Chapter 4: A toddler becomes a boy
For the next few weeks not much happens when it comes to either keys, treasures or envoys, as life take over with all it's busy, messy details. The kids love their new toys, and especially Willow get a lot out of the new science table their father bought for them.
Summer is becoming more or less a fixed feature in the house, as the kids love her and she happily comes over to hang out with them even when they don't ask her to babysit. Stuck in a dead end job as a dishwasher, she sometimes asks Charles' advice, and he often tells her to pursue her dream job, whatever that may be.
At the same time the influx of money, both from the money the envoy gave them and their jobs, slowly transforms their house into something more homey. An added book case, a transformed hallway, a new dining table... Bit by bit, Charles and Candice is turning the house they bought into the home they want, and as a result their children thrive.
Willow has taken quite a liking to helping her mother cook, as well as helping out with the communal garden behind their house.
But for Candice, even this is not enough. Every moment she gets she dives down into her books to learn more, to prove herself and get that next promotion.
"What if I don't get it? What if this is it?"
"Why would it be?" Charles patiently asks. "They won't be able to ignore you."
The girls on the other hand, is not sleeping very well lately, as the monster under their bed has started to show itself every night. Most of the nights, the two girls run upstairs, getting their mother, who tiredly and without really seeing the monster sprays the bed with water until the monster goes away, but one night Sandy decides to try and reason with the monster.
"We're really tired and need to sleep," she tells it. To her great surprise, the monster agrees to let them be for the night.
"We need to get the kids a night light," Candice says to Charles. "I can't keep doing this every night."
Tired or not, Candice's hard work pays off when she, finally according to her, get her next promotion. Assistant Manager is not as high up as she want to go, but it's definitely more reasonable for her now that manager is in the title.
More secure in her new job, she takes on the next area of the house - the kitchen. She's found a way to alter the kitchen cabinets with some paint and look alike wood panels, which makes the entire kitchen far more luxurious. You can hardly tell it's the cheapest form of counter there is afterwards, not with the new countertops and backsplash. It's not the dream kitchen she wants, but it is the one she can afford, and far superior to the one they had.
One Saturday, they venture into Newcrest, to the new pool that has opened there, as Charles thinks it's about time they teach the girls to swim.
"Can't you tell him that we learn in school, mom," Willow asks when they're in the changing room. "I can't believe he thinks we can't swim!"
"Indulge him," Candice says. "And have fun."
The swimming hall is nothing special. Just a pool. No slides, no trampolines, not even jumping platforms or a single float! Nothing that makes swimming fun, but a lot of elderly people making swimming slow and the pool feel crowded.
But things get a little better when they see that Olivia is there too.
Afterwards, the family go to Newcrest park. Charles wasn't sure what he was expecting, but possibly something that was more like Magnolia park back home. This is much smaller, but at least the girls have fun.
Far too soon, as far as Charles and Candice is concerned, it's time for Neo to age up to a child. With no family in Willow Creek, they invite over the neighbors and a few of Willow's and Sandy's friends for a birthday party. Candice bake a strawberry cake with the strawberries she's picked from the communal garden, and pasta primavera to eat.
Just before the party is about to start, Neo maxes out all his skills. He is so ready to start school and start making friends of his own. Candice helps him blow out the candles on his cake.
And toddler Neo grows into child Neo, with an active imagination and a wish to create. For his birthday present he gets an activity table. Just what he wished for.
Summer is becoming more or less a fixed feature in the house, as the kids love her and she happily comes over to hang out with them even when they don't ask her to babysit. Stuck in a dead end job as a dishwasher, she sometimes asks Charles' advice, and he often tells her to pursue her dream job, whatever that may be.
At the same time the influx of money, both from the money the envoy gave them and their jobs, slowly transforms their house into something more homey. An added book case, a transformed hallway, a new dining table... Bit by bit, Charles and Candice is turning the house they bought into the home they want, and as a result their children thrive.
Willow has taken quite a liking to helping her mother cook, as well as helping out with the communal garden behind their house.
But for Candice, even this is not enough. Every moment she gets she dives down into her books to learn more, to prove herself and get that next promotion.
"What if I don't get it? What if this is it?"
"Why would it be?" Charles patiently asks. "They won't be able to ignore you."
The girls on the other hand, is not sleeping very well lately, as the monster under their bed has started to show itself every night. Most of the nights, the two girls run upstairs, getting their mother, who tiredly and without really seeing the monster sprays the bed with water until the monster goes away, but one night Sandy decides to try and reason with the monster.
"We're really tired and need to sleep," she tells it. To her great surprise, the monster agrees to let them be for the night.
"We need to get the kids a night light," Candice says to Charles. "I can't keep doing this every night."
Tired or not, Candice's hard work pays off when she, finally according to her, get her next promotion. Assistant Manager is not as high up as she want to go, but it's definitely more reasonable for her now that manager is in the title.
More secure in her new job, she takes on the next area of the house - the kitchen. She's found a way to alter the kitchen cabinets with some paint and look alike wood panels, which makes the entire kitchen far more luxurious. You can hardly tell it's the cheapest form of counter there is afterwards, not with the new countertops and backsplash. It's not the dream kitchen she wants, but it is the one she can afford, and far superior to the one they had.
One Saturday, they venture into Newcrest, to the new pool that has opened there, as Charles thinks it's about time they teach the girls to swim.
"Can't you tell him that we learn in school, mom," Willow asks when they're in the changing room. "I can't believe he thinks we can't swim!"
"Indulge him," Candice says. "And have fun."
The swimming hall is nothing special. Just a pool. No slides, no trampolines, not even jumping platforms or a single float! Nothing that makes swimming fun, but a lot of elderly people making swimming slow and the pool feel crowded.
But things get a little better when they see that Olivia is there too.
Afterwards, the family go to Newcrest park. Charles wasn't sure what he was expecting, but possibly something that was more like Magnolia park back home. This is much smaller, but at least the girls have fun.
Far too soon, as far as Charles and Candice is concerned, it's time for Neo to age up to a child. With no family in Willow Creek, they invite over the neighbors and a few of Willow's and Sandy's friends for a birthday party. Candice bake a strawberry cake with the strawberries she's picked from the communal garden, and pasta primavera to eat.
Just before the party is about to start, Neo maxes out all his skills. He is so ready to start school and start making friends of his own. Candice helps him blow out the candles on his cake.
And toddler Neo grows into child Neo, with an active imagination and a wish to create. For his birthday present he gets an activity table. Just what he wished for.
His parents also make sure he has a night light, which they have also bought for the girls, so that they will be able to sleep through the night without nightmares of monsters.
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