Last round, Brock and Isla were still adjusting to having a toddler in the house. Little Viola seemed to be having more nightmares than usual, which wasn't helped by the family's new frequent houseguest, Vlad. (Even a trip to GeekCon with her dad didn't do much to alleviate them). By the end of the week, Viola had aged to a child and began to meet other kids around the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Brock and Isla progressed in their respective careers.
Hi, guys!
Brock: Hi, mysterious voice.
Anything on the agenda for today?
Brock: Not really. Just hanging out here at home.
Viola: Dad, can you show me how to play the guitar?
Brock: Maybe when you're a bit bigger, honey. But someday, I promise.
So...any signs of...you know who?
Brock: No, thankfully.
Isla: I hope he's alright, though. He really didn't look healthy...
Isla: So, you all ready for school tomorrow?
Viola: I guess so...I'm kind of nervous, though.
Isla: You know, I think your dad still has some of his own homework lying around...
Viola: Do you think he'll let me see it?
Isla: Why don't you go and ask?
Viola: Wow! This is easy!
Brock: See? I told you. You're going to do great.
Oh, hey there Misty.
Misty: Hi...just dropping by to check in. How's everything?
Brock: Great. Viola's in school now...
Misty: Erica too, can you believe it?
Brock: How's work?
Misty: (sigh) Fine, I guess. Politics is a lot harder than I thought. Sometimes I think I should have stuck with music like you.
Brock: I'm glad you stopped by, it's been too long.
Misty: I know...we'll have to do this again...
Quite the change from when you two couldn't stand to be in the same room together.
Nice going, Brock.
Brock: Thanks!
Isla: So, honey...how's school been going?
Viola: Um...ok, I guess.
Isla: Did you make any friends yet?
Viola: Not really...they all think I'm a little strange. We had to get up in class and tell a story, and I told about the pointy man that I used to see when I was little...everybody laughed.
Isla: The...pointy man?
Viola: Yeah, you remember. He used to come at night...you and Dad would be asleep but I would always wake up and he'd be in the living room, and I'd talk to him...
Isla: Oh, right, the nightmare you used to have. Well, don't worry, honey. We'll find a way to make the other kids like you...hey, how about a party?
Viola: A...party?
Isla: Yeah. We'll invite some of them over, throw a really awesome party, and then everyone will want to be your friend. You'll see.
Viola: Um...ok, I guess...
A weenie roast?
Brock: Yeah. It seemed like a pretty simple party to throw. We'll set up a campfire in the backyard, the kids can roast marshmallows, it'll be fun...
Haiti: Help!
Hosnian: You're supposed to put something on the stick. I thought you said you'd been to the woods before.
Haiti: Well, yeah, but I was really little...
Ok, this looks like it's going relatively well...
...Or not. Looks like the party's over...
Brock: Yeah...so much for helping her make friends.
Yeah, almost lighting the guests on fire doesn't make for a great party.
Really? Brock too? Man, time is really flying around here...
Viola: Ahh! Monster!
Oh, great...Marvin's back...
Viola: Wait...what was that? I thought I heard something outside, too...
Oh, don't tell me...
Viola: What...what are you doing back here?
I was going to ask the same question.
Vlad: My, you are still quite an inquisitive child...I was merely keeping up my physical stamina by taking an evening stroll around the neighborhood. I'm sorry if I have disturbed you...
Viola: You didn't wake me up...the monster did...
Vlad: I'm afraid I don't understand, child.
Viola: Hey, can you make the monster go away? You're kind of scary too, maybe if it sees you it'll go away.
Vlad: (sigh) Very well...show me to your bed chamber...
Um, Viola? Do you really think it's a good idea...
Viola: See? It's right there! Under the bed!
Vlad: Perhaps your imagination has gotten out of hand, young one. I see nothing underneath the bed...now, if you'll excuse me, child, I don't think your parents will take kindly to my presence if they should awaken....
Isla: Huh? Who's out there...oh, Vlad...it's you.
Vlad: Good evening, madam. I hope you forgive me for intruding. I was just about to take my leave...
Isla: Why...wait, were you inside? Who let you in? I just got up and Brock's asleep.
Vlad: Rest assured that I did not enter your home uninvited. That would be terrible rude of me.
Isla: Um...ok, then...good seeing you...
Vlad: You as well, madam.
Brock: Viola, there's no such thing as a monster under your bed...
Viola: The pointy man said the same thing...but I know it's there.
Brock: Wait, the pointy man...you haven't had that dream in awhile. Since before you started school, actually...
Viola: He's not a dream, Dad. He's real. I asked him to make the monster go away but he couldn't see it either.
Huh? Oh, right, Brock's birthday...sorry, Brock. With all the late-night excitement I must have forgot.
Brock: Oh, it's alright I guess....
Looks like we've got a lot to celebrate...
Isla: I know...hey, mysterious voice...I've been meaning to ask you...have you ever been....what's it called...bowling?
Um...yes...why?
Isla: Oh, there was this story on the news last night about how they've converted an old nightclub down in the desert to have something called bowling...Viola was asking me about it and truthfully, I have no idea what it is. It looked like fun, though. I thought it might be a good way to get the kids back on her side after the campfire incident...
Huh, you know, that's not such a bad idea. Ok, everyone. We're going bowling!
Viola: So, what do we do?
Ok, see that big, heavy ball?
Viola: Yeah...
And see those white things down there?
Viola: Yeah...
Roll the ball towards the white things and try to knock them over.
Amethyst: Oops...
Viola: Isn't this kind of dangerous?
No, you guys will get the hang of it.
Amethyst: Hey, this is kind of fun...
See? And wait until it gets dark...
Haiti: What happens when it gets dark?
Haiti: Whoa! It's all glow-y!
Amethyst: Cool!
Hosnian: This is awesome!
Viola: So, I just roll the ball...
Yup.
Viola: I did it! I knocked them all down!
That's called a strike! Great job.
Viola: Hey, where's Mom and Dad?
Oh...yeah, I kind of lost track of them...
Looks like they found the grown-up part of the bowling alley...
Aldo: Hey, Brock! Good to see you!
Brock: You too, man! Where's Misty?
Aldo: At home with the kids. I managed to sneak out for a night on my own. You too?
Brock: No, we brought ours with us. And Isla's around here somewhere...
Isla: Ha! You know, for two people who met in a music club you'd think we'd be better singers.
Brock: Well, one more thing we get to practice together, then...
So, who won?
Hosnian: Wait...someone was supposed to win?
Usually that is how it works.
Haiti: I don't know...
Viola: We kind of lost track...
Viola: Mom! This was so much fun! I even got a...what's it called...a strike!
Isla: You really liked it, huh?
Viola: Yeah! And so did the other kids! I don't even think they care about the you-know-what anymore...
Haiti: This was really fun, Mrs. Flenderson! Can we come back again?
Viola: Yeah, do you think I can have my birthday party here?
Isla: I don't see why not...did you guys see the video games upstairs?
Haiti: There are video games here too?
Alright, well, as fun as this has been, it's almost 1AM...I think it's about time to head home.
Brock: 1AM...oh, I didn't even notice the time. Come on, I've got to get you kids home before your parents put out a search party.
So, are you back in good standing with the other kids now?
Viola: Yeah, I think so. I still like playing alone more, but I'm glad they don't call me weird anymore.
Brock: Oh, hi Misty. Well, I've got work this afternoon, but...actually, do you mind if I bring Viola over?
Brock: You don't mind keeping an eye on her, do you?
Misty: Not at all. It'll be good for her and Erica to get to know each other. We don't really get everybody together enough.
Brock: I know. We should have a dinner or something one of these days.
Viola: Um...hi, Erica.
Erica: Hi! Mom said you were coming over. Wanna play dolls?
Viola: Sure, but isn't this your little sister's room?
Erica: She won't mind. She still thinks it's cool when I'm in her room.
Viola: I wish I had a little sister.
Erica: Trust me, no you don't. She's always getting into my stuff...and she cries all the time when my mom's not home. Actually, we should probably get out of here...it's almost her nap time.
Erica: So, how did you make up such a cool story at school?
Viola: I didn't...I mean, you thought it was cool?
Erica: Yeah.
Viola: Um...well, I just remembered a dream I used to have when I was little. At least, my mom and dad always said it was a dream...
Erica: Well, I liked it. You should write books or something when you get bigger.
Misty: Ok, girls...once you're done eating I have to take Viola home...
Viola: Aunt Misty? What was your favorite book as a kid?
Misty: Well, I wasn't really a big reader...why?
Viola: I want to try and make a book...but I don't know what the other kids will like.
Misty: Well, when I was your age I liked the ones that had fun pictures...
Viola: Hey, my mom makes pictures for her job!
Misty: Maybe she can help!
Isla: So did you have a good time at your aunt's house?
Viola: Yeah...say, Mom, do you think you could show me how to draw some good pictures? I want to make a book!
Isla: Oh, ok...come on, I'll go get some of my old supplies.
Well, as much as I'd like to stay and see Viola's first literary work, I've got to be on my way. See you guys next round!
A Message From the Mysterious Voice: And Tranquility Creek gets bowling! Overall I think Bowling Night is a pretty solid pack, other than the fact that a game of bowling takes forever...the kids never actually finished their game, I had to manually end it because it was almost midnight. They didn't get there that late, either. I actually think I'm going to keep Viola as an only child. It kind of works for them, plus I need to start really thinking about space for new houses. And I really didn't intend to miss Brock's birthday-I ended up walking away from the game for an afternoon, and I forgot it was his birthday when I got back to it. (Plus Vlad's visit kind of distracted me-I really wanted to get a picture of him spraying Viola's bed but he wouldn't.)
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