Chapter 17: Future Plans

The twins' graduation cannot come fast enough for Robert and Elizabeth. School is making them insufferable to be around. 

Jane has been forced to do a group project with Janel Hart-Bunch. Janel is a very pretty girl, but she also is about as smart as the bottom of a shoe, leaving Jane to do most of the work while Janel sneaks appreciative glances at James. The project leaves Jane in a perpetually bad mood, which her parents have to suffer during evenings and weekends.

Meanwhile, after one nutrition course at school, James has decided that he is now the health food guru of the house and cannot seem to refrain from offering his advice to anybody with a plate of food.

"Are you sure key lime pie is a good choice for breakfast, Dad? You might have to jog that off later."

"Son, I'm not sure I should be taking exercise advice from a teen who doesn't understand how to operate a treadmill."

"Jane fell off too!"

"Yes, but she isn't telling me how to exercise, now is she?"

"Still," James presses, "key lime pie for breakfast..."

"Son," Robert says firmly, "if you don't let me eat my pie in peace, it's going to end up on your face."

Between realizing that she has to wear her cheaters to read the paperwork at the police station and finding more grey in her hair, Elizabeth is dangerously close to lashing out at the next innocent bystander when Catherine calls unexpectedly with news.

The news turns Elizabeth's entire day around.

"Catherine is pregnant!" she squeals joyfully to her husband, throwing her arms around him. "We're going to be grandparents, Robert!"

"That's wonderful news, darling," Robert replies, happy to see his wife smiling.

"A new little one! I can't wait to take the baby to the park, pick out adorable outfits, read them bedtime stories..."

"Feed them sugar, then send them home to their parents..."

"Robert, you are terrible! We're going to be fun and helpful grandparents and not make our daughter miserable."

"Dear heart, I love you, but sometimes you are a real killjoy."

"I'm not a killjoy," Elizabeth insists. "I'm trying to prevent you from giving your daughter a reason to hate you." She smiles brightly at her husband. "Oh, this is going to be such fun..."

James can't wait to be an uncle.

"I can't wait to take the new baby fishing. I'll get the baby a pair of galoshes and a bucket hat and I'll show them how to  fish! Ooh, and then I can teach the baby how to fingerpaint!"

Philippa stares at her brother. "Since when are you into being all fatherly?"

"Not fatherly! Uncle-y! Although," he says sternly, eyeing his sister, "would you mind putting a shirt on? We don't have any curtains in this house, you know."

"Dad writes in his underwear all the time."

"Well, Dad's married and middle-aged. Nobody's oogling him anymore. Plus, he's not showing more than he would if he was walking around in swimming trunks. You, on the other hand, are young and pretty. You're show isn't free, young lady."

"Would you feel better if I wore my bikini around the house? In any case, I don't recall you having any input in who gets to see 'my show.'"

"Fine. Then put a shirt on because I'd rather not see that much of you."

"See, that request is more reasonable."

"Whatever. Just put on a shirt."

Elizabeth heads over to visit Catherine and Carmen at their new home on her day off. It's a modest, one-bedroom house, but it's the perfect size for the young couple.

"Oh honey, your father and I are so happy for you two," Elizabeth gushes. "You know you can call us any time you need us, day or night, right? And we'll be more than happy to babysit."

Catherine laughs. "Yes, we figured as much. Thanks, Mom, we'll probably take you up on the babysitting from time to time."

"Well, you've picked a lovely home," Elizabeth comments. "but you haven't had much time to save money. Do you need any help? Robert and I would be happy to loan you money if you needed it."

"Thanks Mom, but we're fine, really," Catherine says. "Carmen and I started saving when we moved in with Bess and Walter. We would have had to wait longer, but we both got promoted on the same day and the bonuses gave us just enough to buy this place."

Carmen fills Elizabeth in on the goings-on at the theatre and the bands he toadies to. "It's not glamorous," he says shrugging, "but it pays the bills and will open the doors for future opportunities. I just have to pay my dues. I'm just lucky Catherine doesn't make me get a real job."

"You have to pay your dues in any job," Elizabeth replies. "The theatre sounds like an exciting place to work, and I'm sure you'll be successful."

"That's the plan," Carmen chuckles. "My parents were hoping I'd go into a job with more stability, but I'd be miserable. I even got an invite to work for my grandfather's company, but I turned it down. Catherine and I didn't want to move to Westsimster."

"A wise decision," Elizabeth, nodding. "The world of big business is no place for honest people like you two. You'll be better off here."

"Bess threatened to disown him if he took the job," Catherine says. "And she told me that if I had any intentions of working for your family company, Mom, that I could clear out of her house right away and give back my engagement ring."

"Mom's gone a bit odd since Grandpa and Margaret went to jail," Carmen says quietly. "I don't know what she's afraid of, since her brother sent her a long letter telling her they would leave us in peace, but she's paranoid."

"She's paranoid because she knows better than to trust a word her brother says," Elizabeth replies grimly. "Your mother and I grew up in a world where paranoia was necessary and full of people who had loyalty only to themselves. Trust was seen as weakness. It's not a healthy environment for anybody. I'm glad you two have decided to stay here."

"Don't worry, Mom," Catherine says with a smile. "We're very happy here."

"I'm glad. Just take good care of yourselves, and call me if you need anything, all right?"

"We will," Carmen assures her. "I'll make sure she stays off her feet, takes her vitamins, and reads her books."

"Excellent." Elizabeth beams fondly at her oldest. "Just get lots of rest, dear. You're going to need it."

"Mom, what did I just say about worrying?"

"Sorry!"

With graduation looming, Jane has been doing some research on possible career options. She knows that she wants to work within the scientific community, but she really doesn't like the idea of going into the publish-or-perish world of academia or dealing with the politics of the science center.

Browsing the job compatibility site that her teachers told her to use, Jane clicks on a link labeled "Forensic Sciences." The site lists a brief description of what forensic scientists do and what working conditions are like. Jane is intrigued by the idea of using applied science to help solve crime. She finds the idea of helping people by solving scientific puzzles to be very appealing.

"What do you want to do when you graduate?" Jane asks Manu one afternoon in the park. "Are you going to go work for the astronomy department at the science center?"

Manu laughs and shakes his head. "No way. I'm not working for the man."

"What man?"

"You know...the man."

Jane sighs. Manu's innate need to rebel against convention and authority figures baffles her. "Couldn't you work on your own projects at the science center? I can put you in touch with Mr. Cecil. He's a friend of my mom's."

"Oh, they tell you that you can work on your own projects. They give you the illusion of freedom. But you have to earn the money to do the research and they only give you the grants to do it if you toady to other scientists for years. I don't want to work at the science center bad enough to spend half of my professional career sucking up to senior colleagues."

"I'm sure they just want to make sure that you can conduct scientific research in a professional and scholarly manner," Jane says. "Once you prove to them that you are capable of doing so, you should have no trouble getting grants to fund your own research."

"If they didn't think I was capable of conducting professional research, why would they hire me in the first place?'

"Because you show potential, Manu. Just because they hire you doesn't mean you don't have to pay your dues. Everybody starts low on the totem pole and works their way up. They can't just let people fresh out of school start running experiments and publishing papers, they'd lose their credibility!"

"That's what they say," Manu replies, "but what they don't realize is that their system doesn't allow for innovation. If everybody follows the rules, then nobody learns anything new. Lemmings don't make progress, they suppress it."

"Adhering to rigorous academic standards and maintaining the scientific method isn't suppressing anything except pseudoscientific quacks."

"I can follow those standards without answering to a bunch of bespectacled, wizened old men."

Jane rolls her eyes. "So what are you planning to do, then?"

"I've been looking up independent research groups. There's a lot of Sims like me who don't want to work under the constraints of academia. I'm hoping to join up with one of them."

"How will you make money?"

"I'm not entirely sure just yet." He grins at the worried expression on her face. "Don't you worry about me, dollface. I'll figure things out. Now, what are you planning on doing after graduation? I suppose you'll be joining the science center?"

Jane shakes her head. "I'm not one for academic politics. I'm thinking of going into forensics, actually."

"That sounds awesome," Manu says enthusiastically. "Have you told your parents yet?"

"No. I'm not sure if they'll like the idea or not. I'll have to work as a police officer for awhile before I am allowed to move into forensics. Dad wasn't happy when Mom started working there, so I don't know how he'll react when I tell him I want to work there, too. Mom is hoping I'll end up at the science center, I think."

"Well, there's only one way to find out...you'll have to tell them and see."

"Mom, I think I'd like to join the police force when I graduate from school."

Elizabeth chokes on her waffles. "You want to join the police force? Since when did you want to become a police officer?"

"Well, I don't really want to be a police officer. I really want to work in forensics, but to do that I have to join the police force."

"I see. I thought you were interested in the sciences. My friend Cecil could get you in contact with the people at the science center, if you'd like."

"I don't want to work there. I really like the idea of going into forensics and solving puzzles."

"Can't you do that at the science center?"

"I could, but I'd have to deal with academics and their egos. I have no patience for that."

"I think you might find you thrive in that kind of an environment, honey. You've got a competitive streak and know how to defend your work."

"Yes, but I'm getting tired of writing about science and copying experiments from the textbook. I want to use science in the real world, not just think and write papers about it."

"They do experiments at the science center..."

"Mom, I've made up my mind. I really want to go into forensics. The Ivory Tower is not for me."

Elizabeth sighs. "Well, I don't suppose I've got any right to tell you what career you choose, do I? Cecil will be disappointed, he was hoping you'd come up to be his protege." She smiles at her daughter. "You sure you won't be embarrassed working with your dear mother?"

"As long as you keep my baby pictures to yourself and don't check on me every five minutes, we'll be fine."

"Now, you tell Manu that it's his responsibility to deck anybody who comments on Philippa's appearance, touches her in any inappropriate way, or stares at her for more than five seconds. If he doesn't do that, I'm going to deck him."

"James, calm yourself," Jane says exasperatedly. "It's just Luigi's, it's usually empty. Everything will be fine."

"I saw a couple of dudes checking her out in gym class yesterday," James replies grimly. "I shot them a warning glare, so they stopped, but they are just the beginning of a long line of oglers..."

"If you're that worried, James, just come with us!"

"I can't. I have a date."

Jane narrows her eyes as her twin turns bright pink. "A date? With who? I thought none of the girls liked sensitive, always-finding-himself James?"

"Janel Hart-Bunch," he mutters. "She, uh, noticed me when you guys were working on your project and apparently thought I was cute."

"Ugh, why do you have to date that airhead? She's awful."

"She's not an airhead, she just...okay, she kind of is an airhead, but she's quite nice."

"Are you sure you aren't making this date up because you are afraid Philippa will kick you from here to next week if you come with us?"

"I'm not afraid of Philippa! I really do have a date." As if on cue, his phone begins to ring. "That would be Janel."

"Hi Janel! You want to meet at the pool? Sounds great, I'll see you in fifteen minutes." He hangs up and looks at Jane sternly. "You watch out for her okay? And try not to be so mushy with Manu in front of her. He slobbers all over you. It's revolting."

"James, he doesn't slobber on me, don't exaggerate. Aren't you being hypocritical giving me this lecture before you leave for a date yourself?"

James scowls. "Maybe I am, but I don't care."

"We'll be fine James. Just go have fun on your date."

"I'm going, I'm going." He hugs his twin goodbye. "Have a good time and remember: constant vigilance!"

Jane rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

After James leaves, Manu pulls up in a taxi. Jane and Philippa pile in and they head off for Luigi's.

While Jane orders a round of teen-friendly drinks, Manu instructs Philippa in the art of shuffleboard.

"You should know," Manu says as they play, "that I promised to beat the living daylights out of anybody who looks at you funny or starts hitting on you, and I fully intend to keep that promise should the need arise."

"I see. Did my dear brother ask you to do that for him?"

"Well, he told Jane to tell me, but yes."

"And you're really going to punch anybody who hits on me?"

"I am."

"No you aren't. You know that would get us thrown out of here and it would make Jane really mad."

"You're right," Manu admits. "I probably won't deck anybody. But we're going to tell James, I was prepared to do so. Got it?"

"Got it."

Philippa quickly proves to be an able shuffleboard player.

"I think you've got competition, Lord of the Shuffleboard," Jane says with a smirk as Philippa celebrates her victory.

"Beginner's luck," Manu says loftily as they start a new game. "We'll see who wins this round."

"Manu, what did you do to the shuffleboard? I keep missing my shots!"

"Beginners luck is fickle," Manu answers, grinning his toothy grin. "The power of the Shuffleboard Champion is not."

"Ugh, fine, you win. I was tired of that game anyway. Let's go dance instead."

"Ooh, are you challenging me to a dance competition?"

"You wouldn't last five seconds in a dance competition with me, Manu..."

Manu and Jane show that they can get their groove on just as well as Philippa.

"Thanks for coming out with us tonight," Jane says quietly. "You don't know how excited she's been to finally come to a 'real club.'"

Manu grins. "It's my pleasure, dollface. What guy wouldn't love taking two lovely ladies out on the town? I'm living the dream, baby!"

"Just remember which one you're actually dating," Jane replies.

"If I say I'm dating the prettier one, will you kiss me for complimenting you or hit me for saying your sister isn't as pretty as you?"

She kisses him. "How's that for an answer?"

"Can I have another answer?"

She gives him a push. "Shut up and dance, Manu."

"Sure thing, dollface."

"Wow, your sister really is a good dancer."

"I'm going to tell James you stared at her for more than five seconds."

Manu scoffs. "I could totally take James in a fight. I'm not worried."

"Yes, but I'd be on his side because you're supposed to be paying attention to me. You can't possibly hope to win against the Tudor twins."

"You wanna bet?"

She raises her eyebrows. "Well, you could try your chances, or we could make this all go away."

While Manu clues in on how to make the threat of the Tudor twins disappear, Philippa keeps dancing. She doesn't even notice her sister and her boyfriend "getting mushy."

After dancing for awhile, Jane challenges Philippa to a game of shuffleboard. Before they can start, a familiar face walks in.

"Philippa, look who's here!"

Philippa groans. "Ugh. I wonder if he dragged Janel here just to spy on us...I wouldn't put it past him."

The only thing James seems to be interested in, however, is dancing with Janel.

Manu, Jane, and Philippa join James on the dance floor.

Jane finds herself smiling the entire night. She pushes the thoughts of what the future holds for her and Manu to the back of her mind. They've been plaguing her for weeks, but she resolves to ignore them for the present. Tonight, for once, she tries to live solely in the moment, enjoying the sight of his mischievous face, the sound of his voice, and the sensation of his lips on hers.

And so they dance the night away, reveling in their youth and the promise of glorious, if unknown, futures yet to come.
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Another month, another update....the good news is I can confirm next chapter is the beginning of Generation 2. I'm not entirely sure when that will be up, since I just got two research projects added to my schedule on top of the regular work for my classes, but I'm shooting for having at least two updates this month. We'll see what happens.

All is well challenge-wise. The last requirement of the challenge will be complete next chapter with the Party to Remember. I'm really psyched to move on to Gen. 2. I have the basics of a storyline worked out for Jane which continues the semi-historical theme of the story really well. Now all I have to do is finish building sets, which is fun, but time consuming, between fussing over details and shopping for the right poses/CC. Ah, well.

Anybody else think Donald Sutherland is totally adorkable as Hawkeye Pierce in a bucket hat? Or am I just odd?