Chapter 4: And Era Wrap Up
We threw a party for Esmerelda when she grew into a lovely young adult. My little girl was now a woman! It was still very hard for me to fathom that I was quickly approaching the end of my life.
She quickly joined the music career, figuring it could only help her top guitar for her LTW of being a Master of the Arts.
She had quickly topped out the artist skill, and painted a portrait of both me and her mother. They were hung on the wall, and I had to admire how she seemed to just capture our very essences with paint. I began to understand Father's own desire to quit the medical field so easily so he could paint.
It didn't take long for Esmerelda to gain a following. She would set up a place for tips, and play away most of the days, just like Brie did at the park.
With the rest of the family growing up soon, it was necessary to have as much money as we could to ensure each child had a great start in life. There just wasn't room to keep all of them home, and I overheard Billy and Ernest talking about moving as soon as they hit young adult.
It hurt, but at least I knew they would keep in touch, unlike I had with my family.
After the boys hit their teen years, I took them to the park so we could spend the day together. Even though I was now a sports legend, I still worked 4 days, and played two games. That only left me with one day off. I was desperate to earn enough money to find housing for five of my six kids.
I saw my brother and his family while there. Though Winston always said hello, no one else came over. It seems that Mother's opinion of fratenizing with the locals had seeped into their cores. None of Malcolm's children had moved out, nor where they interested in marrying or having kids it seemed.
I just found that sad.
Frenchie found herself a boyfriend one day. This boy Lindsay (yes, that is his name), came home with Billy from school. The two hit it off, and even began to date.
I was speaking with Esmerelda one day when it happened.
I became an elder. Me. It was shocking. Brie followed quickly after, and she was as lovely as ever in my eyes.
It was hard not to start looking back at my life, most of it behind me as my children's lives were only now beginning. Truly, it was time to hand over the reigns to the next generation. And so, I will quickly wrap things up as tidely as I can, and then my story will be finished.
The girls grew up. Frida wanted to be 'swimming in cash', so she stuck around long enough for us to have $81,000 in simoleans.
She spent most of the time scouring the countryside for uncut gems, metals and insects to sell.
She then moved.
The boys aged up at a party we threw the next weekend. Both had decided to be chess masters.
They spent a lot of time playing, but decided they wanted to move now and start life in a house together.
They went to the local hospital to get jobs, so they could afford to pay their bills.
While there a complete stranger attacked Ernest, and no one jumped to his defense.
He confided that his pride was hurt more then his body. The two then got a small place inside town together. This left me as the only male in the house.
Frenchie got a job in the journalism career. She invited her boyfriend over, and proposed.
They had a quiet ceremony, and then moved out to a place on the east side of town. It wasn't long before Frenchie called Brie to let her know that a baby was on the way.
That's right, I was going to be a granddad! Seems to me that is a much better title then Sports Legend.
It wasn't long before Esmerelda reached the point in her career where she decided on the rock branch. There were still no boyfriends though. Both Brie and I had secret wishes to see her get married.
One day, I came home to find out that Sandra had a boyfriend as well. His name was Lester, and he was new in town.
He seemed nice enough, but this is Sandra we're talking about. She's my baby, the youngest of my brood. It was sad to see her almost grown up.
And before I knew it, she did! Both her and Lester shared a birthday, and entered adulthood together.
Sandra didn't waste anytime. The two had a quiet ceremony at our home and then moved out after getting jobs.
Brie informed me the other day that Sandra was expecting. A granddaddy again! I would have to take time and visit my girls when I could.
Both Brie and I slept that night dreaming of different things. I was so happy to see all my kids grow and start new lives, but I missed the hustle and the bustle of having so many voices and personalities around.
Esmerelda seemed slow to find a mate, not interested in any of the local boys. Perhaps I should give her a ticket to visit the world. I will have to keep working though, after buying all my kids houses, we were extremely low on funds.
Perhaps a few more months of work will make enough to send her traveling.
One day I found myself at the local graveyard. I had been trying to catch a hold of Winston. He had called asking for some fruit from my garden.
While there I found Mother's tombstone. Winston had told me that my brother Malcolm had passed the other day, and Father was long dead.
Oh Mother, why did it have to end this way? We never got a chance to make up, mostly because of my temper. Poor Esmerelda had the same temper, and I prayed it did not ruin certain things as it had mine.
Ah, but it is time. Time to finish the ramblings of an old man. I don't imagine this book will ever see the light of a publisher's day, but I wanted to tell my story.
A story to tell future generations of Landgraab's where we started from and why we no longer live on our family's land. It doesn't matter what soil you live upon, only that you spend it with loved ones.
How sentimental I have grown. Oh well, I hear Brie calling me, so I end it here. Perhaps, maybe Esmerelda will continue the story.