Last round, a bit of a sibling rivalry erupted between sisters Erica and Lorelei, which forced Aldo and Misty to employ some newly-learned parenting techniques. This was made a bit more difficult by Aldo constantly making use of his new earphones. Meanwhile, Misty continued to advance in the political career.
Lorelei: Mom, what are you doing getting home so late?
Misty: Ugh, I've been in meetings all day. The city council is trying to figure out what to do about these little pests that suddenly appeared everywhere.
I take it you mean all the stray animals...
Misty: First the toddlers and now this? This town is falling apart! And of course nobody on the council believes me-they're all trying to get us to let these things in our houses!
Lorelei: Oh, come on, Mom. They're not that bad. They're kind of cute.
Misty: Cute? Lorelei, for all we know they're crawling with disease...
Thistle: Hey...
Erica: Hi...sorry to show up so early. I just had to get out of my house.
Thistle: Let me guess...your mom?
Erica: Yeah...
Thistle: Well, I guess we can start our date a bit early. Why don't we head down to the new park by the wharf?
Erica: Yeah, that sounds nice.
Thistle: So...what's the crisis this week?
Erica: The...furry things that are everywhere now.
Thistle: What? How could she be upset about those? They're adorable!
And they also stand much less of a chance of eating you than your family's current pet.
Speaking of...
Erica: Well hello there...aren't you just the cutest thing...
I think she likes you.
Erica: Doesn't she belong to anybody?
I don't think so...
Erica: So she's out here all alone? That's so sad...you know what? I'm taking you home with me!
Erica, are you sure that's a good idea? Your mom doesn't seem that keen on these things existing, let alone living with her.
Erica: What? Look how sweet she is! Mom will come around. I'm sure of it.
Well, ok...welcome to the family, Arcanine...
Huh, maybe Misty had a point about the diseases...
Erica: There we go. Now we just have to make you all pretty so everyone will love you..
You know, the sweater is a nice touch, but I don't think it makes up for the drinking from the toilet...
Aldo: ... Um, mysterious voice? There's a...thing...in the house...
That would be Arcanine. Your daughter brought her home yesterday.
Aldo: Misty hasn't seen it yet, right?
I haven't heard any screaming, so I'm guessing no...
Aldo: So...what do these things do, exactly?
Well...you could try teaching her some tricks.
Aldo: Hey, you're pretty smart...
Yeah, she really is...
Erica: Hey there, girl...did you have fun with Dad today?
I think Dad may have had more fun than Arcanine...
Erica: Good...now we just have to figure out how to win over Mom...
Wait, she still hasn't seen her yet?
Erica: I've been keeping her in my room at night...Mom's been working such long hours it's been easier than you'd think to keep her hidden.
Aldo: Ok, Arcanine...jump!
Really? You set up an obstacle course in the backyard?
Aldo: What? She's too smart for the normal sit and stay stuff...this dog's a genius!
If you say so...
So I take it you're enjoying your new companion?
Aldo: Yeah...you know, it's kind of nice having someone to talk to during the day while the girls are at school and Misty...oh, no...
What?
Aldo: I forgot to take down the course before we went inside and Misty'll be home any minute...
Misty: ALDO!!!
Misty: Just wait until she gets home...sneaking one of those...those things into my house...
Aldo: But Misty, she's not disease-ridden, I swear. And she's really smart, too...I've taught her all kinds of tricks, and she can even jump through hoops!
Misty: I don't care, Aldo! Anything that just appears out of nowhere like that has to be dangerous!
Aldo: Like the toddlers were? Misty, come on. Just give her a chance. And besides, Erica's graduating soon anyway...
Misty: (sigh) I guess it would only be for a little while...
Misty: If that thing doesn't behave itself on Friday night...
Erica: She will, Mom. I swear...
What's happening on Friday?
Lorelei: Mom's having a dinner party...it started as a birthday party for Erica but it kind of grew from there.
More political supporters?
Erica: No, this time it's our relatives. Like, all of our relatives.
Really? That's a lot of people.
Lorelei: Tell me about it.
Aldo: Oh, everybody's just going to love you. Yes they are! Yes they are!
Um, Aldo? Shouldn't you be upstairs woodworking?
Aldo: I'll get back up there in a minute...she just needed some attention...
Why do I have a feeling Erica's going to have a fight on her hands when she moves out?
Erica: So, my birthday party's on Friday night. You're invited too...I'm not sure if my mom would have remembered to call you.
Hope: That's ok. Hey, do you think I could bring Cortex?
Erica: I don't know...my mom's still not that ok with having one dog in the house. But we should take them down to the park one day; they'd have so much fun playing together!
Misty: Aldo, you were supposed to finish making the chairs for the party today...don't tell me you spent all day playing with that dog...
Wait, Aldo has to make the chairs?
Misty: Why not?
Look, I'll take care of the seating, ok? I think you guys are running short on time.
Misty: You make one wrong move and you're out...you know that?
I guess it's time for the moment of truth...
Isla: Happy birthday, Erica...
Erica: Thanks...
Moss: This food all looks great...your mom did a great job!
Hope: Happy birthday...
Erica: Oh, thank goodness you're here...I've been making small talk with random aunts and uncles all night.
Hope: Wow, you sure are related to a lot of people...
Yeah, that Flenderson DNA really got spread around...
Ok, let's do this before we end up missing it...Happy Birthday, dear Erica...
(And I just realized while writing this that I forgot to pick Erica's third trait...hopefully the reward traits will make up for it. Never would have thought she'd end up with emotional control...)
Shark: What's up, buddy? You look scared...
Gee, I can't imagine why...there must be 50 people here.
Marlin: This was a great idea, Misty...I can't remember the last time all of us were in the same room together...
Mackerel: I'm surprised you can remember much of anything anymore...
Marlin: Hey, you're not getting much younger yourself, you know...
And I see Arcanine finally made her escape to the yard.
Wind: Nice doggy...
Harrison: Whoa!
What?
Harrison: Wind never talks...I don't think I've ever heard her voice, even in school!
Really?
Harrison: Yeah. This dog must be magic or something.
Lorelei: Well...
Misty: What?
Lorelei: Admit it. Having the dog here didn't ruin the party.
It does seem to have gone rather well...despite the dishes on every horizontal surface.
Misty: Well...ok. She didn't ruin the party. But Erica's still taking that thing with her when she moves out...
I think you might have to have a chat with Aldo about that one, Misty. But that will have to wait, because it's just about time for me to be moving on. See you next round, everyone!
A Message From the Mysterious Voice: Happy early Thanksgiving, everyone. Another lot, another pet! Arcanine isn't exactly the exact dog I would have made for these guys in CAS, but she grew on me as the week wore on. (I don't want to make everybody's pet in CAS since technically you're not supposed to enter CAS after the beginning of the challenge.) And I can't believe I forgot to pick Erica's third trait! Hopefully I can go back in and add it after the fact. The dinner party was my way of trying to do a Sim-Thanksgiving dinner; didn't really turn out that way since everybody pretty much ate on the couches and then flocked to the stereo, but it was close enough I guess.
