Alternate Reality Challenge: Ordell 1.5
At first, Alayna’s plan works.
Being able to fish more means that they have more money. Their crops get better as she takes the time to fertilize them. But Alayna is older than Ordell and her birthday just happens.
That means that she can’t spend as much time fishing and tending the garden as she did when she was younger.
Aria and Ansel are both teenagers now, thankfully.
Ansel takes after her dad.
The sisters spend quite a bit of time together.
Ansel likes it more, in general.
One night, when they are in bed, Ordell watches the love of his life fall to her death. She’s old and it’s expected, but it still breaks his heart.
Ordell goes a bit crazy with grief. He starts watering the garden with his tears...
And basically ignores his daughters, as he spends the rest of his time crying in bed.
Ansel and Aria cope by painting and spending a lot of time together, since talking to their father is extremely difficult.
Finally, Ordell sits the girls down for a talk
He speaks to them separately. Each one speaks to him about their feelings and everything seems a little better afterwards.
He tells them that he needs them to start contributing towards the household. Since Aria is older and will be able to get a job soon, Ansel has to look after the garden when Ordell is off to work.
She quite likes the idea.
Plus she loves being outside, because then she can invite her friend over without having to introduce him to Ordell. And she REALLY likes him, despite the awful hair.
They start going steady.
In the meantime, Aria ages to adulthood. She actually does seem excited this time.