We arrive at the local rec center. I have on my stuffy knight’s helmet, with my breath bouncing back on me… making me wish I had refreshed it with some toothpaste before leaving. We see another little girl, with her father, dressed in the same costume as Tami’s. Tami greets her.
Tambara: Hi! Are you a princess, too?
Little Girl: Yes, I’m a princess, and you copied my costume!
I can see Tami’s expression when she registers the little girl’s tone. I stand by, waiting to intercept any kicks or bites to come, but I guess she’s finally learned to use her words instead.
Tambara: But this costume is for pretty girls, so I think you and your haircut chose wrong.
I step in to redirect.
Wade: Time to go to the playground.
We walk away from the little girl before things escalate, but Tami isn’t ready to let it go. She climbs up on the spaceship and grabs the laser cannon.
Tambara: *making laser sounds* Pew, pew to other kids who dress like me on Spooky Day!
Tami turns the cannon and spots a little girl who doesn’t have a costume on.
Tambara: Pew, pew to kids who don’t dress up.
I don’t want to be that father with a daughter with no friends – intervention time.
Wade: That’s not cool, Tami. How about you play with the little girl rather than pretending to shoot lasers at her?
There’s no sense in both of us being miserable for our birthday. Maybe Tami can meet her first friend.
Tami walks over to the little girl.
Tambara: Hi, I’m Tambara. Do you want to play with me?
Little Girl: Okay
Tambara: What’s your name?
Tatum: I’m Tatum. Want to play hopscotch?
Tambara: But I don’t know how.
Tatum: I’ll teach you.
I follow at a distance as Tatum leads Tami to the hopscotch on the other side of the playground. Tami watches Tatum, waiting patiently for a while, but soon finds that hopscotch takes a long time.
Tambara: When is it my turn?
Tatum: First, you jump this way…
Tatum: … then you turn and jump this way.
Tambara: But this is taking too long!
Meanwhile, it’s getting late, and I’m ready to go home. I walk over to Tami.
Wade: We’d better get home. Mommy should be back by now.
Tambara: *stomps her foot* But I didn’t get my turn yet! I don’t want to leave.
Of course, she doesn’t want to leave. Kids never do. It’s up to me to force the issue.
Wade: We can stay, but we’ll risk meeting the Spooky Day monster that gets little kids who stay out too late.
Tambara: That’s not real. *concerned* Is it?
Wade: I don’t know. Do you want to stay to find out?
Tambara: No!
On the way home, I feel bad spooking my daughter like this, but then again, being spooked is what this day is about. Right? I still need to make it up to her.
Wade: If you hurry and put on your pajamas, I’ll tell you a special Spooky Day story before bed.
Tambara: Okay, daddy!
Tami is in her bedroom with Maia, dressed in pajamas, waiting for her story.
Tambara: *to Maia* Did Luna come back yet?
Maia: No, she’s not back yet, but I’m sure she’ll return soon.
Tambara: That’s what you said earlier. When is it soon?
Maia picks Hiro up and hugs him.
Maia: Maybe she’ll be back tomorrow. But until she gets here, Hiro could use some extra love and hugs.
Tami thinks Hiro is adorable, but she’s still a little afraid of him.
Tambara: No thanks
Maia: Well, more hugs for me then.
I enter Tami’s bedroom, wearing my ‘super story-telling dad’ hat.
Wade: Are you ready for the spookiest story you ever heard?
Tambara: Is it about the monster you told me about that made us leave the park?
Maia: What monster?
Is my princess trying to get me into trouble?
Wade: No, and that’s called dry snitching, Tami. We don’t do that.
I sit down on the bed to start my story.
Maia: This story is about the sad lady ghost that cries in the night!
Wade: *best spooky voice* Every year on Spooky Fest nights just like this one, the crying lady ghost wanders the streets of every sim town looking for her children.
Tambara: Where are her children?
Wade: No one knows. That’s why she’s looking for them. It’s been so long since she’s seen them, so she doesn’t realize they’re all grown up now. And she can’t remember what they looked like, so she settles for any child she finds.
Tambara: Oh no! And what does she do if she finds one?
Wade: She waits until they are sleeping, and she crawls through their window, and she-
Maia: Dub! This story is way too scary for Tami right now.
Tambara: Aw, mommy. But I want to hear what happens. I’m not scared.
Wade: Maybe mommy is scared.
Maia: No, but I think we need a more appropriate story right now.
Tambara: Oooh! Can I tell a story?
Wade: Sure, let’s hear it.
Tami tries her best to imitate my spooky story voice.
Tambara: This story is about the playground ghost who comes out on Spooky Day.
Wade: Good start! What does the playground ghost do?
Tambara: The playground ghost walks around and pushes little kids who don’t dress up for Spooky Day and then don’t let me have a turn at hopscotch. The kids fall down and hurt their knees, and blood comes-
Maia: Whoa! Let me stop you right there. I think story time is over for tonight.
Tambara: What mommy? Did you think my story was too scary, too?
Maia: Yes, but not in the way you think. It’s time for bed.
I stand up to prepare Tami for bed as Maia leaves the room to take a bubble bath.
Tambara: But what if the crying ghost comes and crawls through my window?
Maia was right. I may have gone a little overboard with my ghost story.
Wade: She isn’t real. Daddy just made that up like you made up the playground monster.
Tambara: But what about the Spooky Day monster? Maybe he’ll come instead! Can I sleep with you and Mommy?
Wade: Big girls don’t need to sleep with their mommy and daddy, and I know for a fact that no ghosts or monsters will come to get you.
Tambara: But how do you know?
Wade: Because they’re not real.
Tami doesn’t look convinced. I made a mess, so now I need to fix it.
Wade: I’ll be right back…
I hurry out of the room and return with a spray bottle filled with water.
Wade: This is a ghost and monster repellant. After I spray you with this, ghosts and monsters will be too afraid to come and get you.
Tambara: Are you sure?
Wade: I’m your knight in shining armor, so I’m sworn to protect you. You trust me, right?
Tambara: Yes
Wade: Good! Let’s get you all sprayed up and tucked into bed.
I’m back in my bedroom relaxing when Maia walks in dressed in my favorite colored lingerie.
Maia: Happy birthday, babe.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I can tell that her heart isn’t in it. Concerned, I get up and walk over.
Wade: Everything okay?
Maia sighs, and her shoulders drop.
Maia: No. I’m concerned about Tambara.
Wade: Why? What are you concerned about?
Maia: Didn’t you hear her story tonight? That didn’t disturb you?
Wade: She was just being expressive. She was a little frustrated at the playground, and that was her way of letting it out.
Maia: It’s not just that. She doesn’t seem to appreciate anything. You heard her this morning—that really hurt my feelings. It was the same when I showed her the new bedroom. Even as a baby—there was the kicking and biting. Have I failed somewhere as a mother?
Wade: Are you kidding me? You’re an incredible mother. If anybody has failed—it’s me.
Maia: That doesn’t make me feel any better.
Wade: Trust me, it’s not your fault. I admit I’ve been a little slack with the discipline—like today when she tells this little girl at the park that she isn’t a ‘pretty girl.’
Maia: Dub… she said that?
Wade: Not exactly like that, but it was still a little mean.
Maia: *defeated* Our daughter is becoming a little brat. What do we do?
Wade: I wouldn’t go that far. We’ll just have to put up a united front and help her realize that none of that is okay. We’re in this together, okay?
Maia: Okay
Wade: Babe, we’re first-time parents. We’re going to make mistakes here and there.
Maia: But lots of people are first-time parents. There’s Luca and Sophia- and Desi is a complete sweetheart. Where did we go wrong?
Wade: Tami has a unique personality type, that’s all.
Maia: You think that’s all it is?
Wade: Definitely. Now, as for you-I think you can use a stress reliever.
Maia: Yeah. Maybe I’ll go downstairs and do some yoga.
Wade: No need to go downstairs. I didn’t tell you? There’s a new type of yoga…that you do in bed.
Maia: Okay, and how do you do it?
Wade: I thought you’d never ask. I’m Dub, and I’ll be your yoga instructor tonight.
Finally, the sexy smile that I was looking for.
Maia: Okay
Wade: The first move requires us to remove our clothes and get under the covers.
Maia: And the second move?
Wade: I’ll have to show you that one…and it’ll probably take all night.
Maia giggles and leads the way to the bed.
(Note: Let’s pretend that Maia doesn’t have on the wrong hair during the bedroom scenes – lol)
(Generation 4 Chapter Summaries)
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