Thursday, December 30, 2010

Secrets of Sunset Valley Episode 4

Secrets of Sunset Valley Episode 4- Conclusions (Jon Greyton)

I awoke in the middle of the night, wiping a stream of sweat from my forehead. The instinct of being a father told me something was not right. I shoved on my navy blue slippers and trudged into the living room, then through a door and into Kyle's bedroom.

My brain raced into panic mode. My son was still not home, he was out wandering helplessly around town most likely with suicidal thoughts. How could I do this to him? How could I let El do this to me?

Hesitantly, I called 911, prepared to be lashed out for being an overly careless father. I inhaled once before I heard a click that signaled someone picking up. "Hello, 911. Your call is being recording. How may I help you?" the woman repeated routinely.

"Yes, my son, Kyle, is still-" I was cut off by a recording of a collage of words that was created by using different people's voices. The message sent fury through every section of my shaking body:
Some father you are
Maybe he's gone
Forever
Or he will be
                 -El

I was so furious I crushed the phone, the mechanical parts sprawled out over my hardwood floor. Hastily, I grabbed my flashlight and threw on my sneakers. I was going to find my son. And I was going to find him now.

(Allison Samson)

My insant reaction was to protect the kids. I grabbed the girls' by their shirts and thrusted them backwards, landing against the bathtub. I peered out into the hallway, there was no sign of anybody upstairs. Including my father. Oh, I hope he's all right!

I graciously closed the bathroom door, turned off the overhead light, and locked anything in the room that could possibly be locked. My heart was pounding so loud I thought that would be the source of why we would be found, although we all managed to steady our breathing.

Almost immediately after I finished these safety precautions, a voice from downstairs called out, "Hanna! I need-" but was put to a hault due to a metal clang and then the callapsing of a body on the floor.
"Kyle?" Hanna gasps.

(Jacob Miller)

The ringing of my annoying doorbell woke me up from the dream where I relived my night with Allison. I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed and brought myself to my front door where I saw a familiar figure looking around nervously. "Oh God no," I remarked, rolling my eyes.

"What do you need now Kevin?" I questioned my brother, irritation and all.
"Can't a guy visit his brother without being harassed?" he retorted, stepping into my home.
I stuck my arm out, not allowing him in, "Why are you here?" I repeated.
"Look, my landlord kicked me out, okay? Don't worry, I'm not in any legal trouble or anything... like the last time."
"I guess you can crash on the couch for a few nights."
"Thanks, Bro. You're the best."
"Yeah, yeah. I know."

I grabbed his nearby suitcase and lugged it into my bedroom, pointing out the couch on my way. As I heaved the luggage against my wall, a piece of paper on my bed caught my eye:
His landlord kicked him out
Yeah right
More like on the run from the law
                 -El

Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Christmas Miracle

The Chrismtas Miracle My Entry for the Writer's Block Winter Showcase


Welcome to my entry for the Writer's Block Winter Showcase, The Christmas Miracle. This story is dedicated to an amazing friend of mine, her name is Sarah. We've been friends for 3 months now, but it feels as if I've known her my entire life. She's been with me through thick and thin and is always so supportive. Just know that as I wrote this, I was thinking of you Sarah. Happy holidays everyone and enjoy my story!


As I stared out the window at my mom's favorite flower, her delphinium, I couldn't help but release a sob. "This can't be happening," I muttered to myself, letting the warm tears roll down my cheek. My mom has been sick with ovarian cancer for the past few years now, but it's really begun to kick in lately. Go figure, it's also the holiday season.


Dad refuses to believe that Mom is sick, but we all know that deep down he just doesn't want to lose her. We can't blame him, none of us do. Every winking moment my father spends next to my mother, awaiting the few minutes he talks to her every day when she momentarily wakes up.


I heard the door to my parents bedroom open, but I didn't bother turning around. I knew it was Doctor Hearting who was just going to just make my Chrismtas more horrible than it already was by telling me some unfortunate news. "Excuse me, Kimberly?" Doctor Hearting interrupted.


I didn't budge at his request, I remained deep in thought staring out the window. A few minutes later I reluctantly found the energy to turn myself around and face Doctor Hearting. I began to tense up and sweat heavily, I forced a smile of hope across my face, "Yes, Doctor?"

 
"I have some urgent news that I've been instructed to deliver to your father."
"He's on the bed."
I inhaled and let out a deep sigh, knowing the news he was about to share was most likely not promising. Doctor Hearting came to our house a few time a day, since my mom refused to remain in the hospital. He did what he needed to do, but he wasn't caring, he just saw us as people who had an ill family member. He didn't try to get to know us, or even offer any sympathy. Someody's in the holiday spirit.


Doctor Hearting and I stood side by side as we watched my father hastily leave my mother's bedside, clearly thinking he's be receiving hopeful news. Hearting rolled his eyes at my father's look of anticipation and began tapping his foot. The jerk! Not wanting to be near him anymore, I strided over towards my helpless mother. 


"Everything is going to be okay," I assured my sleeping mother and myself. I reached out and brushed my mom's hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. God, she was so beautiful. I soon began to hear hushed whispers between my father and Hearting, and I tilted my head in order to understand their shared words.


"Long story short, the tests came back positive, and she only has a maximum of a week to live."
"No."
"Yes, Mr. Jordan. Your wife will be dead by Chrsitmas."
"It can't be."
"Mr. Jordan, I understand the news is devastating but if you want we can put her down right now."
"My wife is strong, she'll beat the odds."
"No she won't, Mr. Jordan. No she won't."
"Yes she will, you jerk of a doctor! Now leave my house! I'm not paying you to stick around!"


As soon as I heard the doctor's striking news, I hurried over to my dad and placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off and went to his bed. My parents don't share a bed anymore because my mom has a fear that my dad will catch her cancer, even though it's impossible. Dad stayed there on his bed in deep thought all night, the tears poured out of his eyes like buckets off water being emptied. I left my dad to think in peace and retreated to my bedroom where I let out some tears of my own.

 
After receiving the heart-wrenching news I got on my computer and sent my boyfriend and best friend messages that said, "I need you." As an only child I had no one to share this tragedy with, so I depended on two people who had been there for me throughout my life. They both immediately answered saying they'd be over as soon as possible.


My best friend Merideth made it over to my house first. She saw my distress look and greeted me with a much needed hug. "What's up?" she worried.
"Let's wait until Jeremy gets here," I decided.


Not long after, Jeremy arrived and he saw the frantic expression on my face and pulled me into a romantic kiss. Merideth watched the normal routine and let out a sigh of impatience. When we finally broke away Jeremy interrogated, "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"


"Let's go talk about it inside," I suggested, leading everyone up the stairs. Truth is, I didn't want my neighbors to see me as a wreck, because I planned on letting go of my control and just bawling my eyes out. Merideth and Jeremy exchanged glances, shook their heads, and then followed me into my house.


I lead everyone into the living room and grabbed Jeremy's hand and directed him to sit on the sofa next to me. We sat down and he casually placed his arm around me, comforting me instantly. Love has that power.


"Come on, Kim! The suspense is killing me! Tell us already!" Merideth whined.
I bit my lip sheepishly and a tear trickled down my cheek, "Mom only has a week to live."
Simultaneously, Merideth and Jeremy gasped. Once the horror of the truth sunk in, they both joined me in the parade of tears. After all, they practically grew up around here, and my parents were their parents. They were losing a piece of their lives too.


"Kimberly, I think you might want to come and see this," Doctor Hearting remarked. His puzzled expression told me something was wrong, and I think I knew what. There was one less person living amongst Sunset Valley: my frail mother.


I shakily stood up and Merideth and Jeremy shared an intense look of worry. I wiped a few tears from my eyes and straightened my dress, preparing to meet a limp corpse in the neighboring room. I took a deep breath and began to follow Hearting.


I trudged slowly behind Doctor Hearting and the image of my parents' bed slowly came into view. My mom was still in there, sound asleep like a little baby. This had me questioning the doctor's purpose for bringing me in here. Perhaps he had good news, perhaps my mother was going to live to see another Christmas.

 
"Goodbye Kim, tell Indigo I loved her," my father mumbled his last words before dropping to the floor with a thud. His eyes fluttered and then remained open, I watched as they rolled back in his head.
"Dad!" I excalimed as I rushed over to check his pulse. He was gone. Forever. 
After examining his body, Hearting came to the conclusion that the cause of death was a panic attack gone awry.


The next morning we held Henry Jordan's funeral in my backyard, only Merideth and Jeremy could attend. Mom was too sick, but she told me several words to share with my father's remains. We all stood there for minutes, taking in the fact that he was truly gone, and that... well, we wouldn't be spending the holidays without him this year. 


I knew the silence meant that everyone was clueless when it came to what happened next. "Why?" I questioned helplessly. My eyes instantly became blurry as tears overwhelmed them, and I started to cry like I never cried before. Full blown sobs, gasping for breath, I was down on my knees clutching my stomach. Merideth and Jeremy cried a little too, but not nearly as much as me, after all, he was my father. The one whose blood raced through my veins, the one and only man who raised me. The man I called Dad.


Finally, I found the confidence to step forward and begin my prepared speech. "Dad, I'm gonna miss you. As if you didn't already know that. Never did I expect that it would be you we would be losing at this time in our family's lives. But what's done is done, and there are no redos. The point is that you lived a full life, and we're here to remember it. You were a great person Dad, and continue to be like that wherever you are now. I love you. And I told Mom what you said, she says that she loves you too. She also wants me to tell you that she feels terrible that she's not here, but you know Doctor Hearting... Well, I guess that's it. I'm gonna miss you Dad, and I love you. A lot." I knelt down and kissed his grave as I watched a tear stain his tomb. I placed one of Mom's delphiniums near his remains and a few other flowers for him to remember us by.


Once the funeral had concluded, Jeremy came over and stroked my soaked cheek. "Everything is going to be okay," he cooed. I grabbed his hand and pulled him in for an amorous hug, knowing the words weren't true. I would end up losing my mom in a matter of days and then spend Chrsitmas alone. All alone. I just knew it.


"Jeremy's right," agreed Merideth, "We're here for you. We always will be." I found her words tempting to embrace, but all I could do was bite my lip and cry. Merideth threw her arms around me and patted my back, like a true best friend would do.


After the funeral I just wanted to be alone. So I sent Merideth and Jeremy on their way and then bolted into my room to clear my head. I started thinking about all of the fun times I'd had with my dad: when he took me to the park, when we saw a baseball game together, when we threw Mom her surprise birthday party. Life seemed so dull now without his presence, and I just want him back. I just want my mom to live. The problem is, we want lots of things.


After hours of thinking passed by I managed to haul myself out of bed and into my parents' room. I headed straight for my father's bed, the last place he was before the untimely incident of his death. Being in this corner of their bedroom brought back the vivid memory of my dad on the floor crying out in pain, dieing. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, then turned around.


"Hello, Sweetie," my mother greeted me.
"Mom?" I questioned, not believing my eyes.
"Yes, it's me Dear."
"What are you doing out of bed? Get back in there! Doctor Hearting said you need you rest!'
"No need to try to fool me Kim, I heard that I'll be dead by next week."
I started tearing up.
"Come," my mom said patting the spot on the king bed next to her, "Sit."

 

I srode over to her bedside instead of sitting, eager to hear what my sick mother had to tell me.
"Kim, don't lose hope. If I go before Christmas, I want you to have one of the best days you've ever had."
"But I won't have the two people I care about most."
"Merideth and Jeremy are always there for you, don't forget that. And Sweetie, I love you."
"I love you too Mom."
"Kim. Kim. Kim. Kim!"
"What is it Mom?"
"Kim! Kim! Kim!"


"Kimberly Jordan!"
"Huh?" I jumped, recovering from the day dream.
"I have some good news for you," Doctor Hearting shared, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Really?"
"After rerunning a few tests, we've noticed a mistake. Your mother is actually on the road to recovery and will be almost 100% back to normal in a matter of a few days."
"Really?!?!?"
"Really."

The news that my mother was going to see another Christmas lifted my hope ever so much, and that was to be expected. I wasn't going to be alone, I was going to be surrounded by people who cared about. People who genuinely cared about me. And my sickly mother was going to be one of them. As I stared out that window, I though about the past two days events. The horror, the unfortunateness, and the miracle... The Christmas Miracle.
Is that- is that what I think it is? No! It can't be! Not here in Sunset Valley!


Snow. It was the first time Sunset Valley had ever seen snow. I looked back at my sleeping mother, and a grin the size of Texas spread across my face. We were going to have a white Christmas. My mother shivered, the freezing temperature too much for her brittle bones. I draped a blanket over her, calming her shaking immediately.

I felt like I was in a fantasy, finally seeing snow in person for the first time. I watched as the neighbors' children came outside and marveled at the unique substance falling from the sky. A few of their mothers called them back inside to put on proper clothing. I smiled to myself, knowing this moment would be an event no one in Sunset Valley. After all, it was snowing everywhere.

It was snowing over Mum's delphiniums...

...and over Dad's grave. We all experienced our first snow together as a family. And snow would continue to represent peace and unity in my family. Jeremy and I got married on the day of the Sunset Valley Blizzard, and I had my first child as white flakes fell from the sky. And my mom died as a proud grandmother at the age of 103, while sitting on the porch with me, watching my kids play in the snow.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Spirit Tasks Number 2 and 3

I've finally come around to completing my final two 'Christmas Spirit' tasks. They will both hopefully be occuring today. The second one is a tradition in my family. Every year, we put together 35 food baskets (chicken, stuffing, corn, green beans, mashed potatos, pie) and deliver them to those who can't afford a Christmas dinner. Yesterday my family purchased the items and put together the baskets, so today, with the help of other volunteers, we're going to be delivering them. The final christmas task, which my family will hopefully be attending this evening, is caroling. I feel bad for the poor souls who have to listen to me sing. This is also a yearly tradition, and we head over to a close friend's house were we sing with a large group. Seeing all of the good that the holiday season brings is truly heartwarming, and I'm glad I could be a piece of it.



Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Rachel's Challenge

I'm sure most of you are aware of the horrid incident that took place at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Two boys came to school with a misson to kill, and they did just that. Out of the school's massive population, only 13 met death that day- one teacher, and twelve students. The two boys then turned the guns on themselves. The first to die was a seventeen year old Junior, Rachel Scott, a remarkable young woman. Her brother was in the school as well, but was lucky and survived without being shot. You see, Rachel had a theory, that if you did something nice it would start a chain reaction. Rachel had her heart stuck on this, and even wrote an English essay on the matter. Her journals were left to her grieving family, cluttered with her thoughts and feelings. Weirdly enough, Rachel had basically predicted her own death, saying that she was going to die young, and weeks before her homicide poems of death filled the pages of her diary. Rachel was determined to die as a girl who had touched many people's hearts and she did just that. All Rachel wants is to except the challenges she faces us with in her English essay, and I'm doing just that. The reason I've brought up Columbine today is because of an assembly we had today in school. Someone from Rachel's speaking team came to our school, and brought news clips of the horrific day and Rachel's family. Rachel has had an impact on my life. Thank you.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Upon A Shooting Star Chapter 1

Upon A Shooting Star: Chapter 1 A Wishacy


Yes, I've begun another challenge. I've been playing this Wishacy in game for a while now, but trust me, nothing major has occured. Nothing. This is our founder, Daniel Wish, he's currently engaged to Molly Coddle, and they've had their first woohoo. Which means the next time he rolls the wish for a woohoo it can be "Try For Baby". The excitement!


Finally! It's about time Dan, those juics have been sitting here for the entire challenge. The entire thing! Maybe the negative moodlet finally became too much. This is probably the most interesting thing he did during my whole week of playing him. Yes, I played for a week and only got four pictures. Blame Dan.


Thankfully, Daniel tends to gravitate towards objects that advance skills. At least I got one good thing out of the deal.


By the way, Dan has a job in the Medical Career. Molly's his boss, so even though they can't meet in person, it's a good way for them to keep their relationship high. I think Daniel is at level 6 or 7 of his career, which means only a couple of promotions away from fulfilling his LTW.

Thanks for reading this little starter chapter to my Wishacy, and I hope you enjoyed! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Christmas Spirit Task Number 1

So I'm currrently in a really crappy mood because I just received my science quiz back and I got a 75. Blah. I know. Normally I'd be okay with getting this unusual bad grade, because I'd have time to do other work that would help boost my grade up. But unfortunately, that was the last grade that went toward our mid-term reports. To help cheer me up I've decided to brighten my Christmas spirit! I'm going to complete 3 tasks that make me feel good about myself while helping others. My first task will be attending a charity tomorrow with my family for a group called the Hole In The Wall Gang. This group holds a camp where sick and disabled children can come with their families and participate in fun activities for free. Hopefully going to this fundraiser will help boost my spirits along with many more!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

I Disagree Introduction

I Disagree: Introduction A Life As Wee See It


What's my view on things? Everything, and I mean everything, needs to be balanced and in harmony. No divorces, no quarrels, and an even number of everything. Everything needed to be the fairytale life. That's just how I, Lilac Willow, was raised.


Unfortunately, my new abode heavilly disagrees with my beliefs. Hopefully it will come around once I begin to make a little something.


Speaking off making some simoleons, I was just recently employed in my dream career, Business. Like any other newbie, I'm starting off at the bottom of the food chain as a Coffee Courier making 162 simoleons. With a little time and perseverance, I'm positive I'll be right at the top.


As I was walking home from my newly acquired job, I saw him. He was... perfect. His features were perfectly balanced and he looked as if he had no troubles in the world. He offered me a shy smile and I could tell this was the beginning of something special.


Mint and I were quite attracted to one another. And as things went along I became a little too aggressive and went in for the kill. Although, he didn't seem to mind considering he didn't pull away. Things were going great, I knew I'd found my man.


"Mint, will you be mine? Officially?" I finally blurted out. "And be my boyfriend?"
"Oh Lilac! Of course I will, I'll be your boyfriend!" he eagerly answered.


The darkening sky was fast approaching, so we agreed upon moving the scence to his apartment. And I just couldn't help myself, the time was right.
"Marry me, Mint," I simply stated.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Darling," he assured.


Minutes later we were wed, and it was sealed with a passionate kiss.

 

Then we headed back to my place where we got busy in the bedroom. Now that we're in harmony, let's get this thing started.