From Sims to Real Life

The Hunter Twins are travelling by train to find their mother. As there has been a fire in the train they have to stay some days at Cornucopia until the train will be repaired. I want to express many thanks to the c.c.-creators and a very special ‘thank you’ to Shalua for her Cornucopia World.

*****

When Valdemar woke up, he saw that his sister had dressed already but he didn’t feel like dressing right away. She asked him what he would like for breakfast and he answered: “Let’s see what Daisy prepared for us in that basket.”
While having breakfast, Val went into details telling the dream he had. “You know sis; everything has been made very easy for me; first by our parents and afterwards by you. I think it has been a big mistake. It is just not normal.” Jane didn’t answer but she did not agree with him.

After a while they went to the centre of the town to find a gym. There was a health centre and both of them tried to do something about their bad physical condition.

They really had a hard time because they never had done anything to improve their physical condition.

It didn’t take long before they were exhausted.

They made their minds up to do some training every day. Even in the train they could do so with the TV.

After a while they had a shower and went to a cafeteria to have a soft drink.

It was there that Jane asked: “So… you think it’s not normal that I helped you when you were down and always crying after our parents died? You’re not being fair with me Val…, you would have done the same under the circumstances.”

“No sis, we were both under the same circumstances; but afterwards you took advantage of the fact that I always listened to you by imposing your will.”
“But you needed guidance!”
“Anyway sister, just think that I was walking in a forest on a tile path! That is really quite odd. That path has been constructed by you. It has been all so easy for me that is has made me even a bigger coward than I already used to be.”

It was an unpleasant conversation and they just stood up to walk further to the town centre. They found a municipal greenhouse and went inside but both of them felt so uneasy that they didn’t really enjoy the new things they saw.

They went back to the beach house to pick up their belongings. Val asked why she didn’t want to stay in that beach house. She answered: “I think it’s better to sleep in the train; I don’t want you to wake me up when you have another nightmare.”

The situation was very tense between them. It never had been before. Val decided to talk to Daisy. He told her that he didn’t want to sleep in the same sleeper as his sister and asked her if it would be possible to have another one. She said that it could easily be arranged.
He said that his sister might be afraid to sleep alone and Daisy told him that she could sleep in Val’s former bed. She surely didn’t want Jane to be afraid (!).

When Jane went to bed, she saw that Daisy was sleeping there and she felt that her brother, most probably, had taken the decision to start his independence. She felt a bit if though he had put her ‘out of his way’. In spite of that she slept well.

Val was pleased with himself to have taken that decision but he missed Jane’s company. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even sleepy and he was pleased that Daisy had believed him and that she slept with his sister. Now, he couldn’t change his mind, even if he wanted.

Next morning, they went again to the Health Centre to do their training. This time they managed to continue over 2 hours at the gym.

They didn’t have much of a conversation. Afterwards while walking back to the train, Val said: “Jane, I hope you’re not angry with me.” She said: “No…, why should I?” but she didn’t sound as warm as usual.
“Jane, I really wouldn’t like to lose you; there’s no better sister in the world than you. I love you sis” and he embraced her. The atmosphere was better after that.

They walked through the park and when Jane uttered the possibility of having lunch in some restaurant, Val said that he would like to surprise her preparing something on the barbecue.
Jane suppressed her first reaction of saying ‘no’ but suddenly she understood that he had started seriously trying to be more independent so she said: “That’s a good idea Val.”

She gave him a compliment for having improved at cooking and he felt his self-respect increase.

After that barbecue, they went to the swimming pool where they had a lot of fun together.

They received a message from Daisy that the train would be prepared to leave tomorrow so they decided to have another look around and visited the Cornucopia Museum.

When it was getting late and Jane said that they had to go back to the train, Val said: “Let’s go a moment to the public library and send an e-mail to Sean.”

Jane was surprised that a bad dream could have such big consequences but she was pleased with the change in her brother’s behaviour.

Later that evening, they still were talking like they used to do before. Jane was pleased when Val said, that he had noticed that he could sleep alone without nightmares and he wanted to use again the same sleeper as Jane.

The train would be leaving at noon; they would still have the morning. They used it to go for another walk and spent part of the time fishing.

And playing chess.

They arrived at the train just in time for lunch and when they felt the train starting to move, they saw that obviously there was a new passenger.

Mr. Field, may I present you to Valdemar and Jane Hunter? Jane… Val… This is Mister Chester Field.
Val, without thinking, said: “Oh my… your parents must have had a great sense of humour!” He regretted it the same moment he said it.

Mr. Field replied: “Mr. Hunter… are you the funny joker of your family?” After that remark, an awful silence fell. Jane saw how her brothers’ self-confidence decreased.

She quickly embraced him and said: “Val, I think that was really very funny”.
Daisy said: “Well Mister Field, let me show you your sleeper” and off they went.
The train had reached his average speed and they knew that the next station would be Venice-Lagoon.

To be continued….

Many thanks to all the artists for their c.c. and my special thanks to Shalua for her beautiful world “Cornucopia”.

After looking at the island map, Val and Jane decided to take a walk and get to know the place.

*****

Cornucopia was a clean little town with a nice town square and while walking there, they saw a lovely white church. “Shall we go inside?”

“Yes why not.” They went inside and enjoyed the quiet and appropriate atmosphere for meditation. Each of them with their own thoughts but, above all, thinking of the religious education their mother (well… Lady Jane) had given them. They remembered her fondly. Of course, they had loved father as well but he had been less involved in their education; he had often been away for hunting or visiting his club.

That led their thoughts again to Sean McCormick.
“Sis… what was the present?”
“What present? Where are you talking about Val?”
“I mean the present you gave to Sean before we left.”
“Ah… you mean Lady Jane’s diary. Yes, I thought he would like to read it because she started to write it at a very young age and she happened to be in love with Sean before she knew our father.”

“Oh… I never would have expected that! But why did you give it to him? ”Well, I don’t know. I suspect that he was in love with her as well. When he talks about her, his voice changes and sounds more… lovingly, I don’t know what words to use to make myself clear. I could be wrong but my intuition tells me that he was fond of her. That reminds me that we should write him a letter.”

They went out of the church and returned to the train where Daisy was waiting for them.
She told them that the train could not leave today because they had to repair a few things and they would have to stay in Cornucopia during some days. She told them that she could prepare their meals anyway and they could use their sleepers but Jane said that she preferred to have a look around and find some nice place to sleep in the village or perhaps they could rent something for a couple of days. Daisy said that there was nothing to worry about. She would call them as soon as she knew when the train would be leaving so they could be back in time.

They took some clothes with them and went to the beach enjoying the sunshine.

There was a small beach house which was quite cheap. It had a wonderful view. Oh, it really was very small because there was only a one persons bed but outside there was a tent where one of them could sleep. Val said: “Sis, I don’t want to sleep out there; you know that I don’t like the dark.” “Yes Val, I know that you’re a coward; don’t worry, I will sleep in the tent.”

Inside the house there was a tiny kitchenette but they had to eat outside. That was not bad at all. Jane loved to be outside.
Val was having fun with the mirror in the bathroom and Jane called him: “Val, please, could you stop acting so childish? I think that they made some mistake when they say that we’re twins; you surely act if though you still were a teenager!”

“Oh come on Jane; I don’t say anything about the funny faces you put when you’re reading novels. I always can guess what you are reading and you’re laughing alone with the book. That’s ridiculous as well!”
Jane sighed and answered “Well, I guess that you could be right. Come and sit here with me; it’s a beautiful night. As there is no moon at all there seem to be millions of stars.”

They enjoyed the quiet and cool night air and afterwards Val went to bed and Jane into the tent.

Valdemar was a bit nervous and the words ‘coward’ and ‘childish’ were echoing in his head. As a matter of fact he felt guilty that his sister slept outside. It took him a while to fall asleep.

Val was walking in a forest. It was an unknown forest but he knew it was his own. Strangely enough he was walking on a prepared tile path and he felt sure because he felt that his sister was with him. The tile path was getting narrower and at a certain place the tiles stopped.

There was a tree in front of him and he could only go to the left or the right but there was no path he could follow. He took one step to the left but felt his heart accelerating in his chest. He quickly stepped on the path again. He just couldn’t take his eyes off the unknown mysterious paths without tiles but he didn’t feel sure.

Certain moment he saw himself from another angle: growing if stepping into the unknown, and shrinking if he stepped back to the known familiar warmth of his sister. He thought that he had understood the message but he was horrified.

Without even looking he felt that eyes were observing him from the dark.

Now his heart started beating like mad. He felt completely alone. In panic he screamed “Janey, Jane, where are you…” Please help me!”
He woke up sweating all over his body. He never had been so afraid.

“Val…, what happened? Did you have a bad dream?” She was standing next to him. He told her the nightmare he had and he felt so ridiculous that he had to be comforted by his sister again. He looked at her and said: “Jane, I would like to become more independent but I just don’t know how. I have no self esteem.”
She said: “I understand you brother; perhaps we should take a look in town tomorrow. There could be a gym and getting a better physical condition would be great to start with. Now go to sleep; within a few hours it will be a new day.” He felt how his panic decreased once taken the decision to get a better condition and he would be stronger. He turned around and slept safe and sound during the rest of the night.

Jane, in her tent, was thinking about the symbolic dream and she knew that her brother was right. He had to become more independent; she would try not to interfere. That would be quite difficult for her as used as she was to helping and comforting him after their parents’ death. Even as children she had wanted to protect him. Perhaps he had been overprotected.
After a while she fell asleep as well.

To be continued….