Delilah had her own concerns as well. She had chosen not to marry and leave the household. At some point she would live under Atticus' rule. She resolved to try harder to discipline the little brat. She just wished Annia and Genesis could see the little monster they were creating.
While Varinia calculated her and Atticus' birthdays, she realized there was a chance that she might escape him. However, Livia most certainly would not. This troubled her greatly.
"Why the somber face, my daughter?"
"Atticus is growing up to be a brat, Mother."
"Oh, Varinia, he's just a little boy. He will outgrow this foolishness."
Varinia gave painting a try and decided it really wasn't for her.
"Brother, you need to discipline Atticus more. He grows selfish and spoiled."
"Delilah, he must lead this house one day. I know that is not the way of our beloved mother, but times have changed. I must allow Atticus to understand his duties."
"I fear he understands power far greater than duty."
Annia was annoyed with Delilah's interference. "Delilah, you aren't a mother! Play your lyre and leave the parenting to us."
"Mother, all the girls in my school wish to marry for love. I do too."
"Varinia, teens do not have the wisdom to select a husband. It is best to leave such decisions to the parents."
Genesis began to suffer the aches and pains of his elder years.
Jair grew frustrated that his stories were not of the desired quality. He heard of a special herb you could inhale to increase inspiration. He decided to give it a try.
Delilah worried about Genesis. Even with outside help in the garden, there was much to do. She decided to give him a hand more often.
Jair completed another story, "The Hawk and the Nightingale"*.
Annia was busy nursing a babe and running the household.
Jair practiced telling stories in the looking glass until he mastered the skill.
Delilah felt distant from Annia given their disagreement on Atticus. Varinia still fretted about her future, dreaming of love. Genesis fretted about the time he had left with his family.
Varinia tried to caution her little brother about his attitude, but she felt her words went in one ear and out the other.
Jair liked to salute the sun as his mother had. He felt it inspired him.
He happily took Delilah to the city square to play her lyre for coins.
Genesis knew his days left were short. He took Varinia and Atticus to the Grotto. He wanted to share the secret place with his children.
Atticus thought it would be a wonderful secret hideout from his enemies. Varinia was simply enchanted by it.
Genesis tired more easily. The family tried to pick up the slack and keep him a little quieter so that he wouldn't get too breathless.
With the growing tension, Jair depended on his herbs more and more for his inspiration.
No one in the household objected. It didn't cause a problem... until the evening the burning herb set fire to the planter.
Jair was ashamed that he caused distress and danger to his family, but he liked the herb and didn't want to quit.
Livia outgrew her cradle. Her aspiration was to be a Social Butterfly and her childhood trait was, Art Lover.
Varinia helped with the cooking as Delilah complained the youth of today had it too easy. Delilah said that in her day, a child learned to cook over a campfire as soon as he outgrew his swaddling clothes.
Genesis found soaking his aching bones before he gardened helped.
"Genesis it's time to add on to the house. We need a pool for cooling off in."
"Aren't you concerned that we are spoiling our children too much, Annia?"
"Genesis, we must keep our position in the desert. Our home must be the grandest to display our growing wealth."
Annia did not want everyone in the desert watching her children play in trees and dirt piles.
And so Genesis had a grand pool built for the sheer pleasure of cooling off and displaying their wealth.
Atticus was thrilled with the new addition to their home.
Jair completed another story, "The Honest Woodcutter"*.
The family decided to keep animals for their fur.
Delilah realized time was passing by for her as well as the children. She was now an adult.
Varinia aged from a teen to a young adult. Her new trait was: Perfectionist.
Atticus aged from a child to a teen. His aspiration was to be an Outdoor Enthusiast.
His new trait was: Evil.
*Excellent
Delilah has now earned a total of $2578 in playing the violin.
Note: Jair has reached level 10 in charisma, painting and writing = 2 points
Fossil collection completed.
A/N: I squealed and clapped my hands when Atticus rolled the trait "Evil". I have plans for him and this works out perfectly!
Outtake: All the women jumped in to fight the fire, while the men & Atticus bolted for the front of the property LOL
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