Chapter 4.5 - Aaroc

Welcome back, everyone! Last time we left off with a Zahara and Shiloh dying from fright. One died on the main level with the majority of the family graves and one died in the second floor bathroom. I'm sure you can imagine the boys didn't take their mothers deaths lightly but will they suffer the same fate as them?

Journal Entry - Struggling to move forward

The night Zahara and Shiloh died I woke up Maddox first. I was hoping he'd help me tell the boys the bad news but it was clear he was too distraught over his loss to help me.


I reluctantly went to find the boys and actually found Jon just outside the bathroom where Zahara had died. He must have gotten up to use the bathroom and seen her urn. I surprised myself and reached out to give him a hug. Jon shook in my arms while I held him. After a few minutes I slowly pulled Jon away and knelt down besides him.

'Jon, if there's one thing you must know it's that your mother would never want you to cry. She wants her boys to be tough and strong just like she was.'

*sniff* 'I know. Mom always told us to stop whining and be braver.'

*chuckles* 'It was all those years in the military.'

Together we went to wake up Pax to tell him the sorrow news.


To make matters worse I got fired the next night from my job as a paramedic. Fortunately I hadn't gotten very far in the medical field so it wasn't too terrible. I only hope I can find a job in the criminal career path. Those mobsters that come and collect protection money from us every week need to be taken out and I am just the man to do it.


The boys aren't holding up very well either. Their grades have dropped since their mother died and if they don't get them up soon they'll fail. Jon's very ashamed of his poor grades.


Pax, on the other hand, is just upset about them. I don't think he cares as much for school as Jon does.


Maddox offered to help the boys out. I don't necessarily agree with him doing their homework but I couldn't stand to see them fail out of school either.

I'm the only parent the boys have and I need to step it up a little. I don't think I'll ever be a great dad but maybe a better dad.

End Entry


Journal Entry - Major Changes

Although somethings remained fairly normal like Maddox and Pax playing red hands together but many things started to change after Zahara and Shiloh past away.


The most noticeable event was the boys birthdays. Nobody felt like celebrating so they just grew up when the time came.


Jon wants to know everything the world has to offer and takes every opportunity as a chance to learn something new. Pax has his head in the clouds though and wants to woo every teenage girl that wanders by. Needless to say the boys are very different from each other.


Another major change was the elevator we had installed going from the 3rd to the 4th floor. The 4th floor holds enough bed space for the 4 of us so we're hoping if we stay up there at night no ghosts will come and scare us. So far I've only see Brad's ghost go up there once but he went right back to the 3rd floor without trying to scare anyone.


The next change caught the family by surprise. One evening Moonshine was taken away by animal patrol claiming we weren't feeding him enough. We didn't even know there was any kind of animal protection in the neighborhood. It seems silly to think animal's have better protection that us sims.

*It was a glitch but with Zahara and Shiloh dead I don't really need Moonshine anymore anyways so whatever.


For a short while things calmed down again. One evening when the ghosts were quiet Maddox and I enjoyed ourselves with the bubble blower.

Zahara's sudden death has made me realize life is short so I've been trying to lighten up and enjoy the simpler things in life again. I still wish my life would have played out differently but since I'm here for the long haul I may as well make the most of it.


I should have seen it coming. Maddox is a very angry young man and he needs to take his aggression out some how but I didn't think he'd smash Zahara's urn. When I talked to him about it later he said he felt very bad. He didn't mean to destroy her remains, but his rage got the best of him.


Pax has been using the treadmill a lot lately so he could become buff for the ladies. I'm not sure what ladies he's referring to because none have past our house in a very long time.


I think I forgot to mention the best change. I finally got my job in the criminal career path. I started off as a bagman and have worked my way up to a Bookie already. This career is much easier for me to get promotions in. I'm so glad I was relieved of my duties as a paramedic. It would never have been the right job for me. The sim gods must have known I'd be the right sim to bring down those mobsters that keep taking our money every Monday. They're going down and sooner then they may think.

End Entry


Journal Entry - Jon and Pax start to become young men

My sons are growing up. They no longer ask for silly video games and can pretty much take care of themselves. Before when the boys were scared by one of the ghosts on our lot they would start screaming. Things have certainly evolved since they were kids though. Jon actually enjoys the supernatural and seeing his mother's ghost.

*Shortly after that her pile of ashes were cleaned up by someone (I didn't see who) and the grave is officially gone now. Same thing must have happened to one of the pet's graves because there's only one pet grave on the first floor where there use to be two. I would never direct my sims to smash the urns but if they want to more power to them. I think they dislike the graves as much as me.


Maddox finally became an adult. It seems like he was a teen forever.


As I've mentioned before he wasn't a very happy teen so when he grew up I called the neighborhood shrink to evaluate his sanity. He wanted to move out on his own but I worried if he'd be okay by himself.


The doc said I should keep him here for awhile until he started acting normal again. I suppose kissing a flour sack baby isn't normal though so Maddox is stuck with us for a little while longer.


Jon started working out too. I don't think he wanted to get fit for the girls as much as he wanted to just learn more about the physics of the human body. Silly boy!

*The treadmill is suppose to build fun but I guess it doesn't for someone who isn't active. I didn't even notice Jon wasn't having fun until he had nearly 8 body points. As soon as I did realize it I stopped him from using it. Sim kids and teens can't build skill points unless they are having fun until Criminal is lifted or there's a pet at the top of the Show Business career.


Part of growing up I suppose is learning how to cook. Jon had a little mishap in the kitchen the other day but he was able to put the fire out quickly before anything actually burned down.


Since there is no high school for Jon and Pax to go to they have a lot of time on their hands. I had planned on making all the boys, including Maddox when he was a teen, get jobs but when they actually looked in the paper for one nothing came up*. Instead they cooked, cleaned and played a whole lot of chess.

*Since they had F's for grades the game wouldn't let them get jobs.


It wasn't long before both boys had the art of chess mastered.


Maddox had been behaving some what normally for a little while and he wouldn't stop asking if he could move out yet so I eventually gave in and let him leave. Maybe he'll be happier out on his own.


I'm steadily working my way up the criminal career track and am currently a Getaway Driver. It won't be long before I squash those mobsters as if they were bugs.


I don't know why we didn't do this before but since Zahara made the streets safe again we were able to travel to the local mall. Pax met a couple young ladies while Jon spent most of his time talking to a woman by the name of Sandra. I spent the trip talking to the various people on the lot but nobody really interested me too much. It was very nice just to be out of the house and not at work.

End Entry

*I can't figure out what Sandra's aspiration is but I can tell you their zodiac signs don't match well at all. If they don't have at least one lightning bolt with each other when Jon becomes an adult he may need to find a different simself to be his wife.


Journal Entry - Anger, aging and possibly preventing it

As much as Pax wants a girlfriend or at least someone to flirt with there are very few teen girls around. Much like Maddox he's a very unhappy teen. Pax and Jon use to be best friends but recently Pax has started taking his anger out on Jon. Jon often retreats to meditating alone upstairs while Pax'll complain he doesn't get enough social interaction. I've tried explaining to Pax that if he didn't isolate his brother so much maybe he'd have someone to talk to more often, but he's too unhappy to listen.


Pax did start making friends with a local female teen, Ivy but all she talked about was sunshine and that only upset Pax more. Much like myself the thought of all the things we're missing out on greatly upsets him. I find it best if nobody talks about the things we can't have because then we don't really miss them.


Pax is relentless when it comes to Jon. If he's not trying to get into a shoving match with him he's giving him a noogie or picking on him some other way. I don't know if they'll ever be friends again. Jon seems to always be furious with him.


Just as all Pitt's did before me I started drinking elixir of life. If I'm able to lift the criminal restrictions the bottle won't be as important as it has been but until that day thanks to Angelina our family knows the secret recipe to create it. I could live forever if I chose but this isn't exactly the kind of world I want to prolong my life for.


It seemed as soon as the phone lines started working Tuesday morning the first person Jon called was Sandra. He invited her over and they spent the day getting to know each other better. I'm glad he has at least one friend.


I'm doing very well at my job and was recently promoted to a Counterfeiter. Only two more promotions before I become a Criminal Mastermind and destroy the mob.


At long last my sons are becoming men. They'll officially be able to take care of themselves and provide for the family. I cannot express just how pleased I am.


As I watched them grow up I wondered what career paths they would chose. I suppose it didn't really matter as long as they're bringing in some money though.


Even though I told him time and time again that there's no college for him to go to Jon still dreamed of going. He had a little breakdown when he realized his dream would never be fulfilled so I had to call the shrink again to boost his mood a bit. Fortunately the shrink isn't too expensive because otherwise him and Maddox would have had to figure things out on their own.

End Entry


Journal Entry - My sons chose their own path

Jon met Marina one day on his way out to get the mail. She quickly approached him and struck up a conversation. After standing outside in the cold for awhile Jon offered her a warm meal if she'd wait for him to cook it. I guess she eagerly accepted and babbled to him about various things while he prepared grilled cheese sandwiches.


When I arrived home that evening from work I found Jon asleep in his food while this strange woman looked at him surprised. I immediately demanded to know what she had done. She turned her head towards me and said, 'I didn't do anything. I was just sitting here telling him about the soil on my lot and he feel asleep.' I probably would have done the same thing if someone tried talking to me about soil, of all things.


A few moments later Jon picked his head up slightly and looked at her. It appeared he wanted to say something but his head went right back down on his plate before he could get anything out. I told her it would probably be best if she left.

Later that night Jon told me about the woman and how clinging she was throughout the day.


The next morning Pax found a job as an ambassador intern in the adventurer career. It's about time one of my sons get a job. They've been adults for three days and Jon still doesn't have one. They said they had to wait for the right job to show up but why couldn't they work some random job in the meantime. They have nothing else to do.


Over breakfast that day I told Pax how pleased I was that he finally got a job. Jon looked at me in disgust but I didn't care. He needed to get off his butt and start doing something. He's a man and men need to work.


I felt proud that morning watching Pax leave for his first day of work.


While Pax and I were at work Jon started another fire and burnt a toaster pastry. He's really starting to disappoint me. Of my two sons I thought he would have been the responsible one not Pax.


I guess Marina stopped by while we were at work. Jon complained about her coming on too strong and said she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. I tried explaining to him that's what friends do but he was convinced she wanted him.


He said she went into great deal about her job as a gas station attendant in the slacker career and how some nights when it was real cold she wished she had someone to cuddle up with to keep her warm. He took that someone to mean him. By the time Pax and I got home Marina had already left so neither of us had a chance to gauge the situation.


Finally Jon found a job as a substitute teacher in the education career. It took him a long six days to find it. Sadly, Pax hasn't been promoted even once yet so technically Jon is further in his career then Pax is.


Just a little while later that very same day Jon decides to ask Sandra to move in with us. He wants her to father his children. Apparently, neither of them care too much about marriage so they may never get married. I suppose time will tell. They compliment each other well though. While she is more relaxed and laid back Jon is more uptight and studius. I'm sure they can learn a lot from each other.

*Sandra's a pleasure sim who has either 9 or 10 neat points. I really don't like all those neat points since the Pitt's still can't shower and she won't sponge bathe so I'll be stuck telling her to wash her hands like 15 times every day. *sigh*


I reluctantly gave up the master bedroom so Jon and Sandra could share a room together.

Everything finally seems to be falling into to place. I'm one promotion away from becoming a Criminial Mastermind, both my sons have good jobs and one of them is even starting their own family. Lets hope nothing goes wrong.

End Entry

*It took 5 tries to get Sandra pregnant. I have never had such problems getting sims pregnant as I have with this family. Augh!


Journal Entry - The final stretch

My age is really starting to catch up to me. As much as I like money my body is starting to ache and I'd like to stop working soon. I must become a Criminal Mastermind first though. I feel good that both my sons have jobs to take care of the family after I'm done working. Jon finally started his first day of work in the education career path as an Elementary School Teacher. I hope he's able to move up the ladder quicker then Pax has been so far.


Sandra's definitely pregnant. I don't understand how Jon and her could be so careless. They aren't even married and Jon's just beginning his career. Shouldn't they have worked for awhile first before having children? All I have to say is they better not ask me for money.


I must admit they seem at peace with the situation. Jon spends a lot of time meditating to keep his needs up while Sandra keeps busy with housework.


Pax finally got promoted the other day. He was promoted to a Spelunker. Don't ask me what that means, but hey at least he's moving up.


I overheard Jon and Sandra talking about getting married for their baby's sake before it's born. I think that's a smart decision and I hope they do it soon.


Because she just keeps getting bigger and bigger every day.


With a few days to spare they tied the knot in our kitchen. Pax and I were both there to cheer them on. It's nice having a woman around again. Things haven't been the same since Zahara and Shiloh died.


I have one last mechanical skill to learn before I can get my final promotion. It's so close I can taste the blood of those mobsters I'm going to bring down.


I don't remember Zahara's pregancy being nearly as difficult as Sandra's has been. She seemed to be constantly hungry and generally miserable during the entire process. That's why when I heard her piercing screams when she went into labor I called for Jon and left the room quickly.


For hours all the household heard was Sandra's screams. Pax and I wanted to call a doctor but there were none in this neighborhood to even call. The only thing to do was sit and wait which neither of us are very good at.


After what seemed like an eternity a healthy baby boy was born. They decided to name him Bill after Jon's grandfather's dad.


Pax's luck has certainly shifted. He's been getting promotions nearly everyday. His latest position was to Deep Sea Excavator.


He caught me a bit off guard when I saw him feeding Bill in his work uniform. I don't know about you but as a child if someone feed me while wearing something like that I'd have nightmares for the rest of my life.


Well, it's been a long and difficult journey but I have finally become a criminal mastermind, acheiving my lifetime want. I wasted no time in bringing down the current mob and starting my own with the loyal co-workers I've encountered over the years. Nobody will ever bother my family for protection money again! Mwhaha!!!

End Entry

*If Aaroc hadn't gotten promoted when he did he would have most likely turned into an elder that evening (he wasn't in gold or plat so I couldn't use the elixir) and would have been forced to quit his job because he didn't have 10 body points. You can imagine my relief when he came home and got his final promotion. Whew! I'm so glad the pet restrictions are finally unsupressed.

Please don't forget to provide commments. I really do want to know what you think. Thanks!