Chapter Nine - Walk Like an Egyptian

It was another day at number two, Kat Road. The house was coming along nicely, although Tamsin had been a bit reckless in her spending. She and Moon were getting along well, and had spent several afternoons building a tree fort out back. Moon insisted on sleeping up there most nights.

Tamsin becomes an Adult

And doesn't look thrilled about it...

With all the inventing she had been doing, Tamsin wanted to get out of the house. She wasn't having a full-blown mid-life crisis, but she wanted to do something big. She looked at her bank account. There was more than enough to take both she and Moonlight overseas somewhere. That sounded brilliant, but Moon threw a tantrum at the idea of leaving Leafie behind.

Tamsin was a bit bothered, but she was eccentric herself enough to roll with Moon's little quirks. She booked only one ticket, and asked Cory to babysit for the weekdays she was away.

Al Simhara

Tamsin arrived completely unprepared in terms of her clothing. The heat was sweltering and she still had her cardigan on. She visited the local markets, buying some gifts for Moon and Cory respectively, then she dashed into the bathrooms to change.

There were so many quaint things about this place. The rustic grittiness of it seemed very romantic. She loved the sunshine, and the open landscape. Somehow, she thought it would better if people back home returned to such simple ways of living.

Riverblossom Hills

At home, Moonlight endured her first day of school without her mother around. Thankfully Cory also went to the same school, and helped her through the day.

Al Simhara

Tasmin was enthralled by the bright children's park on the waterfront near Al Simhara. She had spent a good portion of the day relaxing there. It was ridiculously hot. She had noticed a handsome Al Simharan man watching her off and on while she had been there. She'd returned his glances, but only inquisitively. Eventually he approached her.

She quickly discovered that he was very, very charming.

Her new love interest's name was Youssef. He had grown up in Al Simhara, and loved to cook. He spent a lot of time talking about food. She wanted to impress him, so after he had gone home she tried, under cover of darkness, to cook something delicious, vegetarian, and organic. "Perhaps I should try this again when I can see what I'm doing", she said to herself when she was finished.

That night, before going to bed, she mad a long distance call to check up on Moonlight. She was well. Mostly she talked about her doll.

The next morning was beautiful. Tamsin had set up a date with Youssef, and she had a quick breakfast in town to psych herself up for it.

The date went well.

Youssef invited Tamsin to come back to his place. This visit was an education. She realised very quickly that Youssef was very poor. His house had mud walls, and his furnishings were shot. The pair spent all evening talking about their lives. Youssef was very keen on art, and he loved to flirt, which Tamsin found invigorating.

That evening she cooked him a meal. It was a complete success. She felt so refreshed for this new, passionate affair. She didn't think about the past, she didn't think about the future. They just enjoyed each other's company.

Early that morning she kissed a sleeping Youssef goodbye, scoffed the leftovers of the meal she had cooked, then rushed out to catch her flight.

Riverblossom Hills

Moonlight was extremely pleased with her gift. An expensive camera! Cory, however, was surprisingly ungrateful for hers. Tamsin had not realised the girl could be such a snob.

Tamsin read Moonlight a bedtime story. For all the wonder of her trip to Al Simhara, it felt good to be living her simple, natural life again.

And she was glad for the sweet memories Youssef had given her.

++++

Challenge Notes

Finally! Tamsin is pregnant with the heir. I'm so excited, I'll roll for the next generation as soon as the heir is born. This whole chapter was formed around a bloody great big misclick. I meant to send BOTH Tamsin and Moonlight to Al Simhara as a mother-daughter bonding session. But I forgot to add Moonlight to the party who were going, and so Tamsin went off herself and I had to retcon the whole intention for going. :P

I loved the old Egyptian man with a cane. I was also really pleased to see my XML mod for the WA worlds is working properly. I modded the world files so that all the Sims in them have flavour text, as God intended. In France there are even three celebrities. One of the ghosts is a tribute to Jim Morrison of The Doors (who is buried in Paris) so it just made sense that his ghost should be famous. Seeing as they're working, I might share the XMLs on MTS at some point in the future.

Moonlight having the camera really fascinates me, because she can take photos of her "imaginary" friend. I don't know how that will play into my imaginings!