I can tell there’s something on Maia’s mind when we arrive home.
Wade: Everything okay?
Maia: Yes and no
Wade: No?
Maia: I’m worried about my father.
Maia fills me in on what she saw around Clyde’s house that concerns her.
Wade: Yeah, I picked up on a few things too. But I knew something wasn’t right because he was actually nice to me.
Maia: I was thinking—since our tenants are finally leaving. What about if we move him in there? That way, he’ll be close, and I can watch him.
Clyde living next door doesn’t sound like a good time, but he can’t be worse than Tia and Haru. If it were me in Maia’s position, I’d be asking the same thing.
Wade: Clyde has his pride. Do you think you can convince him to move?
Maia: I mentioned it to him as we were leaving. He didn’t completely lose it, especially when I reminded him he’d always get to see Tami.
I know Maia is waiting for me to say yes, but moving Clyde in will be a significant change for all of us, but more for me than Maia and Tami because at least Clyde likes them. But I can’t look my new wife in the eye and say no. I married her for better and worse. Living with Clyde will be challenging, but even I can admit it’s not the worst thing.
Wade: If he’s down with it, I’m down.
Maia smiles.
Maia: I’ll talk to him later today.
Wade: Tia and Haru will be out in a day or so. I sent them an eviction notice earlier today. Once I’ve inspected the place, it’ll be ready.
Maia: That’s good news
With the Clyde discussion out of the way, I look down and notice that Hiro is looking a little restless, and I realize he hasn’t been on a walk for a few days now.
Wade: I need to walk him.
Maia: I’ll do it. You can barely stay on your feet. Watch Tami, and I’ll be right back.
I wish she’d take Tami with her, but daddy duty never ends, and I must do my part. Maia starts down the street with Hiro as Tami and I head inside.
Tami slept for most of the ride back, so she’s full of energy while I’m practically dead on my feet.
Tambara: You play with me, Daddy?
I lower myself in the chair in the corner, praying that Tami will have some mercy on me today.
Wade: Daddy needs to rest his eyes for a minute. Then I’ll be ready to play.
Tami pulls out a few toys while I nod in the rocking chair, trying my best not to fall asleep.
Tambara: *to her doll* Daddy’s eyes don’t work right now. He play with us later.
That’s my sign to stop fighting my drowsiness and let myself completely drift off. But it doesn’t last long. As soon as I feel myself sinking into the welcoming arms of sleep, the loud sound of splashing water startles me awake.
Wade: What the heck?!
I run to the bathroom to face one of my worst nightmares. The toilet is overflowing and spewing sewage all over the bathroom floor. I stare at the mess, unsure of where to start. Getting to the toilet will mean stepping into pee and poop-filled water. But I have to do what I have to do, so I hold my breath against the smell and get to work until I’ve successfully stopped the overflow.
With the crucial task complete, all that’s left now is the cleanup—a disgusting job. I’ll have to throw my slippers away…and maybe the mop, too, because I don’t want to touch them again.
Since the Universe refuses to let me sleep, I quickly peek in on Tami and head downstairs to check my social media accounts. I’ve hit a new milestone at over 1,000,000 followers, which means I’ve finally earned the highly coveted gold Simtube plaque. I’ve come a long way from recording videos in my bedroom back in Henford. All that’s left is to see how far I can go.
But I’m too tired to deal with any of that right now. I need a nap. I climb the stairs and make myself comfortable on the living room couch, hoping that Tami stays out of trouble.
Maia walks towards the house, sure that Dub needs some relief from Tami. But first, she pulls out her phone and calls up her father.
Maia: *on the phone* Hey, were you napping?
Clyde: *on the phone* I’m old, which means I’m always napping. What’s up?
Maia: I spoke to Du–I mean Wade about you moving in, and he agreed. Our tenants will hopefully be out tomorrow, and we can get you moved in and settled by Friday.
Clyde: Did I agree to that?
Maia: We talked about it, and you seemed pretty open. Did you change your mind?
Clyde: *confused* I don’t think so.
Maia: Then I’ll be by to help you pack tomorrow.
Maia reluctantly ends the call, unsure if her father even understands what moving will mean for him. She knows that it will not be easy. He’ll be leaving a lifetime of memories back in that old house. But that might be a good thing because he seems stuck in those memories lately.
Maia smiles to herself because she knows her mother would be happy, knowing that Maia is doing the best thing for her father. And no matter what—he won’t die in that old house alone.
Dub is napping on the couch when Maia enters the house. But there are a lot of things to do. She starts in the garage by cleaning out Luna’s litter box and adding laundry to the washing machine. Then she puts Tami in her high chair and prepares a plate of chicken nuggets for her dinner.
Finally, it’s time to get Tami changed and ready for bed. That’s when it hits Maia that Tami ages up tomorrow. She’ll no longer be Maia’s little cuddly tadpole. She’ll be a big girl – ready for school.
That makes Maia sad, so she picks her up and squeezes her tight. If she can capture her at this age forever, she would. But life moves on, and time never pauses. She tucks Tami under the covers and takes a little extra time reading Tami’s favorite story.
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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