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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Chapter 2.30: Dear J, Take the Torch & Run

Dear J, you may remember that not long ago, I found out about a certain daughter’s prom night. Blue and I haven’t had much of a chance to talk about it since then, though, because of the birth of Little Leo.
Speaking of the baby, he has grown by leaps and bounds these past few weeks. I can see both Leela and myself in his features and I can’t wait to watch him grow up, to see what he becomes. He’s a little stinker at night still, but Leela said that’s normal. She said Ruby didn’t sleep through the night until she was about eight weeks old. Little Leo has only been with us for a month, so I guess it’s normal that he wakes up every few hours.
Each day brings something different that I didn’t notice before. Just yesterday, he rolled over all by himself! I think he’s pretty strong even though Leela says that’s normal, too.
I’ve been feeling pretty exhausted lately, but I haven’t said anything because that seems like it would be unfair to my wife since she actually gave birth and has to feed the baby. Even though I get up during the feedings, it’s not like I’m really helping or anything except to see my boy’s face again and to support the woman I love.
1
Today, while Leela and Little Leo were napping, I decided it was time to talk to Blue for real instead of just the usual niceties we’ve exchanged. After school, she had to work at the bakery, but I caught her before she left.
“I don’t want to talk about prom,” she said almost as soon as I opened my mouth.
2
“I think we need to anyway,” I insisted. “I want to know if what happened that night has to do with the way you’ve been acting.”
“Now you’re just making it weird.”
3
“I care about you. I’m worried about you. Can’t you see that? I want you to be able to talk to me.”
“How can I talk to you?” she asked, her eyes welling with tears. “I could see how ashamed you were of me and I would rather just forget you even knew about it or that it happened.”
4
I tried my best sympathetic look before I spoke, looking into her eyes as lovingly as a dad could. “I’m not ashamed of you. What I felt when I found out was betrayal that you lied to me…. disappointment that you’d let a boy use your body as a playground because love wasn’t involved…. concern that you did something too soon before you were ready. I love you, Blue.”
5
If I was hoping she would understand what I was saying and that my words would calm her fears and soothe her, I was really, really wrong. Instead, she blew up at me.
“You just think you know everything, don’t you? Well, maybe what you didn’t know was that I’m not the perfect little princess daughter you thought I was. Maybe you need to shorten my pedestal! You have absolutely no idea what I’ve been through or why I’ve done the things I’ve done!”
6
“Then tell me already! Have I not been here for you? Waiting for you to finally clue me in?” I yelled right back at her.
Abruptly, she was still. In a quiet voice, she said, “I had a huge crush on Rob for a year and a half. When he asked me to prom, I thought I was dreaming. I slept with him because things got carried away. He asked me to be his girlfriend and I got swept up in the moment.” I was silent, staring at my feet as she paused. “I was so happy, I thought Rob and I would be together forever. We’d graduate, go to the same school then get married. But after that night, he never spoke to me again. Then the rumors started. Rob bragged all over the place about how he’d had sex with someone ‘famous’.”
Rubbing my eyes, I whispered an obscenity as I thought about beating the shit out of Rob talking to Rob’s parents.
“And see… I can’t stand the look on your face, Daddy.”
7
Although I tried my best, the look on my face didn’t change. My heart was breaking for my daughter and there was no way I could hide it.
After a few moments, I managed to say, “You’re going to run in to a lot of people that will try to use you because you’re my daughter. And I’m sorry for that. It’s not what I wanted for you but we have to deal with it. Together. I really wish you had told me about all of this.”
“How could I? I told you now and wish I hadn’t.”
8
“I can understand why you say that, but it will help both of us in the long run if you tell me what’s going on. I don’t know how to impress upon you that you can talk to me about anything; even the difficult things.”
Blue wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “I love you, too, and I’ll try to do better.”
9
“Me, too,” I answered. “Come with me.”
10
Together, we walked out onto her balcony. There was a boat on the water and the air smelled piney like the little tree shaped air freshener in Blue’s car. A small breeze brought with it the faint aroma of someone’s barbecue.
“I wanted to tell you something because you’re old enough now. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m ready to pass the reigns on to you.” I stopped speaking as a general weakness came over me. Steadying my hand on the balcony railing, I thought perhaps I was more tired than even I had thought.
“I’ve really been trying to improve my writing skills,” she said.
Smiling a little, I put my arm around her. “No matter what’s happened, I’m really proud of you and always will be.”


From the Diary of Blue Valentine Capra (written in the weeks following Leo’s Entry):
11
Dear Diary, yep that’s him and they’re calling him Little Leo. I know I should think he’s cute and everything but instead, I think he’s kind of wrinkled and homely. When I write what I’m thinking down, I begin to wonder if there is a part of me that is missing. In my soul, I mean. Because how could I say that about a baby?
As usual, this line of thinking has brought about feelings regarding my real mother, Chrissy. Had she thought these things about me? Is that why she dumped me off at Grandma and Grandpa’s without even a glance back? Is that why, now that she was sort of back in my life, she really showed no interest? Because all she could remember was the ugly baby I’d been and how I’d kept her up all the time?
12
Everyone always stands around him cooing and making such a fuss all the time. Sure, we did that when Thea and Phyllis were born. In fact, I even joined in, as amazed by them as anyone. But after his initial arrival, I just couldn’t understand why this behavior continued. He wasn’t the first baby ever born and he wouldn’t be the last. (Although I did hope he would be the last one born in our family!)
First off, he cries like clockwork every four or five hours, day and night. Talk about annoying! And when he messes his pants, well, I’ve just never smelled anything so repulsive.
No one else even seems to notice how disgusting he is. He could smell to high heavens and they would just continue their cooing and smiling.
I was so incredibly tired of hearing the words, “adorable,” “precious,” and “Little Leo!”
13
To be honest, though, it has crossed my mind that I wouldn’t even feel this way if the kid wasn’t my half-brother. The way my dad looks at him makes me want to cry. I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the favorite child is now.
When Dad looks at Little Leo, his eyes go all soft and glinty, not like he’s crying, but like he could if he was pushed a little because the baby is just that great. There’s such adoration in the gentle way Dad talks to him and holds him that it cuts me to the core, ripping me apart and wishing it was me.
Why couldn’t he have had this with me? Then this would be nothing new for him, it would just be another baby, and he wouldn’t act this way in front of me.
14
To clarify, I don’t think Dad is purposely trying to hurt me with all of this Little Leo-this and Little Leo-that. But it does tear my heart in two just the same.
15
And this has been going on non-stop since the baby was brought home from the hospital. Sometimes I think I just can’t take even another minute of it.
Sure, Dad and I had what he probably assumed was a good talk on the balcony the other day. He’s officially passing the torch on to me as I am the heir. Well, if I’m the heir, and so important and loved, why can’t he take five minutes and read my English paper? He used to read all of them. Now, I think he doesn’t even know I’m in the room if the baby is in the room, too.
16
So, the baby is the boy, the “junior.” A little mini-me for Dad to love and teach everything to as he grows up. When this kid gets older and starts taking an interest in everything Dad likes and does, it will be as if I no longer exist, I’m sure of it.
17
As each day trudges on, I realize more and more how taken my father is by this infant. I feel utterly forgotten and I think everything Dad said to me about not being ashamed of me was a lie. I think maybe he can’t stand my very presence and it makes me hate him in a way.
When I tried to talk to him again today, Leela interrupted and said that my dad was too tired to talk and needed to lie down. As if sleep is more important than his own daughter! His first child!
And what was up with that, anyway? Lately, Dad has been avoiding me with this “feeling tired,” needing rest, and his stomach feeling tender and stuff. He’s never sick, that’s why I’m sure he’s just attempting to dodge me.
18
You can call me bitter, or jealous, or whatever you want to call me. But you really don’t know the half of it. It’s more than the new baby. It’s this life Dad chose for me when I had no voice in it at all.
He wanted to be famous and that was the most important thing to him, I guess. But that left me with fake friends or no friends at all. A boyfriend who seduced me for bragging rights, and a bogus school award! Oh, and remember the time, Dad, that I got the lead in the musical? And I was so excited, thinking of how proud you would be to see me on stage. Then, I overheard the teachers talking about how they’d given me the part because they were sure to sell more tickets? It might even be in the papers that you had attended their meager little play! No, you don’t remember, because you never knew! There’s so much more but I think I’ll run out of paper!
To top all of this off, Little Leo isn’t going to have to put up with any of this because you’ll probably be forgotten by the time he grows up. Either that or you’ll know what to expect and handle it better.
I just can’t take this anymore. If I’m to be put off and ignored because of a little boy who can’t even speak yet, then perhaps I’m better off elsewhere!
19
Staring at my room, I wondered then just what I was prepared to do. My chest ached and heaved, my breath came in gulps and my tears were hot on my cheeks as I thought about the relationship I once enjoyed with the only parent I had. How could he treat me like this? How could he cast me aside for another?
Well, no more! No more! 
20
Quickly, I gathered all of my belongings that I could comfortably carry, including the diary I was now charged to continue writing. It felt heavy as it now contained both my Grandma’s and Dad’s entries. But I felt determined that I would write down every ugly detail of my life. Someday, they would read it and be sad. They would regret the way I’d been treated.
Shaking these thoughts aside, I walked right out the front door. No one even noticed, which  seemed typical lately.
21
With eyes still blurred by tears, making streaks of black mascara down my cheeks, I turned to look back once again at the house I’d lived in most of my life. Would they ever even notice I’d left? I highly doubted it. Did it even matter anymore? They could keep their new and improved family. I’d venture out to find people that didn’t know me or care who I was. People that would accept me for myself; a place where I truly belonged.
I’d show them.
Wiping my face on my arm, I hurried off into the darkness to find what I was looking for …

The End
Generation 2

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Author’s Note: Thank you all so much for reading Generation 2! It’s been such a delight to read your responses to this saga. 🙂 I hope you enjoyed Leo’s story and that you will also enjoy Blue’s. I know Blue probably seems a bit hard to take right now, but I think you will be surprised by her story and the things she learns along the way. So, I hope you’ll join me on Februrary 11 (I’m taking one week off) when the Chapter 3.1 is published because it just might make your jaw drop…. just a little.
In other news, many of you know that someone hacked Lil Sapphire’s blog and deleted it. Since then, she and I have come up with a new site you might like to peruse. 🙂 It’s called Lil ‘n’ Ro’s Simprovised Stories.
Thank you again. xoxo
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Kymber Hawke
Kymber Hawkehttps://booomcha.com/
I am a simmer, Rennie garb wearer, author, and dog petter. Judy Garland is my queen, horror movies & classic movies are my jam. INFJ with "Unity Hayes" as a pseudonym. A little bit eccentric, owned by two cats, Cesare & Josie-Pye. 🐱🐱

49 COMMENTS

  1. WOW. I read the rest of the generation in one sitting. I have to say Blue will be an interesting generation to read. I’m glad though Leo was able to find happiness with another person because he was very lonely for a long time, and he really wasn’t immature as in “a brat” but he was just too naive. Still, his pain from his sister dying and the guilt he felt about its a lot to have on your shoulders so Im really happy is happy with a woman that is kind and with his new baby.
    Blue…. well, I guess I’ll have to wait and see what she stumbles upon, but at least she knows her dad is not trying to hurt her, that its all in the way she sees things. That is at least a start to maturing. We’ll see.

    • Thanks, Becca. Generation 3 is one of my favorites. 😀 I hope you’ll like it. It’s different, I’ll say that. lol

      Leo was definitely naive, and not too perceptive either. I think what happened with Jilly really stunted his emotional growth. But by the end, he’s doing so well. I’m so happy you enjoyed Leo’s story. I was sad to say farewell to him. 🙂

  2. I get that resentment and genuine hurts run deep, but Blue has a lot, and I mean a LOT of growing up to do. I have a feeling that she is going to be learning quite a few home truths very soon. And what’s wrong with Leo? Something tells me that something has gone very wrong with his health. 😩😩😩

    Just curious, are you doing a runaway teen challenge?

    • You couldn’t be more right about Blue and how she needs to grow up! lol Let’s hope she learns some important lessons quickly! lol

      No, I’m not doing a runaway teen challenge, but maybe I should’ve. haha

  3. Haha, I ranted and raved about Chrssy, I mean, Blue (see how much alike they are?) in my previous comment, so I’ll only say one thing. Blue had so many opportunities to enjoy time with Leo, but she was too caught up in her pity party.
    Happy trails, Blue!

    What really concerns me is Leo’s health.
    Please tell me he’ll recover his health so that he and Leela can enjoy watching Leo Jr’s childhood!

    • LOL They are soooo alike, you are definitely right about that! Happy trails, Blue! LOLOLOL I’m seriously laughing right now.

      I can’t tell you anything about Leo’s health because … spoilers… but I will say that you will find out soon what’s going on. 🙂

  4. Wait. What? Someone deleted someone’s blog? That’s… evil. Why?
    Anyway, pfft… Blue. I see Chrissy in her sometimes. This kid is breaking everyone’s heart! And Leo being sick has me worried too…
    All that being said, what a great ride this has been so far! Again, amazed by your creativity and writing. On to Generation 3

    • Yes, Lilsapphire got her blog hacked and deleted. I mean, who does that? It was so sickening. Ugh.
      Blue is somewhat like Chrissy, that’s true. Hopefully, as she gets older, she’ll realize how much pain she has caused and rectify the situation.
      Thank you so much! I hope you like Gen 3! <3

  5. Blue’s feelings are so petty, I won’t even deal with them! 😡 Poor Leo did everything he could really! Speaking of Leo, I’m really worried about him…is he severely sick? Something about his stomach aches and need to rest does not sit right… I hope I’m wrong!
    I’m super excited for the start of generation 3!! 😀

    • You are right about Blue. She is pretty self-centered. Hopefully, she grows out of that soon!
      Leo’s symptoms may be worrisome. I wish I could tell you what’s going on. 😀

  6. And now I move on to the current generation. Although, I do have to say one thing. I hope Blue’s adventures alone teach her the meaning of communication! If she had told her dad all of this, then maybe she wouldn’t feel this way. I know Leo isn’t very perceptive at the best of times, but I think he’d at least try to make things better. Oh Blue, I hope you smile a little more soon!

    • YAY! You’re read so much! 🙂 Thank you.
      You’re so right about Leo not being very perceptive (he needs a billboard, not a sign haha). Blue really should have spoken to him as you suggested but hopefully, this adventure will teach her the things she needs to learn.

  7. UGH! Sorry…teenagers get on my nerves LOL. They’re always victims! On one hand, I get how she feels and halfway expect it, but on the other hand, I feel like she doesn’t even try to understand and is LOOKING for excuses. UGH!

    • LOL Thank you and no worries about how you’re feeling about this. I very much agree with you. I think she is going to find out really soon how great she had it. 🙂

      • I had another thought about this when I woke up lol. I don’t understand how she’s so quick to blame everything on her father. She’s seen her mother recently and how she’s so apathetic toward her. She doesn’t think that has anything to do with anything? Why does she get a pass and Leo doesn’t?

        • That’s an excellent thought! My thinking at the time was that perhaps she is a little bit like her mother even if she doesn’t really know her that well. Also, in my own experience with my own daughter (who is now grown), there was a brief time when, because she knew I would love her no matter what, I took a lot of guff that others probably deserved. It was because she knew she could do that to me and I would still love her, but if she acted that way toward the person who deserved it, they might push her away.

  8. She doesn’t realize she’s got her mother’s attitude. It’s funny how you can not live with someone and still have the same genetic makeup! So sad. I feel for her.

  9. Ugh I’m so over Blue throwing tantrums because things don’t go the way she thinks they should. Whose the baby lil Leo or her? Read your English paper what are you five? In certain respects her life has been tough but a lot of that was created by her not telling her dad what he needed to know. Because he’s not a mind reader it’s his fault her life sucks. I hope she gets some sense knocked into her. I have a feeling she’s going to regret leaving the way she did and when. I have a bad feeling that something is wrong with her dad. If he’s never been sick and he’s this tired I have a very bad feeling.

    • Thank you 🙂 I laughed when I read, “Who’s the baby? Blue or Leo?” hahahaha How true is that, though? You are exactly right that a lot of her issues could have been worked on had Leo even known about them. I have a feeling that her upcoming experiences aren’t going to allow the kind of tantrums she’s prone to throw. She’s going to really find out fast the value of everything she took for granted. As for something being wrong with Leo…. that’s a very good guess. 🙂

  10. OH Blue Blue Blue, why do you always go straight to your dad is lieing to you? Maybe he really is sick. You really need to get that chip off your shoulder and grow up dear. You think your life is tough as a teen. Well honey bunches you haven’t seen anything yet, Wait until you are an adult it just gets tougher. There is going to come a time in your life that you are going to regret not giving your dad the benefit of the doubt.

  11. Oh, Blue. You’ve been living a real nice life so far. I think you’re about to see just how cruel and unforgiving the world can be.
    Damn, you write characters awesomely! I’m just sitting here screaming “No, Blue! Don’t run away!” while simultaneously reaching for the popcorn because you just KNOW this is gonna be epic!
    Can’t wait for February! This was a fantastic opening to a glorious new generation!

    • Thank you so much for the praise, fluffymao! <3 You are so sweet to say such kind things. 🙂 I cannot wait for you to see what Blue has been up to!

  12. Striking out on her own will definitely be good for Blue. It will grow her up fast.
    I really feel sorry for her. On the surface she sounds childish and petty for being jealous of a baby, but I feel that there is more to it than that. I don’t think that she is really jealous of Little Leo himself, I think that she is jealous of how different his life will be than what hers was growing up. He will have a “normal” childhood away from the spotlight, while Blue grew up in the middle of it. Leo wasn’t a part of Blue’s early life, and while it obviously isn’t her fault at all, she can’t help but feel guilty. And again, that is something Little Leo won’t have to worry about (he has both parents who love him and will always be there for him).

    • Thank you so much, socallucyfan 🙂 I think striking out on her own will be good for Blue also. I think you have brought up some very insightful points. I can’t wait until you see where Blue goes! 🙂

  13. I have to agree with all the above comments, Blue’s train of thought is depressing and she doesn’t realize how loved she actually is, but at the same time, with her history of people using her for her fame it’s understandable why she thinks this way. I can’t wait to see her generation!!

    • Thank you so much, Rayomond! 🙂 I can’t wait to show you Gen 3 because it’s something very different! 😀 Things might be bumpy for her at first, but she is going to learn a lot and her thinking will really improve. 🙂

  14. Well poo!! I see Bee has passed on her ability to give me more grey hair!! =( Oh well, patience should be a virtue I have by my age, but it seems to have passed me by!! lol I am anxious to see Blue learn how mistaken she is about her father’s feelings, and I know finding her gone is going to really hurt him and Leela, both, not to mention her new half-sister and best friend, Ruby. Lots to look forward to in your story, so I will TRY to be patient. By the way, I really enjoy your new blog with Lil. I had no idea her blog had been hacked! Happy simming and happy blogging! ♥

    • Thank you so much, Marj 🙂 Yes, Bee knows how to make a story good, that’s for sure! 😀 Believe me when I say, it’s not going to be all roses for Blue. lol But I reckon you could have guessed that much. Blue will learn some important lessons very quickly, but wait until you see where she ends up! 😀
      I’m glad you like the Lil ‘n’ Ro blog. It was a terrible thing that happened and I’m sure she’ll be so glad to learn you have her story on backup! That is terrific news! 🙂

  15. Actually, I think leaving will be good for her. Even if she runs into more hardship than ever, she seems to need a break from family. At least for the time being.

    • Thank you, Violincat. 🙂 I agree with you. I think the hardships of being on her own and learning to deal with the real world, taking care of herself will be good for her, too. 🙂

  16. No, no, Blue! Get yourself together, think how stupid the stuff you are about to do is! Because yes, it is. It’s not all anyone’s fault that you had the childhood you had and surely it is not the fault of your father. I believe deep down you know he always wanted the best for you. He cherished you as much as he does with Little Leo if not more! Can’t you see that? Ahem… yes, yes, I think I’m done.
    I really enjoyed generation 2, Leo’s story, I loved watching all the work you put into it and was happy to see how it all progressed. *raising a glass of champagne for Blue’s new story* I already wonder about the way my jaw is going to drop…

    • Thank you, Jowita! 🙂 Blue is such a mess right now, but she will learn. 😀 Everything you say is true, of course. It might take a little bit before Blue truly realizes what she had. Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed Generation 2 with Leo. It was really different for me, writing from his point of view, but I did enjoy it a lot.

  17. I’m not even going to mention Blue’s pettiness, but I will acknowledge that true hurts run deep in this case and I do actually feel bad for her.
    NOW, as your editor I know where this story is going and I am SOOOOO EXCITED for everyone to see what happens to Blue. This is something so different than anything I have ever seen and I just can NOT wait to see what you do with her story! Well done RO! Carry on my dear friend!

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