Shared Crayons, 2007

Remar, summer, 2007

Julio is 40, Rebecca is 37, Abel and Amanda are 11, Ana Rayne is 2; Ajani is 63; Rayne is 61 (Ray is 38, Lydia is 38, Alia Shae is 3)

It was still early when Rebecca arrived to open the Toy Shoppe.

"Good morning, Rebecca."

"Good morning, Ming. How are you?"

Rebecca listened as the young woman explained her night out in superficial details. Rebecca smiled and still wondered how she was so lucky as to find Ming. She remembered exactly the day when Sazo was bragging about the student Ayanna had told him about and Rebecca was determined to met her as well.

Now she was working as her accountanting intern and managing the books for not only the Toy Shoppe, but CupaJava, The Drip and OuterEdge Bookstore. Rebecca had plans to offer her a job once graduation rolled around the following spring. Hopefully she would accept, however she knew that Ming was also considering joining Stern & Clerks as an public accountant. Either way, she would still be available to manage the books.

Rebecca was able to focus more on the practical side of doing business like actually selling toys and interacting with customers.

Ming was also great for when Rebecca needed to take a break from the business.

A few weeks ago, she and Julio were able to finally take that vacation that Julio won from the Spirit of the Community Awards.

 A few relaxing days at Hacienda Bay were enough to make the world seem right in Rebecca's eyes.

Indeed things were improving, Rebecca was able to decrease the dosage of her medication and she felt like she was making progress with Pastor Humphrey.

She was learning how to prioritize and let things go, deciding which items should occupy the precious space within her mind and which items could be delegated was a daily struggle. Thankfully she had help. Her family had rallied around her while friends were also there to keep her focused.

At home, Rayne was entertaining Ana Rayne before her son, Ray and his family, arrived to the townhouse. She was glad that Ray and Lydia decided to move back to Apple Valley and be closer to family. Especially now that Lydia was pregnant again.

"If you think you're getting pudgy then you should start jogging with me, or at least visiting the gym."

"I don't know, I mean what if Lydia likes my pudge?"

"Hug!" Ana Rayne demanded.

Alia Shae wondered who this strange little girl was who was demanding to touch her.

"No!"

Ana Rayne was shocked, every sim hugged her. Who was this strange girl who refused hugs?

The two cousins got to know each other a bit better over a pack of shared crayons and paper.

"Why are you eating that?" Alia Shae asked. "That's nasty."

"Green is good," Ana Rayne mumbled as she chewed her crayon.

Alia Shae looked at her green crayon and decided to try, perhaps this strange girl was right.

"It was great seeing Ray and his family. I'm glad the kids finally got a chance to hang out with Alia Shae a bit more."

"Me too," Rebecca whispered as they intertwined thier fingers.

"Can you believe that they're having twins."

"I know, next spring there will be two more Wilsonoffs in the neighborhood."

"Do you sometimes think about another one?"

Rebecca lifted her brow.

"Good, just checking." Julio lied after seeing her face.

"I think it's time to give them more space," Ajani whispered as he held his wife close.

"So do I, perhaps after the move then we could find our own little apartment?"

"Sounds perfect."