Xenobia Legacy. Years of the Jubilee: Chapter Threeby

Lauri Empress

Heirs and Spares growing up!

Hi, my name is Penny, I took excerpts from my diaries over the years, and rewrote them a little. I didn't change much just fixed some of the verb tenses and, I'm babbling. I should just let you read, and isn't Venus a sweetie pie. I think I'll miss her in college.

This is my sister, Phoebe. I guess she's pretty since Mommy and Daddy say she looks just like I did when I was her age. The cat is Venus, she doesn't really like getting squished. That's why I told Phoebe how much fun it was to hug and squeeze her.

This is my sister, Calliope. You can see me back behind her wishing she'd quit screaming so I could get to sleep. Doesn't she know you're supposed to sleep at night!

And this is me, the cutest of the group, playing chess with Daddy. But he was winning and I don't like to lose.

“Daddy, what is that over there behind the new house?”

“What? Where? Penny, I don?t see anyone. Are you sure you saw something?”“I thought I did, but maybe it was just a shadow.”

“Young lady, put that piece down now.” I got a spanking after that and was sent to bed. I guess cheating daddy isn't worth it.

When it finally was Callie and Phoeb's birthday, I was pretty excited. We were just about ready to move into the new house, and had the birthday party there because the living room was so big. I was happy because now my sisters would be old enough to play with. I loved teasing them when they were little but now I could really have fun with them.

Daddy was spinning Phoebe. He spinned Cally last time so they switched.

“They are growing up fast, Ari.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“No they aren't they took forever to grow up!” Sometimes grownups are very silly.

But when it came time to blow out the candles, I was cheering loudly. “Come on, you two! It's time to be big big!”

Callie was pretty silly, she wanted to touch the candles. Doesn't she know they burn?

And Phoebe was too busy with Daddy to blow out her candles! Don't be stupid, Phoeb! Daddy's great, but growing up is more fun, besides Daddy will still be there when you're big!

After she blew out her candles, Mommy sat Callie down to grow up. About time!

And then Phoebe tried to burn herself.

Is it just my baby sisters that are dumb or all of `em?

And to top it all off Phoebe was too busy watching Callie to blow out her own candles, Daddy had to do it!

Well she tried to help anyway.

And so we all waited. Dang they were taking forever!

But finally she grew up! Wow she's almost as pretty as me.

But why was she looking at her hands, did she think they were lost or something?

Now, Phoebe it's your turn you've took too long already!

Phoebe? You're not supposed to be prettier than me. I'm the prettiest.

No. I'm not the prettiest anymore. Phoebe is. And those boys at school better not try to tease her, or I'll beat them up!

Time passed and soon we got the house finished and we each got our own rooms. We were told we could choose our own color and styles. Mom explained to me about life colors. Pink is mine. Do you like my room? I think it's cool.

Callie likes red right now. Mom says that sometimes kids change their color before they grow up, but usually what they choose is what they stick with.

Phoebe is into green. I think it's because she really likes plants. I learned about Plantsims in school, maybe she might want to be one someday.

Daddy is good about fixing things when he gets home from work. Mom and Daddy are really working hard lately. Mom keeps talking about whether she should quit. She wants to spend more time with us, but she does help a lot of people. I'm proud of how she makes people's health better, but having her with us would be better.

I'm also proud of Daddy. He's working hard to be a good policeman and maybe one day, Captain Hero. Now who wouldn't want a daddy like that?

I was twelve when we got some bad news from school. When Mom got home I rushed out to tell her.“Mom, Mom, Phoebe and Callie's grades are dropping! The social services woman told me that if they can't bring them up, they?ll have to take us away. She said she didn't want to, because she knows you and Daddy try really hard, but she says she has to follow the rules. Please Mom we have to fix this! I know I'm mean, but this is wrong, this is family!”

Mom warmed up leftovers for us, and we sat down to talk about the problem. Callie was still napping, so Phoebe and I started without her.“Phoebe, why are you and your sister having trouble getting your homework done?”

Phoebe frowned and stared into her chili. “When I get home, I'm soooo tired. And when I wake up I just don't feel like doing my homework.”

Callie came in about that time.“Why not? You know your homework is important.”“Yeah, I know, mommy, but, I really have to play computer games or chess or something.”“Yeah, mommy, it's so hard to concentrate on homework when I just want to have some fun,” Callie threw in.

“Mommy, we want to do our homework. We don't want to be taken away. But we really are having trouble and every day there is more. We get part of one days done, but then we have to start over again.”

So after we ate Phoeb and I sat down to play chess so she could get her homework done.

“I don't see a spider, Penny.”“Keep looking.”

?Honest, Pen, there isn?t a spider on the wall.??Hmm, maybe it was just a shadow.?

“Oh well, maybe I can find one outside this weekend.”“Only if you get your homework done. Are you having fun yet?”

“Yeah, thanks, sis. I hope you aren't bored.”“Me, nah, I'm having lots of fun too.”

Callie chose to jump on her bed.

“Five times five?” Phoebe asked, puzzled.“Twenty-five,” I answered.“What makes plants green?”

“Chlorophyll, almost done?”

“Not in the slightest.”

The girls finally had to go to bed. I waited until Daddy came home. Then I explained what was going on. I had come up with a solution.

“Daddy, I know we were going to have my birthday tomorrow, but I don't want to wait.”“Can't wait to get your presents?”“No, although that would be cool too. No, if I turn thirteen, then I can use the energizer Mom has. Then I won't need to sleep, I could do all the rest of the homework for them.”“Penny, that would be cheating.”“I'm going to do it, Daddy, cheating or not, we can't lose each other. Please, Daddy. Please.”His voice was soft as he answered, “I can't stop you, you'll grow up with or without the cake. It isn't right, Penny, the Lord will help us in this. We have to trust him.”“I I don't know if I can, Daddy.”He sighed at that. I knew he would, my parent's beliefs are important to them. “I'll get a cake ready in the living room.”

“Really, Daddy? You'll do it?”He simply nodded.

“I love you, Daddy.”“I love you, too Princess. I worry about you, but I love you.”I didn't quite understand that, but I was going to be a teen, and I had work to do.

I was happy but I started thinking about that social worker that was going to take my sisters away if I didn't do something to fix it. I was sooo mad. I think it might have shown.

But Daddy was cheering me on like he always does. He's the best Daddy even if I don't really understand him very well.

So smiling now I made my wish, and blew out the candles. I was going to be a teenager!

'I was a teenager! This was neat! I was so tall! I really couldn't wait to get to the energizer and start working on the rest of those homework assignments.

“Penelope? You grew up without us?”“I had to, Mom! Dad will explain it, I've got work to do!”“Oh? Well, you look quite beautiful, princess. And remember you have school tomorrow.”

After a quick trip to the energizer I worked the rest of the night on all the homework left in the house. I knew it was cheating, but I also knew that if I got them caught up now they would be able to keep up from now on and I'd never have to do it again. But we can't be separated. We can't.

Morning came and I changed clothes so I could go to school, and then sat down with a book to relax a bit before school. Mom sat down on the computer next to me.“Penny, I don't approve of cheating.?“But Mo,” I didn't get to finish before she cut in.“However, you did what you did out of love for your sisters. And I thank you for that.”I was a bit shocked at that but I just nodded, “Welcome, Mom.”I don't think she noticed the haircut . Dang that energizer gets you going.

Not long after that Mom got pregnant again. Of course by that time we weren't struggling to make ends meet. The new house was pretty much done, and I had started earning scholarships for college. It's funny, Mom says I was jealous of Callie and Phoeb win they were babies, and looking back at some of my old diaries, I guess she's right. But I was really looking forward to this baby. Mom really liked to just lay back on the beach and think. I remember she came to me before the baby was born and asked what I thought about her leaving medicine for a while and staying at home. I told her to do what she thought best, but that I would love having her home more. I really missed her a lot growing up. Nannies are idiots.

One day while she was sitting on the beach, our brother decided it was time to show up. What I didn't mention it was a boy before? Silly me.

“Father why in the name of the heavenlies can I never seem to give birth with my husband here!” Dad was at work you see.

Lucy the maid was there to lend some emotional support though.

“Lucy, get some towels!”“Argggh! Baby! Must Panic! Must!”

But then Stephanerikan alven Xenobia was born. He looks just like Dad. Of the four of us, only Callie got Mom's eyes.

Isn't he adorable.

A couple hours later when all of us were home from school, Mom told us that she had quit her job at the hospital. She said she might go back to work in private practice when we were all gone to college, but for now her true place was at home. Callie wasted no time calling up the nanny, and letting her know that her services were no longer needed.

Ahhh, look at that mean grouchy face. Isn't it perfect! Aww, but Dad do you have to run around in Speedos???

After that Callie and Mom went outside to play. I don't think the kids are ever going to have trouble with getting their homework done again.

The rest of winter was pretty uneventful, but spring was a bit different. First, I got to take a ride on an alien space ship.

I may be a knowledge sim, but I had a feeling this wasn't going to be completely pleasant.

They brought me back a few hours later. It seemed more like a few years, but I checked the clock, it was a few hours. Unless they have time travel like that old Disney movie. Hmm, I wonder how I could check to see if I have temporal variations or anomalies. Cel and Michelle might have the equipment.

Well, they pretty much stripped me of any dignity I might have had. I was right it wasn't pleasant. And yet, of course I want to go again.

After that though I really wanted to get out of the house for a while. So I called Alvin Futa up, told him I was headed to the park, and to meet me there if he wanted to hang out. After I hung up, Mom sort of lectured me about being polite to my friends. But like I told her, it's just Alvin.

See Alvin and I are buddies.

Er yeah, just buddies. But he has such nice eyes.

It was almost Stephan's birthday when Mom got a call from Lauri. They talk a lot, but this seemed a bit more important.

“Well, Mitchell and I both think it best that they decide among themselves who should be the heir. It's more fair that way.” She was quiet for a while before going on. “Well, yes if they can't come to a consensus we might have to say something. But, we'll work something out. We're family.”I knew what she was talking about, but it really hit me this time. We were going to choose who was heir. Hmm, I have some thoughts about that.

Oh, Callie opened a lemonade stand. She carefully figured out how much it cost to make a glass, then figured out how much people would be willing to pay. That girl has it all figured out.

And sure enough before long the neighbors and townies started showing up. Makoto came but I think it wasn't so much for the lemonade.

Because him and Phoebe played the rest of the day. Also, I'm not sure Callie wants anyone to know, but she's a bit of a soft touch too. When people come up and don't have money for the lemonade she lets them have one glass. She says it's good business, and I can see it in theory. I just hope it works out like she says it will.

Phoebe and I were eating the morning of Stephan's birthday.“Phoebe, I was wondering. What you think about being heir?”“I don?t want it.”“You don't?”“Nope. Don't get me wrong, I love Mommy and Daddy a lot, but I really want my own house when I get married and start having kids. I think Callie would be a good choice or you. Maybe Stephen, but he's a baby y' know?”“Yeah. Well, we don't have to decide now. And all things considered, Mom and Dad might decide to have another.”“Another brother or sister? COOL!”I messed her hair before I finished my salad.

“Hey kiddo. How're you doing? What do you think, Steve, you want to be heir? It's a big job, but not a bad one leading the family.”

?Heir?.lots to think about. College, spouses, jobs?I?I don?t know, Stephen, I just don?t know. But hey it?s your birthday. Let?s get you big okay little brother??

The sun was setting and Callie and Phoebe was asleep as I took Steve to the cake. But Dad was there to cheer him on like he had all the rest of us.

And so was Mom, she's usually so laid back, but when it's time to cheer her kids she puts her heart in it.

I held him down and blew out his candles for him.

Callie must have heard us because she came down in her nightgown.

Toss and twirl away! This is fun!

I about died, he's all dressed up for his birthday!

I guess Callie figured it was over she could go back to bed. Or she smelt his diaper and was skipping away knowing she wouldn't have to change it.

Right after I changed him, he peed on me so I had to go change my clothes and, well his diaper sort of ended up on the floor. He was smart though and crawled away as fast as he could. Don't tell mom, but I think I'm going to play around with his hair some. I was thinking he could look like a little Beethoven with the right hair. Only cuter.

I mean he's adorable!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Excerpts.

Across the neighborhood, Flavius and Prof were having some fun outside.

“Well we did a pretty good job place holding dear.”

“Yeah we did. Indy and Di get to next time right?”“They're getting ready to move in so it makes sense.”“Cool, more best friends I can make!”

Okay now just a few scenes of these two dancing because they're so cute.