Firsts Hapar 2004

Hapar, Spring, 2004
Sazo is 45, Sandy is 42, S'Ahmisa is 17 , Si'Enya is 11 (Verde Herendez is 17)



The Warwick's term in Kimikura is halfway through and the family is still enjoying the locale as if they only arrived yesterday. Sazo and Sandy's behavior towards each other hasn't changed at all, in fact thier feelings have only intensified. When the girls are at school and Sazo has a free moment, they make full use of the sofa.

They continue to talk of course, it wasn't purely physical bewteen the couple.

"I can't believe that we still have to pay taxes." Sandy told her husband.

"Well, we're still residents of Apple County and we have obligations to the county." He didn't understand what the issue was, they would pay the taxes as usual. It wasn't as if they were hurting for money, they had plenty.

Since Sandy had to quit her job to follow her family to Kimikura, she spends her days working on her novel. It was a follow-up to her bestseller, The Pleasure Zone, and her agent wanted it by the end of the SimLonic month. She still had a few more pages left and was working hard and furious at it.

Even though she was busy, she made sure to spend time with the girls. They were growing so quickly! Si'Enya was in the sixth grade and S'Ahmisa is headed off to college next year. Sandy wondered where the time went and how could she get it back. She made travel arrangements to return to Apple Valley for Si'Enya's rite of passage, her becoming a teen was a big deal and the family had a lot to do to prepare.

The Warwick family primarily uses rituals influenced from african rites of passages. For Si'Enya's rite of passage, they'll return to AV and she'll have a small gathering of women/teens come to her and give her advice. Sandy is planning for this part to take place at a spa with massages and hot tub soaks for all. Then there will be a formal party in which Si'Enya will be introduced as a teen and she'll publically announce her goal in life. Sazo has been helping her with her speech and S'Ahmisa has been helping Si'Enya pick out her dress. Those rituals are for the public part, so they're still going to have cake with just the family.

She knew that she didn't have to worry about some of the same things other parents with teenagers worried about. Her daughters were very open with the family. Sometimes too open.

"The first time you woohooed with mom, you guys weren't married right?"

"Uh, right." Sazo answered.

"Did you romance her? You know that sappy music and flowers and stuff?"

"Uh...I recall some romancing."

"O, ok. So it was special then?"

"Yes, it was very special."

"No regrets?"

"None at all. I married your mother, so I must not have any regrets. Any particular reason why you're asking? Could it have something to do with a certain boy's visit?"

S'Ahmisa blushed. It wasn't that she was embarrased to discuss such things with her parents, they have always been open to her questions, but this was a big step. She and Verde had been chatting almost daily since soccer camp in Riverdale. They were finally going to officially go steady and more when he came. Preperations were made of course, S'Ahmisa had already visited the doctor with her mother to get the pill, but she still had questions.

"It might."

"Well, you know your mother and I are always open to any of your questions."

S'Ahmisa smiled. "I know. Hey, did I tell you that a recruiter stopped by the school today?"

"No, was it a baseball recruiter?" Sazo teased.

"No, daddy," she replied sticking her tongue out at her father. "It was for the soccer team at Pierce University."

"Well, it's about time they came around to see my baby play."

****

Finally the day had arrived and S'Ahmisa's good friend and on again boyfriend, Verde, had finally arrived to visit her. They had seen each other at Riverdale's soccer camp, Camp Kick It, but it still seemed like ages ago.

"I'm surprised that my parents didn't blow a gasket about the costs of coming here."

S'Ahmisa rolled her eyes, "You know you're a trust fund baby like I am. The money they spent sending you here was nothing."

"Yea," Verde said smiling. "I know, but it was still a lot of money."

They say nothing for a while simply staring at each other. S'Ahmisa begins to blush, she wanted the seperation, the initial break-up. She wanted them to remain friends, but it was hard since he was always on her mind. It grew even harder after camp and thier intense rush of romantic feelings. In spite of the attention of the local boys, she always compared them to Verde and they always fell short. Verde had been persistent, trying to win her back and it worked. The numerous gifts of flowers, soccer trading cards and her favorite gift, a vintage 1856 trading card of the famous Dizzy Kicks had finally won her over. She was a sucker for Dizzy Kicks.

"Let's go get some noodle bowls." She said, hoping to put them in a more comfortable environment.

Verde wasn't a fan of the noodle bowls and instead played his handheld while S'Ahmisa chatted with a local.

"I know you." He said. "You're that soccer player all the sims have been talking about. Wow, I've seen you play and you're going to have your pick of universities."

S'Ahmisa smiled and blushed. There were a lot of universities she could attend, but her heart was set on Pierce University. She had planned a campus visit for the summer and knew that in addition to thier soccer team, they had a stellar political science department thanks to the efforts of the Kent family. Verde hadn't mentioned his university choices. She knew that he was looking for a university with a strong history program. She also knew that he had given up getting a soccor scholarship and was exploring ROTC programs. Many sims would look at the duo and wonder why they worked so hard to obtain scholarships to university when thier families had plenty of money to pay for schooling, but thankfully thier families had raised them with strong work ethics and the teens hated simply using thier family money or names to get ahead.

After lunch, the couple walked to Majhong Market to play a bit of the signature game. S'Ahmisa won, but it was a hard win considering that she was distracted by Verde's every move. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him. She wasn't used to the funny tickling sensation in her belly that occured everytime his eyes met hers. She wasn't used to the heat searing her body whenever he smiled. It had been a long time since they touched or were in each other's prescene.

When they returned to the house, S'Ahmisa found a note waiting for them.

Went to the Kimikuria Blossom Festival. We'll be back before eleven.

She glanced at Verde and they shared a shy smile.

The kiss was timid at first, then the couple grew more relaxed.

They grew comfortable with each other and yes it was akward, but there were promises of more times to practice, promises of lifetimes together.

All too soon it was time for Verde to return to Apple Valley.

"I hate saying goodbye." Verde choked back his tears.

"Me too." S'Ahmisa agreed. "But it won't be long. We'll be in Apple Valley in a few weeks for Si'Enya's party.

"And in one more simyear we'll be at university and we'll see each other everyday." Verde added.

S'Ahmisa smiled, going to the same university was no longer a guarentee like it once was. With so many options being offered to the teens, families were urging them to leave the hood for thier education. In spite of her own convictions for Pierce University, she had to admit that she was still open to attending another school.

"Final boarding call for flight AX033 service to Apple Valley." The intercom buzzed interupting her thoughts.

The couple clung to each other for a few precious seconds.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

---

Yes, S'Ahmisa and Verde had advanced thier relationship. Do you allow your teens that option in your hood? Why or why not? If so, what determines if they take that next step?