Albany Capp's Family: Week 2

The family's first week is here.

We're in Veronaville now for a long stay, starting with the first of several Capp households: Albany's family, who live here at No. 46 Bard Boulevard. 

With four children and their parents, the house is full to the brim; unfortunately, their bank account isn't quite as full, and even with both Albany and Goneril working, at the moment their balance shows just a little above 3,400 Simoleons - not enough to start on getting better beds or chairs or anything like it just yet. 

But the Capps are happy as a family, and on this Monday just after midnight, recently turned teenager Desdemona is especially happy after she gets rid of her pink face paint and little-girl pigtails. She then goes to bed... 

...only to have a rude awakening a few hours later, when a burglar pays a visit. Why he chose the Capp's house of all places is beyond me - surely there are much more rewarding targets in Veronaville!

He gets away with the bookcase, desk chair and the two cheap settees, leaving the family very upset and wishing for a burglar alarm, which is duly installed. But since nobody was up in time to call the police and no burglar alarm was installed, there is no reward for helping catch the criminal, and no money from the insurance, either. 

To make things worse, Albany takes the wrong decision with a chance card and is demoted to Substitute Teacher, bringing home only 400-somthing Simoleons - not enough to replace everything that was stolen. "Unfair!" he shouts, and rightly so. "Why is it always us!?!" Goneril exclaims. 

Fortunately, Albany can return to work straight away, and manages to get his position as Elementary School Teacher back. 

With the second salary of the day and the promotion bonus, the family account now shows a very healthy sum of close to 5,000 Simoleons, and the items that were taken by the burglar are all replaced. 

Ariel, the youngest, is closest to Miranda, the eldest of the four children, and they often seek each other's company. 

Another investment is the chess table and chairs - Albany needs logic for his career, and it won't harm the children to gain a skill point or two while at the same time boosting their fun and social.

It is Snow Day on Tuesday, and with both their parents gone off to work, the four are on their own. That's not a problem, of course, since three of them are already teenagers and old (and sensible) enough to not run into any trouble, as well as look after their little sister. 

Most of the morning they spend in their PJs, playing after a lazy breakfast of toaster pastries. Ariel is generously granted some computer time by her older siblings.

Hal spots the postman and goes out to pay the bills, while Desdemona has built a snowman.

Goneril and Albany come home from work at the same time, sharing the car pool, and both have been promoted: She's now a Pop 'N Lock performer, while he's been made High School Teacher. 

Their combined salaries and bonuses mean the family can finally sleep in better, more comfortable beds - and there is still more than 4,000 Simoleons left after the purchase.

When the children come downstairs on Wednesday morning, they find that their parents have lovingly decorated for Christmas, and there is a well-filled stocking for each of them.

Ariel brings home a kind of Christmas present for her parents: Her first A+! 

Once they have all done their homework, the children enjoy Miranda's grilled cheese sandwiches in the kitchen, where a Christmas tree has been set up and a gingerbread house is waiting on the counter.

That evening, Albany turns into an Elder - not that he looks all that different from before, does he! Only his clothes don't match the season. 

Desdemona ends the evening relaxing on her bed, daydreaming of Romeo, whom she developed a crush on last round. 

Thursday is a day off for Goneril. After sending the kids off to school and her husband to work, she takes care of household matters such as paying the bills. 

Neighbour Tom Freshe is walking by just as she is out by the mail box, and of course he is invited to share the leftover grilled cheese sandwiches Goneril intends to have for lunch.

Albany returns from work as Veronaville's latest University Guest Lecturer - a great achievement, and with the career rewards bookshelf now his, it will be easier than ever for himself and everyone else to acquire more skills. 

Also, with today's salary and bonus, the Capps' account is edging closer to 10,000 Simoleons. 

On Friday after school, cousin Hermia comes visiting on her own accord. Desdemona doesn't really know her but she's been brought up with good manners and welcomes her politely, especially seeing the girl shiver in her sleeveless top. Teenagers!!

Later that afternoon, little Ariel is not so little anymore - I only noticed she was about to grow up when she stopped doing her homework! 

The ill-fitting outfit somehow matches her Romance aspiration (determined by me throwing a dice, as usual), and it is also fitting that she dreams of following in her big sister's footsteps, wanting to become a Celebrity Chef like Miranda. And then... ...my game crashes.

When I re-enter the lot, I find that Ariel is still about to grow up. This time, she receives a much nicer outfit, and the same aspiration. Her lifetime want changes, though - she now wants to woohoo with 20 different Sims... certainly NOT one of my favourite LTWs! But it is what it is, and short of changing it forcibly, Ariel will endeavour to achieve permanent platinum like everybody else. 

It is already dark by the time the taxi pulls up for Miranda - she is off to college, where we will meet her again. 

Now Ariel can move out of her parents' bedroom and take her beloved big sister's bed. 

In other news, Goneril has been promoted to Dance Video Star - with Ariel's birthday, the game crashing and Miranda leaving for college, I almost forgot to mention it!

It is Saturday, and the kids are pretty much free to do what they wish, while their Mum is at work and Dad orders groceries and does other boring things. Ariel's choice of outdoor wear is interesting...! (I changed that shortly afterwards.) 

The Capps can now easily afford to buy new outfits for everyone, and since my game is more prone to crashing when I send multiple Sims to a community lot, Desdemona walks to H&M on her own. 

There, she meets her Uncle Kent and tells him that her big sister has packed a big suitcase and moved to college yesterday. 

Then who should enter the shop but Miranda herself! She's still in her teenage outfit, although I have placed her at a dorm on campus... but every time I did that, my game crashed. 

This is SO annoying! Anyway, of course Desdemona is happy to bump into Miranda so unexpectedly, and on her own initiative greets her big sister with a kiss. 

Sunday sees Goneril and her daughters enjoy a late, leisurely breakfast of grilled cheese sandwiches, lovingly prepared by Hal. "Or would you have preferred fried eggs?" she asks, but the girls are fine. 

By now, everyone in the family is friends with the others; that wasn't so for a surprisingly long time.

Normally, I would have the Capps invite family over - they certainly have more than enough choice in Veronaville, but I fear that the small house would lead to constant traffic jams of Sims wanting to go to the toilet or use the computer and so on. 

Instead, Hal invites Demi Love, the townie who hopefully one day will become a resident due to her surname. The two are friends already, but because Hal is only a teenager and Demi is an adult, that's what they will remain - friends.

Unfortunately, just as Demi has arrived, thunder rumbles loudly and lightning strikes the birch tree next to the house. 

Fortunately, rain is still falling and puts the flames out quickly. Hal now needs a shower, of course, but nobody got hurt. Phew! 

The week with the Capps ends with everyone having something to eat, ring friends and talk to each other. 

After a bad start, the week steadily improved for the Capps. They have no immediate money worries any longer, but I like their modest house well enough to keep them here, especially with the teenagers most likely leaving for college one by one.

Both Goneril and Albany are doing well in their careers. Now that Albany is an elder, I truly hope he won't be fired after a chance card - it would mean the end of his chance at reaching his lifetime want.

I enjoyed the challenge this family represent, and played their Christmas actually at Christmas :-)

Next is Consort Capp's family at Capp Manor.