Tybalt Capp: Freshman Year

Hello and welcome back to our second year at Académie Le Tour, Veronaville's reputable institute of higher learning. We have already spent time here when Marla Biggs started to study here, along with a bunch of other Freshmen, and we're at the same dorm, too: The large building just to the left of the balloon.

It is for Tybalt Capp that we have come here - he didn't get a chance to complete his week at home, as he had to move to college before the week was over. How will he fare here? 

He is the only Freshman among a group of Sophomores: Tom Freshe, Chaz Whippler, Marla Biggs, Chris Cho, Phineaus Furley, Ellen Frost and Emily Lee. 

The first thing Tybalt does upon his arrival is of course claim a room. What a difference the modest chamber makes to the rather luxurious surroundings he has been used to all his life! 

One of the first people he talks to is Chaz. "Welcome to the winter semester!" 

Before he has even decided on a major, Tybalt writes his Term Paper. He then wants to declare his major in Political Science - not economics, which would tie in perfectly with his lifetime want of owning 5 Top Level businesses.

Over the chess table, Marla Biggs becomes his first friend here at the dorm.

As before, I make sure everyone has the skills they need and writes their term papers, such as Chaz and Ellen are doing here. It is not always easy to keep track of everyone's movements until I can leave them to their own devices, but I like that type of challenge. 

Tybalt gets up with a great feeling of relief now that he can concentrate on making friends and having fun for the rest of the semester. 

He lights the fire in the upstairs common room to create a more cosy atmosphere.

In the larger downstairs common room, several students have gathered, and Tybalt joins them. 

Letters from his family and friends back in Veronaville make him a little homesick. 

But a bit of dancing never goes amiss with our students, and Tybalt soon smiles again. 

Phineaus enjoys discussing politics with his new dorm mate. They both study political science, but of course Phineaus is a year ahead of Tybalt. 

Chaz has been having a crush on Ellen since last year, but so far, the two of them are only friends. Chris wonders whether Ellen actually knows of Chaz' feelings for her (she doesn't). 

Tybalt's first semester ends successfully, as it does for everybody else. With all their grant money coming in, the group now have nearly 30,000 Simoleons - and still I have not bought better beds for them, just added a few more wardrobes for when they don't need a shower but I want them to change into their everyday clothes after getting up.

The second semester starts similar to the first: Everybody needs to work on their skills, go to class and write their Term Papers. But there is always time for a chat over their meals at the cafeteria, and I make sure that phone calls are made to maintain existing or build new friendships. 

Tom, Chris and Ellen return from class at the same time. While the girls engage in a pillow fight, Tom watches the cheerleader sticking her hand through the wall... ouch :-D 

Tybalt is a disciplined student when it comes to the actual studying part - but less so where his attire is concerned. His Granddad would not approve of him hanging out in his PJs all day, I think! 

A fight ensues in the large downstairs common room. Someone (!) must have started the sprinkler "for fun", and someone else must have not liked it! The cheerleader wins her fight against the cow mascot. 

For a bit of peace, quiet and privacy, the small upstairs common room is much better suited, as Emily and Tom find.

The grounds around the dorm are a bit of a mess, and so I have someone influence the cheerleader to do some gardening. Shouldn't she dress in outdoor wear for that? It is mid-winter, after all. 

Tybalt is now on good terms with Tom and Chaz, and friends with Marla and Phineaus. 

Chaz and Chris argue about money - I wonder why; there is plenty, and none of the students contributes more or less than the others. 

Chaz' infatuation with Ellen takes a little drop when he reacts with disgust at her not having showered before appearing for breakfast one morning. 

The last couple of hours before their final exam, Tybalt and Phineaus calm their nerves with a game of chess.

And not to my surprise, everybody returns with great results, spots on the Dean's List and more grant money. 

This was fun, but I am now looking forward to playing a non-college household. Vivian Cho is next, I think. Tybalt has been doing well, although he misses his family - the wish to "talk to a relative" hardly went away, in spite of him making phone calls home almost every day. He also wishes for his best friend Puck Summerdream to go to college. We'll see what happens, but it will be a long time before it is the Summerdreams' turn to be played. 

Will there be romances developing in the spring/summer term? Is Tybalt going to invite family members over for a visit? What about going to a community lot? And are the rooms going to receive a makeover at some stage?