end up doing nothing at all.

And I when I do think of something to do...my concentration is gone...I do something...and then I forget what I was doing...ummm...why did I go here?

I feel paranoid all the time, like I am being watched.

One day it got so bad that I screamed into the air...if you're watching me, come and make yourself known!"

I am sad...I am alone...I am afraid I am losing hope.

But last night, I fell into a restless sleep...I dreamt of my Grandpa. Besides being an astronomy professor, he also loved playing his guitar and singing all those "oldies" tunes.

And in my dream he is singing to me....

"Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone"

"And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion"

"And your world around is crumblin' down

Darling, reach out, come on Beau, reach on out for me

Reach out, reach out for me"

And while I am dreaming this...I recognize those words...words to a song long ago..."Reach Out-I'll by There" by The Four Tops, one of Grandpa's favorite songs. It used to be our song, a real happy song that we would sing together and we knew that nothing could defeat us. We could conquer the world!

Is he trying to send me a message...I can't wake up, but I am awake in my dream...

Beau....Beau....sing along with me....

"I'll be there

With a love that will shelter you
I''ll be there
With a love that will see you through"

"Beau....Beau...I know you feel lost and you feel like giving up...don't give up Beau...YOU are great...you will find a way...look inside yourself and you will find the answer ...Beau...REACH OUT...sing it...you can achieve anything you want...it feels like you are in the dark now...but remember this, Beau...YOU are a star, Beau, sing the song and conquer the world...Never lose hope, you never know what tomorrow will bring...REACH OUT..."

I awake suddenly from the dream. I look outside. The sky is filled with stars. Was it a dream or was Grandpa really here? What was he trying to tell me? Not to give up? To conquer the world? Yes....that's it...I can't give up...there is always hope.

I start humming the tune...slowly at first...but then... stronger...and louder...

You're right Grandpa. I can't give up. I haven't explored all my options. I need to explore...everywhere...I know I am not alone...someone was in my cave. What was I thinking...I sing louder...much LOUDER...I begin to feel stronger...I can do anything!

I think about Manny then and send one more message....

Manny, I don't know what has happened to you...but I must go on...I am sad that we no longer communicate with each other...I will treasure those letters...but I must go on...I must be strong...I must believe that there is a tomorrow...stay safe, Your friend in time, Beau

And now I need to make a new plan....but first, oh my plumbobs....I need to get cleaned up, eat something...

So that I will never drop into those moments of despair again, I make a little sign and put it in my cave...and set it up amongst the photos that I have taken...

Here is what it says....

And then I reach out.....I send another message into space...for someone...hopefully to answer. But until then...I will continue with my research...I will make this my home.

"dit dit dit - dah dah dah" S.O.S. Are you there? I am trapped in another time...I need help to get back to my own time...can you help me? I have shelter, food, and water, but I am stuck in another time...a parallel universe perhaps...please, please, help me return to what I once knew. "dit dit dit - dah dah dah" S.O.S. - Beau

Author's additional notes - In case anyone wants to hear the song that inspired Beau, here it is:



The Four Tops, Reach Out--I'll Be There, Motown, 1966.