Rolling The Dice

[Caspin]

Yes the dice were truly against me on that kid!

My game does keep me entertained. Half the time I cannot believe what I'm seeing on the screen. I should possibly have done a better job on my prison outfit but that's what happens when you mess around in CAS while drinking.

Guilt

Since Caspin's incarceration, Vanessa felt truly free. She has actually got away with murder! It was quite the power trip.

Unfortunately, her joy vanished at the realisation of her daughters' misery. Vicky and Veronica moped about the house, with Vicky frequently bursting into tears. For a while Vanessa tried to tell herself that Vicky was beset by the turmoil of teenage hormones and that Veronica was simply cursed by her godawful traits, but then she overheard their whispered conversation at the dining table as she passed by one morning. She had to face the facts - the girls were miserable, filled with guilt and regret. They were not sufficiently psychopathic. "Damned non-psycho genes they've inherited from their father", Vanessa thought.

She went into the dining room and sat down to have a frank discussion.




Vicky: Waaaaaaaaagh!
Veronica: .........

Vicky continued to weep intermittently and Veronica maintained her stony silence.

Vanessa: OK, you two. I can see that you are both miserable. I understand that you feel guilty about your dad. But we cannot go back in time. What can I do to make things better?
Vicky: I don't feel guilty about Dad! He was very old. It was nearly time for Grim to take him anyway. I feel bad because we framed an innocent person. Also I am now failing Biology because you had my tutor incarcerated!
Vanessa: What can I do?
Vicky: We could start by giving Dad a proper burial. It makes me feel sick when I look out of my window and see his grave covered in leaves. He was so fussy about the garden and he'd hate it!
Vanessa: OK, we will sort that out today.
Vicky: And you have to get Caspin out of jail.
Vanessa: That's not happening, Vicky. I'll get you a new Biology tutor. But I am not going to confess to the crime. I wouldn't last long in jail. Didn't you hear that they don't have wifi?

Vanessa: What about you, Veronica?
Veronica: ........
Vanessa: Come on. Out with it.
Veronica: I hate it here. You have too many parties and boyfriends. I'm a loner - it's a nightmare for me when the house is full of people. I just want to paint. By myself. I want you to send me to art school in France.

Vanessa was stunned. Her daughter wanted to leave. But what choice did she have - make her stay and see her miserable?




Vanessa: I'm heartbroken! But if that is really what you want....
Veronica: Yup.

That very afternoon, Veronica started work on a huge canvas, ready to be submitted for the entrance exam. Despite her horrific personality and face the shape of a turnip, she did possess some artistic talent.




Vanessa sat down at the computer and filled out the application for Le Fromage School of Art. It was quite expensive but Styles had at least left some money and this seemed a reasonable use for it.




She spent the rest of the afternoon raking up the leaves in the garden. She made everything as neat as possible, then popped her husband's gravestone into her pocket, as only a sim can, and set off to the graveyard with Vicky.




Vanessa: This is a good spot, Vicky. We'll put him here by this bush.
Vicky: Yes OK. I think we'd better do some crying, in case people are watching.

Vanessa turned on the taps immediately. Vicky stared at her. She was starting to wonder whether her mother had any feelings at all. Did she really love her and her sister, or was that all an act too? The thought was frightening and Vicky started to cry.

Vanessa: Well done, dear. Good tear-flow!




Peggy To The Rescue?

They got home in time to wave Veronica off to art school, since her application had been instantly accepted due to the marvels of the internet. The taxi arrived to take her to the airport, then without a backward glance she was gone.

With her sister gone, Vicky was lonely and still very sad. She stared at her science homework, bewildered. She gave up and went to bed, where she had nightmares about the cemetery, filled with ghosts rising up and deathfish filling the pond.




The next day she made a decision. She need someone to talk to, but her sister was gone, her father was dead and her mother was mad. The only person she had left was Peggy.




Peggy listened to the entire story, apparently unperturbed.

Vicky: So, you see, I'm an accessory to murder. And I unwittingly facilitated the framing of Caspin by carelessly throwing the notebook into the bin! Do you hate me? Are you shocked?
Peggy: No, no. Don't be silly. These things happen.
Vicky: They do?
Peggy: Certainly. You know most of my family are from Monte Vista, where my uncle runs a crime syndicate. My grandmother runs a horse ranch out in the country. We had to get our own ranch just to keep up with the supply of horse heads to leave in people's beds! That's why my parents left Monte Vista after they'd had me. So I'd have a chance to live a life free from the mob!
Vicky: Oh. But now I've dragged you into this!
Peggy: Seems pretty tame to me. I'll help you fix it!




Peggy hugged Vicky.

Peggy: Honestly, give me a day or two and I will come up with a plan!
Vicky: OK!

She still couldn't stop crying, but she felt a lot better and that night she had a peaceful sleep.