The Patel Family: Week 8

Welcome to the Patels!

Ramaswami and Ana Patel moved here a long time ago. They had one daughter, Parvati, and later the twins Padma and Param. Only Parvati survived; her younger siblings died in a fire.

Last time I played here, Parvati's parents both died of old age, leaving her to bring up her four children all alone. Now, about two years in real life later, I find that Parvati has not aged at all - her age bar has mysteriously set itself back to the start of adult life in spite of her having had two sets of twins. I am not going to question this any further, instead consider Parvati to be lucky - this gives her more time to make her lifetime want of seeing three of her children graduate from college come true.

Patrick is her oldest son. On this Monday morning, he is the first one up, and I have him mop the bathroom floor after he has had a shower.

The two younger twin brothers are Param (left) and Paul (right). But wait, where is Patrick's twin?

Here she is, Priya, Parvati's only daughter and named after her great-great grandmother (I think); checking Parvati's family tree a few generations back shows one Priya in her lineage.

Like Paul, Priya has inherited their half-Alien father's green skin. Cedric Stacks, formerly Cooke, is Julien Cooke's son, conceived in space. He is married to Helena Stacks, daughter of the late Matthew Hart and Jane Stacks, both original playable university students. With Helena, Cedric has three children. Much as he loves his four children with Parvati, living together as a family was never on the cards; to him, it was always clear that he was only helping Parvati with her lifetime want.

Paul's bulging eyes look better behind glasses, and while I'm at it, I also give him a new hairstyle. He does not like it one bit, though, and I shall try again after school.

When all four are off on the school bus, Parvati tries her luck with the Matchmaker again. She so longs for a husband!

But neither garden club member Peter Sims...

...nor former shop clerk George McCarthy quite fit the bill. She has two bolts for both of them, but I'd much prefer a proper New Maximilianian - or a three-bolt-man. With his facial expression, I imagine George reacting to Parvati's revelation that she wishes to marry... and already has four children.

The four return from school with class mates Chris Capp and Chandler Cho in tow. Chris, by the way, ends up coming home with them every single school day this week.

It gets late before the two younger ones settle down to be tought how to do their home work; it was their first day at school today.

Tuesday is off to a bad and way too early start when a burglar enters the house.

There is a burglar alarm installed, and the police officer arrives within minutes. The ensuing fight is watched by the entire family. "Back to bed, everyone," Parvati announces after the burglar has escaped and the officer is on his way back to the police station.

While the four siblings are getting ready for school, Parvati greets the new paper boy, Amin Fleig. You know I have just recently moved in two "members" of the Fleig "family"; who knows, Amin may join them one day.

Again, the matchmaker does not deliver the desired results. All three of Parvati's blind dates are two bolt NPCs: Robi Charvat (I think he is an exterminator)...

...as well as Professors Cormier and Despret (not pictured).

But the day takes a turn for the better when the two older twins bring home their first A+ reports (and class mate Chris Capp, just like yesterday).

It is hard to time meals so that everyone can eat together, but Parvati at last manages to have everyone sit down at the dining table before it's time for bed.

It is Wednesday morning, and as if by magic (he he), an extension has appeared overnight at the back of the house. It used to be the large, unused back porch and has now become the younger twins' bedroom, plus another bathroom. Just one bathroom is simply too stressful for this family of five, when four of them need to be ready for school at the same time every morning.

The children found yesterday morning's episode with the burglar very exciting and still talk about it.

As soon as they are off to school, Parvati decides to make a big change in her life: She drinks the Re-Porta-Nu-Yug (or something like that) every grown-up Sim has in their inventory. It is meant to change what turns her on and off. So far, she has had nothing but disappointments with blind dates, or the men she has met in other circumstances. "Maybe it's me, not them," she thinks.

She feels really good afterwards. One of her turn-ons used to be stink - I didn't mind seeing that one go! Now she hopes to meet a man who, like herself, has a well-rounded body. Also, she looks for someone with facial hair, but does not care to see them in their swim wear.

"Dating, here I come!" she smiles, just having called the matchmaker.
Unfortunately, three blind dates later, she still has not met her three-bolt-man. Why is it that the matchmaker can only produce two bolt guys? It's certainly not the money - Parvati always pays the maximum. It does have its advantages to be the daughter and heiress of a Rock God!

sThe day still brings happy news when first Param...

...and then Paul bring their first A+ reports home from school.

A glimpse of the newly built room for the two younger boys. Now Parvati has her bedroom entirely to herself again.

Parvati feels unwell on Thursday morning. Still, the children need to be ready for school.
Once they are gone, Parvati calls the matchmaker again - and the result is the same again: Only two-bolt men are summoned. I wonder if moving to a different lot would shake up the matchmaker's ability?

Johnson Fleig, recently moved to New Max, comes visiting on his own accord. He compliments Parvati's hamburgers; "like straight out of the cook books," he smiles.

Georgia Newson also appears; she simply walks into the house, not waiting for an invitation.

Friday starts with a chill in the air that doesn't feel very spring-like at all. Parvati lights the fire in the open-plan living/kitchen/dining area.

It is also the day when her firstborns grow up! Now Patrick and Priya are teenagers, and the day they will go to uni does not seem all that far away anymore. (Remember, it is Parvati's lifetime want to see three of her children graduate.)
For Patrick, the lot decides on Knowledge as his aspiration.

Priya rolls Fortune. She looks rather serious there, doesn't she! I wonder what she is going to choose for her Major once she goes to uni. For now, though, let her simply be a teenager.

That evening, during their lively family dinner, Patrick offers his little brothers Paul and Param all his old toys - he has definitely outgrown them.

By Saturday morning, the teenage twins have decided on their lifetime wants. Patrick wants to become Chief of Staff, Priya sees herself as a future Hall of Famer. Both roll wants to get into private school, get stipends for college and (of course) go to college. That certainly suits their mother's lifetime want!

I have Priya meet & greet Amin Fleig, the paper boy. She checks him out and seems to find him very attractive, even though she shows only one bolt for him.

Vince Walter, headmaster of New Maximiliania's private school, arrives at the same time as Tessa Ramirez walks by. Both are invited in.

The tour of the house goes well, and Parvati's stuffed rainbow trout is a treat. Patrick and Priya further impress the headmaster by talking knowledgeably about puzzles and logic. The children are ALL accepted into Vince Walter's fine institution.

Sunday - the last day of our week here, and the last chance for the family to visit a community lot. Parvati wants all her children to enjoy the outing, and so she drives to Central Park, where there is something for everyone.

The kids are impressed with the Human Statue at first, but while Patrick watches him a while longer, the younger boys soon lose interest and rather play catch.

Oh no... all this time Parvati was looking for a three-bolt-man without success. Now who should turn out to be the one for her but Orlando Ottomas? Sorry, Parvati, he's taken.

By mid-afternoon, the Patels are back home, and Parvati invites the children's father over. She wants the half-siblings to meet, too, and therefore Stella and Stacy are also visiting. Stephanie is still at uni and can't make it.

Much to my surprise, Helena joins them on her own accord - she was not invited, as I am not keen on a slapfest because of jealousy, should one of the ladies romantically interact with Cedric. I needn't have worried - Helena and Parvati get along splendidly. (Just to remind you: Cedric is married to Helena and has three daughters with her - Stacy, Stephanie and Stella. He is also the father of Parvati's four children.)

I am relieved to see everyone being so nice with the others, and it turns out to be a really good family Sunday for this unusual family set-up.

I enjoyed this week a lot; also, it was fun to play the headmaster scenario, which I have not done in a long time.

Is Parvati going to have more luck with dating next week?
How are Paul and Param going to turn out as teenagers?
Will Patrick and Priya move to college soon?