The Superfrog ISBI

Chapter Seven: Moving On

Welcome back to the Superfrog ISBI!

Last time, we witnessed the Supers trying to go on after the death of the second generation Torch-Holder, Star, and her husband, Alan. This left Sketch, a toddler at the time, as the Torch-Holder. Which lead on to an interesting childhood of hauntings, tantrums, musical instruments, the repo man and Vamsi passing away – she died of old age, not a house fire. Luckily, Sketch grew up before Makoto could kick the bucket also.

Sound familiar? If not, I suggest looking back. Anyway, onto this chapter!

Sketch is a Romance sim, with a lifetime want of woohooing twenty different sims. It doesn't really promote settling down and marriage, the requirements of a Torch-Holder.

But that's the future. For now, Sketch has her instruments, her adopted grandfather and many, many boyfriends.

Like this guy. This is Amar Hamilton, I believe.

“We should kiss, Sketch. I'm going back tomorrow.”

“I don't know, Amar...” Sketch looked at the floor, “I mean, I have the want rolled...but I've only been a teenager two days...”

“All the more reason to kiss you, then.” Amar decided.

“I don't understand how that excuse works, but I'm not complaining anymore.”

“HOW DARE YOU KISS MY LITTLE GIRL!”

“Sk-sk-sketch? Ghost!”

“Thank you, Daddy,” Sketch grinned, “Night, Amar!”

The next day, Makoto's sanity becomes questionable. Wait...it was questioned more than usual. There we go.

“And I'm telling you, Vamsi, for the last time, I did not break the dishwasher!”

I honestly believe Makoto misses Vamsi.

“By the way, we did a great job raising Sketch!”

The paper cup just smiled back.

Sketch does seem much more stable than any of the Supers I've played in a while.

Also, she is now in the zone for music and dance as well.

That night, Sketch invited over her latest boyfriend, Ricky. I can't remember how to spell his last name.

I'm also not sure why Sketch takes all of her boyfriends out to this spot in the garden.

Maybe that's why she likes that spot in the garden – the puddles.

“She's so hot when she's acting childish!”

“Sketch, is your boyfriend still here? It's eleven on a school night. I hate being responsible, but maybe he should leave.”

“It's okay, Makoto. Daddy helped him out.”

“Okay then, Sketch. It's funny how we always see your father's ghost, but never your mother's.”

“Maybe she's just busy in the afterlife.”

“Possible,” Makoto grinned, “alright, Sketch. Time for bed. Or violin. Or whatever.”

A new day, and a new boyfriend. This one is...*checks notes* Connor Dawn. He's interesting, but Sketch only threw him one bolt.

He left at the end of the afternoon, and no one had any plans of inviting him back.

“So how many boyfriends is that now, Sketch?” Makoto asked as the pair of them street-smustled.

“Three. I'm not calling any of them back, though.”

“Why not?”

“No point getting attached. The person I have to spend the rest of my life with will be a blind date, with the cheque paid out to the gypsy woman.”

“That,” Sketch continued, “and being a teenager is supposed to be all about having fun.”

About having fun and still managing to stay on top of things.

“Yes! A*!”

Sketch celebrates her grade by picking up her violin again. And changing into her formalwear to play it.

I guess that's a feature of being in the zone, right? Because I've never had that happen before.

“No boyfriend tonight. Hmm. I can see where I am not wanted.”

For once, Sketch decides to hang out with Makoto, or on her own, rather than inviting over a boy.

There were very few nights when Sketch didn't have company.

“So is this your latest boyfriend?” Sophie asked, curiously.

“What does she mean by latest, Sketch?”

“I don't even know what she means, truthfully. There's no one else but you.”

“I love you, Sketch.”

“...”

“So I had to let him go. I can't have any of them thinking of anything long-term.”

“Honey, it sounds like you're afraid of commitment.”

“So what if I am? Real-Grandma's rules mean I can't be with any of these people, so commitment is a waste of time,” Sketch fidgeted slightly, “that, and everyone I have lived with has died apart from you.”

“Just because three of us died and I haven't got long left isn't a reason not to get close to people.”

“No one is expecting you to get tied down yet, Sketch,” Makoto sat up, “but that doesn't mean you can't be with someone for more than a few hours.”

Sketch contemplated this, “Very true.”

Makoto nodded, and laid back down on the sofa, ready for an afternoon nap.

Of course, talking about it with Makoto didn't make the thoughts go away completely.

Sketch was convinced that she shouldn't get close to people.

“MAKOTO ST. JULIEN, IT IS YOUR TIME TO MOVE TO THE AFTERLIFE.”

“But who will take care of Sketch if I'm not here? How can you do this to her?”

“I DO NOT WRITE THE REAPING LIST, I JUST REAP THE SOULS. BESIDES, YOU WERE GIVEN EXTRA TIME IN ORDER TO RAISE THE GIRL TO AN APPROPRIATE AGE.”

“That girl needs someone, she shouldn't be alone.”

“MR ST. JULIEN, I HAVE ALREADY PUT ADDITIONAL SAND IN THIS ONCE. I CANNOT BE DOING IT AGAIN. YOUR TIME IS UP.”

“You actually have hourglasses for us? Where are they stored?”

“UH....”

“Do I really have to go?”

“I AM AFRAID DO, MAKOTO. I CAN BE UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT IS CALLED FOR, BUT YOU HAVE NO TIME LEFT ON THIS EARTH.”

“THE AFTERLIFE IS THROUGH THE MIRROR, FIRST REALM ON YOUR LEFT.”

“Sketch is going to be all alone. But I have to go.”

“SHE WILL BE CARED FOR, MR ST. JULIEN.”

“But by who?” Makoto muttered, “Fine, I'll go.”

At that moment, Sketch burst into the bathroom, “You heartless being!”

“I DO NOT HAVE A HEART PHYSICALLY, BUT...”

“You took him from me, even when I had no one left!”

“YOUNG SKETCH, THIS ISN'T MY DOING. I CANNOT CONTROL NATURE OR NATURE'S CALL.”

The Reaper disappeared through the mirror in the same way he had arrived.

“But you left me all alone!”

Four deaths in her lifetime, the odds really aren't in Sketch's favour lately.

Meanwhile, the ghosts are out in force – this is the first time the lot has been haunted by more than one ghost, and look! Vamsi ghost! :D

“Amar! Check it out, I can wander through walls!”

“Even in the afterlife, Vamsi still doesn't remember my name.”

The next day, tantrums are back in fashion.

“What am I going to do? I'm too young to live alone!”

“This is the Reaper's fault! I want to punch him right in his hood!”

“Who am I kidding? I just want my family.”

Later on, Sketch decided that getting active would be an excellent distraction from the deaths that had happened recently.

And if it wasn't a good distraction, then at least she had the body points afterwards to successfully kick some Reaper butt.

That night, while Sketch was asleep, Star glided in for a visit to the kitchen. Hooray for finally seeing the ghost of Star!

“I can see you keep my kitchen nice and tidy.”

“Why does the Reaper hate me!”

Tantrums will probably be in style now for a while. They lasted almost all of Sketch's childhood last time, who knows how long they'll last this time!

Sketch's only visitors – other than the occasional boyfriend – are Sam and Joe, who are still living their happily-ever-after in the lot-bin house.

“And there's no one at all now.”

“Well, I can understand why you're upset, and avoiding people completely...” Joe began, “but I think you should cheer up. It could be worse.”

“Joe! That is not what you say to a grieving person!” Sam said, raising her eyebrows.

“No, he's right,” Sketch sighed, “just because they've all stopped living doesn't mean I have to.”

“Exactly!” Joe agreed, before glancing at Sam and sticking his tongue out at her.

So Sketch decided to make the most out of the last of her teenage days.

“Party! At my house tonight! No, of course my parents won't be home, and if you knew why, you'd feel guilty for asking me that. Who's going to tell me no, honestly? Just show up, okay?”

Of course, Sketch's party had a select guest list – she had dated too many of her friends to have them all in the same room at once.

“So, Ricky, did you have to fly here?”

“Tosha, we walked here together, you know that.”

Sketch laughed, “Hey, Amin, have you got that horrible feeling when you arrive at a party dressed the same as someone else?”

The identical outfit brothers found the co-ordination to their liking, however. It meant they could look similar while smustling.

The girls weren't going to let the boys have all the fun, though.

Tosha tried to dance with the tree, which was only slight hiccup, but overall, the small party was a lot of fun.

After that, Sketch was much happier, and cared less about the fact that she lived alone, surviving on inheritance from Makoto.

She also enjoyed a better relationship with her real-grandfather, who was round most days.

“So you're not going to let nature win this one?”

“Right! I mean, I'm still surrounded by death – even now we're holding a conversation in the family graveyard, and I'm still an orphan, still haunted by ghosts every night, but...I'm good.”

“Sometimes, Sketch, you make me think what things would have been like if I'd had the chance to raise my girls.”

“And you always make me wonder what it would have been like to have a dad.”

“It's great being friends as well as relatives, right?”

“Absolutely!”

Sketch was a changed person, tantrums had gone out of fashion again, singing, dancing and playing the guitar were the orders of the day, as well as hanging out with Grandparents, and people she wasn't occasionally kissing.

“The Reaper will never take me alive!”

In the background, Makoto allowed a ghostly grin, “Good to hear it kid. Though the Reaper only really takes people when they're dead...”

The ghosts still occasionally scare people, but much less than they used to – maybe it's because Sketch has her boyfriends over less?

“Sketch! Clean my kitchen! It's horribly grubby!”

“Hmm. Maybe I should clean up the kitchen, if it will please my dead mother...”

“YAY! It's my birthday! Celebration smustle!”

“Happy Birthday young lady! May I come into your home and spend many hours in your hot tub?”

“...I'm going to say no to that.”

“I wish for love! And a family!”

And with that, Sketch blew out the candles on her cake.

Sketch grew into a beautiful young woman!

And here is where I leave you this time – on a positive note! I'm looking forward to playing and writing Sketch's adult years. :D

Thanks for reading, see you next time!