From what I've been told that first year wasn't all the best. Mom worked her small garden for as long as she could. She even found some new seeds to plant. This of course meant that I spent most of my time in the playpen, mom didn't want to risk me getting sick. Colm and Tara both think she might have been fighting some mild depression, because she sometimes went days without changing out of her pajamas. While, maybe they are right I think grandpa's note "Mainland still refuses to send ferry; even the science center is running low on supplies." might also explain why mom didn't change her clothes often. Mom wasn't the only one trying to fight off the blues. Dad started marking up and painting on the ground and walls with whatever he could get his hands on. Grandpa though took a somewhat more productive route. He started spending days scrounging through the dump near the abandoned warehouses. He even found some solid pieces of furniture, that had only needed minor repairs. Mom, dad, and grandpa made a deal where at least twice a week grandpa would stay home from the junkyard so mom could scavenge. I sometimes think that first year, they enjoyed being pseudo bachelors. While mom was stuck home with me, Tara, and Colm; dad and grandpa were free to come and go as they pleased. While dad had found and installed a bio security system, mom never once barred them from her side; and always made sure their was plenty of good food in the fridge for them and us to eat. Mom's scavenging turned out to be far more profitable than dad's dumpster diving sessions. Her primary goal was to find small animals and birds for the science center, so the scientists could determine if the meteor was having adverse affects, beyond the thick fog that usually swirled around most days. Mom would also collect any wild flowers, minerals, plant seeds, and stones as she could find. Gardening and gathering was so easy and natural for mom, that she began to express doubts about her desire to raise a large family. About once a month dad would get all paternal, and insist on taking care of us kids, provided mom left a precooked meal in the fridge. We've always wondered was dad rebelling against himself. He would tuck me in. He would even clean mom's space up. Tara and Colm once overheard dad tell mom that there was nothing sexier than a woman who knew how to make repairs. Tara confronted dad about 'possibly' leading mom on. Tara claims that she doesn't remember everything that dad said, but that the bottom line was to let the adults handle their business, and that dad still loved her even though she was being a 'nosy prat'. By the time the first full frost hit everything had gone though a lot of change. The solar shower was gone, both mom and dad had managed to get their hands on proper showers and installed them inside. Dad had gotten a temporary cover over grandpa's workbench, and was working on enclosing the back section of the platform so that we'd be out of the elements when working on the easels. Mom, was salvaging all of the bricks every time she added on to our side. "I love the look Paul, I've got over a dozen idea's sketched out, but none I love. For now my priority is enclosed from the elements with a little room to move around in." Tara and Colm always listened in on conversations. According to Tara it was the only way to find out what was going on, because "the adults didn't want to worry the kids". "The thing is sis, the not knowing left to much to our imaginations, and made everything far scarier than it needed to be." Colm confided in me once. Dad was going stir crazy, and took to exploring the catacombs. It never yielded anything other than dad needing a shower badly. Found this in grandpa's journal. "Sark went to the catacombs again. I'm not sure if he's trying to find a way to the mainland or get himself killed. He gave up on raising the ferry once he so the long gash down the side from running up against the docks." Tara and Colm overheard grandpa and dad having a shouting match one day. Even though mom keeps the windows partially open they didn't hear everything that was said. Both swear that they did hear one snippet clearly "... if you hate it here so much then spare us your antics and just leave, go live in the abandoned mine if you have to but go, I ...". Tara and Colm swear they never heard the rest, and the only note I've found in grandpa's journal is "Sark promised to stay out of the catacombs." Colm says that dad started helping them more with their schoolwork. Whatever went on that fall, Tara and Colm tended to take their meals away from the adults. Both have said "While the table was silent, or conversation polite, there was always an uncomfortable tension in the room. Especially if dad said anything about being tired of the monotony." Tara admitted that she took advantage in the change to get dad to play dominoes with them the way it had been before the divorce, before I'd been conceived. "It wasn't the same though, Siobhan, even though Colm and I took care for mom and dad to be opposite of each other. Mom always avoided direct eye contact with dad, and never discussed anything beyond the weather." Tara confided in me. "It was as if she was trying to not force her presence on him." As fall drew to a close, mom scored an ancient tv from the dumpster, along with a couch. She even found and fixed a toy oven for us kids to use. Just in time for spooky day dad managed to find a costume chest buried under an assortment of used suitcases at Mr. Peoples store. Tara said that dressing up was a fun way to relieve the boredom. Mom had found some toddler books for me. She frequently says that she wished she had worried less about fixing the plumbing, and sat to read with me. "Siobhan, everything but lost time is replaceable or fixable." I think I get what mom mean's when she tells me this. I love her more than anything, and it pains me to see her cry. She thinks she hides the crying well, but us kids can always tell. The last clear day before winter set in that year dad went and played his guitar at Mr. Peoples store. While grandpa helped mom move our beds upstairs. "It's not pretty Paul, but it gives us elbow room, and the children will stay warmer up here during the night since heat rises." The lot so far at the end of their first fall. There is no more furniture, besides the outside trash can in the neutral space. A second floor of sorts is up on Fern's side. I've got several possible end goal floor plans in mind, they however are contingent on factors. ;)
2 Comments
April Wilson
2/22/2018 12:02:54 pm
Your story is coming along nicely! I don't know if I could tolerate playing on epic, but you make it seem doable. Hopefully in time certain relationships will mend and provide you with a firmer idea in regards to an end goal floor plan. Looking forward to your next chapter!
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Lisabeesims
2/22/2018 03:06:53 pm
<3 <3 nice update
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