Yoursims - Blog Posts

zeldytone

4 months ago

Episode #1: Message In A Bottle

Sim of Interest: Cali Skye (18) - Copperdale

Education: 2-year Distinguished Degree in Psychology, Foxbury Institute of Technology (with Honors)

Career: Clandestine Investigator - Covert Operator - Military branch

Cali had a lot on her mind to process after little brother Cal's special high school graduation event. He was catching up to her, and maybe surpassing her soon. As much as she wanted to protect him from a life of secret government work, that was going to be his decision.

Cho: "Are you OK?" Cali was startled out of her train of thought.

Cali: "Sorry, just reminiscing about my time here." That was a lie, and not her first, as she hated that she had to bottle up these emotions. "I just wanted to personally thank you and Olivia for watching out for Cal, considering he was almost two years younger that you all."

Cho: "Nah, I'm glad we had those first three years at Myshuno North together. Believe me, Cal acted like the adult in this trio. Without him pushing me, I would never have gotten top score in the county on those dreaded standardized tests. But, Cali..."

Cali: "Huh? What is it?"

Cho: "You went through the same thing, being two years younger than your high school and Foxbury classmates. I know that must have been tough, and from what I hear, you're probably bottling all this up. It's funny that we're the same age, yet you're light years ahead of all us that just graduated high school today. NOW that you have a new family member, please rely on him, when needed."

Cali: [sighs] "You're right, Cho. I'm glad Cal had you to rely on, and he had the faith to stick it out here for the entire senior year. Did you need a ride back to San Myshuno?"

Cho: "Thank you, but no. Funny you should ask, as General Payne and Maxine are giving me a lift, on their way back to Oasis Springs. I'm guessing I'll be getting the sales pitch for a career in the military."

Cali: "You just focus on Académie Le Tour and your new girlfriend, for the time being. All that blah-blah career stuff can wait for a while."

Cali made that quick drive over the bridge to her Copperdale home by the amusement park. She had off from work Monday, which she had planned to use to hit graduation parties with Cal, but he was exhausted and called it an early night.

Instead, Cali ended up baking chocolate chip cookies and listening to some Alternative. Her brain was still wired and switched on, so sleep was not in the cards, as much as she wanted to crash.

She went out to her backyard oasis, and fixed herself a mean Coquito. She brought it to her lips, took a tiny taste, then hurled the glass out into the river. She made a call to her lifeline, grabbed her keys, and headed out to her old stomping grounds in Britechester.

She met up with the person that was running a support group for students with possible drinking problems. He was surprised to get a call from an 18-year-old college graduate with honors and accolades to cover the walls of Pepper's Pub.

The tangled web she had been weaving was coming undone, and she needed to face her fears about the present and future, or sink back into that bottle. She had to be honest with everyone, just why she was killing off brain cells with this vice of alcohol. It was partially responsible for the breakup with her girlfriend Vanessa in high school.

"One step at a time. You can't fix this in one fell swoop. You have to figure out an alternative way to channel all this fear into something productive. Nothing happens until something moves."

He was right, as Cali thanked him, then started making steps to the front door of Pepper's Pub. She spent a lot of years being a cousin to Calvin, and now she was the big sister. That was a lie. The last year she was Cal's parent, for all intents and purposes. And that pissed her off even more, stepping in when THEY walked out of their lives.

She drove back home, but took a mindful walk to a place that could help her redirect her anger and cravings. The place was almost cleared out from summer tourists and new high school graduates.