Chapter 2 - Mommy's Little Helpers

Sim Day 2 - (rolled a blank) I was actually a little happy and a little sad. Anxious to start getting 'events'!

The last three weeks Kaitlin's little family settled into a routine and the creepster stayed away - thank goodness. A couple of times a week she would sell the scrap she collected and then go to the grocery store and pick up groceries and diapers.

Maddy started walking this week and will probably be talking up a storm soon thanks to Reese. He is such a good caretaker. It was bittersweet for Kaitlin watching her take those first steps. It's one of those firsts that all parents take great joy in. She almost felt sorry for her father missing out on his children growing up. Almost, but not quite. She thought she definitely got the best part of Newt with her boys and her sweet little Maddy.

As she washed up the dishes from breakfast Kaitlin started trying to come up with a plan to get out of the junkyard. She certainly didn't plan to stay there forever. It certainly wasn’t a place to raise children. Hopefully only a couple of months more. Just long enough to save up some money for a deposit for a proper apartment and for her to find a better job - one with a paycheck!

One morning she got up and found Reese outside collecting scrap - in the rain! Her heart melted. At 16 - he should be playing football and going to the prom, well maybe he would be banned from prom, thought Kaitlin, but instead he is helping me dig in scrap heaps. God bless him.

She ran over to him and hugged him tight, "What would I do without you? You are my hero Reese," she said through her tears.

"Mom, I just want to help. It's okay. Please don't cry," he begged very uncomfortable seeing her upset. "How about we go to the festival this afternoon if the rain stops? You guys deserve a little fun."

"If you're sure we can afford it. Sure. That would be nice," replied Reese trying to curb his enthusiasm not wanting his mother to know how excited he really was to go somewhere they could be normal.

Then when she thought she couldn't be any more proud, she saw Ben imitating his big brother and started to cry again. Definitely they were going to the festival and no hot dogs tonight. They could have whatever they wanted.

* * *

After they stopped by the gym and took advantage of the showers (as was now their normal routine) they headed over to the park. Just because we are “junkyard dogs" doesn't mean we can't enjoy family outings.

When they arrived, she gave each of the boys a few of her hard earned dollars so they could buy whatever they wanted to eat. After all the hot dogs they had been surviving on both Reese and Ben decided on a juicy hamburger and french fries.

Maddy was so cute toddling around investigating all the new ways to get into trouble and begging for Reese's hamburger. He wasn't sharing!

As it got late, they had one last treat before they had to head home. Snow cones. Ben played peak-a-boo with Maddy. They were so sweet. It's still one big adventure for him, thought Kaitlin, and he hasn't asked about Newt once. One day they would have to talk about it. He is becoming way too introverted around everyone except our family. He really needs to go to school to be around kids his age.

The sweetness of her children got the best of her and she took them to the picture booth so she could start collecting good memories to replace the bad. Kaitlin felt so bad for them having to live in a junkyard. It will get better and soon, she thought, I have been saving up, but they deserved this day.

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