Business & Pleasure in Eden

Patar, Summer, 2002
Jesse is 36, Fiona is 33, Bill is 18, Veronika is 4




The Kent family has been doing a lot of traveling lately. Fiona decided that now was the time to visit Apple Valley's affiliate, Eden, also Jesse's hometown. Jesse of course was thrilled with the news. It had been ages since he seen his mother or his sister and he wanted them to see how much Bill had changed since he was eight years old.

The reunion was well timed. It felt good to see the Carr family again, Suzanna couldn't believe how cute her niece, Veronika was while Mama Carr was simply just happy to see her grandchildren in person. Suzanna and Jesse always thought that thier mother was holding on to see the new baby, however they didn't want to be correct. At least Veronika was able to see one of her grandmothers before they died.

Mama Carr died shortly after thier arrival to Eden. She was able to coo and awe over little Veronika before death claimed her.

The siblings and even the pets were overcome with grief. Jesse felt a bit guilty as he hadn't been in contact with his family as much as he should have and deeply regretted it. Fiona helped the family arrange a small private memorial service, stepping into the role that Jesse had fulfilled when her mother died years ago.

For the next few days, the family spent as much time together as possible. Jesse took them to eat at his Aunt Grace's house and Fiona had to admit that Randy's cooking was divine. She wondered if she could convince the man to open a resturaunt in Apple Valley Metro.

"Are you still playing kissy face with that guy from the hospital?" Jesse teases his sister.

"Shut up, Jesse. I'm not seeing that jerk anymore."

Fiona rolls her eyes at the two spatting siblings, it reminds her of the good natured teasing she and Fredic engaged in.

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The family's last week in Eden was spent tying up loose ends concerning the death of Mama Carr and meeting with Brooke Young, the spokesim of Eden.

Bill offered to watch little Veronika in order to get out of the boring evening. He and the toddler recently had makeovers for thier trip to Eden. Bill didn't complain of the short cut, but couldn't wait until it grew out more. He had a few weeks until he would leave for orientation at Pierce University and he couldn't be more excited. Bewteen the courses and professors and the abundance of hot chicks, Bill was going to be in heaven!

While Bill was plotting his rise to academic and bedroom fame, Fiona and Jesse were mingling with the crowd outside.

"There's Brooke," Jesse started. "I'll introduce you."

Fiona and Brooke hit it off right away. Discussions of their common SUN membership soon paved way to various international events.

"To be honest, I miss the Golden STAR Awards. That was a great way for hoods to meet and strengthen thier ties."

Fiona agreed. "I think that the whole celebrity aspect of the SUN has been dying. From my research from the old dimension, it seemed like there were more avenues for celebrities to work, but now, not so much."

"I agree." Brooke elaborated. "I remember visiting The Gloria Show to promote the Food Expo, but now that's cancelled. There's only a few soap operas and even less movies available for our resident performers."

"We have one production company, but even so, they have numerous projects that have been on hold and it's a bit disappointing. Even Simmerville's production company has decided to stop doing international projects and focus more on regional work."

"I wish that there was something more for our residents and other stars in the nation. A reality show, a summer movie, something!"

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After thier trip to Eden ended with promises of Suzanna visiting next year to experience a family vacation for Veronika's 5th birthday, Fiona and Jesse returned to the normalacy of work.

The proposal for the merger of Apple Valley and Apple Valley Metro into Apple County had been approved by 86% and there was a lot of work to prepare, including a restructing of the hood council into a county council.

Fiona also had to evaluate the trial of vocational classes in the hood. The first class was Jadhira's Introduction to Flower Arrangement. Two sims from Apple Valley Metro made the ferry ride to experience the thrilling topic. Fiona observed the class from the back of the room.

Perhaps it wouldn't work as a community course, she thought. Maybe a room at the academy could be converted into a practical studies room and teens not interested in typical university studies could enroll in the classes. There wouldn't be an admission criteria, only the need to pay the required fee.

Fiona liked the idea and made a note to present it to Johan, the educational director in order for it to be explored further. Besides, she had to send off Bill to university soon and she made another note to warn him not to cause any scandals. After all, he was a Kent according to the public eye.

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The Kents have been a traveling lately. This is thier second SUN trip (third if you count thier trip to Simmington Hills after thier hurricane) recently and Fiona has more planned. She wants to visit more SUN hoods to get the SUN revived and the network of sim-to-sim sites increased and more intimate. Whew! Her family has been permenantly packed for action.