Chasing Opportunities

Hapar, Spring, 2002
Sazo is 43, Sandy is 40, S'Ahmisa is 15 , Si'Enya is 9

"Are you sure this is really what you want to do?" Sandy asked her husband as they relaxed in bed.

Sazo nodded.

The couple had been discussing the issue for a few weeks now and a decision needed to be made. Three years was a long time and that required lots of thinking and planning.

The opportunity presented itself while Sazo was working at CupaJava and Antonio dropped by.

"This came to my house by mistake." He said, handing him a large envelope.

Sazo glanced at the return address and knew that his prayers had been answered.

"If that's the case," Sandy continued. "We'll tell the girls tomorrow at dinner."

----

S'Ahmisa and Si'Enya carried on thier normal routine, unaware that thier life was about to change.

S'Ahmisa helped her little sister with her homework that afternoon as usual.

"3+3+3+3 is the same as what, Si'Enya?"

Si'Enya chewed on her pencil. She pictured large leaves with tiny bugs on them, three to be exact. How many leaves were there...

"4x3!" She shouted in triumph as the bugs flew away and her thoughts returned to her worksheet.

There was one exception to the routine, that was Lucy. She was from Apple Valley Metro, but she was waiting for the evening ferry after a day spent touring Apple Valley Academy.

"My parents think that ferries are safer than buses." She commented.

S'Ahmisa nodded, wondering what it was that she was supposed to say.

"To be honest, I rather have my own car, but you know how parents are."

S'Ahmisa glanced at the clock, she didn't want to be rude, but Lucy was boring her and she really needed to study for her skill exams, not to mention practice her kicking form, call Verde and watch Pahala Shore with Si'Enya and her mom.

"Uh...I think it's time for you to go, if you don't want to miss your ferry."

Lucy jumped up, thankful that she was able to return to her urban mecca.

----
Later that evening, the Warwick family enjoyed thier weekly switch-a-roo meal of omellettes for dinner

"I have an annoucement to make." Sazo said interrupting the meal and idle discussions of school and work.

The girls looked at thier father curiously, his tone told them that this wasn't going to be a light conversation about MP3 players.

"We're moving to Kimikura."

"What?!?!"

"Sazo, perhaps you should explain why the entire family is packing up and moving to another place."

"I've been offered to join a research team in Kimikura about the affect of spring water on the quality of tea leaves. I thought about not accepting the offer, but it would be great for business and the tea industry."

"So we have to move there forever?" Si'Enya asked.

"Not forever, only three simyears."

"Three simyears, that means that I'll have to graduate over there."

"That's right."

"When do we leave?"

"They want us there by the end of the month."

"That will give us enough time to pack and get the house rented." Sandy added.

"Cool. So we'll get to eat sushi everyday! I love sushi!" Si'Enya chimed.

"Not everyday, sweetie."

"How do you girls feel about this?" Sazo asked.

"It's cool." S'Ahmisa stated. "I love to travel and this means that we'll get to experience another culture for more in-depth. Besides, we'll return to Apple Valley after three years."

"I'll be able to collect all sorts of neat bugs!" Si'Enya could hardly contain her excitement.

Sazo grinned. He thought that the girls would whine and cry about missing friends and psuedo boyfriends, but Sandy was right. The girls had a large sense of adventure.

----

The month passed quickly.

S'Ahmisa continued to practice for her skill exams by jumping rope outside in the cold to pass the physical fitness skill exam. She tried to enjoy her last few days in Apple Valley, but she was anxious to get to Kimikura and embrace the culture.

She read all about the Kimikurian culture of sports and found some contacts to help her continue to train. She said her goodbyes to Verde and they promised to email each other. She was surprised that she didn't cry about leaving her almost boyfriend...that's not how it was supposed to be...right?

Si'Enya found herself staring out the window at the fireflies and wondering how exactly the bugs would differ in Kimikura.

"Don't worry, Si'Enya." Sandy said. "The culture of Kimikura is very nature oriented, there will be plenty of sims there with lots of knowledge about the local bugs."

Soon, it was time. A shuttle arrived to take the family to the ferry where they would travel to the nearest international airport.

Simhours later, they pulled up to thier home for the next three simyears.

Welcome to Kimikura, Warwick Family!

----

The girls were not tramatized or anything. They were very excited about traveling to Kimikura, but then again, this is the family that travels a lot. I bet S'Ahmisa was thinking-"YES! I get to cross off more things on my list of things to see and do while traveling!" Honestly, they make great military brats.

S'Ahmisa and Verde are only one bolt, so perhaps that's why S'Ahmisa wasn't upset about leaving her psuedo-boyfriend.

This was a ROS that actually started with Sandy divorcing Sazo. This didn't fit at all since I have to break up thier make-out sessions and get them out of the bed several times during a play session. They are very much in love. The second ROS involved them leaving for 3 years. It was harder to write than I thought since Sandy is a gamer and Sazo owns his own business. Neither industry sends sims to international countries for three years. Thus, Sazo had to join a research group about tea :)