Starting Over so Late

Peacar, winter, 2002
Johan is 41, Jadhira is 40, Myra and Naraj are 7

The winter was fairly mild, but not mild enough to excuse Myra from running around in her summer clothing. She insisted that she was fine, but when her father hugged her upon his arrival home from work, he found her skin clamy.

"Myra is sick." Johan said tossing his books to the table. "She has a fever and she's sneezing. We need to call Dr.Wilsonoff."

Jadhira sighed, it wasn't what she needed to hear at this moment. Her day at work was disappointing to say the least. Her boss, Grex Grey, pulled her aside after the market closed for the day and revealed that he would be moving to Apple Plains to be closer to his family. The Farmer's Market would be closing at the end of the simmonth, thier farm had already been sold to the hood council for more housing. He gave her a weak offer to continue working as a florist in the Apple Plains Farmer's Market owned by his family. Unfortunately, the commute would be too much for Jadhira. A twenty minute ferry ride to the nearest train station, followed by a twenty minute train ride to Apple Plains. Jadhira wasn't fond of the idea of an hour commute for work each day each way.

Now Jadhira was a 40 year old woman without a job come the end of the month and her daughter is sick.

"Dr. Wilsonoff," Jadhira called. "Myra is sick. Should I bring her in to see you?"

Jadhira listened as the man gave her explicit instructions on the care of the sick child. Plenty of rest and fluids, keep her warm and feed her soup. If she doesn't recover in 3 simdays, give him a call.

After Myra was put to bed, the rest of the family ate a dinner of trout, grilled vegetables and santa cookies. Jadhira could barely keep her food down and had to rush to the bathroom to pay homage to the god of the toilet. Perhaps it was just her nerves concerning her employment status, she reasoned as another wave of nausea hit her.

Downstairs, the boys of the family finished thier meal.

"Dad, can you play the 'Llama Dama' song when you pee?"

"What?" Johan asked, nearly choking on his fish.

"Can you? Abel showed me how, I could show you."

Johan shook his head, "No thank you."

----

After the dishes were cleaned, Johan found his wife and wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you ok?" he asked, swaying to the music in his head.

Jadhira's eyes filled with tears and she told him everything. How she was going to be unemployed, how she was worried about finding another job with the skills she had-and more importantly with the skills and degree she didn't have.

"Don't worry, sweetheart." He said calming her down with a deep kiss. "You have plenty of time to look and find a job. Perhaps you could give Carmela a call and ask her about that art foundation, perhaps she needs some pottery artists or something."

----

Jadhira does call Carmela and the woman promises to send her some information about the art foundation. It wasn't a job offer, in fact the words job, employment or salary were not mentioned, but Jadhira did feel better.
Her day only got better as Naraj came home with an A on his simlish history project. He better have an A! She and Johan stayed up all night doing-helping-him with that project. Finally, little Myra climbed out of bed, groggy, hungry and fever-less.

She makes Naraj's favorite meal, cheesy macaroni, while he plays with the cat-a Christmas gift, and Myra surfs the internet. By the time Johan arrives home, dinner is ready and the entire family eats together.

Johan shares stories about his day as the President of Apple County Board of Education. How the construction of the new school building is almost complete and should be ready by the fall of 2003. How the university is undergoing renovation on some of it's older buildings, how the plans for the school in the metro are going (expected fall 2006).

"Mom, are butt kissers and brown nosers the same thing?" Naraj asked.

Johan nearly choked on his macaroni. Where was his son getting this information!!!