Chapter 1 - Brad

Welcome back, everyone! Thanks for all the feedback you've been giving. I love it! It makes writing the story even more fun, which by the way I think I'm enjoying writing about the apo more then I am playing it. I suppose that's not hard to do since playing can be quite a challenge. Brad's been doing just fine so far though. I just wish the job I had picked out for him would show up in the paper before he becomes an old man!

Journal Entry 1 - A Rude Awakening

The world is in complete shambles. Upon arriving home from college I found my family home completely destroyed. I was devastated to learn my parents and most of my neighbors were killed as the result of a huge explosion. I stood on what use to the be my family plot for several hours until a member of the secret society at school walked by. He stopped and shook his head in sadness at the devastation. He told me it was time to pick up the pieces and move on. I followed him here to this lot. The secret society calls it the bomb shelter. It must be fairly safe seeing how only a few other lots managed to stay in tac. I'm just grateful to have a place to live.


There was not much inside the bomb shelter but it provided the basic necessities. There was a double bed, bookshelf, chair, fridge, countertop, toliet, sink and phone. Like I said, it wasn't much but I could live off it.


A newspaper was dropped off my first day at the bomb shelter. I tried to ask the paperboy for more details on what happened but he just ran away screaming, 'Read the newspaper.'

I took the paper inside and started reading. The changes that had occured during my last semester at college were astounding. Oh, how I wish I could have been home to help my parents through the devastation. It breaks my heart to know I never got to say good-bye to them and that I'll never see them again.

The paper went on to say what must be done in order for things to get back to how they once were. After the huge explosion the city had lost many things; including electricity, food suppliers, city workers, connection to the outside world and much more. It also said the massive explosion created so much dust and debris that the sun cannot peak through the clouds, hence the frigid, cold weather. In order for things to get back to the way they were someone (be it sim or pet) would have to reach the top position in all available careers.



As I looked out at what was left of the neighborhood I realized I'd have to take the responsibility on myself. The few people that were left had enough to survive on for as long as they lived, but I knew if I didn't take a job soon I'd perish away.

I have no idea how Angelina will take this or if she'll even agree to live with me when she graduates but I now know what my destiny is. I must admit although there's a long road ahead I feel slightly fulfilled at the thought of what myself and future family will accomplish.


As I stand here in these Goopy shorts with socks and sweat tank I wonder how I'll ever be accepted into my dream job. Even though, I know it's not the most practical jobs in light of recent events I still want to pursue it. Will it even show up in the paper or am I doomed never to see my dream job reached?

End Entry



Journal Entry - A New Day Begins

I took a job in the athletic field on my first day living at the bomb shelter. Each day I go to work I receive a promotion but I'm not sure it's the job I want. I feel there are more important jobs to take at the moment.

One afternoon after a long day of work a neighbor walked by. She looked remarkably like my friend Plum from downtown during my college days. She had green, leaf like skin just like he had. When I asked her name she said it was Cherry and after further conversation I learned Plum's her brother and they live down the street.

I was over-joyed to know I already knew some of my neighbors. I wondered why she was walking around by herself when there are rebels wandering the streets creating havoc where ever they go but I enjoyed the company so I didn't say anything. She did have a unique look to her so maybe that's why she's safe.


The next day after work a stray cat wandered by my lot. I carefully approached it and once I knew it wouldn't bite me I started petting it. I spent the next hour or so giving it love and playing with it. She was such a nice cat and I wanted to keep her but she ran away instead. Hopefully, she'll come back soon.

These simple signs of life give me such great hope.


I actually don't get hungry when I'm at home too much but when I do I ususally end up eating gelatin. I haven't been able to get a grill to cook hamburgers on yet so gelatin's the only thing I can really make.


The reason I don't get too hungry at home is because I spend the majority of my time meditating. There's not much to do here so it's a great way to kill some time while keeping my mind at peace.


The bomb shelter didn't come with a shower or bath tub and due to the short water supply none are being sold right now. This forces me to bath in the sink about once a day. It's not too terrible but I wonder what Angelina would think about having to do this. Only time will tell.

It's very lonely living in the bomb shelter all alone. I've only lived here for about two weeks and the lack of sim communication is really getting to me. I'm not sure if it's malnutrition or lack of sleep but I could have sworn I saw a big giant pink bunny next to me during one of my sponge baths. As much as I want to invite Angelina over I'm afraid once she see's this place she'll never come back. I need to make it more appealing somehow.

After two full weeks of practically living in the ground I was able to save up enough from the various jobs I've been working to build a first floor on top of the bomb shelter. It's not much but I least I can move almost everything out of the basement. The bed's too heavy for me to pick up so it'll stay down there for now.

On a side note: It never stops snowing here. The nuclear explosion has caused a huge cloud of dust to settle over the city blocking out all sunlight. I really dislike this new weather pattern the city's going through. I was never a big fan of winter and snow.

My new friend, Cherry stopped by for a visit one afternoon. It was far too cold to be outside so I invited her in. We played a game of kicky bag while discussing how the neighborhood looks after the disaster. I've only left my place for work but Cherry's been all over the neighborhood. She says with the exception of a few homes the town's in complete ruins and is very unsafe to travel through. That evening when she left I told her to be careful and she just laughed. I guess she's really not afraid of those rebels.


On the 2nd Monday of living at my new home I found a job in the culinary career. I was to start as a dishwasher the next afternoon. It only took a couple days before I was promoted to fast food shift manager. Working in the food industry isn't exactly my dream job but it's a good business to work in so unless I can find the job I want I'll stick with it.


The promotions kept coming and before I knew it I had a host position at a top level business just outside my disaster-stricken neighborhood. At the rate I'm moving I'll be a Celebrity Chef in under a week.

End Entry



Journal Entry - Light at the End of the Tunnel

Everyday I checked the newspaper for my dream job but it was never there. I had been steadily promoted in the culinary career and was a Prep Cook for a short while. Although, it wasn't everything I'd ever dreamed it was probably one of the better choices to begin the long journey in bringing this neighborhood back to the way it once was.


To my complete surprise I saw a lady I met during college, Kitty, walking right by my home one day. I recalled her being a very nice person. We spent a few minutes catching up before she had to leave. I told her to come back anytime and promised to make a nice meal for her if she did. I'd be willing to bet if she lives anywhere near here she hasn't had a good meal in a long time.

Speaking of college, while I was there I maxed out all my skill points except cooking and creativity. Who would have known those would be the two skill areas I'd need to have maxed out. I had planned appropriately for my dream job and worked on a few other skill areas as backup but fell short 1 creativity and 2 cooking skills. Now, the only way for me to earn any creativity points was to write a novel.


I was promoted to Restauranteur, only one level away from Celebrity Chef. In a weird way that was kind of my dream job. I'd hope to become an Idol some day but since I couldn't do that this was the next best thing. Considering I'd never got to star in a big movie or hang out at all those celebrity after parties I would get my own tv cooking show and that wasn't too bad.


After a few days of typing up my never to be published or finished novel here and there I finally maxed out my creativity. I only needed one more cooking skill before my big promotion which I assumed had to be right around the corner after the extra $50,000 simoleans I earned at work the day before.


Although, there weren't many people living in the neighborhood I did occassionally meet someone new. Dan Farmers who lives a few blocks over wandered by my home one afternoon. He told me how all the neighbors in the area were thinking of moving out if a few things didn't change. I couldn't blame him but this was where I grew up. It's my home even if it looks very different from how it did during my childhood. I couldn't leave. I had to see to it that life would flourish in this neighborhood again.


The neighborhood rebels had started bothering me so I built an evil looking snowman at the base of my yard to keep them away. It didn't really work though. The local mob still came on Monday mornings and took money from me. I was just grateful that they never tried to harm me.

I did it, I became a Celebrity Chef even though I lost $30,000 simoleans for a mistake I made earlier that same day. I invented new ways to preserve food, and better ways to cook the artificial food. I learned how to rewire home appliances so they can be used again. I also opened up supply chains to coffee growers.

In achieving all this I also felt I finally earned enough to ask Angelina to move in with me. I still didn't have much but at least I could offer a home and some good food.

End Entry

*Last three sentences in first paragraph quoted from the rules.


Excerpt - Letter from George

Hey buddy,

I haven't heard from you in awhile. Actually, I was lucky to even find your address. What are you doing living there? Isn't it hazardous? I hope you're taking care of yourself. Life couldn't be better for me. I have worked my way up in the Show Business career to an Idol which helped me to purchase this prime real estate. You really shoud stop by sometime.

In the summer I have lots of pool parties with my friends. I miss the times we hung out in college, especially the times we went on double dates. Those were always the best. I have many lovers now but not the twenty I've always wanted. With my current status in Simmywood I bet it's only a matter of time though.


The other day Perry called and it sounds like he lives pretty close to you. I don't know why but he's living with his parents and younger brother, Neowin. I guess his parents are getting older and they need someone to help out with Neowin. He just grew up into a kid and is too full of energy for the elder parents.


He also mentioned Devon and the Countess married late one night when nobody was around. I can hardly believe he changed his life so fully for one woman but to each their own I suppose.

Well, I have to run to a casting call. Don't be a stranger.

George


Journal Entry - The Moment of Truth Arrives

I wanted to call Angelina the minute I got my final promotion but the phone lines were down and would be for several days. I didn't have much else to do so I spent a large majority of my time just sitting around meditating. I needed to get my mind clear and calm if I was going to sell Angelina on living here with me.


Many years had gone by since I saw her last and I wasn't even sure if she'd still be interested in me. I am near the end of my youth now and it won't be long before I turn into an old man. I took a drink from my bottle of elixir to look and feel a few years younger before I invited her over.


I also had a second floor added to my home. It wasn't much but it was much better then the way it was when I arrived here. The basement is now a master bedroom, the first floor has a bathroom and large kitchen area and the second floor has a little den and two bedrooms for the children I hope to have someday.



When I called Angelina to invite her over I wasn't even sure she'd come but to my delight she did. I wasted no time getting right to the question at hand. I told her my plan for our family's future, how each generation would need to help bring this neighborhood back to how it use to be, and confessed I didn't think we'd ever be able to afford to adopt any children from impoverished neighborhoods.

Instead, I said, 'Think of it this way. We can study how impoverished neighborhoods live and survive by starting from scratch in this neighborhood and we can write journals on how we overcame our struggles. This will hopefully be able to help all impoverished neighborhoods in the future. We'll be doing a great deed for all of sim kind for years and years to come.'


When I pulled out the small ring I was able to afford she gave a half smile. I wasn't sure if my offer was enough but I hoped it was.


After a brief pause she said yes and jumped into my arms. She told me I had a brilliant plan and she couldn't be happier to be such a huge part of it. It was in that moment everything I had worked so hard to earn seemed worth it. I finally had the woman of my dreams agreeing to spend the rest of her life with me.


Clearly, I wasn't getting any younger though so we started working on the next generation right away. I had waited so long to share this part of my life with the right woman that it almost didn't seem real. I often wonder why Angelina and I never did this during college.


There are several stray cats in the area, all of which I've tried to take in but they all run away before they have a chance to feel comfortable around me. It would be great to have a pet, especially since food isn't scarce anymore. I guess I'll have to wait awhile longer.

Angelina started showing signs she might be pregnant a short while after she moved in. She threw up several times a day, particularly in the early morning hours.


Yep, she was definitly pregnant. Her belly grew more and more each day. We were both thrilled to be having a baby. I had waited so long for this. When I first left college I thought Angelina and I would get married a couple years later and have kids right away. That was not meant to be though.


After having tried befriending nearly every cat in the neighborhood Kobe started warming up to me. I had a food dish in the house and when I brought him to it he decided this would be his new home.

*I'm not sure if Kobe's a male or female cat and I don't really care. Sorry, if I got the gender wrong.


Kobe enjoyed sitting on the kitchen window ledge most days. That was until I found him a job in the service career path for pets though. He worked hard and got a promotion the first day on the job.


I knew my youth was basically over but I had hoped my children would be born before I became an elder. I lost much of my hair when I grew older. All those years of working hard really took it's toll on me.


On the bright side I could at least cook lobster thermidor without burning it. One of my biggest fears was starting a fire. Luckily, that never happened.


Angelina went into labor early one morning. She screamed and screamed but eventually gave birth to a baby girl.

Her screams stopped for only a moment before starting up again. It turns out she was pregnant with twins. She gave birth to another baby girl. We named them Zahara and Shiloh. As I held one of our daughters in my arms I looked down at her and thought my life is complete.

End Entry


Thank you all for reading. Comments/suggestions are fully welcomed and appreciated. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.


Brad Fun Stats:
He had two jobs during his first week on the lot (he voluntarily quit both):
Monday - Friday (Athletics)
Saturday - Sunday (Criminal)
He got a job in the Culinary field on the Monday of week two.
He had two chance cards. Both occured at the last two career levels. The first one he earned $50,000 but the last one he lost $30,000.
He became a Celebrity Chef on a Thursday or Friday and only had a couple days before becoming an elder so he had to drink the elixir of life if he was going to be able to invite Angelina over Wednesday morning.