Mini Adults

Resar, fall, 2002
Julio is 35, Rebecca is 32, Abel and Amanda are 6

The twins are in first grade and Rebecca decides that it's time to enlighten them about the birds and bees.

"I really don't think they're ready." Julio mumbles while chewing his dinner.

"Nothing too graphic, just some basic things. They need to know the proper names for thier anatomy as well as that babies are not delivered via a stork or from a cloud of flowers." Rebecca hissed back.

Abel and Amanda simply watched in amusement as thier parents tried to silently debate telling them all about woohoo. In the end, it was very simple. Rebecca used a new picture book that she ordered for the shop to help her in the discussion.

The twins left dinner with a lot more knowledge than spaghetti needs to be slurped in order to be fully enjoyed and not to talk to strangers.

---

The Toy Shoppe was doing fine, especially on the heels of the Apple Festival this past summer. There were still a few more events before the closing ceremony and residents and visitors alike were spending thier simoleans freely.

Business was good-great! Purchases were large and often made in cash and Rebecca managed to make some good contacts.

"My friend is in the wholesale business, I bet she can give you some good deals on the newest toys." One customer told Rebecca while browsing the store. Rebecca was willing to accept any help at the moment, especially since she had a costly rebuilding effort in front of her.

"Your husband's business is going to have to be rebuilt as well?" Rebecca asked Sandy Warwick when the woman came to the shop to browse and chat.

Recently businesses by the ferry access road and east bank were given letters informing them that they needed to demolish thier buildings so that the land can be built up and reinforced. After the land was secured, the businesses could rebuild, with a small subsidy. Not only was Rebecca affected, but so was Julio as he had to rebuild the Medical Center as well.

"Yes, it's not the best thing at the moment, but Sazo is trying to see the bright side of things."

"The bright side?"

"Yes, being able to build the shop with all the amenities from the beginning and not simply just patch things here or there."

Rebecca nodded. However the Warwick (formally Kent) had been in the small business world for simyears, especially when it came to coffee shops. They had reserves of cash, the Toy Shoppe was only in its second generation and she hoped that one of the twins was interested in taking over.

---

Perhaps it was this dream that caused Rebecca to push them to do all thier homework and extra work that she found on the internet everynight until they were tired from exhaustion. The twins honestly didn't see much of the playground that was at thier doorstep. Ok, they see it twice a day, once when they leave and again when they return from school.

Julio shared the blame for his children's lack of exposure to sunlight as well. His dream was that one of them entered the medical field. Recently Julio had to take his recertification exam for General Practictions, thankfully he passed with flying marks. For his children to be successful in the medical field it meant high marks on the skill exams and perfect grades, since you could only enter and be successful if you went to the right university. You can only go to the right university if you attend the right highschool which is dependent on attending the right middle school which is dependent on attending the right elementary school which is dependent on attending the right preschool which is dependent on attending the right...well, you understand where Julio is coming from. With the dreams of thier parents weighing on them, it's little wonder if the twins even have dreams of thier own.

To be honest, the only thing the twins wanted to do this fall was to play outdoors and be children...instead of mini adults.