English Legacy: Bandwagon (Chapter 21)

Come on aboard I promise you you won't hurt the horse
We treat him well, we feed him well
There's lots of room for you on the bandwagon
The road may be rough, the weather may forget us
But won't we all parade around and sing our songs and wave our flags.
A magic kingdom, greet us all hello, greet us hello, greet us hello.

"Are you sure about this, Mom?"

"I'm absolutely sure, boys. I can think of two reasons why this should be done..."
"Number one....."
"....and number two."

"Yeah, I know, Mom, but this is the house Dad built for us, with his own sweat, blood, and keystrokes. What would he say right now?"

Dark in here.

"Oh, Christopher, to your father, the house was just a place to sleep, eat, and to play video games in. What he truly cherished most of all, was our family, and watching you boys grow. After the leopard skin thingy, of course. He would understand the need to do this, with new babies on the way."
"I just want to point out, Mom, that's there's not quite enough cash in the account to build the new house free and clear. We'll literally have to recycle the old house to afford the new one."

"I understand, Alex. C'mon, time's a wasting. Get busy with Buy and Build modes, you two."

* A few days later.... *

"Christopher! Get over here, I need you! My water broke! The baby is coming!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Whoa, you're right! But, I could have sworn I just heard Shante call out that she was in labor?"

"She is! We both are! Now quit freaking out and get me to the hospital!"

"Right! Hospital, police cruiser, sirens.... uh, ixnay on the police car; Looks like Alex and Shante took it...."

* Later that very same night... *
"Man, as Rich as we are, you'd think we could afford a better health care plan so you and our son wouldn't have to leave the hospital the same night he was born."

"Oh, it's all right, sweetheart. Danny and I are just fine; there' no reason for us to stay when we've got this nice, big new house waiting for us, which was finished just in time."

"Oh, I know, 'Trish. Besides, I know they had a shortage of bassinets after Alex and Shante."

Posted by: Brian at 13:37 pm 0 comments





Boy, bet you thought it was another cliffhanger, didn't ya! :D
"Isn't that Chris and Latricia in the cab, in front of us, Alex?"

"I think so... I just wonder why we have to bring Deanna and Elizabeth home in a cab when I've got Dad's cop car literally in my pocket."

"Oh, is that what that is? I thought you were just happy to see me."

"Always, Shante. Even before you gave us two beautiful baby girls."

"Uh... did you Check the Sink before we left the house? And the stove?"

"Yes, dear."

"Oh, good. I'd hate it if anything were to happen to that new house."

I suppose the readers are going to want to actually see the new house; odd creatures that they are... well, all right.
Here's the bottom floor - I built the house on a foundation - first time I've ever done that. As you can see, there's lots of room in the living area on the left, and the study area on the right. Outside the study area is a deck where the exercise equipment and chess table are.

The dining room has the same floor and walls as the kitchen, because it was originally the kitchen, but I decided to switch them so the kitchen would have windows.
Here's the upper floor. The upper foyer at the top of the stairs will likely be where the portraits will be found on the walls as they're painted. Alex and Shante's bedroom and bathroom are on the left; Chris and Latricia on the right. Laurel's bedroom is at top center. That may become an "upper study" when she passes on.
Here's the house now, after a few more days passed - I put the upper deck on, and put a pond in the back. I need Laurel to catch enough fish so she can stock the pond.

You can see the family graveyard there... which I completely sealed off with a fence and removed the gate to see if that would keep a certain Founder's ghost from wandering about. Next to his marker is the easel containing his last attempted painting. I'm curious if his ghost will finish it, if he can't play video games any more...
Oh, I almost forgot - people might want to know the traits of Generation Three, so far:

Deanna English - Hates the Outdoors, and Exciteable
Likes: Kids Music, Dim Sum, and Grey

Elizabeth English - Athletic, Heavy Sleeper
Likes: Electronica, Spaghetti, and Red.

Danny English - Artistic, Easily Impressed
Likes: Electronica, Key Lime Pie, and White.