Magda cooked their breakfast, and contemplated the future. Apple and Vincenzo were already showing the tell tale signs of nearing their teen years. At least that's what matched to their behavior patterns and the sudden unexplained mood shifts according to the website on parenting, that Magda would slip onto once in awhile after the twins were in bed for the night. Magda tried to talk to Apple about what to expect as a young woman, and the changes she might go through. Apple grunted a few times before stabbing her pencil into the paper and responding, muther! I need to get this finished. Magda, took a deep breath and firmly told Apple that she loved her, and then cleared her dishes clearly her sweet giggling toddler was long gone. Magda found herself missing the wrap of chubby arms around her neck with the sticky kiss on the cheek, as the twins would beg for more outside time. With a firm set to the shoulders Magda reminded herself that time only moved forward, never backwards, and that there were no second chances in life. The snap and crackle followed by a choice word, Vincenzo really needed to spend less time around the ships crew when they stopped by because he hadn't learned that word from her, pulled Magda's focus away from the canvas she was working on. She told him to watch his language, and that he'd have to share computer time with Apple. To which he'd replied watch it do what? Apple, without looking up from her blocks project for math, quickly snapped that he'd best not mess up her computer, she was in the middle of an important interview for her mid term assignment. Magda frowned to herself, were all preteens like this? The parenting site had an online forum, but with the limited access to the internet, Magda hadn't joined. She also hadn't joined because the one time she'd considered it, she'd skimmed through first, and the number of parents fighting over what was the best way to parent scared her. Especially the mothers who put down other parents for different choices. It reminded her to much of the clicks in high school, and she had had enough of that. Magda told the twins it was time for fitness, and they could either do their practices inside or go take a jog around the island with her. She mentally crossed her fingers and was rewarded when they both chimed that they didn't want to jog outside in the drizzling rain. She watched for a few minutes to assure herself that they wouldn't restart the fight and was once again amazed how graceful Apple could be, given she was a complete klutz and managed to trip over air at least six times a day . Whereas Vincenzo who never tripped over air, struggled to learn the simplest of the dance movements. The cost of turning the fourth upstairs big room into a home studio had been worth it, Magda thought to herself as she paced herself in a slow steady jog. In reality it only took maybe 15 to 20 minutes to jog from one end of the island to the other on the path that circled the house, but she had learned that if she paced herself just right it could take an hour. Which she used to her advantage every time the twins started to get to her with their bickering. Although sometimes they would join her, but by the end of the hour the results were always the same, the twins had mellowed or resolved whatever they'd been fighting over, and Magda had regained her sense of calm and no longer what to yell at them. Tending the garden was the other way that Magda would manage to get time to herself. She loved her children with a fierceness she hadn't realized she'd had, but she also needed time to just herself from time to time. Magda had to dismantle the second computer to fix the one that had still been working, which broke seconds after Apple hit send on her end of term exams. When Vincenzo started to grumble about needing to submit his, Magda sent them both off to go fishing, and promised him that she'd submit the file packet as soon as the computer was fixed. Grumbling as they went, both children left Magda alone to fight with the needed repairs. Magda stared at her latest painting, it had been specifically commissioned by one of the scientist's as a reminder of their time with the institute. Magda had tried to ask the name once and had been told firmly it was better if she didn't know, even as isolated as she was. Magda stared at the newly assembled bench and mock bookcase. She hoped the twins would like them, it was the best she was able to come up with for their birthday requests. A library, and something not made of wood to sit on. She had just a few more years before they officially became teens, and she was trying to do her best to make sure they had what they needed, like vaccines and warm clothes which the scientists had happily helped her with. Along with things they wanted, such as a few video games, just not the airport one, and fun books to read. With the march of time had also come more changes to their home, as Magda had realized that putting nice furniture into dingy surroundings wasn't go to make things more welcoming. That instead she needed to focus on learning how to clean and redo the walls, and while she had contemplated redoing the ceiling she realized the exposed beams were in excellent shape and just needed the occasional light sanding and dab of oil for maintenance. That Vincenzo had developed a taste for charities and charity auctions she didn't mind so much, as most of the time he was learning from the experience in one way or another. With the bonus that he felt less like a looser when he made donations. Magda always did her best to reassure him that while Apple had a natural affinity for book work, and grasped certain concepts with ease, that book smarts weren't the be all end all of the world. Which was sometimes a hard concept to get across as some of the scientists had nick named Apple their good luck genius. Author's note: This chapter is unofficially dedicated to simmer babay_j, Marj, whom we lost about a month ago. If you were lucky and fortunate enough to be counted by her as a friend, then you'll understand how special she was. How she always enjoyed a good read. Shared her own adventures cooking in the kitchen, time spent with her family, and especially her grandchildren. As a simmer she channeled much of her creativity and joy for life into recolors that she shared with the exchange and the rest of us simmers. She also always had a kind word and lot's of encouragement whether you were sharing your day to day, a new build, or a story. She is greatly missed.
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