The Atwood DITFT: Generation 1, Chapter 2
Author's Note: Hi guys! Welcome back to the Atwood DITFT! Okay, I know I'm really spamming the chapters lately, but let's just say it's either this or write my research paper, and I like to procrastinate. So. Without further ado, another chapter of the Atwoods! :D
The Atwood DITFT: Generation 1, Chapter 2
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The first few days of Nick’s new life flew by in a blur. He could not even bring himself to plant the seeds he had brought along, feeling the pain that was just beneath the surface threatening to boil over at the slightest invitation. Instead he set about fixing up the dilapidated cabin he now called home. It was more of a shack than anything, with a dirt floor and log walls. It looked like the previous owner had been something of a shady character, as well-there were piles of boxes and other crap littered about, including a giant rusty oil drum whose origin and use Nick did not want to know.
He didn’t even want to get near the bathroom, which consisted of a horribly rusty toilet and a little faucet that came out of the wall that he assumed was supposed to be a shower. For a while, he peed outside-“like a real outdoorsman,” his father would have said with a wink.
He may have been poor, but he was not a pauper. He was able to afford wood flooring and wallpaper for the place, which he installed himself. Several weeks of haunting the shops, consignment store, and even the junkyard got him a nice set of furniture-nicer than he’d expected, certainly.
Things here in Appaloosa Plains sure were cheaper than they’d been back home.
When he was finally satisfied, he put on the finishing touch: a photograph of his parents, the only one that survived after the fire.
Fire. Flames rising up, heat consuming everything. He had heard the sirens go by, that day. He and Katie were on their way to the grocery store, selling some of the family’s produce. Katie had begun to whine, the high-pitched wailing hurting her ears before it even reached Nick’s. But he thought nothing of it, at the time.
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The day Nick ran out of food was the day he realized he needed to plant his garden. How long had he been expecting to last without any means of livelihood?
Just a few seeds can’t hurt, he thought. Surely I can block it all out for ten minutes, right?
He couldn’t.
Flames rising, sirens wailing. Running, running, Nick and Katie running when they saw the smoke coming from the direction of their house. A sinking feeling in his stomach, as though his world was falling apart. Which it was. Trying to get past the firemen, trying to push his way into the house, to save them, save his parents, save her… but it was too late.
The house collapsing, on top of them, his family, his life.
His fault.
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Eventually, hunger overcame his grief. Not that it erased the grief; he didn’t think anything could do that. But something had to be done to pay the bills, and Nick didn’t think he could buy groceries from the store in town many more times before he lost all sense of self-respect as a farmer. “Real farmers don’t buy their food; they grow it,” his father would always say.
And there was nothing Nick wanted more than to make his father proud.
And so the seeds were planted; they grew. So, little by little, did Nick’s hopes for the future.
Of course, Katie was a huge part of it. Sure, she reminded Nick painfully of his mother, but there is nothing like the companionship and unconditional love of a pet to ease a person’s suffering. Often when Nick was lying in bed late at night-the time when he was most prone to hopelessness-Katie would curl up next to him and let him put his arm around her. The warm presence of another being was more comfort than he could explain, even to himself.
Phoenix was helpful too; it was true. Nick loved the comforting sound of a cat’s purr, and Phoenix brought back two positive memories for every negative one. However, she’d become very withdrawn since the accident-since she had been at home at the time, there was no telling how much she had seen, how injured she had been. The rest of the pets had perished in the fire, or run away, Nick did not know. Phoenix, though she had stuck around, became wary and distrusting, and preferred to spend her time alone. When she was in a cuddly sort of mood, she was a great comfort; but more often than not, it was Katie who appeared when Nick needed a hug.
Though Katie was getting along in years, she still held to her customary desire for a daily walk, which gave Nick a reason to get up when all he wanted to do was sleep, or cry.
The garden, too, encouraged Nick to get out of bed in the morning. “Thirsty plants won’t wait for you to sleep in!” Phil used to say. This was certainly the case in Nick’s garden. The first time he found a wilting plant that lacked water and care due to him alone, he vowed never to let that happen again.
While Nick waited for the plants to grow, he needed another hobby. Fortunately, one was available to him in the form of fishing. There was a gorgeous pond at the edge of his property, which was one of the main reasons he’d purchased this particular plot in the first place. Luckily, one of the more useful things the previous owner had left behind was a fishing rod, so Nick could start right away.
From then on his days took up a very calming routine. Mornings were spent tending the crops, weeding and watering for hours on end. Afternoons involved a wonderful mix of fishing and interacting with his two beloved pets.
And every evening, he set to making a salad out of store-bought produce, which he’d gotten in exchange for the fish he caught from his pond, and counted down the days until he would never have to buy produce again.
He still never used the stove, however. Nick had become a fairly good cook in his later teenage years thanks to some expert guidance; but after the fire, he had become a bit neurotic, and could not stand the thought of taking such a risk-no matter how many safety measures he had employed.
Finally, the day came when his harvest was ready. The very first thing Nick did was devour an apple-store-bought produce just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Nick really was a farm boy, born and raised. The sweet flavor of a home-grown apple filled his mouth, and he found himself smiling for the first time in months.
After carefully saving just enough fruits and veggies to last until the next harvest, Nick called to Katie to take her on her daily walk. But this would be a walk of triumph: he was about to make the first few simoleons of his new life!
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Well, that's all for this time! I know it was pretty short, but originally I'd had it combined with the next one and then it was way too long, so I had to split it. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it! I'm having a ton of fun writing this family (I'm way ahead in-game and even further ahead in what I've written :D) so you can definitely expect more of them soon! But first I'll try to get a Richmond chapter out :D Well I'd love to hear what you thought! Comments, as always, make my day ;) Have a great day/night/whatever/unicorn guys!
Speaking of unicorns, fun fact! Nick's family had a unicorn for like 2 sim days when he was a child xD Want a picture?
Marsha: Uh... Is this realistic?
Shhh, it's a unicorn! What was I supposed to do, NOT adopt it? xD
Happy simming, guys xD