MURKLAND - SATURDAY - CHAPTER 7

THAT DARN BILL

When I wake up the next day, I am hungry, tired, hungry (ooh, I think I already said that) ...and needed to use my outhouse...and...Plumbobs! What was that horrible smell? Oh my goodness! IT'S ME!

How could I go for two whole days smelling like a sweaty armpit? I mean, I had things to do, and being uncomfortable was not in the plans. I had to go BACK to Granite Falls...but first things first...I had to make some simoleons to pay that darn bill...and...I had to do something about the smell!

After my "disaster" date last night and missing shower day, I knew I had to use the one and ONLY bottle of deodorizing cream that the Murkland Mercantile Company had provided me. I really had NO choice.

So, with much regret...geez..I was really waiting to use this for an emergency....wait...what am I talking about?...this IS an emergency.

 Well, here goes nothing...at least I can see if it works...

...and it DOES! I feel so sim-like again!

So, after a quick outhouse break...

I go over and look at my trash plants. OH NO! The poor things are parched...water...water...they need water...

After frantically watering my trash plants...phew...they are ok...I sit down and eat some cereal and plan my day....ok, get out stuff for garage sale...make mega simoleons to pay that darn bill and pay for transport to Granite Falls....then...

...I am interrupted in my thoughts...because you will never guess who just turned up on my lot....

You guessed it! Mr. Disaster Date himself. I know, I can't believe it myself! The NERVE of him coming over!

Paolo sheepishly says hi and tries to explain what happened last night...Ok....I'm listening...this better be GOOD!

Then he tells me this BIG story about having some personal crisis that he had to attend to.

....But you LEFT me at the restaurant and I had to pay the bill....and I had no simoleons...and I had to do the dishes...and cut up fish...and HANDLE fish guts....

"I'm sorry, Kate...I want to make it up to you..."

I don't know whether I should believe him or not...and just when I think I am ready to forgive him...

...he says he has to go jogging...what? Again? We're having a heart-to-heart conversation here....and you have to go JOGGING? I never...

He comes back all smiles...and says "So, like, everything's good, right?...."

And just like that, he says he's got to go....

 What is it with this guy? Sheesh! I think it must have been a full moon last night...or something in that water...because I don't think he's "The One"!

I decide to clear my head of all things Paolo...a bit of exercise to energize me and think positive thoughts...

And get ready to have those simoleons roll in. No wasting time here...mark-up - 300%!

I even put 2 trash piles beside the table. What can I say? I was desperate!

I open my trash sale...I mean..my yard sale...and suddenly all these sims show up...

But nobody is buying anything. 

Then I see Lyndon looking at one of my statues...

"you know, Kate...these are a little expensive...." This is Murkland, after all...not SimMacy's..."

"Oh Lyndon, I know....and if it weren't for that darn bill..." I proceed to tell Lyndon the whole bill story.

....and they're going to cut off my food if I don't pay!"

OMG! No, not that!

"...Why didn't you say so. You're such a good friend to me, of course I will buy your over-priced statue. Plus you have to give me that fireleaf plant over there..."

I look over at the "ITCH" plant and make a deal, but tell Lyndon that I am NOT touching that plant.

While Lyndon and I make the deal, another yard saler overhears my plight and says he will buy the last statue.

Oh thank you! Thank you! I am forever grateful! High 5 everyone!

Not wasting any time, I pay my bill and still have $525 simoleons left. Enough to pay for my transport to Granite Falls! YES!

And even Veegan stopped by to help out...I just love this guy...but I had already sold everything...

"Well, Kate...there's a festival on later tonight and a bunch of us are going..want to come along? We can meet there." Wow! You bet I do! 

 It was still early, so I walked over to tell Jeep Girl, Dusty Boots, and Lavender Pink about the festival. They were psyched and couldn't wait to go!

 Jeep Girl could hardly contain her excitement and when we see the lights turn on at the Festival grounds, we practically run over.

Just as we walk up to the Festival grounds, we can hear music, and laughter. Everyone seems to be having a good time.

Veegan sees me and comes over to chat with us.

"Kate...come on over to this tent and take a look at this bubble machine! It's so much fun!"

We have a seat and blow a few bubbles. It isn't as easy as it looks...I cough and sputter the first few times...

...Oh look, a choice of flavors...Jade Dragon...Fairy Fizz...oh that's funny...I wonder what Golden Rush does.....

...but I eventually get it...but, ohh...I am feeling a bit light headed. I decide to exit the bubble splendor and get some air...

Just then the headliner DJ gets back in the DJ booth. Wow! Those are some bumping beats. I just can't stand still. Gotta dance and get "MURKY".

Everyone gets the same idea...and the dance floor is packed.

8 - BEAU WEBB - DAY 7 - SAFETY FIRST

IS IT SAFE?

Dear Manny,

I read all your entries over and over again. You are my only link to what is normal. A friend, I guess, in a world where there are no friends...no anything... But, I am not losing hope.

"The only person you can depend on is yourself".

That is what my Grandpa used to say, and then he'd laugh, and say "So just do it!" He was always teaching me some valuable lesson. Would you like to see a picture of him?

A neighbor took this picture at some welcome wagon party. I like it. I'm 15 and here is Grandpa talking about astronomy. And we are posed outside with his prized telescope. He was an astronomy professor at the University of Windenberg.

Maybe that is why I like the outdoors so much and why I decided to go into science. Or maybe because the only person who understood me was Grandpa.  

Here is a joke for you. The reason I became a scientist specializing in Research and Development was because I felt that I never quite fit in. I would talk to people and they kind of looked at me, like...what the heck was I talking about, and they would walk away quickly or get upset. I was not too fond of being around other people, because I just felt awkward around them. I actually liked working alone, and R&D suited me very well. 

Well, I am quite alone now. The jokes on me. What I wouldn't do to talk to someone else...about anything!

But enough thinking about the past...

After yesterday's discovery that someone or something had entered my cave dwelling while I was away, I decided that I needed to think about safety. It was too dark to start on anything last night, and I knew that I couldn't really sleep, so I read my science book and came up with some ideas.

I had forgotten about the Rules of Survival because I didn't think there was anyone here. But now I had to think about safety.

I remembered seeing some items at the back of the lot...

The next day, I went about my morning routine....water my trash garden...wash up...Oh, and to answer your question on how fast my garden grows...well, when I plop some garbage down, overnight...there is a plant...look how many I have now! I actually enjoy trash gardening. It makes me happy and I find myself singing as I am watering. I am planning on planting some other items I have found.

But, first to the junk pile to do something about security.

I look at everything and see something on the ground. Just what I need! I can fasten it with some wire...and put those tubes together...and...

...Voila! My intruder alarm! If someone comes in my cave they will set it all a-jingle. That way, if I am asleep, I can hear them!

I decide to go back again for some more items I need for security. Those should work...

I scatter some gravel stones at the entrance of my cave, and that way I can also hear someone coming when they "crunch" on those stones.

But something was still missing. It still didn't look secure. I needed some type of barricade.

I go and have a look at the junk pile again and see some rusting fences...hmmmm....that might work...

It takes me hours, but I drag them over to the front of my cave and set them up against the boulders and rocks...

It's not the best, but better than before. What I need is a door, or a sliding door that I can pull back and forth when I leave and at night. Maybe I will find something when I go exploring. What do you think?

I decide to stay close to home today and explore more of the back of the property...

,,,and what a beautiful sight greets me...

I look in the water and see tons of fish...and the water is so clear...so I decide that maybe I can catch some fish for my supper...I fasten together a very rudimentary fishing rod...basically a stick with some string and a hook that I found...

I stay and fish all afternoon...and suddenly feel a tug on my line...and this is what I caught! A log! Some fisherman I am!

It is so beautiful and peaceful here. I discovered some insects...a dragonfly, I think, while I was fishing...

And look at this beautiful Monarch butterfly...

What is your home like, Manny? You said you were moving. Where do you live? What is the weather like?

I decided to take a break from fishing and I was just re-reading your letter...so, you watched a few "end of the world" movies. Maybe I should have watched more of them to be better prepared for my life here now. But you said you like history. I do, too.

"Every place, every person, and every object has a history. but not all histories are told." 

....that's my Grandpa again. What is your history, Manny? 

But, enough deep thoughts for now...back to fishing! I seem to fish all day and before I know it...

It is dark. I look up and see the moon. I think of my Grandpa then and what fun times we had looking up at the moon through his telescope...

...and right at that exact moment, I get a bite! Look at what I caught! Here we go supper!

I am going to sign off now Manny. I need to go and eat and and recharge my battery...un..t.i..l.. the ne...xt  let.ter...

Y...our friend in t...ime,

Beau