Did you miss Wednesdays’ chapter? Catch it here: 7.20: Dear Diary, Time Jump & Progress
Part 1: Life After School
…an excerpt from the diary of Kai Seaforth
“Anybody home?” I called as I entered the house after school. Yes, Dear Diary, I actually attended classes today and came straight home afterward.
Since I was a little kid and mom first went back to school, Michelle spent her days babysitting me at my house. Even after she had kids, she continued the practice.
Now that I’m older, sometimes Michelle and the girls are here, sometimes they’re not. It depends on if mom has the money to pay Michelle to clean the house or not.
Other than the sounds of the TV from the den, the house was quiet.
The only ones watching TV were twins Bonnie and Brynne. They were Morrie and Michelle’s daughters. Like I mentioned, we were raised together, but I was just enough older that I found myself watching them, keeping them out of trouble for their busy parents.
While I didn’t really mind them, I didn’t particularly like them either. I mean, they’re practically little sisters to me. And who likes those?
“What are you watching?” Bonnie, the one on the couch merely shrugged, her eyes never wavering from the program.
“What are you doing?” I asked Brynne, who was sitting at the computer.
“Watching TV! Move that way three inches,” she instructed, waving her arm in the direction I should go.
“Why aren’t you sitting over here with Bonnie?”
“Because she pinched me! Can you not stand there? I can’t see that side of the TV and something’s about to happen.”
My eyes narrowed as Bonnie on the couch sucked in a deep breath, holding it while the lady on TV heard the noise of a possible intruder in the house.
“I don’t think you guys should watch this.”
“Mom said we could.”
I doubted that, but it wasn’t like Michelle was in here with them to deny it.
“Whatever,” I sighed.
Just to see if Brynne wasn’t really on the computer doing something she shouldn’t be, I took a look. The computer was off, so the little demon was telling the truth after all.
“Uncle Jarah,” I called out as I went back to the living room.
“Oh, good, you found your glasses.”
“Were they lost?” he asked, his voice soft, his eyes clear.
I smiled at him, glad he was with me. Sometimes he didn’t make sense or spoke about things that happened years ago, but he thought they were happening now.
“Only this morning,” I told him. “You must’ve known where they were after all.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Are you working on that website for Morrie?”
The corners of his mouth turned up, and he nodded. Sometimes, when he was able, he did computer stuff for Morrie. It was police-stuff, I guess. Uncle Jarah could break any code and program just about anything. It was how he made a living.
“I’m almost done,” he told me. Then, he leaned toward me in a conspiratorial way, and whispered, “Michelle called your mom, and she’s coming home early.”
“Oh, man.” That could mean only one thing. The school had told her I’d skipped again.
As if she’d read our minds, Michelle strolled in, making a beeline for me.
“I’m glad you came straight home today,” Michelle said from behind me.
“Yeah, I heard,” I said, unable to control the grump in my voice.
“Well, she does so much for you, you ought to behave.”
I’d heard that line since I could remember, so it ceased to have an effect on me when I was about nine years old.
Michelle grabbed her purse, and her kids, and said to me as they all headed out the door, “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. We have a load to do at home.”
Then it was just me and uncle Jarah, who quickly made excuses to go back to his work upstairs.
I was about done with everyone’s lectures lately, most especially my mom’s. She didn’t know the first thing about my life or what it’s like for me.
After making a sandwich, I went to my room and listened to music until she arrived and pronounced me grounded. Again.
Part 2: My Son, Future Convict
…an excerpt from the diary of Kara Poe
Dear Diary, I was already having a rotten day when Michelle called to tell me Kai had been skipping school again. I thought, only two weeks ago, my son and I had worked this problem out, and he would not do that anymore.
Trudging up the stairs, I thought about everything I would say to him. Instead, I grumbled under my breath all the rules he’d broken recently. From outside his door, I heard the clashing of guitars, drums, and whatever else it was he considered music right now. It sounded like a car accident to me.
“Come in,” he said after I knocked.
“Okay, you know why I’m home early. Turn the music off.”
His nostrils flared, and his face reddened, but he slapped the stereo off.
“Careful with that,” I said, my voice tight and snappish.
My order only made his lips flatten, and his eyes tighten. This would not go well. I should have just turned around right then, and waited until later, but my frustration was too high to walk away.
“Why are you skipping school again? Didn’t we just have that discussion where you agreed not to do that anymore? How can I trust you? I’m busy! I’m trying to support us and do better for us, and you’re playing these games!”
He just stood there while I yelled. I couldn’t tell if he’d registered a thing I said, which had my heart thumping against my ribs, and breathless.
“Did you hear anything I just said?” I demanded.
His hands pumped into fists at his sides while his icy blue eyes glared at me, unblinking.
“Yes, Kara, loud and clear.”
“Don’t call me that! I’m your mother! All I want is for you to be happy! Why are you so angry lately? Just tell me!”
“Why are you so angry?” he snarled, his lips curling.
That’s when I think I lost my mind because I don’t remember my exact words. All I know was that I was yelling, and I thought my head was going to explode.
And I remember the way he recoiled from me…
…Then ran off…
…My voice calling for him.
Part 3: So Ashamed
“So, he ran off. I have no idea where he is.”
Thank goodness for calm, close friends. Morrie listened to my sobs on the phone, then stopped by after work to hear all about my failings as a parent.
“He’ll come home when he’s ready, Kara. He always has.” When he looked into my eyes, and saw my desperation, he added, “Of course, I can ask my on-duty friends to keep their eyes peeled.”
Nodding, I sobbed again. “Thank you.”
“You know, parents lose their tempers. It’s not such an unusual thing.”
Bless his soul for trying to make me feel better. But he was wrong. It wasn’t until my last two years of nursing school that I’d started yelling. In fact, I never thought I’d had that sort of thing in me before then.
“I’m a lousy mother.”
“No… no, you’re not.”
“I should have found us a smaller place, maybe, some apartment I could have afforded better, and not gone back to school. This has been so hard, I can’t even tell you. Kai was such a gem before I went back.”
“That’s crazy. You have done the best you can to bring him up right, and in better circumstances. That kid should be proud of all you’ve done. You’re going to graduate soon, and you’ll be a nurse, just like you always wanted. That is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Even if Morrie was right about this. Somehow, somewhere, I’d done the wrong thing, become too absorbed in school and work. And, as a consequence, I didn’t see how wrong things were going with Kai.
Yet, I hadn’t just gone back to school for my son. I wanted to be something more, and to know I was able to take care of my child with minimal help. What if something happened to Bram while he worked for The Inheritance? I needed to know I would be all right without him. And, this was the way to do it.
Balancing family, job, and school was much harder than I thought it would be. Even sitting here now, I couldn’t discern whether my decision was selfish or good? I wanted to cry with the guilt I felt at losing this time with Kai, and how he was turning out because of me.
How could I change what was already done, though? My only hope was the great job I’d already scored even though I hadn’t officially graduated yet. The job offer was contingent on getting licensed, too, but I wasn’t going to let anything stop me no matter how frayed I was. It was too late to quit, so this had to be something my son would eventually come to understand.
Yes, once I was making a decent wage, Kai would see how hard I’d been working, and he’d be better. I just knew it.
Notes from Kymber
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting. Things have been going pretty well, but it’s been a bear trying to catch up. Don’t count me out, though! 😀 I’m working on past comments (which I thank you so much for!), and writing Kara’s chapters. I hope to catch up on your blogs soon.
Thanks again,
Ooh, I see it now. I’ve seen comments here and there about people not liking Kara, and you saying you didn’t particularly enjoy her character and after reading only the beginning of her gen, I couldn’t get why. But oh dear, she was horrible here. It’s obvious she’s so absent in Kai’s life that he tries to get her attention one way or another. I’m glad she’s all for self-development, but it’s at the cost of Kai. I don’t think she’d have had kids if not for the accident she’d had. It’s not ideal growing up without a dad when his parents’ relationship is strained and then sort of losing his mom on the way, too. I feel sorry for Kai.
““Well, she does so much for you, you ought to behave.”
I’d heard that line since I could remember, so it ceased to have an effect on me when I was about nine years old.”
I think this particular fragment says volumes about what’s going on.
I get that Kara is stressed and doing her best, but she didn’t have to take up so many responsibilities, I feel she became overzealous and kind of didn’t clearly look into the pros and cons of the lifestyle she’s chosen. Yes, she may not be failing her classes, she may not be failing at her job, but she’s in a way failing as a parent now. With that many responsibilites on her shoulders, she was prone to fail at at least one of them, it’s always at the cost of the other. But I have to say, I am disappointed with her. She knows firsthand what bad parenting does to a child and how important it is AND she specifically went to uni to study psychology, and she only just realized what she’s been doing wrong when Kai’s already an angsty teen and it’s a bit late.
I’ll be honest, Kara’s generation almost made me quit ND. LOL Someone told me that generation 7 is the worst when doing 10 gens, I reckon she was right lol. Kai just can’t seem to get what he needs from her, and it’s no wonder with all the responsibilities she’s picked up. Her priorities were in the wrong place even though she was well intentioned.
I like the quote you picked out and agree with what you said about it. You’re right in that she is totally failing as a parent.
I think your disappointment in her is justified because, as you say so well, she should know better considering the upbringing she had,
I had no idea it was that bad! I wonder what would happen if I continued my legacy with Bindie. I remember I wanted to make her trans/ non-binary, something along the lines and make it a journey of her finding herself. That’s why I searched long for a name that would have a totally gender ambiguous nickname.
I’m sorry Kara’s gen was that bad for you. On a brighter note, I think you were having much more fun with Kai and now Gigi is off to a great start with all the fantasy!
Compared to Kara, Kai was a breeze. I can’t believe I’ll be starting generation 9 soon.
I have wondered, too, what it would have been like for you to continue with Bindi. I like how your story ended (I never knew what in the devil you had planned, so your story always excited me). I think Bindi would have been a great story to tell.
I can’t believe either! I’ve been with your story practically since the beginning, seeing how I started mine in May and you started yours in January of 2016. How time flies! So I thought it’d be nice to still be experiencing your story. I want to see How you end it. I am at a point in my life where with of all my high school relationships failed I’ve been at home for 2 years because of the COVID and I haven’t really met anyone new except online. So I thought it’d be good to try to connect with simlit again, even if just a little. After all, that’s what really helped me throughout the hell that was middle school.
I did write a post about Bindie as another little conversation between Britt and Clint. I think you missed that one and the one about my weird dream, I haven’t posted much ever since I finished my story. So you can read it if you want to, but that’s basically her gender struggles which I’ve already told you about. I just wanted people to have the slightest idea of Bindie since we never learned much of her because Ron just wasn’t interested in her in his narrative (which is sad). I’m so glad you enjoyed my story. I did have some weird twists here and there, but I still come back to some chapters because it’s so nostalgic to me. I can’t even believe July 19th it’s been 2 years since it ended.
I know! It seems like yesterday you were writing your story. I will definitely go back and read what I missed on your site. It will be so good to immerse myself in your characters once again. They became a staple of my life every Saturday morning. 😀
I do think about Ron sometimes and how frustrating it was that he essentially had a family with Britt but he couldn’t get enough of Shari. Then when Bindi died… and then Shari, too, and right after he dumped her, wow, that was just something else. Your story telling is fantastic!
COVID really messed up some things, that is for sure. I’m glad you are reconnecting with simlit even if it’s just a little bit. It’s been such a lovely day with you. xo
Yours definitely became a staple of my life on Saturdays, too! I think you only missed one post about Bindie, though. I haven’t written much in those two years, but I Am still so attached to my characters it’s crazy.
Ron was definitely frustrating! I did like him better than Gemma, though. She was my least favorite just like Kara was yours. I think I loved Hailey’s gen the most, but it might just be because of Frank, lol. Sam was so much fun, too. Out of your Gens, I think I most enjoyed Leo’s. I love the crazy band stuff and all the work you’ve put into it. I loved Memphis’ mostly because of Keniesha, she’s a legend. I’m so glad you like my story! ❤️
I think you also checked out my recap page, I just realized what a mess it is. Seems like I tweaked it too many times and it’s all over the place, lol. I will have to edit that to be more readable and easier to go through.
I loved going through your story like the good old times! I always thought you were such a good writer.
I’m honored by your kind words. And, yep, that was me checking out your summary page. I wanted to make sure I had Britt’s name right. lol Sam was hilarious because he just did whatever struck him at the time. He was such a psycho too. haha ❤️
I miss Keniesha… oh, yeah, and Leo. He was such fun. I miss Blue, too. In my heart, I always want to go back to Winchester. lol
Those times take me back.
Oh, I see that Kara and Kai’s relationship is pretty strained. And he doesn’t even call her mom?
How did things escalate like that?
I guess it’s too hard for Kara to balance everything in her life and Kai… is just being a teenager I guess. I hope he’ll be found soon!
Holy crap! Kai is a hot mess right now, and Kara is helpless to stop it. I don’t blame her for losing it, but I don’t think things will miraculously turn around on their own. Kids are so unpredictable, and it’s a crapshoot how they turn out regardless of parents’ good intentions and efforts.
You’re right about that! (see? I said I’d be saying it a lot! LOL). Thank you so much, Sharon.
I’m shocked she didn’t immediately go after him. To me it seems she’s lost faith in him. I don’t blame her for getting upset, but I think she should do something about it now instead of just waiting for him to come back.
Thank you, Heather. I think you’re definitely right in what you say. Some things can be let go, but this might be a mistake she’s making here.
Kai is taking the moody teenager to a whole new level.
Kara is doing the best she can for her family. There is nothing wrong with that. I hope things get better soon.
Thank you so much. You’re definitely right about that. I hope things get better soon, too.
Kara is not being selfish in wanting a job to support her family. I understand how she’s devastated that Kai would run away and she feels bad for losing control, but it happens. She must be very stressed. Kai could be more considerate of what she’s doing, but then again, he’s a teenage boy 😛 Hopefully with time he’ll be able to look back and reflect on how he acted.
Thank you. 🙂 Kara is totally stressed right now. That mixed with exhaustion is hard for her to deal with. Let’s hope you’re right about Kai.
Wow! It’s like Kara is my daughter, who went through the same thing while she was going through nursing school, only she had three boys and a daughter, she had lost touch with. A year into her job, things are starting to right themselves, somewhat.
Thank you, Jo. I’m so glad things are getting back on track with your daughter and her family. It’s hard balancing everything. I salute her for pursuing our noble profession, though. I wouldn’t trade anything for my nursing education.
Neither would she. She’s really been a great help with all that’s been going on.
Oh yes, I’m sure she has. That’s good. ❤️
She shouldn’t blame herself. Kai’s just being inconsiderate. There is always the option that the school is just plain boring for him. Maybe if he enjoyed his studies, he wouldn’t skip.
Thank you, Violincat. You might be on to something with Kai and school. We’ll see. I like that you said Kara shouldn’t blame herself. She sure does feel like a failure right now.
“Yes, Kara, loud and clear.”
Oh HELL no!!
LOL Right?! 😀 That wouldn’t go very far with me, I tell ya’. lol
It’s nobody’s fault. Kai has had a lot of challenges and a lot of unmet needs, as have his parents and uncle. Sometimes life is tough, we don’t get the support we need, and so we can’t support others, and those unmet needs pop out in challenging behavior or difficult feelings. But everybody here is doing their best, and I think they’ll realize that at some point.
Thank you, CT. You’re so right about life being tough, and sometimes needs go unmet. I hope you’re also right that they’ll realize, as a family, what you’ve said.
I’m not sure I believe that things will improve when Kara graduates, but I understand why she’s clinging to that hope. I can’t really blame her for focusing on school and wanting to better herself, but I also can’t blame Kai for feeling ignored. They probably ought to goout and look for him when he ran off like that, and since they’re not, in essence they’re confirming what he already feels – like he’s being ignored. Oh dear, this is taking a turn…
Great chapter, Kym! 😁
Thank you, Louise. I think you’re right but that Kara needs to cling to that hope. She needs to believe everything will settle down. It’s good you can see both sides. I like what you said about no one going after him proving his feelings of being ignored.
Wow. What’s up with Kai? Sure teenagers get moody and hormonal but this seems to be a good bit more. So strange seeing Kara lose control of her emotions like that but I’m sure trying to do it all is taking its toll. What a shame! Hopefully Kai will be found and they can have a few heart-to-heart talks without yelling so both sides listen instead of shutting down. Maybe Kai needs an after school job so he can start seeing how the real world works instead of living a good life with few responsibilities.
Thank you, Addy. You’re right about Kara; she’s about had enough. I hope they can have some heart to hearts, too, because they both need to clear the air. Yelling solves nothing, neither does running away. A part time job is a good idea.
Loved this chapter as usual. I hope she tells Bram what’s going on. As Kai’s dad, he should know, too. Love ya, Kymber!
Thank you so much, Hillary. ❤️ You’re completely right about Bram’s right to know what’s happening. Hopefully, she does that.