Occupado Resar 2003

Resar, Fall, 2003
Antonio is 52, Carmela is 43, Verde is 16, Rojo is 10, Serendipity is 7

It's a very busy simlonic month for the Herendez family, but then again which simlonic month wasn't busy for this household.

Carmela was busy putting the final touches on the first SAG-Save the Arts Gala-hosted by the HFA-Herendez Foundation for the Arts. Already the organization was keeping her busy. The organization had helped with getting Nicole Humphrey a position as the music teacher of AVA, helped with the Apple Festival again and assisted artists in making connections with powerful sims in the industry.

Right now, she was concerned with making sure all the flights were finalized for the gala guests. She was concerned since the initial attendence was low, but she was determined to have a wonderful gala no matter.

"So all the guests will be coming by ferry?"

"Well, in order to get to the island, yes. Most of them are staying at the hotels in the Metro." Carmela explained to her youngest son.

"Why don't we get to have a costume party?" Seredipity asked.

"Do you want one?"

"Yes!" The two children exclaimed.

"If you two bring home all As this semester, then we'll have a costume party this spring for you."

"Can we go skating as well?"

"Yes, skating as well."

"And eat pizza and cake?"

"Yes, if you get all As."

The pair looked at each other with silly grins. From now on it would be nothing but studying for the two of them.

****

"I can't play that long." Serendipity explained to her brother, added another water balloon to her pile. "I have to do my homework."

"So do I."

"Yea, but I want to watch Wally's World too."

"Not if you're all wet!" he yelled throwing one of the balloons at her.

For the next few moments, they ran around the yard giggling and throwing balloons at each other.

"Hey, isn't that the new kid from Apple Plains?" Serendipity asked watching the teenager walk slowly around the corner.

"Yea."

"You should talk to him, he looks sad." she whispered before running into the house.

"Hey, do you have a job here afterschool?" Verde asked the young teen.

"No, I had some questions about the project for school and now I have to wait for the next ferry."

"You can chill here for a while until then," Verde offered. "Uh...why do you wear those overalls to school?"

"I have to help out on the farm at home, so I don't wear those fancy designer clothes like the rich kids do."

"The rich kids? It's not like your family is poor. Everyone knows that the Mendenhalls own half of Apple Plains."

"Yea, but land isn't money. It's invisible money. You can't spend it now."

Verde nodded. "Yea, well, it's almost time for the ferry. If you want to hang out afterschool, let me know, ok?"

"Ok, thanks."

****

Antonio was finally able to reopen his shop and to say that he heavily used the plans of the Centowski art gallery would be an understatement. He had the architect modify the plans to fit on the tiny 1x1 lot.

Business was doing well, he currently was exhibiting one of the HFA's artists. The exhibit was called "Bloom in the Fall" and was currently a hit amoung the residents who would sit for hours discussing the show.

He also managed to stock several pottery pieces from HFA. With HFA, he was able to focus on painting more and doing more photography and portraits for weddings. He had quite a long list of commissioned art. The Dawson family photo shoot was coming up, the Wilsonoffs and Warwicks wanted reprints of some of thier family photos and the Kents had reserved his time to take a few stills of the pregnancy and subsequent family photo.

Carmela knew how busy her husband was and liked to give him a few little things to make life easier. Sometimes it was a simple card, other times it was a lavish set of pastels, to be honest it didn't matter since he just needed to know that she cared for him and supported him and vice versa.

Verde was longing for the same thing. He wanted to know that he was cared for, but S'Ahmisa made it very clear that they were too young to be tied down. Thier relationship cooled down considerably, in fact they only occasionally exchanged emails. He knew that she was learning kimikurian and trying to fit into the new culture. He knew that she still had plans to attend Pierce University and study abroad at Kimikuria University. He didn't know if there was another guy in the picture. Had she found someone new? He hadn't, but that was expected in such a small town. Maybe in university...

Antonio managed to get on the computer whenever his family wasn't around to sneak in work on his surprise for the family. He wanted to take them to Hacienda Bay for a much needed vacation. However with four very...nosy family members it was hard to plan a surprise, much less a surprise vacation that he had been promising for simyears.

Rojo and Serendipity were making good on thier committment to study hard and bring home all As. They often rose early in the morning and raced downstairs to work on thier homework. They really wanted that party.