To the East Side

Patar, summer, 2004
mini-update

Jadhira finally got her wish for a relaxing, non-cheap, vacation. Thank goodness she didn't believe in luck, otherwise she would have left Kimikura a long time ago.



Before evening leaving for Kimikura, Jadhira got the news that she was expecting. The cursed photo booth claimed another victim. The couple still wasn't sure how they would handle another child-hopefully just one and not twins-but they were not too concerned about things.



The second stroke of bad luck came shortly upon arriving to Kimikura. When they arrived to thier original booked hotel, they were barred from entering, everysim was in fact, something about a disremember virus in the ductwork. The hotel even removed the front door. Thankfully, Kimikura Resort still had rooms available, it was a bit more expensive and had fewer amenities than thier other hotel, but they had to take it.



The third stroke of bad luck arrived when thier luggage was lost and with it the precious kimonos she purchased for the family.



Now Jadhira was trying to take deep breaths to avoid throwing up and waiting for Johan to return with news from the airline concerning the lost luggage. The twins were waiting anxiously by the tea table for the recreation manager to bring the authentic tea set and green tea leaves.

"It's ok that you don't understand your homework some of the time," Jadhira reassured Myra.

The past school year, the young girl had been struggling in all her classes. Numerous tests ruled out anything nuerological, it just seemed that Myra wasn't as bright as her classmates. She tried very hard, spending hours on homework and studying for tests only to make a failing grade. Johan knew that she needed to be placed in special education classes, but Myra was highly displeased. She wanted to learn what all the other students were learning and she wanted to do everything they did as well. Most importantly, she didn't want to stand out. It didn't matter, Johan arranged for her to be tested and placed in the special education classes at the start of the new school year.

"But Naraj understands his homework easily, it's not fair!" she wailed. "And now I have to go to the stupid class!"

Jadhira sighed, wishing she could make her daughter's school life easier.

"It's not the stupid class, you will learn at your own pace. Now, your mother and I have something to tell you," Johan started in a serious tone.

Jadhira rolled her eyes, she hated that he was so serious all the time. "It's nothing bad, in fact it's great news!"

"What is it?" Naraj asked, sipping his tea.

"You two are going to be a big brother and big sister. We're pregnant!"

"Pregnant! As in having a baby?" Myra asked dropping her tea cup.

"Or babies," Naraj added. "We're twins afterall, so maybe they'll have twins."

"Eww, you better not have twins. It's bad enough sharing stuff with Naraj, I do not want another kid, or kids, to share stuff with."

"Unfortunately, Myra, you have little choice in this situation. You're going to be a big sister. Besides, you won't have to share toys with the new baby since you're so much older than he or she will be once they start playing with toys."

Myra rolled her eyes.

"Who knows, you might even be best friends with your baby sister or brother."

"Or not," she muttered.

"This vacation is pretty cool, I like it better than when we went to the mountains to that gyspy place."

"That's 'cause dad was being cheap and mom planned this vacation."

"You know, having a baby around the house may not be that bad. We could teach it all kinds of cool nursery rhymes."

Myra wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Hey, do you think they would buy us a TV since they're making us get a new baby brother or sister?"

"We need a bigger place since we're expecting."

Jadhira sighed. "I know and we still don't know if we're carrying twins or not."

Johan nodded. "I would hate to move, I like our place."

"Maybe we can convince the hood council to remodel the apartments. I mean, if they combined some of the units and made them larger, they could collect a larger rental fee."

"Or we would have to move. I would perfer moving to the Metro instead of the Plains."

"I would perfer not moving. Checkmate."

"You know, I bet you can send the baby to another hood, on a boat even. There are plenty of other families that want babies."

Johan balked at his daughter's suggestion.

"Don't you like our family of four. Just the way we are? Aren't we perfect?"

"Of course I like our family," Johan said smiling. "Sometimes in life we have the opportunity to make things better."

Jadhira spent most of the vacation huddled in the bathroom clutching the toliet. The morning sickness was driving her insane.

"Maybe we should leave early, get you to the doctor." Johan suggested, concerned about his wife's health.

Jadhira could only nod before another wave of nausea caused her to hug the cool toilet.

Just as the family's luggage arrived, with the brand new kimonos, Johan arranged for a shuttle to pick them up and take them to the airport. Before leaving they managed to schedule a traditional kimikurian photoshoot.

"Goodbye, Kimikura." Naraj whispered as the shuttled pulled away.

"Goodbye, good life. Hello, stupid class and stupid baby." Myra muttered.

----

Are all your big siblings happy about thier family's new additions? How do you deal with "sibling rivalry" or do you not have any?