1940s: University Life, a surprise marriage and a new horse on the way
As much as Thomas wishes it to be, studying doesn't come as natural to him as it once did. In spite of his efforts, his grades cannot match those of his sister. At the end of the semester he'd gathered enough points for a B+. At least the grades in autonomy are holding up the rest.
He cannot entirely understand his poor results. Is it his focus? the way he sometimes just can't keep his mind on track? He knows it's not the amount of studying. While he has been reading, doing papers and planning his presentations, Grace seems to be the life of the party. She even started dating one of his dorm mates, a good guy, so Thomas doesn't mind. But he doesn't understand her high marks.
"It's easier for girls," one of his dorm mates says. "They get better grades just showing up."
But somehow Thomas doesn't want to believe that.
And it is true that Grace has started dating. David is handsome, good, fun to be around, and he makes her relax. Is it serious? She's not sure yet. She just knows he makes her laugh, and she enjoys kissing him. As spring turns into summer, they go swimming together, and when he leaves for class she stays for a while, floating on her back, relaxing before she gets back to her studies. Because while she does take the chance to relax, she also studies - hard. This semester she has two term papers, one presentation and all her homework and a final exam. But as long as she gets some time to wind down, she'll handle the work load too.
Whenever her awful room mate Ingrid doesn't annoy her that is. Leaving passive aggressive notes, locking herself into the toilet to cry for hours on end then blaming her for everything. The two even gets into an argument, and then she still sees her trying to flirt up her brother. Luckily he has his interests elsewhere, but Ingrid doesn't seem to understand that.
But then one day, a letter turns everything on its head. Hazel is announcing her sudden marriage.
"I know it's sudden, and you will be angry with me for not waiting until you could get home, but he simply swept me off my feet. His name is David, and he's such a dreamboat, with dark hair and blue eyes and the biggest house, you wouldn't believe, and he's told me I can do whatever I want with it. He's a lawyer, and obviously he wants me to stay at home, so I've quit that awful part time job. I couldn't be happier about that.
The wedding was small, obviously we didn't have time with much more, but my dress was a real showstopper. I wish you could have seen it. I'll enclose a picture.
Love you,
Hazel"
Grace cannot believe what she is reading. Her sister wanting to get married is one thing. She's wanted that since she was a child. But like this? A small wedding? Without waiting for her and Thomas, and not inviting anyone who is everyone and then some?
"He's handsome and has a great house? That's it? You have to be able to tell me more than that? What is he like? How did you guys meet? Why such a hurry. I hate to ask, but you're not pregnant, are you?"
"You did not write that?!?" Thomas asks when they meet up at the campus café later.
"I had to at least ask! What else could explain her not waiting half a semester?"
"She fell in love?" Grace glares at him.
"This is our sister Hazel, you have met her right? The girl who fantasised about her wedding since she was seven, each and every fantasy involving aunt Alice bringing half of the celebrities in Del Sol Valley with them so it would be a celebrity event?"
"People change."
"Not that much. And good looking with a fancy house? That's it?"
"Well, Hazel has always been materialistic. Maybe a fancy house is more important than you think for her." Grace huffs in annoyance, while really hoping hopes that is not the case.
Meanwhile in Chestnut Ridge, Stormcloud has grown up into an adult horse, and as a result Anna has plenty of other things on her mind than her nieces hasty marriage. Besides, what does she know about Hazel or her new husband? For everyone on the outside, her own marriage must have seemed very fast indeed, so who is she to judge anyone?
Instead Anna takes him out to his first ride after moving the horses to the summer paddock. It turns out that Stormcloud loves running fast, and Anna rewards him for his good temperament with lots of neck rubs after they get back.
Now that there isn't a foal in the stable, Anna thinks it's time to start on a new one. Bronco and Misty has been great parents, so Anna is looking forward to another foal by them, but perhaps with time, she needs another mare for Bronco, or another stallion for Misty. But for now she's happy with the thought of another one of theirs. She's already thinking about names. Gale perhaps. That would suit either a colt or a filly.
But back in Oasis Springs, Hazel is getting used to life as a married woman. She loves the big spacious house, and the fact that her husband is the type that would have other women turning around in the street, and that as his wife she'll never, ever have to deal with poverty ever again. It's safe, comfortable, and luxurious, but she does wish she could have had the marriage of her fantasies, or that her twin sister and her older brother could have been there. And the wedding night was... underwhelming and left her with nothing but embarrassment. Is that really it?
"It's easier for girls," one of his dorm mates says. "They get better grades just showing up."
But somehow Thomas doesn't want to believe that.
And it is true that Grace has started dating. David is handsome, good, fun to be around, and he makes her relax. Is it serious? She's not sure yet. She just knows he makes her laugh, and she enjoys kissing him. As spring turns into summer, they go swimming together, and when he leaves for class she stays for a while, floating on her back, relaxing before she gets back to her studies. Because while she does take the chance to relax, she also studies - hard. This semester she has two term papers, one presentation and all her homework and a final exam. But as long as she gets some time to wind down, she'll handle the work load too.
Whenever her awful room mate Ingrid doesn't annoy her that is. Leaving passive aggressive notes, locking herself into the toilet to cry for hours on end then blaming her for everything. The two even gets into an argument, and then she still sees her trying to flirt up her brother. Luckily he has his interests elsewhere, but Ingrid doesn't seem to understand that.
But then one day, a letter turns everything on its head. Hazel is announcing her sudden marriage.
"I know it's sudden, and you will be angry with me for not waiting until you could get home, but he simply swept me off my feet. His name is David, and he's such a dreamboat, with dark hair and blue eyes and the biggest house, you wouldn't believe, and he's told me I can do whatever I want with it. He's a lawyer, and obviously he wants me to stay at home, so I've quit that awful part time job. I couldn't be happier about that.
The wedding was small, obviously we didn't have time with much more, but my dress was a real showstopper. I wish you could have seen it. I'll enclose a picture.
Love you,
Hazel"
Grace cannot believe what she is reading. Her sister wanting to get married is one thing. She's wanted that since she was a child. But like this? A small wedding? Without waiting for her and Thomas, and not inviting anyone who is everyone and then some?
"He's handsome and has a great house? That's it? You have to be able to tell me more than that? What is he like? How did you guys meet? Why such a hurry. I hate to ask, but you're not pregnant, are you?"
"You did not write that?!?" Thomas asks when they meet up at the campus café later.
"I had to at least ask! What else could explain her not waiting half a semester?"
"She fell in love?" Grace glares at him.
"This is our sister Hazel, you have met her right? The girl who fantasised about her wedding since she was seven, each and every fantasy involving aunt Alice bringing half of the celebrities in Del Sol Valley with them so it would be a celebrity event?"
"People change."
"Not that much. And good looking with a fancy house? That's it?"
"Well, Hazel has always been materialistic. Maybe a fancy house is more important than you think for her." Grace huffs in annoyance, while really hoping hopes that is not the case.
Meanwhile in Chestnut Ridge, Stormcloud has grown up into an adult horse, and as a result Anna has plenty of other things on her mind than her nieces hasty marriage. Besides, what does she know about Hazel or her new husband? For everyone on the outside, her own marriage must have seemed very fast indeed, so who is she to judge anyone?
Instead Anna takes him out to his first ride after moving the horses to the summer paddock. It turns out that Stormcloud loves running fast, and Anna rewards him for his good temperament with lots of neck rubs after they get back.
Now that there isn't a foal in the stable, Anna thinks it's time to start on a new one. Bronco and Misty has been great parents, so Anna is looking forward to another foal by them, but perhaps with time, she needs another mare for Bronco, or another stallion for Misty. But for now she's happy with the thought of another one of theirs. She's already thinking about names. Gale perhaps. That would suit either a colt or a filly.
But back in Oasis Springs, Hazel is getting used to life as a married woman. She loves the big spacious house, and the fact that her husband is the type that would have other women turning around in the street, and that as his wife she'll never, ever have to deal with poverty ever again. It's safe, comfortable, and luxurious, but she does wish she could have had the marriage of her fantasies, or that her twin sister and her older brother could have been there. And the wedding night was... underwhelming and left her with nothing but embarrassment. Is that really it?
(I realise this installation is very short, but I wanted to get it posted before the patch tomorrow, as it might be a while before I play the save again depending on how many issues there are with the patch.)
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