The Martin-Bratford Family: Week 4

For the previous week at this household, click here.

Back at the Bratford-Martin house, we are going to spend a Sim-week here for the 5th time because of the Martins living here.

It was Monica Bratford's turn earlier on in the round. She is, of course, still here.

And so is her sweetheart Andrew Martin...

...along with his half-Alien granddaughter Martina...

...and his son, Martina's Dad, Jacob. Monica Bratford and Jacob Martin are both on permanent platinum; Andrew Martin is still stiving to earn 100.000 Simoleons. He is close to reaching 62.500.-, but at 70, I'm afraid it will be a miracle if he'll live long enough to reach his LTW.

This Monday was Martina's first day at school, and Jacob helps with her homework.

On Tuesday, she discovers how much fun it is to play "at Sea" in the bathtub.

Monica does some gardening; soon, it will be winter and the plants won't need any water until next spring.

Martina brings home her first A+, and it is only her 2nd day at school! Monica is the first to know.

Class mate Charlie Cho gets off the schoolbus with her.

The children play "cops and robbers" upstairs for hours.

When Jacob returns from work, he is accompanied by colleague Jonah Powers.

Wednesday morning before school, Martina helps her Granddad clean the bathroom. Ever since she was born, her Granddad has spent a lot of time with her, and they love each other dearly.

Andrew knows, however, that he won't be around for much longer. He hopes to still reach at least the goal of 75.000 Simoleons before he'll have to leave this world.

The same evening, he is promoted to Power Leveler. It gives him a nice bonus but not quite enough to reach his goal.

Thursday morning sees the busy gypsylady leaving a magic lamp in front of the house.

Andrew summons the genie and asks for wealth, but before the genie can make the sacks of money appear for Andrew to collect, he has to leave for work.

Upon his return at 6.00 pm, he is 73 years old and has earned a total of 75.000 Simoleons, which sends him on (not permantent) platinum.

Suddenly, a hooded figure crosses the road and approaches Andrew from the side. Monica was always afraid of that day; it is the risk you run when you fall in love with someone so much older than yourself!

Poor Martina saw it all - Andrew receiving a cocktail from Mr. Reaper, the hula girls dancing, and her beloved Granddad disappearing before her eyes, with a tombstone appearing at the spot where he last stood.

Jacob loved his Dad - it was he who raised him, after all, his Mum having died when he was still little.

Martina can't stop crying.

She sleeps in her granddad's former bed to feel closer to him, but wakes up in the middle of the night, only to cry again.

On Friday, she is back in her own room but finds it difficult to focus on anything. Instead, she sits on her bed, thinking of the great times she and her Granddad used to have.

At 6.00 pm, she grows up into a teenager. The game decided on her hairstyle, not me! And the lot decided on her having the Romance aspiration; her LTW is to become Celebrity Chef (phew! I wasn't keen on yet another one who wished for 50 first dates, 50 dream dates, 20 simultaneous loves or woohoo with 20 different Sims...!).

Jacob and Monica spend hours talking about Andrew. Jacob tells Monica how he and his Dad used to play video games when he was still a boy, and they lived with Catherine Viejo and Betty Goldstein.

Saturday at 3.00 am, a burglar sneaks up to the house. Before he can take anything, the alarm goes off, and the police are there moments later and take the criminal with them.

Later that day, Monica, Jacob and Martina visit the cemetery at Gamesend Grounds.

Andrew's tomb is the one underneath the willow tree.

It faces Catherine Viejo's and Betty Goldstein's tombs; I am sure he would have liked this! (The tomb with the marble slates and the black vase is Ajay Loner's.)

Back from the cemetery, the three of them start setting up the Christmas tree and other decorations. There are lots of presents there! Who is going to have them?

Jacob has made a batch of Christmas cookies.

Monica has invited her old friends from uni. She thinks that she, Jacob and Martina all need something to cheer them up after Andrew's death. Zoe Zimmerman and Sarah Love are part of the group...

...as well as Castor Nova, Jessie Dosser (nee Pilferson, she married Mickey Dosser) and Jane Hart (nee Stacks, married to Matthew Hart).

There was not enough room at the table for everyone, so Jared Starchild and Jacob eat their cookies at the chess board instead.

Of course, Santa appears at night. Everyone is asleep but gets up to see him. Especially Martina seems to be in need of affection; she hugs Santa repeatedly, tickles him and talks to him, and they are best friends by the time he leaves.

This is Martina's room now, by the way.

On Sunday, the three household members take pictures of each other and order prints to be put on the wall.

Martina has not forgotten how much fun it was to slide down the banister when she was a little girl! Apparently, she, like Monica and Jacob, has now gotten over Andrew's death.

The photos showing Martina, Monica and Jacob.

Martina has caught the flu (again!) but does not want to eat yet another bowl of comfort soup. She makes use of Monica's career reward instead and makes medicine to cure herself.

Sunday afternoon, it looks like yet another party is being prepared.

This time, Jacob has invited his friends: Beau Broke, Miranda Capp, Gary Newson, Ripp Grunt...

...Violet Jocque, Romeo Monty (talking to Martina) and Rick Contrary (in the back).

"It's so good to have parties with our friends," Monica muses. And on this cheerful note, the week at this household ends. Next time we pass this way, in Round 5 (which will be the 6th week for the household), Monica and Jacob will turn into Elders. Will Martina go to college? Is she going to fulfill some of her romantic wishes, such has have a date with someone and kiss someone?