Ma and I approach the bartender after entering Pepper’s Pub. She orders two Barley Bales. Does her news require a drink? We grab our mugs, and she leads me to an isolated table in the corner.
Kai: What’s going on, ma?
Prosperity: It’s about your father. He left you something.
The words hang in the air as I try to imagine what he left me and even more intriguing…why?
Kai: What could he have possibly left, ma? He didn’t seem to have much.
Prosperity: He didn’t. But his family did. Your father was born to a very wealthy family – the Conways of Windenburg. He turned his back on them when he moved to Sulani to start the conservation camp where we met. His mother was a judge. His grandfather – you’re great-grandfather, was too. They expected him to carry on the tradition, but they cut him off when he refused. At least that’s what he led me to believe.
Kai: Okay. How long have you known this?
Prosperity: For a while.
Kai: But you never told me.
Prosperity: I know, Kai. Since he never wanted to be involved, I didn’t see the point. I’m telling you now because your father put me in charge of his estate – and he left you a house.
Kai: What house? The trailer home in Evergreen Harbor?
Prosperity: It was a shipping container. But no – apparently, he sold that lot. It’s his parents’ house – the one they bought after they retired. It’s a huge homestead in Henford-on Bagley.
I’m confused and shocked. There’s a lot to process.
Kai: What? Why did he put you in charge of his estate?
Prosperity: I don’t know, Kai. People like that don’t exactly make many friends, and from what I gather, he was an only child. With his parents long gone – there’s no one else.
Ma takes a long sip of her Barley Bale while I continue to try and make sense of what I’ve just heard.
Kai: So, ma, let me get this straight. His parents cut him off, but they left him their house. If they were so wealthy – what happened to all the money?
Prosperity: Well, I spent all last night looking through his records, and it seems that they didn’t cut him off completely. The money was passed down to your father. He donated the money to various conservation efforts all over the sim world soon after they died. He never wanted it.
Kai: But he kept the house?
Prosperity: I think he kept it for you, Kai.
I think about that for a moment. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. Over the years, he never missed sending gifts on my birthday or during Winterfest. They weren’t much, but it was something. So why wouldn’t he leave me a house?
Kai: So what should I do, ma? Should I keep it or sell it.
Prosperity: I think you should go and look at it before deciding what to do next. I know that you’ve resented your father over the years, but don’t let that influence your decision. This is a generous gift. It could be your chance to marry and start a family with that girl who has put that permanent smile on your face.
Kai: *smile grows* Melisa? So you think I should marry her?
Prosperity: Have you ever thought about it?
Kai: I think about it every day.
Prosperity: Life is short, Kai. I spent too much of mine doing the wrong things. Now I’m old. Mr. Washington recently asked me to marry him, but I turned him down. Not because I don’t love him, but I’ve been single so long. It’s tough to think about such a significant change at my age. You shouldn’t waste time. If you love her and want to spend your life with her – act on it.
Ma is making a lot of sense. My mind is buzzing with possibilities as I finish off my drink. Finally, we get up to leave. I give ma a big hug and a few things to consider.
Kai: Ma, you should take your advice. Mr. Washington is a great guy, and he adores you.
I throw her words back at her with a few of my own.
Kai: If you love him and want to spend your life with him – act on it. You’re both older, but you’re not dead.
I arrive back on campus, but my mind is still at the pub, reflecting on everything ma had to say. I can imagine my pop-pop and gran agreeing with her. I approach the house, but instead of going inside, I take a detour, lie back on the tarp right under the tree, and look up at the clouds.
Having my father leave me this house feels a bit ironic. But, keeping this house and living there with Me-Me will help me build the life that I never had but always wanted as a child. Our future children can have parents that are there for them and would never abandon them. They’d never want for anything – attention, love. But would Me-Me want that too – with me? I’ll never know unless I ask, but how do I ask and when?
After some time, I get up and head to the Student Center, where I know I’ll find her.
Me-Me isn’t there, but Mo is. So we pass the time playing a few rounds of ping pong.
Mo wins a few rounds, and I win a few, but we don’t keep score. Eventually, his girl Shania comes over to cheer him on.
Shania: You’ve got this, babe!
We play until I spot Me-Me entering the building, then we both abandon the game in favor of getting hugs from our ladies.
I don’t hesitate to tell Me-Me what I just found out.
Kai: I met with my mom today, and you’ll never guess what she told me.
Melisa: Was it about your father?
Kai: Yes! He left me a house – in Henford-on-Bagley.
Melisa: Really, Kai. That’s pretty cool. Have you seen it yet?
Kai: No, but – I want you to come with me when I do.
It’s important to me that she likes the house too. But I leave that out.
Melisa: Yeah, sure. When should we go?
Kai: Tomorrow, after our classes.
Melisa: Leaving you a house – that’s huge, Kai.
Kai: Yeah, I guess it is.
It doesn’t make up for the years that he wasn’t around, but at least he’s playing a part in helping me transition to the next stage of my life after graduation.
Kai: Well, see you tomorrow?
Melisa: Yes, we can meet here. My last class ends at 11.
Kai: Okay, I’ll be here!
I head home to get some much-needed rest. On the way, I get a notification that my grades are available for viewing. So I click the link, and to my surprise, not only did I pass all of my classes, but I did well. I almost can’t believe that I still pulled together an A– GPA after everything I’ve gone through. So maybe I won’t be dropping out after all.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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