Finesse is getting restless and taking up way too much space inside, and everyone in the barn is looking at me funny. The big pile of horse manure just inside the door is probably the reason. I can’t deny this one, but once again, I have nothing to clean it with. So it’s time to attempt another escape.
Finesse and I hurry through the door. I quickly place her saddle and climb onto her back. I nudge her with my legs, giving her the signal to run. Finesse has other ideas. Before we can get away, she rears up on her hind legs. I can’t recover or hang on fast enough. Before I know it, I’m lying on my back in the dirt right outside the doors of the dance hall.
Feelings of betrayal and embarrassment hit me as hard as my back hitting the ground. I lie there like an overturned beetle, struggling to get up and hoping nobody witnessed my humiliation. I manage to get back on my feet and wipe off as much dirt as I can. Finesse turns to face me with an innocent smirk that only a horse can give.
Tambara: Why would you do that? What did I do to you?
Maybe whatever is going on with the people in this town has gotten to Finesse. Negative energy can affect horses, right? I think I remember reading something like that.
To avoid a second incident, I pat Finesse to calm her before attempting to mount her again. I’d love to get out of here faster, but before I can, the red‑headed woman from the bar walks over.
Juniper: Are you okay, hun? It looks like you took quite a spill.
Tambara: Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.
Juniper: I’m Juniper, by the way. Juniper Lovegood. I didn’t get to introduce myself.
Of course she didn’t, because she was too busy talking behind my back. I keep that part to myself.
Tambara: No, you didn’t. But I’m sure you already know who I am.
Juniper: I do. And before you leave, I wanted to point out that your horse left a mountain of manure near the barn door.
Tambara: Did she? I didn’t realize.
Juniper: Oh, good. Because I thought you were trying to leave without cleaning it up. I have one piece of advice for you. This is a small town. You don’t want to get on the bad side of anyone here, hun. They’ll make your life a living hell.
I open my mouth to respond, but Juniper is quicker, cutting me off before I can say anything.
Juniper: I suggest you grab that shovel behind you and get a trash bag from the bartender. We’d appreciate you cleaning up your own messes.
Juniper winks, smiles sweetly, and adds one last thing.
Juniper: Nice to meet you!
With that, she walks back into the barn.
I’m absolutely seething as I clean up Finesse’s mess. I can hear Sims whispering around me, and when I look up to meet anyone’s eye, they smirk and turn away. My head is full of a thousand ways I could make every one of them feel like the manure in my shovel, but Juniper’s threat rings in my head. I already feel isolated here in this crappy town. I’m not looking to find out what happens if the town Sims’ opinion of me deteriorates even more.
When the pile is cleaned, I toss it in the trash and climb onto Finesse as quickly as I can. I give her reins an urgent shake, and she runs off as fast as I can make her go. We don’t stop until we’re safely back at the ranch.
After Finesse is back in her stall, I head to the house. I could use a hot shower and an escape within the walls of my home.
The day has been a lot, and as my tears mingle with the warm water spraying from the showerhead, I realize I hate it here. I absolutely hate Chestnut Ridge. I’d give anything to be back home in San Sequoia with Mom and Daddy. This dusty place, with its crusty Sims, sucks, and I want to curse them all out. But I can’t, and for a moment I wonder if it’s too late to put the ranch back on the market. Surely I can find a house with a yard big enough in San Sequoia to keep Finesse.
Once the water is shut off and I’m in my clean pajamas, I finally get a hold of my senses. I am a Banks. These Sims are not about to run me out of town. They can try to isolate me and whisper behind my back all they want, but they will never defeat me. I replay everything that happened today and rehearse what I’ll say the next time these Sims try me.
I stand a little straighter and march to the kitchen to cook a fresh meal. That’s when I’m surprised by a DM from Udom. It’s a silly, corny little joke, but it gives me exactly the laugh I need and reminds me he’s thinking about me. Feeling like I have nothing to lose, I send him a response — one I’m sure he never expected.
Tambara’s DM: Can you come and visit me? I’ll pay your way.
The message is out there before I can take it back. And I would love to take it back, because a rejection from him would absolutely devastate me right now. He’s the closest thing I have to a friend at the moment, and I don’t want to ruin it.
I try to push the foolish message out of my mind as I sit down to eat my dinner. I’m sure he’ll just ghost me. Everyone else has, so why not.
My ranch is big enough that if I never want to leave it again, I don’t have to. I have everything I need right here. I have a game room, two empty bedrooms I could disappear in, an outdoor kitchen, and even a movie room I’ve never used. That’s where I go next. I scroll through the channels to find something to watch; horror matches my mood right now. But I don’t get a chance to choose anything before my phone alerts me to a Social Bunny DM. It’s from Udom. My heart threatens to flutter out of my chest as I read it.
Udom’s DM: I’m off this weekend. Let’s do it.
I can’t breathe. I read the message two more times to make sure he’s saying what I think he’s saying. Is he finally willing to visit me here?
I jump up from my seat. I want to hurry and respond, but I need a full keyboard for this. Typing on my phone won’t do. I rush to the game room and sit at my computer.
I sit down at my desk and type my response.
Tambara’s DM: Are you saying what I think you’re saying? If I send you a plane ticket, you’ll really come here?
Udom’s DM: Yes. I’d love to see you again. I’ve been trying to save up for a plane ticket.
I give myself a silent cheer. My luck has changed. Udom wants to come here to see me. It feels like it has been forever since I stared into those beautiful almond‑shaped eyes.
Tambara’s DM: What day can you come? I’ll buy the ticket right now.
We message back and forth to iron out the details. When it’s all said and done, we decide he’ll fly out this Friday and stay until Sunday. I’m finding it very hard to contain my excitement. Luckily, he can’t see me completely geeking out.
After everything is decided, I purchase the ticket and send him the confirmation. Now I’ll be counting the hours until he arrives. But then I remember that Daddy is supposed to be visiting as well. There is no way I want the two of them here at the same time. Daddy would ruin everything. I quickly send him a text with a made‑up excuse to postpone his visit until next week, after Udom has returned home.
I leave the game room with a burst of excited energy. I need to release some of it or I’m afraid I’ll explode. That’s when I spot the small stereo sitting on a side table in my living room.
The impulsive thought I had when I first moved in returns, only this time I give in to it. I strip off my clothes, find a country song, and practice the line dance I learned at the barn today in the buff. Maj, whom I haven’t seen all day, walks in at that exact moment. She pauses and stares before deciding I’ve officially lost my mind and leaving the room.
Maybe I have gone crazy. But going crazy for Udom is absolutely worth it.
(Generation 5 Chapter Summaries)
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