In the previous chapter:
– Mattie was found, and brought back home safe and sound.
– Jeremy promised to spread the good news to family and friends to avoid that they would get the news through the newspaper.
Many thanks to Fredbrenny for all her help.
*****
Jane was nervous. Why would Jeremy have come back? Would he come here to see her? She stood there in front of the dresser thinking about what to wear.
While trying on different outfits she became aware that she was acting very immature. It was not easy to impress him. Then she decided to wear her gym clothes and, as she didn’t feel very sure if she could hide her feelings for him, she put her sunglasses on.
Daisy and Val had gone out with little Daniel to see the pediatrician so she was alone and she didn’t like that a bit. Then she made the decision to go out as well. If he would come, nobody would be at home. She went outside and almost stumbled over Jeremy.
Her heart started beating like mad and she thought to herself ‘Jane, don’t be so silly. You never have been a coward..; why should you be one now?’ She forced herself to look up at him.
– Hi Janey. I had to come back sooner… because of Mattie. –
– Oh, you heard that the boy is lost? – She was pleased that a topic of conversation presented itself.
– No… how could I have heard that? I had no phone, no newspaper and on the Island there is no television or radio. I found him last night in front of my fridge. He hid in the boat the day that I set off to the Island. Seems he overheard me saying that I was going there… he probably presumed that it would be only for one day. He had a bad time when he found out that you weren’t there, and didn’t dare to come directly to me. I found him… and that’s the reason why I came back. I supposed that they were looking for him. –
– Wow! he is back then? Oh dear, what a relieve! I really am very pleased to hear that. –
– Yes, I came to tell you and Valdemar about it. –
– They’re not home at the moment but you can be sure that I will tell them this good news. Ohhh… how happy must be Ilona right now! –
– Well, I don’t think that she has digested this all just yet. Perhaps it would be better to leave her alone with the children for a few days. By the way… could I have my cell-phone back? If I would have had it with me then, I would have made a call already from the Island to tell you about Mattie. –
– Oh…oh yes… of course, wait a moment. – Jane went inside to get his cell phone.
– Thank you very much Jane. Are you all right? –
– Yes, I am… thanks… especially now, knowing that Mattie is back. –
– Well then, Janey… I’m off now to go to Cynthia’s place to tell her and Raph all about it. After all, they’re very close to Mattie as well. Would you like to come with me? –
Jane was a bit confused about Jeremy acting in such a natural way if though nothing ever had happened between the two of them, and she answered: – No Jeremy, I was just going out to do some shopping. Thank you. –
She said good-bye and went to the town center. Jeremy stood there watching her leave on her bike.
Then he continued walking up the road to Cynthia’s house.
Arriving there, he saw that Cynthia was practicing Sim Fu.
Heavens, she was beautiful in her feline way of moving. He could see that she already had quite a lot of experience. He felt like jumping in and do some practice with her. He stood there watching her until she noticed that she was being observed.
– Hi Cynthia…I come here as the bearer of good news! Mattie is safe and sound with his family. – He told her the entire story.
She was very happy and called out for Raph to come out to tell him the good news as well.
Raph was so happy that he wanted to go and visit Mattie right away but Jeremy told the boy that he’d better not, because the Police would be rounding the investigation and they would probably go to school too to explain Mattie’s long absences. – You better wait till you see him again in school. –
After the boy went inside again, Jeremy expressed his admiration for the way Cynthia was practicing Sim-Fu.
She asked him if he knew Sim-Fu. He didn’t know what brought him to lie: – No, I’ve never practiced it. –
She asked him if he would return immediately to the island and he answered that he would stay a few days before going back. Then she invited him to come next day for Sim-Fu practice. He accepted this offer and they said good-bye.
Very near Cynthia’s house lived Dawn Nightfall. She was a very good hearted woman who always had longed to be surrounded by a big family. But she grew older and never could see her lifetime wish come true.
There was a time that a young man was courting her, but he was from noble family and his parents didn’t want their relationship. She had suffered a lot. The fact that the young man didn’t oppose his parent’s plan helped her to continue her own life. She had lived with her brother until a few months ago. Her brother had met a woman and he married her. Dawn was pleased for him that he found happiness in the autumn of his life. Things changed a lot for her because her sister-in-law didn’t accept another woman around the house. Dawn packed her belongings and left Riverview. In Sunset Valley she bought a house in the high part of town… in Rainbow Street. While enjoying the music-box, she thought about the day that she arrived here. It had been only a few days ago.
The taxi driver dropped her off at her new house. He took the trunks out, put them on the curb, but didn’t want to bring them inside. So Dawn stood there, next to her luggage without knowing how to get all this inside.
Then she saw a teenager in the garden of a nearby house.
She didn’t think it over twice and went there to ask for help. The boy was very nice. He said that his name was Raphael, Raph for friends. He accompanied her to help her get the trunks inside.
After having organized her new home, she decided to greet the neighbors. She paid a visit to Cynthia and told her that if she needed someone to take care of the children, she could count on her.
When she noticed that there were many families with kids, she couldn’t believe her luck. There would be plenty of work for her here. She felt very sorry for the Hemmingway family . She had arrived just the day after their boy was missing. Everybody in the neighborhood was talking about it. She thought that now was not the moment for a social visit.
Next morning, Raph hardly could wait to go to school. He wanted to see his friend and hear what exactly had happened. When he arrived at school, he prepared to wait for Mattie to come. Children went into school but there was no sign of Mattie. When Raph entered his classroom, he saw that his friend was already there but not on his common place next to him. Obviously they had assigned him another desk, near the teachers desk.
They looked at each other and tried to communicate with the eyes but soon they had to pay attention because class had begun.
Anyway, Raph noticed that his friend wasn’t the same as he used to. After school, he just said ‘leave me alone’ making a brusque movement with his shoulder. Later, from a certain distance, Raph saw how his friend was sitting there… all alone. When he approached him, Mattie said – Sorry Raph, another moment; I want to be alone for a while. –
– All right; I got the message. Bye then! – Raph went home.
Then Mat stood up and went to the town square where he sat on the grass, thinking about the bad time he had caused his family. He had read the old newspapers and he still noticed the aftermath of their desperation inside the house. Without trying to defend himself, he had been listening to all the lectures given to him. First from the police officer and later from the school director. He knew that he would have to do more homework to catch up with his class mates.
Ilona saw her son sitting on the lawn. She approached and sat opposite him without saying anything. After a while in silence, she said: – I think I understand your feelings. The atmosphere at home can only be cleared by picking up our life and by not thinking about what has happened. You have to help us with that, son. –
They embraced and went home.
When Raph arrived home from school, he saw that his mother was meditating next to his father’s tombstone. He went towards her and scraped his throat. That was enough for Cynthia to be aware of his presence. She stood up and hugged her son.
– What’s the matter, Raph? Why are you looking annoyed? –
– Nah… nothing; it’s only that Mat didn’t want to talk to me. He was very pensive and when I came close he told me to leave him alone. –
– Did you tell him that we have been worrying about him? –
– He just didn’t give me the chance. – The boy looked away and Cynthia could see that he was hurt.
– He must have had a horrible time as well and now he probably feels very guilty noticing how his family has suffered for his sake. Come on Raph; you guys are best friends. I’m sure that he will come around and see you and explain everything. No need to force things. –
She looked at her son and said: – How about a lesson of Sim-Fu before your brother comes home from school? This afternoon Jeremy Captain will come here for some lessons as well. Take your jacket off… it’s too warm to do practice wearing that. –
Then she trained her son. By the time Risto got home he saw them practicing.
Cynthia was very proud that Raph picked it up so good and that he was such a fast learner. She promised Risto to be patient, that she certainly would teach him as well when he would be just a little bit older. He was still too young.
Jeremy arrived just after lunch. He felt a little guilty not mentioning that he already was familiar with Sim-Fu. He tried hard to pretend that this was his first lesson.
Cynthia saw that he was overdoing it. At a certain moment she stopped and said: – That’s enough for today. – She went inside. Jeremy followed her in.
Once inside she turned around and looked at him angrily: – Why did you lie to me? I don’t want to be fooled! Forget about practicing with me! Anyway; you are leaving again, aren’t you? Bye then! – She turned her back on him and left him standing there. He had no other choice than to accept her decision and leave the house.
When he had gone, Cynthia thought that this man most probably had a problem but, what the heck…, who hasn’t got problems? She tried to concentrate on other things.
That night, while she was sleeping, she became aware of a strange cold that crept into her body; a chill that reached her bones and she heard a voice: ‘Cynthia’ and then a lovingly warmth replaced the cold feeling.
To be continued…
From Sims to Real Life 