The Grunt Family pt. 1
General Buzz Grunt couldn't exactly recall when he first noticed that things were not as before, but he distinctly remembered the moment when he overheard a recruit making a joke behind his back and had to chuckle. It was a long time since this had happened to him. It felt good.
When he returned home he was in a cheerful mood and when his youngest son, of whom he usually took very little notice, approached him, he spent some time talking to him. Somehow they ended up hanging out on the floor which the General had last done when he was a child himself.
Buzz Grunt could not understand what was going on. Until recently everything had been tidy and clear cut. Like every other male in the family he joined the army when he grew up. He married Lyla who he had known since childhood and when a boy was born he was very proud.
From the beginning he put a great effort into preparing Tank for the career that was tradition in their family. Tank turned out very much like himself and he liked being with him.
There were no enemy countries and therefore the army would have been at a great risk to be seen as completely irrelevant and unnecessary by the general public if there hadn't been the threat of an alien invasion. The army hesitatingly tolerated the half-aliens, since their fathers protested that apart from some features their children were sims like everybody else. General Buzz Grunt did not believe for one moment that Pollination Technician was only half alien and he was highly suspicious of him. There was an immediate dislike for the other when they met for the first time. PT represented everything he hated and despised.
One day they got into a fight and it convinced him that PT was not an ordinary sim. He appeared so unfit and phlegmatic, but he had enormous strength. Under normal conditions and without special abilities he would have never beaten him.
Shortly after Buck grew into a schoolchild he and Lyla separated. It did not fit his concept of life and how it should be, but he did not object when she confronted him with her decision. He had to admit that he had not taken much notice of his wife in the years passed. When he had just joined the army and before the children were born it was different. Thinking back about it now, he suddenly felt that this had been one of the happiest times in his life, although they were poor then and he was only a recruit.
His career became more and more important and his home mainly a place where he could rest after a hard day's work. When he was in he spent most of the time with Tank.
After Lyla had left this was even more so. He was so proud of his firstborn; he wished that Ripp would have been a little bit more like him. Under different circumstance the General would have seen it as a stroke of luck to have only boys, but unfortunately Ripp did not turn out as well as Tank and Buck did not show the same enthusiasm either, although he was still too young to be certain.
Tank on the other hand was determined to follow into his footsteps.
He tried to encourage Ripp to exercise but as soon as he turned away he would use the opportunity to lounge on the sofa and watch tv. He and Buck were taking after Lyla. She had died shortly after their separation and Ripp had taken it worst. Still, it was no excuse for his lazing around.
Ripp did not care what his father was thinking. He found both him and his brother very boring and overly serious people.
At least that's what he used to think about them, because their father was not the only one who had noticed a change. Actually, Ripp felt that it was quite dramatic and hard to ignore. While there wasn't much visible proof for it, the whole feeling was completely different. He and Tank did not get on well and had been arguing and fighting a lot. And then one morning before school they began to talk to each other and he could not understand why he had disliked his brother. Tank was really not such a bad guy.
'You should wipe that stuff off your face, you're not even in the army', he said.
'Yeah, maybe I should', Tank said and grinned. He was confused. As long as he could remember his main ambition had been to gain the recognition of his father. He had said that he was proud of him and glad that he had turned out better than his brothers, but he had always felt that it was not enough, that he had to do more, try harder, put in more effort. And then it stopped.
He insisted that Ripp kept a part-time job but it was his day off and when the General came home from work in the afternoon, he asked his boys if they would like to go into town since they needed to buy food anyway. He got some new clothes for them and himself and then went into the shop to get the groceries. Inside, Ripp was chatting to an absolutely gorgeous woman. She had to be new in town or he would have noticed her before. On the other hand he had not paid much attention to the neighbours (apart from keeping PT under surveillance), but was it possible to overlook someone like her?
He indicated to Ripp to move on and see if there was somebody of his own age around and then approached the stranger. He had always enjoyed the sex with Lyla (when and why did they stop?), but after she left he had never tried to find another woman. There had been more important matters to attend and he could not spare the time for such distractions.
He had never been shy, but he had no idea what to say to her and - judging from the way she looked at him - he was probably making a complete fool of himself, bragging and trying to impress her.
But then her expression changed and she smiled. She said that her name was Trista and that she was pleased to meet him. 'So what's your name?'
'Buzz, Buzz Grunt'.
'You are a very entertaining man, Buzz Grunt'.
Nobody had called him entertaining for a long time - not since he was a teenager - and it encouraged him. She listened to him intently but he also enjoyed her talking. As he had guessed she had only moved to Strangetown - or rather Desert City - recently. He wondered what had taken her to such an isolated place and Trista said that new bars and clubs had opened there and that it was coming to life.
He gained more and more confidence and eventually he began to flirt with her. He did not have much practice in this regard, but she seemed to like it anyway. He almost forgot why he had come into the shop in the first place.
When Buzz turned away from her (remembering the groceries), Trista overheard some townie women talking about him. One of them said that General Grunt (so he was a general as she had guessed from his uniform) was a very handsome man and the other agreed, adding that it was a pity that he was so serious and irritable all the time.
She did not know what the woman meant. She thought that he was very charming. She feared that he was going to leave when he had done his shopping, but he must have enjoyed their conversation too, because when she turned round he was standing next to her again. He was some man. She did not have to see much of him to tell that he was in good shape.
They had to go home, because Buck still had his homework to do, but he did not want to leave without getting her telephone number.
'I really enjoyed talking to you, would you mind if I give you a call? Maybe we could go out one of these days?'
'I'm looking forward to it'
Back home, Tank changed into his new clothes and then went into the bathroom. His brother was right. He looked stupid with that camouflage paint on his face.
It was not that easy to get it off and there were possibly a few spots close to the ear which he did not catch, but after a few rounds of soaping and rinsing most of it was gone.
Afterwards he checked himself out and had to admit that he was pleased with himself. Hey, he was really not such a bad looking boy. His new clothes were smart too.
He was ready to explore the world, of which - so it began to feel to him - he knew very little.
Meanwhile the General was thinking about Trista and Desert City. He had been to one of these new bars she had talked about one evening and it was great. The easygoing attitude which was spreading like a fever had affected him as well and he did not give a damn that some neighbours were giving him strange looks when they saw him talking to Jenny Smith.
He had always avoided her, blaming her for bringing that alien into their town and was not pleased when he found out that her son was Ripp's best friend. It was not that he forgot about his duty of deterrence, but all this was not a matter of such importance that night. She was nice and friendly - and not ugly either - and he enjoyed the conversation with her. She told him that he was very different from the way she had imagined him to be. He wondered if she would have said the same a short while ago. He had probably smiled more often in the past week than he had in the years before.
His conversation with Lola Singles must have caused an even greater uproar. Again, it was something that he would have never considered doing until recently. She was only half-alien, resulting from the abduction and pregnancy of Glarn Curious, but she carried many typical features. To his own surprise he found that green skin of hers and those large black eyes alluring and began to see a certain beauty in her strange appearance.
He stayed at the bar until the early morning and talked to many other neighbours for the first time that night. For a long time it had served his hunger for recognition that he was respected for his physical strength - nobody would have messed with him - but it was becoming increasingly satisfying to gain friendship. He was in a peculiar mood at the moment.
Mainly he was thinking about the bar though, because he did not want to wait and was planning to invite Trista out and that's what he did a few days later.
He called it an outing, not a date, but he had a crush on her as soon as they got out of the taxi. She was not only beautiful, she had a particular way of looking at him that reached out to his heart. There was so much affection in her eyes. Although he wasn't lacking confidence he wondered why she thought he deserved it.
Further than likewise having a crush on the General, Trista saw the man which was meant for her. Maybe it was surprising to others, who would have judged her to be less conservative and much more relaxed than him, but she felt that they were seeing only a small section of the whole picture. In many ways they were a good match.
That he was indeed more serious did not mean he was shy or reclusive.
He moved towards her and then they kissed for the first time. Although his mind continued to search for an explanation he did not want this to stop. The world as he knew it did not exist anymore, even the sky and the air were different, announcing the first autumn they were to experience. Strangetown and Desert City were filled with a magic he could not understand and yet it affected him like the others. His life was about to take a complete turn or so it felt.
They went inside. Walking past the cardtable it occurred to him that another noticeable difference was the astonishing amount of attractive women which had appeared in the neighbourhood. One of them called Marla had a great body and she wasn't hiding it under an unnecessary amount of clothes.
With Trista it was a different story though. He generally had a greater interest in women again and probably would have been in the mood to seek an affair if he hadn't met her.
They were dancing and she did not object to him holding her tight. Neither his father, nor from what he knew his grandfather had been particularly mean people. While many sims ridiculed the army - and possibly because of it - its members tended to take it very serious, at least that's how it had been in his family. Discipline was highly valued and silly behaviour as well as a too light-hearted approach to life were frowned upon. Only with regard to women occasional lapses were tolerated and for a while he and Lyla were happy. However, over time he had withdrawn from her and the rest of his family except Tank and - although he did not see it then - became rather unfriendly and brusque until she left him. He realised that he had remained on the job, even when he was at home. At this moment here with Trista he was only Buzz.
And there was this particular look again. He could not believe they were so close already. He could also not believe how he acted. Nothing but a private man, it needed getting used to. It was not exactly difficult since it only required to be himself, but he had not been in such a situation for years. And he was full of desire.
She hugged him and then rested her head on his shoulder. This would not remain an affair.
Afterwards Trista went into the hot tub while he was grilling some hot dogs for themselves and the neighbours. Marla and another woman joined them at the table and somehow the conversation turned to aliens. Although of different opinion they weren't affronted when he explained his stance with regard to them, it was him who started to get uncomfortable with the topic and would have liked to drop it. It used to irritate him that his neighbours were so indifferent about the imminent threat of an invasion - or take-over - and now he found himself struggling to represent his view with conviction. It was a beautiful late summer night, why spoil it with such thoughts?
Afterwards they went into the whirlpool and sat in there for a while. He was aware what the neighbours and his colleagues were saying about him, calling him a narrow-minded square and a bully. Trista did not always share his views, but it was of no importance. They never had problems to find something to talk about and there was much they agreed on. Others acknowledged that he was not intolerant as such or overly moralistic. He preferred feminine - womanly - women, but was equally impressed that Trista was an athlete and aspired to become Hall of Famer. It had always been his secret wish and the career he would have chosen if he had been left with a choice.
It dawned and by then they were kissing passionately. Oh how good it felt to be with a woman again!
They played around and even acted downright childish. It was okay. She brought out a lightness in him which he vaguely remembered from a long time ago. Eventually they both had to go back home but it was not easy to part.
He slept in the afternoon and when Ripp came back with a workmate he cooked dinner for them all.
Although he was still in such a great mood that it influenced his perspective and made him see things more positively, it could not be the sole reason why it appeared to him that Ripp and Tank were getting on better lately. Tank had never complained about their daily drill training, but maybe it was good for him that they had abandoned it for the time being. It was important that he socialised with others or he would be at risk to turn out more shy than was becoming for a man. At least there had never been a danger of that happening with Ripp. The changes did not stop at the doorstep of their home and he became aware that the atmosphere during the family dinners was much more relaxed than it used to be.
It was not easy to abandon old habits, but Ripp noticed that Tank really made an effort to be friendly. They did not argue anymore and Tank even managed to laugh about his jokes now. Actually, thinking about it he realised that he was quite happy to have his brother around. Due to his changed attitude he could acknowledge certain qualities in him which he had also observed in his father. They were honest, pure even.
They talked more when Tank stopped hazzling him and he became aware that if he asked him about something or someone, he would never reply with a casual statement, but tried to express what he really thought about it. His conclusions were often simple, but it did not diminish their value. Tank and his father were good observers if their view upon the world was not distorted by prejudice.
Tank had spent more time on his homework which he used to neglect over the exercise and was rewarded with an A+.
Ripp's grades did not improve to the same extent (partly due to his job), but he was getting better too.
Buck could also celebrate an A+ report card when he returned later in the afternoon.
Their achievements were all their own and General Grunt was very proud of his sons when he heard about it. He also realised that he had spent a lot of time trying to prepare them for their future military career and hardly any to help them to be successful in school.
When Tank told him about his grades he offered him to help him with his homework and show him how he could study more efficiently.
'Thanks Dad! That was really good. It only took half the time when I did it with you.'
'Don't thank me Tank, I should have done this much earlier.'
He looked down and brushed off an invisible spot on his sleeve.
'No honestly it will help me a lot. The way you organised it and explained some of the questions to me, I would have never thought about it.'
General Grunt was becoming increasingly embarrassed, partly because of his guilty conscience, but also because he noticed something in his son which had not been there before. Whether he dealt with his family at home or with other sims out in town, there was always more feeling involved now and it still confused him a little.
Ripp did not have to wait that much longer and soon brought home an A+ like his brothers.
He did not go to work that day. He was on his way to the car when he came across a girl from town called Amaya and decided he deserved a break to celebrate his grades.
When General Grunt returned, Buck came running out and greeted him with a hug. It had become a habit lately.
Ripp spent most of the afternoon in the company of a friend - and he continued with his parental efforts, teaching Buck to study - but in the evening he talked to him for a while.
'So I heard you got an A+ today? Well done. I am proud of you.'
'What, you mean you think I am not such a useless waste of time after all?', Ripp asked.
'Why no, Ripp, I did ..I never thought that of you. You are my son. Even if I am harsh at times, I always want your best. I begin to accept that the army might not be the right place for you, but it does not mean I have given you up. I trust that you succeed in life, I am sure you will.'
'You know Dad, I wanted to tell you for a while.. we are getting on a lot better and I think differently about the way you were acting before. Maybe you were unhappy without knowing it and that was why you shouted so much. You and Tank have changed.'
'Only me and Tank? What about you Ripp? Lest today when you were chatting to your friend, I don't see you much in front of the tv anymore.'
Ripp grinned. 'Girls. I guess I found out they are more interesting than tv.'
His relationship with Ripp had indeed improved considerably, but Tank remained the one closest to him. Although 'remained' was wrong because a true closeness had been lacking regardless of the amount of time they spent together. His demands had guaranteed that Tank strived to give his best and exceeded himself. And Tank had tried very hard, always wanting to please him and hoping to gain his approval. Due to his excessive ambition with regard to his firstborn he had always demanded more though and as a result a true bond had never developed.
He knew so little about his sons, including Tank. Learning more about them increased his pride and was probably the best in a period when his life in general was going great.
His thoughts turned from his children to Lyla and he was overcome by sadness. She would have liked Strangetown as it was now. He would have been able to make her happy if he had tried. But his mind had worked differently at the time.
Tank was close to become the first teenager in Strangetown who discovered sex. He had noticed that some girls seemed to talk about him, sometimes they began to whisper when he walked past and then giggled. One day he spoke to a girl named Jordan in school and later invited her to come back with him and his brother. She must have misunderstood him, because when they arrived at the house she walked straight into his father's bedroom and undressed. He thought the best was to do the same, but when his initial bewilderment had passed, he did not know if it was such a good idea. There was some debate about this topic between teens in school. The reactions of his body left no doubt about that it was possible and going to happen if they carried on. Although it was tempting, it did not seem right.
'I don't know how to put it, but I did not even have my first kiss yet'
'I don't care.'
'Uh, I think I do.'
It was not completely honest insofar as he most likely would have given a different answer to a different girl. The truth was he Jordan did not appeal to him much - a little - and he hesitated to have his first time with a girl that he may not wanted to remember afterwards.
They had started to go out in town on the days when Ripp wasn't working. Fortunately the choice was not so limited anymore and some of the girls were much better looking than her.
Desert City had more going on, but on that day they had chosen to visit the local swimming pool and Ripp spent most of it in the company of a girl called Tina while Tank talked to her friend Barbara. Tina was okay and he had a good time with her.
When they returned home they found their father with his new girlfriend and it was a sight that they could not put quite in line with his character and how they knew him. He and Tank agreed that he was very cheerful lately, but boy was he putting on some show tonight!
The woman did not hide that she liked it and Ripp began to wonder if it would not be a good thing if he had inherited some streaks of that man. He felt some discomfort seeing them together because it was in such contrast to the image he had of his Dad and simultaneously it made him happy, because it looked like it was doing him a world of good.
He returned from work at four o' clock but had apparently not found the time to change clothes yet.
'It sounds silly I have only known you a short time, but I missed you a lot.'
'I was waiting for your call every day since we went to town', Trista said.
'I did not let you wait long, I called you the next day and every one after.'
'Yes, you did indeed. But it is the first time you invited me over.'
'And I am very glad you came', his hand went a bit further down her back and they kissed again.
Ripp decided that they could do without him and that it was the perfect evening to go on a date with Amaya. The afternoon had been alright, but had not satisfied his wish for excitement and going out with her was just right for that.
When they went to the dance floor he wondered if they knew well enough for their first kiss. It would be very embarrassing if she turned him down. On the other hand it would be very nice to kiss her.
He was testing the ground with romantic hugs, brushing her neck with his lips as if by accident, and found that this on its own felt very good. He really liked Amaya.
He had the impression that they matched very well, even reflecting on the possibility that she was a girl that he would like to go steady with.
When they went outside for a moment they spotted a couple getting entangled in the whirlpool. He watched it with a mixture of arousal and embarrassment. It was the first time he ever saw two sims..you know.. They did not seem to care that they were doing it in front of all the neighbours. Most of it was taking place under the water, but still - you got the idea.
He controlled the impulse to get a bit closer and he and Amaya went into the bar.
When Amaya said that she was hungry he grilled some hot dogs and the man who had been in the hot tub with the alien girl joined them at the table. He was too curious to not ask some questions.
He wanted to know what it was like, but he guessed the only way to find that out was to do it (and nothing you asked a stranger), so he only inquired whether it had not bothered them that they were on public display.
'Look at her' Berjes said, sending an appreciative glance over to Chloe, who was sitting at the other table, 'do you think I would waste my chance when it is uncertain if I get another one? There was nobody outside - apart from you as I know now - I tell you, when you get a bit older you understand better.'
While Berjes was talking he noticed that Amaya was smiling at him and had begun to caress his hand. If he was not mistaken she signalled that she was willing to help him gain understanding.
When he returned home, his Dad was still in his uniform and still with his girlfriend. While he used to be 'the General' even when he dressed casual, he was not so now. He appeared a different man. He and Trista were joking and playing around and flirting a lot too.
Strange as it seemed, on further reflection his father was not altered that much. Primarily it was a more positive attitude to life.
He would always remember it as the day he fell in love with her. Trista was bringing out the best in him.
She was ready to challenge him when he needed it and doing in in such a manner that he felt recognised rather then offended. If she disagreed, she said so, but it was no big deal to her and never seemed to affect her feelings for him. It enabled him to admit that he might be wrong about some issues. She said what she liked best about him was that he was so upright and honest, a compliment which suited his old and his new self, and yet she did not realise how much of it was due to her. Through her he learned that he could continue to openly say what he thought and actually earn appreciation in return.
Of course he also desired her and had hoped that she would agree to stay for the night. He had forgotten the time and before he could pose his question she pointed out that it was late and left.
While he was having a shower he thought about her. If he was not mistaken they both had the day off and if he invited her over now they would have some time alone before the boys returned from school.
Thought and done, Trista arrived at the house half an hour later. They were naked before they reached the bedroom.
'It's been a long time, maybe I am a bit out of practice', he mumbled.
'It's okay.'
He did not - could not - hold back any longer.
He liked sex, always had. A moment in which he was free from restrictions. Ruled by instinct it was so natural and basic to him, that he had never felt the need to muse about it. A man and a woman, what was there to understand?
She was soft and wet, waiting for him. He went further, exploring her depths, trying to stretch the experience by moving slowly first, but soon getting too excited and pushing with more force.
'If you say you are out of practice, how much better can it become in the future? Honey, you were incredible. I really mean it.'
He was in the mood to do it again, but it was close to one o'clock and Tank and Ripp would be home soon.
When Buck returned from school he prepared sandwitches and asked him to join them at the table. He had no doubt that he and Trista would carry on seeing each other and he wanted his sons to get to know her.
On this particular occasion it was Buck and him who got closer though. For some reason nobody in the family had ever taken much notice of the youngest. Buck liked to play by himself and when he was up in his room one could almost forget he was there. But he made an effort to spend more time with him now. There were hardly any children around, only a few townies who were condemned to remain in this life stage for eternity (very strange when you thought about it), so even if Buck seemed to like his solitude it was not clear if he had chosen it voluntarily.
He had not known her for long, but already when he saw her in the shop talking to Ripp he had a notion that this woman would become special to him. The way their relationship had developed since showed that they belonged together. Although he was not ready for another marriage yet he was convinced it was going to happen one day.
'Trista, how do you feel about you and me? Because I am serious and I see us having a future together. You know I separated from my first wife and so I am a bit bruised when it comes to marriage, but maybe we could agree on some form of commitment, you know, making it clear that we are a couple, that it is more than having an affair.'
'Oh Buzz, of course I agree on that. You would have surprised me if you had proposed engagement so early. I hope you do not think I expected it. What counts is the man, not the ring. I am glad I have found you, that's enough for me.'
He always felt slightly uncomfortable when he got too emotional and had to withdraw for a moment. He usually handled situations like these by concentrating on some irrelevant detail and so he had a long look out of the window although there was nothing to see.
It was such a short time since he first noticed a change in the neighbourhood - only weeks - and already the life he had now appeared like the most natural thing in the world. A few minor differences had caused a line of events that was not about to end yet.
Was Ripp right and it all came down to being unhappy before? He had not felt it, but then he had not felt much in the previous years. A man was not meant to pay much attention to his feelings.
The Grunt Family pt. 2
The first date with Amaya had been great and Ripp soon invited her to the next. He did not even bother to change and left only minutes after returning from work. It had a great start when they had their first kiss after getting out of the taxi.
He did not have to ask to know that like him Amaya was only seeing it as the beginning. Regardless of the new faces the area still wasn't exactly overpopulated and he was glad to have found a girl that was thinking so much like him.
Kissing and making out really added to a date. It was fantastic. She was fantastic.
Once he had only wanted to grow up and escape the boot camp which his home had become as well as Strangetown, which had nothing to offer apart from desolation. No more.
He even liked the desert now and the relative isolation of their neighbourhood. It was probably better than living in some smug little village with well kept front lawns and happily married couples. Here everyone was drained and thirsting for diversion and excitement.
When he and Amaya sat in the whirlpool he already got closer to understanding what Berjes had meant. Most sims went to the Shack to play cards and outside you felt like you were alone. He hoped that she was seeing it the same.
He was ready for his first time. Tank had told him that he and Jordan had nearly done it the other day, but he had not needed this information to know that it was possible. Unfortunately Amaya still seemed to be undecided. They had a good enough time cuddling and kissing though.
'This was a dream date', he told her when they said goodbye, 'I give you a call tomorrow, is that alright with you?'
'Yes, but I work in the afternoon.'
'Me too, I call you when I get back.'
They kissed one last time. It was very late or he would have asked her to come back with him. He was already looking forward to seeing her the next day.
He had the brilliant idea to call her before he left work and so she arrived barely five minutes after him. He had thought about her the whole time while he was in the car.
They were so much on one level. 'Shall we go inside?', he asked and it was all that was necessary to communicate the underlying intention.
He had already seen most of her when they were in the hot tub, but she looked particularly nice when she sat down on the bed with her back turned towards him, slender wave-like forms he urged to touch.
'I love you.' It was not only a good starter, he meant it too.
They were approaching a future different from what they used to imagine, he and Tank would go to college now, move to a new place and meet new sims, but he still expected that one day he would live with a woman, maybe even get married and this one could be Amaya.
Hopefully she would not remain the only girl he would ever be with, nevertheless he imagined it to be nice to come home and find her there, cheerful and relaxed and always ready for a good time.
He bent over and kissed her. Okay, so that's how you recognised that teenagers were developed enough to have sex. His cock had grown considerably and was signalling with short motions that it was eager to sink into Amaya. First he thought she was too tight and there wasn't enough space but every movement and accompagnying sigh of hers took him a little further. Now, that felt just as good as he had thought, better in fact.
It was hard to tell with his limited experience, but he believed that he had managed to make her come, she had groaned and called out 'Oh Ripp!' and then her body had somehow erupted, just when he went off.
Afterwards sex was listed under 'want it every day'. Could it still become better if you did it more often? It had become his favourite actvity already.
And how great he felt afterwards! Amaya telling him that she really liked it had of course helped his confidence a lot and he had the impression that he had grown a little in the last hours.
There was a good chance that he and Amaya were the first and without wanting to boast he could not wait to tell his friend Johnny about it in school tomorrow.
His father was really cool about it, he must have noticed them coming out of the bedroom but showed no signs of reproval. His stomach was tight and he could not eat, but Amaya was hungry and they sat down at the table with Tank and his Dad.
'Ey Ripp, it's the second time that Amaya comes over and I did not get a chance to talk to her yet', Tank said smiling at her as well as his brother, who saw it as a hint that he had an idea what had happened and expected a report later.
Amaya had to go home and after he said goodbye to her, he returned to the dining room to talk to Tank some more. The others in school liked him better now, especially the girls. Both his brother and his father remained objects of an almost scientific curiousity for him.
Maybe the main difference was that they used to be centred on a single issue, one on the threat of aliens invading their world and the other on the fear to disappoint their father and it had dominated their life for a long time. He wondered if Tank had only wanted to hide what a nice person he was with his bullying.
General Grunt watched them with pleasure while they discussed school and the day in general. It was unusual for his family to have more than one child. He had always wished to have a brother and it made him very happy that his sons were getting on so well.
Later he and Ripp spent some time together. Since he had stopped forcing him into drill training he showed more interest in physical activity and they played kicky bag for a while. It was good for him too because to tell the truth he had not exercised much lately. He was still in excellent shape but it showed how much his daily routine had changed.
'I don't want to come over as a soppy whimp, but you know, I really like you guys, you and Tank', Ripp said,
'must be the hormones afflicting me, I've been thinking that for the last few hours.'
'Not surprising that your hormones are acting a bit crazy', General Buzz remarked. 'it looks like one of my sons became a man tonight.' His voice discerned his pride. Discipline and morals were two completely unrelated matters for him. He had an - admittedly rather traditional - idea of how a man should be, which included success with women. That Ripp was sexually active so early was a sign of virility and health to him, rather than a reason for concern. What moralists overlooked was the straightforward approach and the will which were required to get the girl. Ripp had aimed to get what he wanted, successfully, and that's how he wanted his sons to act.
With regard to discipline and orderliness Ripp also did not disappoint him. He went to work regularly and when he called his employer one day he had told him that he was doing a good job.
It had long stopped to turn into an argument when they dealt with each other and Ripp was more inclined to accept his advice now.
'I know you hate it when I lecture you, but I could give you some help with your homework to make it easier for you', he mentioned one afternoon and Ripp immediately took him up on his offer. 'Yes, thanks, I'd appreciate it. What about now?'
In the evening he called Trista and asked if she would go to town with him and his sons. Ripp and Tank were keen on any opportunity to meet others of their age and Buck could not stay at home alone.
It did not matter to her anyway, she said she liked his sons. Buck was very excited and approached several of the neighbours despite being a rather shy boy (he hoped this would change as he grew older). Tank joined a group at the card table while Ripp stayed outside and was in the middle of chatting up some girl. His laziness had always worried him most, but when he thought it worthwhile he could become quite energetic.
He and Trista went into the hot tub and after a while he wished that Ripp would join the others inside. He had thought more than once about their last afternoon together. After such a long period of sexual inactivity his body was demanding its rights now.
'Finally alone', he said when Ripp and the girl disappeared inside.
'I was longing for this', she sighed.
Her bikini emphasized her nicely shaped breasts, staring at which had not helped his patience. If this period of unknown liberty would come to an end as sudden as it had begun, he did not want to wake up feeling that he missed it. He was aware that it could be a strategy to lull them into neglect and a false assumption of safety, but hell, for once in his life he wanted to give in and act as it pleased him.
'We should go inside or you miss another chance to meet my two older sons. They have kept their distance so far but I believe mainly because of me.'
'Give me another second, I need it to get ready for a change of scenery. It's not possible to brush aside a performance like yours so quickly.'
'Thanks. Nicely phrased.'
'Oh, I can put it differently. You're hot stuff, Buzz.'
'Let's go inside or I drag you in that whirlpool again.'
They stayed in the bar for a bit longer, but then Buck was getting tired and they went home.
Tank actually liked physical exercise and continued with his training without having to be forced into it. He usually got up early to have a few minutes at the punch bag before school. It helped him to clear his head.
Once he had planned to fight Johnny, but he had given up on the idea. His father had hardly mentioned aliens lately and people in town said that they had seen him talking to one of them as well as Jenny Smith, Johnny's mother. He had come past the house where the Singles lived one day and the two alien sisters did not seem much different from other sims after he got used to their looks.
A few of his beliefs, if not completely shattered, had a least become a bit shaky. The effect it had on him was a wish to get to the truth of things and that demanded that he was alert and present even if the information that began streaming in when he opened his mind was noted more than reflected upon.
He was learning as he went along. Without friends, his social skills were limited and there weren't many options how he could approach others. So - partly because of this lack of alternatives - he chose to go by trial and error, said what came to his mind and saw what happened as a result.
'Hi Barbara, I haven't seen you since the day at the Strangetown swimming pool. Cool.'
'Why, did you want to see me again?'
'Well, yes, obviously..', Oops, he had just managed to stop before it was too late. He thought that Barbara was the best looking girl he had met so far. But she returned him a huge smile.
'You look good. Are you exercising?', she remarked after a short inspection.
'Not so much anymore. Mainly in the mornings.'
She was very beautiful.
'Would you like to hang out for a while? Or we could go swimming if you want to.'
'No, it's not warm enough. Did you see the rain the other day? It's crazy isn't it, you think 'wow, rain' and on the other hand you wonder why it never used to rain here before.'
'A lot has changed, not only the weather. But it's surprising that you know. I thought you only moved here recently.'
'No, I come from Strangetown. I don't remember seeing you either though. You did not go out much, did you?'
'Never.'
'Hold on, I DO remember. Weren't you the boy with the camouflage paint on the face?'
'Yes', blushing a little, the first time actually, when the camouflage would have served a purpose.
They continued to talk about this and that and later Barbara challenged him on a round of punch-you-punch-me.
'Come on, you don't have to worry. I'm in great shape, my defense will hold up to you.'
Despite her assertion he did not punch as hard as he could have.
'Ouch!'
'Oh shit. Did I hurt you? I didn't want to.'
'It's alright, I asked for it.'
He left soon after, but they arranged that she would come over to his house later.
He returned around the same time as Ripp, who had brought his workmate Edward along. It was a great day for him, because he got a promotion and had thereby gone as far as a teenager could in this career.
Edward did not stay long, but there was another visitor, a girl named Kendal, which he had met in school and had also asked to come over. When Barbara arrived, the situation became a bit complicated because he felt slightly guilty for ignoring Kendal's attempts to socialise with him, while enjoying Barbara's affection too much to pay more attention to her.
Ripp wasn't very helpful and showed no inclination to start a conversation with Kendal.
It all became easier when they had dinner. Tonight there was a particularly good atmosphere at the table, because his father was very proud that Ripp had gotten a promotion.
'Yes', Ripp joked, 'the first step on my way to become rich and famous.'
'Maybe not, but it is still an achievement. It may earn you a scholarship for college.'
Barbara was listening to the conversation, but frequently turned towards him with a smile and he and Kendal got on quite well too. It was a really good evening.
That Ripp earned his father's approval did not bother him in the least. People sometimes had the wrong ideas about his Dad. While he had allowed for a certain level of competitiveness, he had not tolerated rivalry between them. He had compared it to soldiers, who would be defeated by an enemy if they did not fight side by side. The problems had mainly arisen because Ripp had not been very co-operative in that respect. When he commanded him around - and he did - his main wish had been to stop the constant arguments between him and their Dad. However, this was all in the past and they were getting on well now.
Ripp had his own way of talking to him - different from himself - sometimes saying stuff which gave him the impression that he was testing how far he could go. Right this moment he was congratulating him on his girlfriend.
'She's cool. I never believed you could get one like that', he said with a grin.
His Dad first looked like he was taken aback, but then shrugged. 'I'm trying.'
'Come here, I want to see what this exercise is doing for you', Ripp said (the girls had left in the meantime).
'It stops me from being fat and flabby like you.'
'Watch it, you will be surprised.'
They exchanged a few playful punches and Ripp asked him about Barbara.
'How do you feel about her? She seems to like you a lot.'
'You think so?'
'Oh Tank, now I get it why the girls in school say you're cute.'
'Do they?'
'Yes, I heard some of them saying it. It's your attitude, it gives you some sort of puppy-appeal, I think - Ouch!'
The first thing Tank did the next day when they came home from school, was to apply some acne cream to his face. It was not fair that he was getting spots in this period of his life, when he was making his first romantic experiences. There was a fat one on his forehead and a really nasty one on his chin.
Then he gave Kendal a phone call, apologising for talking to her so little the night before. She was a quiet girl, nice though, and he wanted to become friends with her.
In the meantime, Buck and his father returned and they were ready to go to town. Ripp had his day off and they went to the pool in Desert City, where he had been the day before.
Their Dad had obviously chosen to ignore the fact that Johnny was Ripp's best friend and did not even bat an eyelid when they talked to each other. Actually he had a conversation with Lola Singles himself, having lost a lot of his former reservations against aliens. The only one he still did not trust was PT, Johnny's father.
As he had hoped when he suggested the place he met Barbara again later in the evening and to complete his happiness she told him that the same hope had taken her there.
He had the impression that she would not have said no if he had tried to kiss her, but he hesitated despite the heavy crush he had on her. While it was usually sufficient to take in those new experiences, this was one of those moments which would have required some decision-making and he had not advanced that far yet.
They had planned to go out again at the weekend, but somehow they ended up spending it at home, only the family. Since they were taking Buck to town with them more often, he was not ignored as much as before. Tank still did not quite know what to make of his little brother, sometimes he seemed like a strange mixture between him and Ripp.
He wasn't very active, but contrary to Ripp not very outgoing either. He was rather serious and when he engaged in his favourite activities, painting or watching the fish, he separated from them and disappeared into his own little world. He suddenly became aware how much closer the family members were, because even if he did not understand him, he was still very fond of Buck.
'You're stealing my bunny-bear routine and have the nerve to show it to me?!'
Due to the name of his owner, the toy had at one point turned into 'Mr. Bucks' and from there his role as financial advisor had evolved. Tank had not been able to see what was funny about it for a long time and now he was doing it almost better than him.
'Ah, if you can't appreciate it, I'll have a shower.'
'You fancy playing catch?', he turned to Buck when Tank disappeared into the bathroom. There wasn't anything special about this weekend, but they all enjoyed it a lot.
He had no need for other company, which of course did not lead him to let Tiffany walk past their house without greeting her. She had changed her hair and style since they had met downtown the other night. Already then he had thought that she looked great, now he found that she was almost more beautiful than Amaya.
Half an hour later Tiffany had gotten her first kiss and he an even heavier crush on her.
Unfortunately they had also chosen to invite a townie teen who came along and he was frequently claiming Tiffany's attention. He was definitely in the way. Under different circumstances he probably would have liked to have a conversation with River, as he was called, but unless Tank was ready to take over, he would use the first opportunity to say goodbye to him.
Later - when River had left - he and Tiffany shared more kisses. She looked so serious but was light-hearted and loved fun.
'It wasn't coincidence that I came past your house', she said, 'I was hoping that you would be in.'
'I love a girl with a plan', he replied and kissed her again.
When he returned from work the next day, the General was in the company of Trista and before they could socialise with either, he was heading towards the bedroom, with Trista following.
'Hi there', he said and kissed her, 'How was your day?'
'Getting better by the minute.'
'Buzz?', putting her arms around him.
'What is it?'
'All the compliments and coquetry beside, you turn me on in a way which almost frightens me. I can hardly think about anything else at the moment.'
'How do you think I feel? I am proud we actually managed to get to the bedroom tonight, most likely only because my sons are in. I love you and all, but it would be a lie to say that this plays no role. It blows my mind when we do it.'
'Enough talking', they said almost simultaneously and then laughed.
'Oh Buzz, I love you too. Very much so.'
He moved on top of her and they went on a ride, passionate and care-free.
Mind-blowing indeed, she thought when she got up afterwards. She had never experienced anything like that with another man (not that there had been many). When they made love, she could feel how much lust for life was inside him, a basic, primitive vitality, firmly rooted in the physical world. He did not lack tenderness, but it was really the enormous energy which fuelled him that made it such an outstanding experience.
He was asleep, exhausted, not surprising really. She looked at him tenderly and quietly left the room careful to not wake him up.
General Buzz did not sleep long. On his way to the bathroom he thought about her and the hours they had spent in bed. He felt absolutely great.
He should ask her to move in. Maybe it was a bit early, but he did not really need more time to think it over. Not only did he love her, she had everything to ensure that there would be no problems living together. She was cheerful, she liked a laugh, but at the same time she had both feet firmly on the ground, a practical mind and a straight manner. While he appreciated all this, it was not why he loved her. It was the warm smile when she looked at him and her soft sighs when they were together. More and more he felt that this was the stuff that life was made of.
The following day Ripp asked Jordan to come back with them after school. When Tank walked past her - he had invited Barbara and was going to wait for her outside - he thought that she was much better looking than he remembered her. It was amazing how some of them changed when it could be nothing else but a change of style.
She could not match Barbara though. Already having one guest - like the last time - he should probably have invited her on another day, but he was thinking a lot about her.
It was strange with the girls. When Ripp first heard about teen sex, he had wanted to do it instantly. He could not say that about himself. Neither was he against it. Initially he had not spend much thought on it at all, his curiousity was first raised when he noticed that the girls - some of them - showed an interest in him. What Ripp had said to him the other night went round in his head too. It was such an unknown territory though and everything he did was experimental, always unsure about the outcome.
'Hi Barbara', his pointing finger landed on her shoulder and drew a quick line on her arm before retreating back into his own physical sphere.
'Hi Tank', giving him a deep look.
'You know, what I said earlier on the phone, maybe I was a bit too straightforward, rude, I mean if..'
'Do you want to go inside?'
And once again a girl did not hesitate and went straight into the bedroom. He followed her, expectant but also confused.
Barbara had dressed down to her underwear and looked stunning, so this was definitely not the reason why once again it was him who hesitated in the end.
Maybe it was because he felt that he should approach this experience with confidence and an idea what he was doing. He could have pretended, but it would have been a lie. It was a step too fast for him. While he was thinking what he could say to explain it to her, she noticed that he did not join her on the bed and understood it that way.
'I hope you don't think I don't like you. I like you a lot.'
'It's okay Tank, I'm not angry. I thought this might happen with you.. I don't mean it in a bad way, I always get the feeling that you really care about doing the right thing.'
'Look it's raining!', he said staring at the big heavy drops which were falling onto the path to the house.
When he turned his head he saw Jordan sitting outside. He opened the window a little and shouted out to her: 'Jordan, don't you want to come in? It's raining.'
'You think I didn't notice?', she shouted back.
When she came in he talked to her for a while. Maybe he was mistaken, but he had the impression that Jordan fancied him. On her first visit.., she would have hardly acted that way if she did not like him, would she? Or did they - girls - just want to find out about it?
One thing they seemed to have in common was that they were all very friendly.
Jordan definitely looked very different since the last time, he remembered her being of darker skin. However, he did not want to give Barbara the impression that he ignored her, even if Jordan was giving him this very long look as if she was expecting something of him.
As with Kendal the other day, it was a bit strange that she was around, but he did not want to hide that he liked Barbara. He didn't try to achieve anything; since he could have gotten that earlier, flirting wasn't for getting her to go to bed with him.
It was nice. Seeing her smile when he caressed her cheek, holding his hand and rubbing her face against it.
In the evening of that day he had his first kiss. He had not chosen the best moment of all, because not only was Jordan still in the kitchen, she was actually standing right next to them and her presence continued to be a slightly irritating factor. But he had wanted to kiss Barbara and she wanted to kiss him. So they did. More followed.
Jordan left the kitchen then and went out to have a waterballoon fight with Ripp, saying goodbye shortly after.
'Look at this! It's not even seven o' clock yet, but it's dark. You think there will be a thunderstorm?'
He was very happy. He was also glad that he had found an occupation preparing dinner for the family, giving him some time to settle his thoughts.
Girls, and Barbara in particular, had a lot of ameneties. They looked nice, they were good company, but what he liked most was that it was so easy with them. He never had to impress them or do anything special.
General Grunt gave Barbara a friendly smile when he cleared the plates. A good looking girl, the one Tank had picked, although none they had brought home so far had been ugly.
She had a wary expression on her face, he guessed that he still had a certain reputation in town. She probably assumed that he was very strict and it was not entirely untrue. In some fields - like this one - it was his opinion though, that the boys should have all their freedom.
'So, you think it will be your brother's turn tonight?'
'No, not with Tank. If he was clever enough to leave it to the girls to decide he would not be a virgin anymore, but unfortunately he insists to have a say in it.'
General Grunt chuckled. He and Ripp had found a way of talking to each other, which was probably unusual for father and son and had been unthinkable for themselves once. It worked though. Instead of trying to have Ripp obey his orders, he was treating him almost like an adult and ignored some of the snappy comments he came up with at times. Ripp seemed to appreciate it and while he had used them before to express his resistance, they had become some sort of approval, a way of showing his trust. The fresh air in Strangetown had brought many positive changes to their life, but those developments still meant most to him.
Seeing Tank with Barbara and the conversation with his father left him with the impression that he should end the day with some romance too. Though it was late, Amaya was happy to come over for a while.
In his search for truth, Tank became suspicious of preconceptions, which were confusing when they were contradicted by reality and blurring his view. His relationship with Johnny Smith was such an example. Not only half-alien, but actually the son of PT, a man whose presence his father considered a threat to the neighbourhood, he used to reproach Ripp for being friends with him. He was seeing him as his enemy.
When they got to know each other he discovered many similarities up to sharing that opinion.
'Yeah, I was sure I would fight you one day', Johnny said, 'it would be interesting. I think we are about level with regard to fitness and strength.'
'We could sell tickets and share the profit.'
Not being enemies anymore had happened much earlier, shortly after his father met Trista. He had gone to town to do the shopping and Johnny was there.
It had become so much a habit to exchange at least a few insults before going back to ignoring each other, that he found it hard to explain why he had chosen to do something different for a change. It was probably one of the first occasions where he had tested himself. Because to walk up to Johnny and talk to him had taken some courage, there was a great risk that Johnny would think that he had gone insane and spread this news in school. Johnny first reacted with a perplexed stare, but then they both pretended that it was the most natural thing in the world to have a conversation with each other.
By now they were on much better terms than before, sort of good acquaintances.
There was still a bit of teasing going on, but it was fun and he enjoyed it and he felt that Johnny did too. Overall it was much better to know a few other teenagers.
Ripp later said that Johnny had invited them to come over to his house one of these days.
Somehow he had hoped to come across Tiffany in Desert City but these chance meetings never happened and so Ripp called her the following day. When she came over they continued where they had stopped the last time. Whether he liked her better or Amaya usually depended on who he was with, although he did not see this as a reason for great concern.
He knew that they were easygoing with regard to that and what mattered was that he was honest in his feelings for them. He did not see them as targets or anything, he was in love with both.
Tiffany looked at Buck. He had watched them while he was talking on the phone, although he was getting used to seeing his bigger brothers in the company of girls. He had almost given up to find friends as a child and was directing his hopes to the time when he would grow into a teenager.
Tiffany asked him if she could have a shower and he sat in the dining room for a coffee. His Dad had invited Trista again and for the first time he had a chance to talk to her. While they were having a conversation his Dad caressed her hand and kept looking at her.
She returned the caress and he smiled.
He liked her. She was warm and affectionate, but also open and without pretense, resembling his father in that respect. She made it clear that she had no plans to become their stepmother, even if she would marry their father.
The way they had acted he had expected that his father would claim his bedroom for himself tonight, but instead he and Trista went outside to play chess.
'Listen Tiffany' he said to her when she came downstairs, and then 'I want to be alone with you, shall we move into my Dad's bedroom? I really like you and I want..what am I talking?', he placed a small kiss on her ear, 'You are not stupid, you know what this is leading up to.'
Tiffany knew.
He wanted to tell her that he did not intend to force her into anything she wasn't comfortable with, but words seemed to be in the way of the flow and so he limited his reassurance to a glance and a smile.
'You will see, it is great', he said.
'So, you've done it before.'
'Is it a problem?'
'At least you don't tell lies. So what do you think about me?'
'I like you a lot.'
'I like you a lot too.'
They kissed and from there the rest evolved naturally.
There was a lot going round in his head afterwards. Maybe a tiny part of him envied couples like his father and Trista, or Johnny and Ophelia, because he could not stop making comparisons as if he had to find the one girl. He thought that Tiffany was better looking than Amaya, the experience with Amaya had gone deeper though. Obviously, it was his first time, but there was a doubt if this was the only reason. It had been great with Tiffany too and his current reflections did not interfere with his willingness to try it with other girls.
After he had dressed he went over to the other side of the bed and kissed her tenderly.
'You were wonderful. You stay on for a while?'
'No, it's too late. I have to go home. But I will see you again Ripp, or not?'
'Yes, of course. Look, you must not believe that this was all I wanted. Or did you get that feeling? Because..I wanted to give you pleasure too, I thought I did..'
'Oh yes. I didn't show it but I hoped it would happen and it was sooo good.'
Trista stayed for the night.
They had sat outside for a long time, playing chess and talking to each other. Before they went to sleep they made love. She smiled, thinking - unaware that exactly the same reflection was going through the General's head - that it had been the best evening they had together so far.
He probably had not made it easy for them, but some of the neighbours misjudged Buzz in a big way.
They both had their day off and when the boys had left for school they made love again. She never wanted it any other way or with anybody else ever again.
He was treating it for what it was, the most natural thing in the world, with no fear to show his desire or succumb to the physical, which he accepted as a part of him. And this, simple as it sounded, was greater than anything.
'Can you guess what I'm planning?', he said with a grin.
'You're an open book to me.'
'You know', suddenly getting serious, 'that was meant as a joke, but I think it's true.'
Since they had met yesterday evening he had continuously thought about asking her to move in. He had been happy when she agreed to stay and when he found her next to him in the morning. She was the perfect woman for him and the fact that they had met right at what everyone else including himself referred to as 'the beginning' did not make it less so.
When they got up later he did not want to wait any longer.
'Trista, I'm ready. No more goodbyes, I want you to live with me and my boys. Move in with us, straight away if you can.' She looked around, glancing at the small heap of clothes by the bed.
'Done. Honestly, I only have to make a few phone calls and that's it. Buzz, I am so happy. I love you very much. You and me, it will turn out great.'
'I know.' They kissed and he wondered how much time they had before Tank and Ripp returned from school.
In the evening he informed them about Trista's move-in.
'I guess you have noticed that Trista has been here since last night. Well, she will live here from now on.' It was impossible to guess how they were taking it because both remained silent and only stared at him.
Actually, neither Tank nor Ripp had any idea what to say. That their father would not discuss such decisions with them first was no big deal to them, they did not expect it. On the other hand it meant that they only had the opportunity to reflect upon it after the decision was made.
Tank was more mixed up than Ripp. He had only exchanged a few words with Trista so far and there were some fears that she would steal his father from him. There was no proof for it though, in fact Trista seemed to be a very nice woman and Ripp had said that she was.
The General waited a short moment. 'Since it seems that you don't have any objections I think we can close this round.'
Ripp stayed with them for a bit longer, while Tank went into the living room to Ophelia. She had come back with them - they invited someone almost every day - and he had spend some time in the afternoon playing chess with her. As a result of being enemies with Johnny they never got to know well. When she noticed that he and Johnny were getting on now, they became friends. He liked her a bit better than that and he felt that Ophelia did too.
They flirted a little, but only because he felt he could rely on her ultimately being faithful to Johnny and that she would make sure it would not go too far. It was not his style even if Johnny and him had still been enemies.
He could not remember feeling lonely in the past, but it was great to have friends.
He had never hated the drill, liked the exhaustion and the absence of thought that resulted from a long exercise and there were some moments when he missed the training with his father.
It slowly came to his awareness though that it had been some kind of refuge.
It seemed that everyone gained something different when a new era began in Strangetown. The way the others reacted when he took a heart and approached them was a revelation, his revelation. When he had met Ophelia in Desert City one day, they began to talk and ended spending almost the entire afternoon together. Since then you could sometimes see them in a group of four in school; which included Johnny as well.