Author’s Note: If you missed “Old Stone” Chapter 1, you can read it HERE!
The characters are as follows:
Vera Rose – mother
Erin Rose – 17 year old, daughter and oldest sister
Charlie Rose – 14 year old, daughter and middle sister
Kyree Rose – 10 year old, daughter and youngest sister
I hope you will enjoy the story…
POV: Erin Rose, 17 years old
Working the farm was an all family effort. Mama, my sisters, and I spent so many hours tending to the many plants, you’d think that’s where we lived and slept.
Then there were the apple orchards, of which we had three extensive areas. During Fall, Mama cleared the path to the farm and visitors came to pick apples, sip cider, and eat warm apple cinnamon donuts.
We also made apple butter, applesauce, and apple pies.
It was such a busy time of year that Mama hired locals to help out with the cooking and baking. She also had an old friend who she hired to give hayrides.
But it wasn’t Fall yet. It was hot and dusty. I longed to swim out to my rock and daydream.
Instead, we were all working in the gardens, harvesting, watering, pulling weeds, and the like.
The sun beat down on us as we worked.
Kyree, who was only ten years old, was talking rather loudly to my other sister, Charlie.
Charlie wanted to go to summer camp with her friends, but I couldn’t see how it would happen due to the cost. It was really expensive and every idea I came up with fell through because we were already so busy with our normal chores.
“What if we sold eggs door to door or something?” Kyree asked.
Charlie rolled her eyes. “We can’t take away from the farm. Any eggs we sell, the money would belong to the farm, not to us.”
Mama was so nearby, I couldn’t see how she didn’t hear their chatter. But if she heard any of it, she didn’t let on. She just kept working on the lettuce plants.
I was picking tomatoes and glaring at my little sisters. But they paid me no mind. If I could hear them, why didn’t they realize Mama could probably hear them, too?
“You and Kyree were so loud,” I said to my sister as we picked apples.
“Mama didn’t say anything,” Charlie said. “I don’t think she heard us.”
It wouldn’t have done any good to continue since she was certain beyond all doubt Mama hadn’t heard them.
Mama was always so busy, you’d think she was twins. She went in early to make supper. We were having salmon and rice with fried zucchini. This was one of my favorite meals. The salmon came from Kyree, who was quite the angler.
Most of the meal was in silence because we were all so worn out from the day’s work.
But then Mama said, “You know, when I was a child, we was so poor I had a tumbleweed as a pet.”
We all laughed even though we’d heard this before. It conjured up the funniest thoughts of Mama as a child, playing with a tumbleweed.
“What else, Mama?” Kyree asked.
“Well, let’s see,” she said, “your daddy was so country he thought a seven course meal was a possum and a six-pack.”
We held our bellies while we laughed.
“Come on now,” Mama said. “Finish up quick. I will do the dishes and y’all will take your baths. Y’all smell like you wanna be left alone.”
After we got all cleaned up, and in our jammies, it was TV time. Unfortunately, our TV was the oldest version I’d ever seen. There weren’t any flat screens in this house. Half the time, we didn’t even get reception.
“Hey,” I said to Charlie, my voice lowered to a whisper.
“Yeah?” she said, keeping her eyes on the TV.
“I thought of a way we might be able to afford sending you to camp.”
“Really?” she gasped, turning toward me now.
“It’s gonna be a lot of work, but that won’t stop us if we’re serious about it.”
“What?” Kyree asked, not keeping her voice down at all. “What is it?”
“Shhh,” I whispered at her, my finger over my lips. When I was sure they were both listening, I continued, “The Fall Festival will be here before we know it. So, I asked around and there’s lots of ladies who want clothes tailored to fit real good. We could do all the sewing and use the money we get for your camp. The thing is, we already work so hard around here, and sewing well takes time.”
Charlie looked at me with hopeful eyes. “I’m willing to do it. If we both work at it, maybe we can do it even if we have to stay up nights.”
Suddenly, Mama appeared out of nowhere. “You girls get yourselves to bed. If we’re gonna be sewing that much, we’re gonna need all the rest we can get.”
Tears came to my eyes. Maybe Mama wasn’t the hard, distant woman I’d always thought she was. From that day forward, I saw her in a new light.
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for editing this story.
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! I hope you have a terrific weekend!
Credits:
World: You can purchase Hidden Springs from EA for $19.99 HERE
Lot: You can purchase Grandpa’s Grove from EA for 1,710 SimPoints HERE
Premium Content: You can purchase the Milkin’ it Dairy Corral from EA for 495 SimPoints HERE; You can purchase the Fowl And Feathers Chicken Coop from EA for 456 SimPoints HERE
The Sims games © EA, created by Maxis.
Citation:
Dingus, A. (1994, December 1). More colorful Texas sayings than you can shake a stick at. Texas Monthly. https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/more-colorful-texas-sayings-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at/
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I feel bad for poor momma. I am sure she would love to give the girl’s what they want and send Charlie to camp but just can’t afford it. How sweet she is going to help them sew and earn the funds!
She is a real trooper. She would give them everything but being widowed on a farm with 3 children, I’m sure she worries over every penny.
Beautiful story!
Thank you so much! 🤍🌺 I used to post a new SimLit chapter every Saturday at 10am (EST), but now it’s not as consistent. I hope you’ll check back to read the next installment. 🙂 It should be out soon.
Story’s shaping up real good. As one commenter remarked, How do you do it? 😀
LOL Thank you, Jonathan. 🙂 As for your question, it ain’t easy. LOLOL 😀
But worth it, huh-? 😀
Yes, it’s a lot of fun. 🤍🌺 😀
“y’all smell like you want to be left alone” LOL That’s aa great line and I’m going to use that on my kids.
Mom is great and even though she is overworked she’s still going to helo her girls make money. Mom of the year!
LOL I’m so glad you enjoyed this episode. Mama’s fingers are worked to the bone, but she still has time to figure out what’s going on behind the scenes and chip in. LOL 😀
I love that! Mom’s work is never done.
Isn’t that the truth? LOL 😀
uggghhh yes! LOL
LOL 😂
Fun writing and illustrations. I love the texas sayings included and the link so we can learn more. Inspiring what you do.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I love Texas sayings, as you could probably tell. LOL 🤍🌺 Thank you again.
That is a beautiful story. I thought this joke was funny “your daddy was so country he thought a seven course meal was a possum and a six-pack.” Being from the countryside myself, well the north Swedish countryside I can relate.
Thank you so much, Thomas. 😀 I’m glad you thought that was funny. lol There are many sayings you here now and again that make me laugh. I’m glad you could relate. 😀
I’m glad she saw Mama iin a new light. Beautiful story, Kymber!
Thank you so much, Miriam. I’m glad you liked the story. I think Erin will see her mother in a whole new way now. 🤍🌺
Wonderful, Kymber! Did you do the drawing? <3
What I did was create sims in my Sims 3 game and took pics of them while playing. This is a genre lovingly called SimLit (Sims Literature) by a community of us. 🙂 🤍🌺
That’s wonderful, Kymber. 😍 I would love to have the link to access it. I hired someone to illustrate my children’s book but it’s hard to communicate exactly what I want. My drawing is not good enough to illustrate my book.
What I use is Sims 3 which you can find here: The Sims 3. But there is a newer version which is The Sims 4. My avatar that I use is from The Sims 4. You can find that here: The Sims 4. Would love to see what you come up with! 🤍🌺
Mama’s have eyes in the back of their heads and ears everywhere! I swear! The ending had tears in my own eyes! Maybe Mama will let Charlie go to camp after-all <3
Mama’s do have eyes in the back of their heads, it’s true! haha We had a large TV in our living room and the stairs that went up to the childrens’ bedrooms were opposite the TV. One night, Katy and Jimmy sneaked out of bed to watch TV from the top of the stairs. Now, I was sitting in a chair with my back to them, but I could see their reflections in the TV screen. So, I didn’t even turn around to tell them to go back to bed, I just said it, “Go back to bed, children,” all the while keeping my eyes on the TV. That really proved to the kids that I had eyes in the back of my head. They couldn’t figure out how I knew they were there! LOLOL Anyway, it’s just a funny story I thought I’d share with you, Hilly.
You’re right, maybe Mama will let Charlie go. We’ll soon find out. 🤍🌺
I kin of saw something coming there but that was a great end. See? Mama knows. Mama ALWAYS knows!
Yes! LOLOLOL Mama ALWAYS knows! It’s so true!
Ive been in that family
Oh no. Is that good or bad, Michael? lol 🌺
Oh, I love this! Mama is beautiful and there’s a ray of hope!
Thank you so much, CT! 🤍🌺 I’m glad you think Mama is beautiful. She’s trying so hard to hold it all together, and she notices so much more than the girls even know. lol Hope is always there. 🙂
This was really heartwarming. Gosh, they work so hard, but it’s nice to see the dinner humor. I wasn’t sure what to make of Vera at first. She seemed so indifferent all the time but in her defense, she has a lot on her mind and so much responsibility to shoulder alone. However, it’s clear there’s so much love here in this family. I love that the sisters are so close and it seems that nothing goes unnoticed by Mama Vera.
A possum and a six-pack. LOLOLOL! 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
Thank you so much, Nise. 🤍🌺 I’m glad you saw a different side of Vera in this chapter. The girls always treat her like she is aloof, but she is just working hard and not the chatty type. You’re right that it’s a lot to shoulder alone. Her responsibilities are huge.
LOLOL Glad you liked that line. 🙂
Fun story, Kymber. Loved the country sayings and the realization the mama isn’t as hard as thought.
Thank you so much, John. I’m so pleased you liked what you read. 🌺
I did.
What a lovely chapter, Kymber. The love between the sisters and their mother is a beautiful thing! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Jan. I’m glad you liked it. 🤍🌺
What a heart-warming chapter, Kymber.
Thank you, Jacqui. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂