#atticus carpenter

[verdantsims]

“I’m not here to rush you along,” Null said as Sam and Riya turned to him. “I just wanted to let you all know that I’ve prepared hot beverages and a hot lunch inside as a courtesy. Seeing as it’s so cold out...” Sam and Riya acknowledged Null’s courtesy and relayed it to the others. As they discussed getting out of the cold, Null spared a look for those he could offer no courtesy to.

Beyond the cemetery, standing alone on the sidewalk, stood Caleb and Atticus. This was as close as they could get to their daughter’s grave, and as close as they would get to mourning with their loved ones. They couldn’t set foot on hollowed ground and couldn’t remain long beyond the borders of Forgotten Hollow. For these heartbroken fathers, this was the best that they could do.

[verdantsims]

“Heya Sam,

Thanks for looking into that for me and, really, thanks for agreeing to it. I know you said money’s not an issue but I’m still going to get a job to help since, you know, if I hadn’t requested this the alternative would be free.

Just, maybe, don’t mention that I told you EVERYTHING that Ethan told me? I kinda think he tells me things in confidence which is, ya know, great and all, but I’m still worried for him. But don’t be worried about me. I promise I’m adjusted to my life with you guys and with him. I still occasionally wish some things had been different as far as age differences but I definitely don’t wish I had MORE siblings. You’re insufferable enough. And I mean that with love.

Also, could you mention to Riya that I need new white socks the next time they’re in that area? All of the white socks I packed, which was half what I own, were burned in the dryer accident. They knows my size.

If you manage to respond before tomorrow night, does Riya know if there are any settings on the cell phone cameras to make fireworks appear when taking a picture? They’re setting off fireworks to celebrate the end of our summer and I wanted to be able to show you.

Love, Carissa”

[verdantsims]

“You need to widen your stance a little.”

“I’ll be doing the splits at that point!”

“I said a little; Just shuffle your back foot out a touch more.” Atticus peered away from his canvas and watched as Ethan heavily contemplated his right foot. “By shuffle I mean… Imagine your squishing a big bug.”

“Oh…” Ethan twisted his foot slightly, the shuffling motion moving his leg just slightly back. “That far enough?”

“That should do,” Atticus said. “Now loosen your shoulders again. Wait to tense until right before your strike.” He leaned back into his canvas and applied a few more strokes. He was several strokes in before he noticed a flailing arm in his peripheral vision. He leaned back out for a better view and to Ethan’s slack and wild arms hitting at the bag. “Ethan, you need to tense up -tighten up- before you hit the bag. Otherwise, you’ll have no strength in your punch.”

“I don’t think I have any strength to tighten up in the first place,” Ethan lamented. “Maybe this isn’t for me yet…”

[verdantsims]

Forgotten Hollow seemed destined for a wet summer as another storm system swept through. Though considerably less severe it brought a lot of rain with it. It brought the perfect opportunity to work on the robot again, and this time as a group.

They were afraid to move the project, lest they lose any pieces, so they opted to continue working on it in the spare room. Caleb deemed the light “incredibly insufficient” and borrowed his lamp from his studio. His only lament was that it didn’t shed any light on the instructions for him.

“I’m at as much of a loss as with that Tesla coil,” he admitted. “I suppose it’s not always possible to teach an old dog new tricks.”

[verdantsims]

Ethan carried Toby to the downstairs bathroom and set him into the bathtub. He then called the only vet he knew. Despite the late hour, Sage walked her son through laying damp towels on Toby’s feet. The distressed dog happily laid on the bathroom tile with the towels, obeyed the command to “stay.” The commotion had drawn Atticus’ attention, but the bathroom was not big enough for them all.

Afterward, with Toby resting in the bathroom, Ethan sat down to discuss the situation with his granddad. “There’s no vet in Forgotten Hollow, sadly,” Atticus told him. “The clinic in Newcrest sends one of their doctors here once a month and runs a clinic out of the ground floor of the cafe. They will make emergency calls, though, if there’s availability.”

“How much-”

“Never you mind that,” Atticus said, cutting his grandson off. “I’ll make the call and, with any luck, someone can come out tomorrow. Otherwise... Well, you and Carissa would need to go to Newcrest by yourselves.”

[verdantsims]

Ethan and Carissa happily enjoyed some relaxation and reward for their efforts. For Carissa, that meant snagging the last piece from their birthday cake. It was, after all, her official birthday today. For Ethan, that would have meant sitting down to start reading the book his zaza had given him. Instead, however, he ended up distracted with Fae Fae’s sudden need to claw all of the new outdoor furniture.

[verdantsims]

“He’s certainly grown to take after you, Riya,” Atticus commented. “He is most certainly his zaza’s son.”

“If you say so,” Riya chuckled. “I’ll always see a Carpenter when I look at him, though. He’s Sage’s boy, through and through.”

“Are you not a Carpenter, though?” Caleb asked. “Have you not been a Carpenter all of these years? I mean, you did take the name after you married...” Atticus smiled up at Riya, watching the thoughts play out across their face. Finally Riya laughed. 

“Well alright, you’ve got me there,” they said. “I suppose I can accept that he looks like me, as long as he continues to take after his mother’s side of the family otherwise.”

[verdantsims]

Antonia has now shared the big news with her dads. That’s Atticus’ cue to stare happily into the camera as though he were on The Office.