Lytle 3: Round 17

Last round, Forest Lytle was struggling to adjust to his new career as a doctor. His wife, Anna, was having a much easier time in the culinary track, but ended up taking some time off when she became pregnant with the couple's second child, Unicorn. Meanwhile, their older son Dragon grew from a toddler to a child.

Hey, guys!

Dragon: Mom...can I invite Houston too?

Anna: Sure, honey...you can invite any friends you want...

Invite for what?

Dragon: For Campfire Night! It's another one of those holiday things!

Huh...Campfire Night. Sounds fun.

So, where exactly do you guys plan to have a campfire? You barely have a yard...and most of it is taken up by a clothesline.

Anna: Oh, I'm sure we can manage to fit one somewhere. We'll make it work...

This might be harder to make work, though...

Dragon: Huh? It's raining again? 

Dragon: But it's campfire night! It can't rain on campfire night!

Well...how about we do campfire night in another part of town?

Dragon: But won't it be raining everywhere?

Not necessarily. Let's head over to where your dad grew up...maybe the weather will be better there.

See?

Dragon: But how can it be sunny here and raining at home?

Weather is weird like that...

Unicorn: Mama...too hot!

Anna: I know, honey. Come on, I think I saw a sprinkler somewhere...

And I see the entire Lytle family has made the journey. Let me guess...Pine dressed everyone?

Pine: Hey, this hot air thing kind of snuck up on us. We had to grab what we could find...

Well, no matter how they're dressed they sure look like they're having fun. I'd say campfire night was a success...

Aside from the one passed out child, that is...

Ok, I think we need to ditch the playgroup uniforms for a little bit...

Luke: There you go, sweetie...I promise I'll get you a swimsuit.

I think she's just glad to be in water at all...

Maybe we should cut playgroup short for today?

Anna: Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Being outside when it's this hot can't be good for the kids.

Or the parents either...

Looks like Forest had a good day at work...

Forest: Yeah...you wouldn't believe how many people were coming in overheated. They should have put some kind of warning out or something...

Oh, hey Gemini.

Gemini: Want to come skating with me? Libra won't come anymore since she fell down so much.

Dragon: Um...ok...

Dragon: Am I doing this right?

Well, you're still standing up, so I'd say yes...

Gemini: See? You're doing so good!

Huh...these two are kind of cute together. I'll have to remember that.

Still raining, huh?

Anna: Ugh...yes...

Maybe we should do play group at the pre-school building instead of the park? Unless you want that ball pit to become a bathtub.

See? The school's even ready for the heat.

Anna: Thankfully...you know, we should get one of these at home...

Dragon: I got another badge!

Another badge? I missed the first one?

I guess so...which one did you get this time?

Dragon: Good Deeds. Can you believe they gave me a badge just for playing with my little sister? Maybe that's why it's called a Unicorn Scout...

Taking up a new hobby?

Anna: Well, with all these flowers growing around I figured I should probably try to do something with them. I've only got bluebells so far, though, so I can't do anything too fancy.

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to find some more.

And I see Anna made good on that kiddie pool promise. Have you gotten splashed yet?

Forest: A few times, but to tell the truth it feels pretty good...

Forest: Huh...

What's that?

Forest: Oh, Anna put this out here a few days ago. She said it would help with her flowers...but it's making this weird buzzing noise.

Um, Forest? I wouldn't open that if I were you...

...I tried to warn him...

Nice going, Anna...

Anna: Thanks.

But if I may make a suggestion, you might want to warn your husband when you put a box of bees in the backyard.

And it looks like we get to end the week with a birthday...

Oh, I guess it's Unicorn's birthday too. And it looks like the birthday falls on "Talk Like a Pirate" day...well, I guess there's only one thing to do...

A pirate themed party!

Glad to see you guys getting into the spirit of things too...

Forest: Of course we are...oh, I mean...of course we are, matey...

All right, let's get this show on the road...Happy Birthday dear Forest...

...and Unicorn...

And we lucked out with the trait lottery, I see...

All right, well, I'll let Unicorn get busy choosing her new outfits. But I've got to be on my way. See you guys next round!

A Message from the Mysterious Voice: And thus ends Tranquility Creek's first summer...if you don't count the 16 and a half rounds of eternal summer that proceeded it. So, a funny (sort of) story about this lot...I actually had to exit and re-load once during Unicorn's play dates, because a bunch of the parents decided not to change into their hot weather gear...which didn't end well for them. (It also didn't end well for the game, because people were dropping faster than Grimmy could keep up.) So, lesson learned...cancel playgroup during heatwaves!

Kauker 2: Round 17

Last round, Leanna seemed to finally be settling into her role as a mother. While her older daughter Gemini started school, Leanna took over the job of play group manager for the towns' toddler population with her younger daughter Libra. By the end of the week, Libra had started school as well. 

Hey, Leanna. Listen, can we...

Leanna: Oh, good. You're here. I've got something to ask you. Do you know what this is?

What what is?

Leanna: This! We all got this message with this weird box thing but none of us know what it means.

Oh...that's your new town calendar.

Leanna: Our town...what? What's a calendar?

It helps you keep track of...stuff that's happening on different days.

Leanna: What's with the different colored backgrounds?

That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. See...

Gemini: Mom! Mom!

Leanna: What is it, girls?

Gemini: Mom, can we be scouts?

Libra: Please?

Leanna: What's a scout?

Libra: I'm not sure exactly but all the other kids are signing up...

Gemini: Yeah, can we do it, Mom? Please?

Leanna: So you want to sign up for something even though you have no idea what it is?

Ordinarily I'd be with you, Leanna, but I think this is ok.

Leanna: Well, who am I to disagree with the mysterious voice...

Aww...so, now that you've signed up have they explained to you what this is?

Libra: Sort of. I know we have to earn badges and stuff.

Gemini: And we have to go to meetings on the weekends.

Let's hope one of those badges is "monster avoidance"...

Gemini: Wait...what was that?

That's just Marvin, Gemini. Come on, let's go get your mom to spray the bed.

Gemini: No...not that...

Libra: Gemini! Come on! You have to see what's happening outside!

Libra: Look! Water's falling from the sky! This is so cool!

Gemini: Wow! This is awesome!

Leanna: Hey! What's going on out there? It's almost midnight...

Leanna: What the...how is the sky leaking?

Ok, Leanna. Just relax...

Leanna: Relax? There's water falling from the sky! How Am I supposed to relax?

Gemini: But Mom...this is so cool!

Leanna: Gemini, get back inside! You don't know if it's dangerous!

Gemini: Aww, Mom! It's just water!

Leanna: How is this happening?

All right, let's all go inside and dry off. I promise I can explain.

So, I take it you girls enjoyed your first rain?

Leanna: Rain? Isn't that Galaxy's aunt?

Gemini: But Aunt Rain died a long time ago...

No...not that Rain....rain is when water falls from the sky. It's a type of weather...

Gemini: What's weather?

Come on, let's go check out the TV.

Libra: Look! Other stuff falls from the sky too! 

That's called snow. It will be awhile before you guys see that.

Gemini: So weather is when stuff falls from the sky?

Sometimes...

Galaxy: (yawn) What are you guys doing up?

Gemini: We're learning about weather!

Libra: Yeah! Did you see the sky water last night?

Galaxy: Sky water? You kids and your imaginations...

So, you two ready for your first scout meeting?

Libra: I guess...you think we'll learn more about the sky water?

Gemini: It's called weather...

Libra: Oh, right...

Besides, it looks like you're cleaning up a beach. 

So, how was it?

Libra: It was OK. We're working on our arts and crafts badge now.

Really?

Libra: Yeah! See what we made?

Well those came out pretty nice.

Leanna: I love the decorations you made...they really brighten up the living room.

Libra: Yeah, and we're both really close to earning a badge too.

Galaxy: Which one?

Gemini: Civic Responsibility

Leanna: That sounds important...

Libra: It just means cleaning up and stuff.

Galaxy: Oh, well, in that case...I know some breakfast dishes that could use washing...

Gemini: I did it! I got a badge!

Great job!

Wait, they didn't give you the manual until after you got a badge?

...Ok, guys, remember how we talked about how the calendar helps you plan things?

Galaxy: Eh, it's ok. Not such a great night for a party anyway.

I should say not...that's quite a storm out there.

Galaxy: What was that noise?

That would be thunder...

Leanna: You know, I'm not sure I like this whole weather thing...

You know you don't have to go outside in it, right?

Unless you have school, of course...

Gemini: Dad...I don't think I like the sky water anymore...

Galaxy: What? Yesterday you thought it was the coolest thing you'd ever seen.

Gemini: Yeah, well, today it made loud noises...and I think I saw a big explosion from the sky too.

That's called lightning. It happens when there's a storm.

Gemini: Well, I still don't like it....I want to go play outside! 

Galaxy: Aw, come on...there's plenty of cool things to do in the house...

Gemini: Like what?

Like work on your scouting badges for one.

Looks like Libra caught up to her big sister.

See? It doesn't rain all the time.

Gemini: Yeah, but now the air feels weird...it's so hot!

Libra: Maybe this will help...

Gemini: Hey!

Oh, hey Tempera...

Glad to see you guys are getting into the Splash Fest spirit...

Gemini: Splash Fest? What's that?

It's a holiday...didn't you see it on the calendar?

Gemini: Are holidays a good thing?

Well, there's no school...

Gemini: Really? Ok, holidays are pretty cool so far...

Going to go drop off the invites in person?

Galaxy: I guess...

Galaxy: Hey, Planet...

Planet: Hey...come on, let's head inside. I feel like I'm melting out here.

Oh, Leanna came too?

Galaxy: Yeah, the girls will be fine for a couple hours. I'm sure they'll find something to do...

Like roller skate perhaps? Careful, you wouldn't want to hurt yourself before the big day...

Gemini: So if there's no school today, what are we going to do?

Well...you're going to invite everyone over, cook food outside, and play in the water. Plus, there'll be fireworks later...

But first Mom has to decorate the house.

Leanna: What is all this stuff?

You don't have to use all of it...

There we go. I think we're ready!

Gemini: This is awesome!

And I see the guests have started to arrive. Um, Forest? We actually put that out for the toddlers...

Careful with the dancing, guys. You don't want to work up too much of a sweat...

I'm glad to see we finally got the grown-ups out of the kiddie pool...

Galaxy: I think she likes it!

All right, I think it's dark enough...

Libra: Mom, do you know what you're doing?

Leanna: Of course I do...

You might want to stand back just in case...

Well, I think that went pretty well.

Libra: That was so much fun! Can we do Splash Fest again?

Next summer, sure...

Gemini: What? We have to wait that long?

Don't worry guys...there'll be plenty to keep you occupied until then. But I've got to be on my way now...I'll see you guys next round!

A Message From the Mysterious Voice: So, Seasons is absolutely amazing! I had so much fun setting up "Splash Fest". I debated for a long time what season to start these guys in, but I ended up going with summer so that I could ease them in with just rain. Seasons in Tranquility Creek will be 14 days long, so we've still got one more lot of summer.