The Bertram Family Album: Volume XII
Theophilus, stop stalking your dad and step-mum while they're having a romantic moment, and go and find something else to do!
Theophilus takes my advice, and the next day - a Saturday - hits the town with best pal Alexander.
And then things take a rather unexpectedly romantic turn (chaperoned by Sister Agnes Crumplebottom)...
Their Watcher eventually remembers that there's no ACR controller on this community lot...
...and that Theophilus is never going to get that first kiss he craves unless the boys are given a nudge in the right direction.
Teenage romance safely underway, it's then time to hit the mall, where sensible, almost-middle-aged couple Clara and Daniel are acting very suspiciously. Townie Sarah McCarthy has the decency to look the other way...
...but not so Sister Agnes!
She's not going to tolerate that kind of licentiousness on her watch!
Meanwhile, there's gaming to be done...
...when the grown-ups don't hog the machines!
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Senescence
Senescence is a short visual story of the twilight years of Agnes Crumplebottom (the title is inspired by this machinima, about a Crumplebottom as well, check it out guys, it’s so lovely). I wrote this many years ago in my teens and illustrated it (with my limited drawing skills), and found the time to do the story in TS2 some time ago.
This post is dedicated to elder Sims, who I feel are often overlooked as they are often so in real life as well. With the COVID-19 epidemic going on at the time of this post, I fully realized how vulnerable elders are and I feel we must care for them especially in these times.
When people commented about this epidemic being a ‘boomer-remover’, it stroke me as insensitive, because even though I know there are a lot of unpleasant older people out there, a lot of them are still pleasant and our loved ones (plus, not only older people are vulnerable).
Agnes Crumplebottom was not known as a nice Sim, but her story in The Sims 3 enabled us to look at her in a different way. I was both tickled and touched by @yakumtsaki's words on Agnes here–poor woman is probably only able to rest in peace once she kicks the bucket, so, here is my attempt at a touching tribute before she did.
Also, I suggest listening to this playlist while reading this!
Everyone around Downtown knew the pitter-patter of those shoes. Couples would flee in horror, the scantily dressed would rush to the bushes, and pickpockets dared not go near her infamous purse. But that day was strange. She walked cheerfully past an unwary pair of lovebirds locked in amorous embrace on a bench and she greeted a young woman in a sequinned tube top ‘good morning!’.
She went to her usual spot, a pair of green, wooden recliners near the pond at the Crumplebottom Memorial Park (named after a renowned relative who was unfortunately crushed to death by a chandelier many years ago). She brought out some bread crumbs and fed the ducks swimming at the pond, swarming at her by the side. She was always so kind to animals. But to people? Not so much.
“There you go, little darlings!” She said to them, her voice high-pitched and rickety. A duck came near her feet to peck off the crumbs near her shoes. She didn’t realize it was there until it had pecked the toe of her shoe.
“Ooh!” She exclaimed, giggling a bit. “Aren’t you a curious one!“
She took out her lorgnette glasses and inspected the little critter. The people walking by were rather confused by this. She’d usually sit down and feed the ducks, but giggle and smile? They’re not even sure if it’s really THE Agnes Crumplebottom. Truth be told, they haven’t seen her for the past few months. At any rate, it was a quiet autumn day, and there weren’t many people around.
She sat down and allowed the curious little fowl approach her. "Now don’t you peck and be a good girl, alright? I’m just here to relax.”
She caressed the pearl necklace hanging around her neck. “My fiancé gave this to me, you know. He’s just the most darling thing! And his last name is Darling, too, funnily enough. I’m going to be Agnes Darling very soon. Isn’t that wonderful?”
She adjusted her weaved picture hat and seemed rather confused. “Why am I, why am I wearing this…hat? Where’s my grey hat? Oh, darn. I must’ve left it at my sister’s. My word.”
“What was the name of her son again? Murray? Mortimer? Oh, he’d love ducks, I think. Those little boys are always up to something, but he seems like a bright young man. I’ve never really had a chance to spend much time with him. Truth be told, I don’t know him or his father that well. So silly of me. Oh! And I’m talking to a duck!”
She laughed, then sat back and took a deep breath and looked around.
“My my. Where is Erik? He said he was going to meet me here.”
Agnes rose from her seat and approached the rental shack at the corner of the park, not far from there. The rental shack clerk was raking the leaves nonchalantly whilst humming and heard the pitter-patter of shoes approaching. He lifted his head and greeted the woman, after only seeing half of her from under his hat.
“Good afternoon, how can I he–ELP YO-uu…” He jumped, fixing his glasses that slipped off his nose in shock.
“Merciful heavens! What on earth is the matter with you?” She yelled, lorgnette glasses in hand, inspecting him suspiciously.
“No–nothing, Miss Crumplebottom.”
“I was wondering, have you seen my fiancé? He’s about so tall and has blonde hair?”
The rental shack clerk was quiet for a few moments. “Fiancé?”
“I thought I was asking the questions, here!” Agnes yelled.
“Um…um…no, I haven’t…I thought he…your husband…passed on?”
Agnes lift her left eyebrow. “Husband? Passed on?”
The rental shack clerk looked both confused and scared.
Agnes blinked a few times, saying nothing and looking like she was thinking about something. She turned around and walked away, leaving the rental shack clerk relieved and he went back into his shack to go about his business.
“Oh, what nonsense. Passed on. Passed on where...” She rubbed her pearl necklace and looked apprehensive. She clutched her pearls tightly and squinted her eyes, fiddling with her fingers.
Agnes walked a few meters away into the park and stopped. She dropped her purse and began sobbing as she fell to the ground. It had all came back to her.
The honeymoon. The accident. The years of pain and hurt and the bitterness that followed. She had woken up that day like a new woman, who only remembered of her days before all of that disappointment, the false hope of love.
How confused would the Downtowners be had they seen it. They’ve never seen her cry or express any emotion other than rage. The younger ones hardly knew who she was except for the stories they’ve heard about the purse of terror.
Some simply thought she was just a demented old bat. Now, even more. Those years of self-righteousness were born out of the disappointment, but now, she was no longer a threat. If anything, she realized that she had been her own biggest threat in the decades that she’s lived.
“Aunt Agnes!” Called out a woman’s voice, running towards her. A hand grasped her arm and helped her up as the elder lady trembled. Agnes could barely see, worsened by her tears. She squinted but didn’t know who it was.
“Who is this–who are you? I don’t know you…” She asked, meekly, in between little sniffs.
“It’s me, Cassandra.”
She sobbed and shook her head. “I don’t know! I don’t know where, who–”
“Cassandra. Your sister’s granddaughter, remember? Grandma Cornelia?”
“Oh…” She answered, as if she remembered, but not really. Nevertheless, she calmed down. “Cornelia, Cornelia. Yes.”
Cassandra led her great-aunt into the wheelchair she had brought and sat her down gently, tucking her purse firmly into her lap. “Aunt Agnes, you shouldn’t have left the house. It’s lucky that your nurse called me, we’ve been trying to find you for hours. You know you can’t go out on your own.”
“I don’t know…I’m lost…I couldn’t find Erik…”
Cassandra tilted her head and put her hand over her shoulder.
“Why don’t we get you home, Aunt Agnes? Would you like that?”
Agnes leaned her head to the side and nodded.
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Gunther: I've set up the baby in the basement suite, I hope that's alright with you.
Cornelia: Quite fine. You will be staying in for a few days I assume?
Gunther: Likely yes, I might go to the manor. Don't worry, I will make sure no one sees.
Cornelia: I would hope so, for everyone's sake. Also good on you for understanding that I will have no part of any of this business. - Mortimer sweetie, I will be ready in about 3 hours. I left you a surprise costume in your room!
Mortimer: Thank you mother!
Gunther: Are you going somewhere?
Cornelia: Not that you would be interested or care to remember your darling wife's birthday, but yes I have been invited to a costume party and your dear son would like to spend time with his friend Bella.
Gunther: Oh... happy, birthday.
Cornelia: I figured you would come today. It's good to see you again Bee! Will your wife be joining us this Spooky day?
Beatrice: It's good to feel the warmth of life again. No, Sadie is hell-bent on spending an eternity cursing me and my cowplant out.
Cornelia: Bee, I need your help. You see, things have gotten a little complicated...
Beatrice: That was quite a tale! I'm not entirely sure how I can help you out?
Cornelia: Well, I'm getting old and I feel like I haven't even lived yet! My husband is ruining our lives and you know I can't just leave, he'll leave me destitute and gods know he's going to ruin Mortimer's chances at a good life. I just wish I had some... power.
Beatrice: I can call upon my sisters and we could maybe try to see if you're ready to join the coven?
Cornelia: You would really do that for me? I could be a witch?
Beatrice: You seem to have a gifted touch with plants and you are a Crumplebottom after all. Go to them after the passing of this full moon. We will prepare for you. Come alone.
Cornelia: I don't know what to say. Thank you, thank you so much.
Beatrice: No need to thank me just yet. But I sure do love a little story of revenge.
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The Crawford Family Album: Volume XXV
When the kids were younger, the youngest Matthew was often the odd one out - his older twin siblings having their own particular bond - but now that they're growing up, they're all starting to appreciate family much more, and are becoming a tight-knit little unit.
(All the kids have turned out to be Primary/Secondary Family Sims - according to my own Aspiration calculator. Who would have thought it, given that their parents are Romance/Pleasure/Fortune Sims!)
So, the first free weekend they get, they all head out together to Sanditon, where they're meeting their grandparents, Frederick and Anne, for a family bowling trip.
(It was just fortuitous that they happened to be there at the same time, but let's pretend it was by design. 😉)
Harsh, Frederick - ridiculing your own granddaughter!
Matthew is determined to show those pins who's the boss.
(At last I've found a hair that suits him - he was a real challenge!)
Oh yes!
Anne and Frederick are having a great afternoon too. (I'm not sure that Jonathan - in the background - ever got his turn.)
Oops - looks like someone was having such a good time that they neglected their bathroom needs. To be honest, I have no sympathy for his embarrassment - not after he mocked Cecilia's efforts earlier!
Some cute pictures, to remember the occasion by.
Meanwhile, Frank and Sister Agnes are going head to head.
Matthew's efforts to get to know Georgia are a little clumsy, to say the least.
Yeah, I think I'd have the same expression if I'd been manhandled like that by a Sim I hardly know! (I think she looks so much like her dad Samuel.)
And look who else is here - it's runaway kitty Dolly! Still exerting her independence.
Matthew also grabs the opportunity to say hi to his dad Walter, when he happens to walk past. (He literally ran outside to greet him.) But sadly, Walter doesn't seem to have much interest in getting more involved in his older kids' lives. His focus now is entirely on his new family.
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