1.9 A whole lot of messes

"Yes, yes, YES!" Finally i got that promotion. I had been craving it for so long, trying my best to keep up with the band, and now, finally, i was going to be on stage with them! I was their lead guitarist in their band! I was going to be a rock star after all! I just needed a couple more promotions and then i would be there.

The kids knew how to enjoy themselves. They loved nothing more than playing games with each other on the tv. I had bought them a gaming console for the triplets birthdays. Bernard often joined in to keep everything civil.

Hans had started to really enjoy music. He would spend hours playing his guitar. He had enrolled in after school music club, where they would discuss music and learn to play even better.

I was so proud of all my kids, how they had grown and their different ways to express their personalities. They were all unique in their own way. Though one i couldn't figure out was little Rie.
She seemed to hold back so many things. I felt like i didn't know her at all. She was very closed up, never showed much feelings, except love for dogs. She had begged me to get a dog for so long. But i kept telling her we couldn't afford it.
"I hate being poor!" She would yell, angry tears in her eyes. And then she would storm off and lock herself in her room. I didn't know what to do about her. She had a real anger problem. Maybe we should go see a doctor? This just couldn't go on.

Then my biggest dream was laid upon me. I was asked to go on tour with our band. I was in such a rush. But that ended quickly when i was reminded by the fact that i had a family to look after. What would they do without me? I couldn't put the responsibility of my triplets on my two immature teenagers. All they thought about was girls and music. It would be catastrophic if nothing less.
So, i told my manager all this, and he said that if i didn't go on this tour with them, they would have to find another guitar player. I didn't like this. Could this person try and push me out of the limelight? Out of the band? What would happen then? If i didn't have a job, how could we afford living in this big house anymore? But i still had no choice. I could either go on tour and know that everything would fall apart at home, or i could wish them a good trip and risk losing my job. That was definitely some very unfortunately choices.
I decided that when i was going to be staying at home, i would spend most of my time downtown playing for tips. At least then we would get some money, though not that much.

On their birthday, the triplets started the day by playing together outside in the garden. I had a long time ago, set up some playground things for the kids, and over the years it had been used a lot.

"James! Rie! Camille! Get inside. The guests are about to come." I called out to them. It was a rainy day, so i had to get them into new clothes before the guests arrived. As soon as everybody was dried up, and ready for the party, the guests arrived, bringing gifts.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Camille, James and Rie. Happy birthday to you!" We sang all together, for the three adorable triplets.

They were about to turn 13. How had this happened so fast? All the years were gone by so fast, i couldn't believe my eyes. This is what i feared the most. When my kids were all grown up and were going to move out. I was going to be by myself. With no one next to me, holding my hand when i was lonely. Maybe i should get a bunch of cats, and become that crazy cat lady?

Here is Rie. She turned out to be a real rebel with a slight gothic tone.

James with his laid back look.

And at last our adorable Camille. With Hot Pink being her favorite color this turned out perfect.

When the kids had all put on their new clothes, i had bought a couple of days ago,  they returned downstairs for the party. Though Rie seemed to not like a whole lot of things. "Moom, why did you have to invite all these boooring people? I don't like any of them."
"Honey, it isn't just your party. Your brother and sister wanted me to invite them. You could just have told me who to invite, and they would be here too." I sent her a smile, trying to lighten the mood. But all i got back was a sneer. "I don't have anyone to invite, or didn't you realize that? You suck mom!"
Wow, was that my little angel? I was so surprised by her outburst i didn't know what to say. She left the room leaving me feeling ashamed and well, surprised. I hoped she would grow out of this.
Camille and James sure seemed to enjoy themselves. They laughed and danced with their friends, having the time of their lives.
It wasn't just the birthday children that had fun. Bernard seemed to have some time on his own with a girl i didn't know. Fortunately i didn't see this. If i had i had kicked her out immediately.

Then out of nowhere the party was over. Everyone was so exhausted that we headed almost straight to bed.

As time passed by it became clear to me that Rie was the most troubled out of my five children. She would skip school occasionally and I would yell at her for doing so.

Then she would run off to the school playground and hang out, sulking and pondering. There could go hours before she returned home, still angry and didn't want to talk to anybody.

Camille on the other hand was a first class student and loved doing her homework. Yes, she struggled sometimes with it, but she did her best, and i couldn't ask for any more than that.

Then one morning, i heard a noise downstairs. At first i thought it was just Rie messing around again. She did that sometimes while we were sleeping. She said it helped keeping her calm. But then when it kept on going, i thought to myself "This is not normal". I got up, sneaked over to the stairs and peered down, and what i saw almost gave me a heart attack! A burglar!

A burglar was in my house! Why had i not bought a burglar alarm!
I hurried back into my room and dialed 911.

Soon after the police arrived. As the burglar ran out of the house, she was crossed by the officer and a fight broke out! I thought about how safe i had thought this neighborhood was. Now i realized that anything can happen where ever you are.

The police officer won and we got our stolen tv back. At that point i knew i had to get away from here sometime. I would have to take this up to consideration.

After a while it was time for Bernards birthday. He turned 21 on a rainy november night, with his family and friends around him.
He grew to be a very handsome young man. For the past two years he had been growing a small mustache. I had tried to convince him to shave, but he felt more mature with a mustache. It was more  than his friends had.

The day after his birthday, he went and got himself a real job in the business career track, instead of his part-time job at the grocery store. He said he was ready to make the big bucks. He wanted to make enough money to be able to move out. Honestly i didn't want him to move out, but he had to to be able to live out his dreams, so at some point i had to let him go.

The next day was his graduation. We all got dressed  and headed down to City Hall.
"Woohooo!" Bernard yelled.

He finally graduated and was ecstatic about it.
Afterwards we went to the restaurant to eat some food together as a celebration.
Here we are all gathered together in front of the restaurant. All my children. Amazing!

A couple of days after that, he invited Yvonne Broke out on a date. I was so proud that my boy was going on his first date, i insisted on buying flowers for him and dressing him up. Looking back at it now, i don't get why he put up with it.
He greeted his date at the library, with a bouquet of red roses.

"Thank you so much Bernard!" She exclaimed. She couldn't believe someone like him was interested in someone like her. He didn't see it like that. "You are beautiful, inside and out." He said, as he hold her close. They still hadn't had their first kiss, but he could he patient. "Would you like to go watch the stars with me? They are incredibly beautiful tonight, just as you." It was very enticing for Yvonne, as no one had ever spoken to her like that before.
"Well, yes, yes i would like that very much," she sent him a little shy smile.

They watched the stars together while talking about day-to-day stuff. She told him she had fancied him for a long time, but had thought he was a bit too young before. Now that he was 18, it was more appropriate for them to date.
At that he thought, why not give it a try, and he tried giving  her a hot kiss.
"What are you doing?!" She yelled at him.

"Wh-what?" He was startled. Hadn't she just said that she wanted to date? "I'm sorry, i just thought.."
"What did you think? That i was some kind of slut? I don't kiss just anybody. I want to be in a relationship first!"
And she walked (or flew) away.

"Damn it," he said to himself. He had really screwed up this time. How come girls are always so hard to read? They say one thing but think another. Why does it have to be this hard? He thought, as he walked home. He didn't feel like calling for a cab. He needed time to think things over.

When he got back home, things were in chaos. I had gotten a very disturbing call from Rie's teacher at school. She thought i would like to know that Rie had been caught trying to sell drugs to a minor while at school! When i asked her about it, she just shrugged her shoulders and walked away. That does it!
"Bernard! We are moving away!"
"What? We can't move away! What about my job? I just only started, and my... girlfriend," he said the last under his breath. "I mean  how are we even going to be able to afford a move? We have bare enough to live for each day."
"We have to move. It is the best thing for Rie. We need to get her away from this toxic environment. I have thought this through and if we sell this house, we might have enough to move. But we have to do it soon."
I can't believe this!, Bernard thought. first, i got a new job, then i thought i had a girlfriend, but she turned me down. Then Rie had to go and mess things up with her stupid little friends. And now we are moving?
"Okay listen, i will help you move, but just wait a bit, okay? you don't even know where you will be moving to, do you?" He said to me.
I had to admit, i had no idea where we would move to. It would be nice with a fresh start. But it would also mean i would have to give up my band. Maybe i could find another band?
"No," I admitted. "I don't know where it would be, but someplace cheap."
"I will look into it. In the meantime, lets put all our money together and save up. Then when we have enough, we will start look at some houses. Also get someone here to appraise the house. That would be a start." Bernard was always so smart. He knew how things worked. He had learned a lot from his former boss at the grocery store. His boss had been a big cannon in the business career a long time ago. It is because of him that Bernard wanted to be in that career.


Author note: So, we are slowly nearing the ending of Generation 1. I have, as you have read, decided that i want to move the family to a whole new town. You are welcome to comment on which town you would like to see them move to. I have all towns available, i believe. Midnight Hollow cannot be chosen! I will move them before Generation 2 starts!
Thank you for reading my legacy, and again, all comments are greatly appriciated :)
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