Skye

The Valdin Homestead

Skye Valdin sat, pondering and ruminating, gazing intently at the chess board.




Or at least that's the impression she gave to anybody who just happened to pass by.




Instead, what was really going on in her head, was a completely different story.




Since their move to Cloverdale, she'd tried to settle in as best as she could, but she missed all her friends, her family, cousins.... uncles... aunts etc. Although they were all a phone call away, she never felt so isolated in all her short life.





She never really resented her dad's sudden decision to 'up sticks' and move. Well, not on the surface anyway. After all, if this was what his job required, then who was she to argue with him. After all, she's just a kid. And her opinions didn't seem to matter. To her brother however, this was a great adventure. He'd happily crawl all over the garden, dragging weeds and the pretty flowers that their mother had just planted, out by their roots, and flung them all over the place. Giggling happily.
Nope, this was just a great big adventure for Kyle. For her mother however, Skye was just that little more observant. And although Kenya never really showed it much, Skye knew that Kenya was also missing her family and friends.





Plus, she hated school. Admittedly, it wasn't half as bad as the last one back home. All the taunts about her green skin and black fathomless eyes. The innuendos about how her dad got elected as Mayor of the city - *he must have 'probed' his way through all the candidates at City Hall* etc.





She didn't want to draw attention to herself by complaining, so she threw herself into her studies. Besides, her own company was just fine thank you very much.




Mind you, there WAS a boy at school. He was always getting picked on because he was always sickly. And he had red hair. He had a big sister who always looked out for him. On the dot, she'd be there at the gates, waiting for him. She'd even had a few dust-ups with some of the kids too.

Skye knew what it was like to be 'different'. But, try as she may, she stood out. So, even though this kid was getting picked on mercilessly at school - the only place his sister couldn't defend him - Skye was torn.

Yeah sure, she could have defended him. He reminded her so much of her own kid brother Kyle.





But then, what would have happened if she HAD stood up to this boy? She'd have been the focus of all the bullying. The last thing she wanted.

Besides, she'd already caught a glimpse of two new boys who'd just arrived at the school. Twins... both red hair.

Red hair.

What was this? An invasion of the red-heads or something?





And they both looked like trouble. So she was glad that she was leaving 'little school' soon, and moving onto the 'big school' as she'd called it. Hopefully, she'll settle in a lot more there. Besides, these two looked as though they could handle themselves anyway. One to cover the other one's back.

It was their big sister that worried Skye. She looked a little mean and stand-offish, and Skye hoped that she wasn't a bully.





Skye also realised that her thirteenth birthday was drawing closer ..... and there hadn't been a peep from anybody. No general hints, nudges, odd little questions about what she was into etc.

Nothing.

At first it irked and annoyed her. But, as her birthday drew nearer, she felt a wave of hopelessness about her.

Her dad was always too busy at the office .... and there was NO WAY she was going to sit quietly whilst he was in conference. She squirmed about too much, and her gangly legs would swing non stop.

It was bad enough seeing all his 'yes men' hanging onto every word he uttered. But to do something that would embarrass him in front of them.... and earn that famous 'glower' that he'd perfected all his life....

... nope. She'd rather stay at home and pretend to play chess.





It wasn't as if she wasn't familiar with this classic board game. In fact, she was only two skills short of Junior Master. She could beat everybody hands down. Such was her intelligence.





But here she was, sitting at the chess table ....





wondering if anybody had remembered her birthday.... but there again, hoping that her mom and dad hadn't gone through all that trouble for her too. As she was particularly nervous around strangers.

Chapter Eighteen - Major Decision Time

Kenya Valdin was more than prepared for her domesticated lifestyle.
After all, she was the wife of Sim City's most outstanding, and long running Mayor....
...Raven.

She had to keep up appearances at all costs.
But that didn't stop her from dreaming.




And the biggest dream she had, was to be an Oceanographer.
To travel beneath the sea, study the marine life and experience danger beyond her wildest imagination.




She sighed heavily as she scooped up Kyle in her arms.
Already, the smell of his recently filled diaper, made her eyes water.

But, she'd made a promise to Raven, and married herself to this humdrum life of hers.




Little Skye, she couldn't help noticing, had withdrawn deeper into her own shell, sitting with her head down, studying hard.

Kenya shook her head and wondered if Raven had indeed made the right decision after all.
She recalled how quickly Raven had dashed out of the door earlier that morning, without a single kiss goodbye, leaving her in charge of everything.




Already, one of the dogs had made a beeline to the expensive settee and was taking extreme delight in shredding the upholstery to bits.

Kenya sighed once more, even deeper than before. Thinking about the cost of recovering that settee. Admittedly, there was a fair bit of money left over after the sale of their old house. It more than covered the cost of the purchase of this home and the new furnishings.

But she couldn't help counting the pennies all the time. As her husband himself added once....

"You never know what's around the corner."

That was so true, even now.




She was in the process of potty training Kyle, when she heard the front door slam.
Luckily he'd just finished, so she hastily changed him and let him wander off.

Tentatively she peered into the hallway, just in time to see Raven, standing there, he looked tired and weary. His shoulders slumped slightly and that majestic posture he always maintained, had all but vanished.

"Raven?" asked Kenya tentatively, "what are you doing home so early? Was the grand opening cancelled?"

He shook his head, a wan smile crept over his thin lips.




"I've been thinking," he said, after a long pause.

Kenya held her breath, not knowing what was going to come out of her husband's mouth.
Surely not another move? They'd only just arrived here.

"Actually, I've been thinking a lot recently ....... about us ..... my job ...... everything."

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, enclosing her thin body into a romantic hug. Kenya was startled at first, but soon melted against his chest, delight radiating from her.



"I love you," he whispered in her ear.

It was the first time, from as far back as she could remember, that he'd uttered those words. And they sounded magical.

She pulled away, grinning.

"But why did you come home so early?" she asked, "surely not to declare your love to your wife? You could have easily picked up the phone and called me...... or at least waited until you got home."

"Ah, but then I'd have been so snowed under with bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, that I'd have completely forgotten all about you."

Kenya smiled, basking in Raven's sudden warmth. But there was still something niggling underneath.

Something he wasn't telling her.

Raven shuffled nervously, looking down at his shiny new shoes and twiddling with his Mayoral lapel ribbon.


There was a long, uncomfortable pause. He swallowed hard, before turning away with his back to her.

It was then that he dropped the bombshell. It was quietly spoken, but Kenya's trained ears picked up everything.

"I've decided to quit as Mayor." he whispered, unable to meet her gaze.

Kenya stood, shell-shocked, unable to comprehend her husband's speech.

"I understand if you're mad at me," he said, finally, "after all, I dragged you all here, pulled everyone from family and friends. And now this. I just want your opinion, that's all."

A lump came to Kenya's throat as she realised for the first time, Raven was asking her advice and support in his decisions. Something that he never, in all their married life, had ever even crossed his mind. He was so used to taking the lead, deciding everything without her.

But it was on his journey back home, and a few words he remembered from his step mother Imani, that made him realise just how precious Kenya was to him.

He remembered the scene quite clearly. Imani had hauled him reluctantly into her garden, to tend to the weeds. He admitted to not having a green thumb, but followed her anyway, just to keep the peace.

Two hours later and his hands covered in thistle scratches and nettle stings, they were sat together, drinking hot chocolate and having his cuts soothed with antiseptic. It was then that Imani spoke.

"I know you're not my true son," she began, Raven groaned, knowing what was to follow. It was always a well rehearsed speech for Imani. "but I'll always love you as my own."

He nodded slowly, wincing as she dabbed his palm with cotton wool.

"but that's not the reason why I want to talk to you."

His ears pricked up. This was most unusual.

"I can't help but notice lately, how you've been avoiding Kenya and the children. Is there a reason?"

"I'm only working to keep a roof over their heads," he protested.

She nodded.

"That may be so," she replied, "but there are much more important things in life too. And working all those long hours, you're not seeing them. Skye's beginning to drift away from you. And Kyle's first impressions of you are just a man who pats him on the head on a morning when he wakes up. And kisses him on the head when he's sleeping."

Raven could only nod dumbly. He hadn't realised all of this, he'd been so busy working.

"And as for Kenya."

His head snapped up.

"She's a full blooded woman, who needs love and affection. If you continue to ignore her, she's going to stray. Do you want that to happen?"

Raven rolled this memory around his head, all the way back home.
He was used to making snap decisions all the time. After all, it was his job. Nerves weren't an issue at all, he had to keep a cool professional head about him.



But standing there, in the hallway, the distant sounds of Kyle playing his xylophone in the summer room.



And the dogs playing in the kitchen, his nerves were jangling with worry and fear.

The pause was long, deliberate, as Kenya stood, weighing up the pros and cons.
This was an unusual situation she'd been put in. Unusual and unfamiliar territory.
She had the chance to change things, make her own decisions.

Chewing on the inside of her lip, she looked at Raven. He could see her inner turmoil, but waited patiently.

"Of course I'll go ahead with whatever you want to do," she breathed, hoping that was the right answer.

"You will?" came the reply.



She nodded. And he swept her up into an almost bone crushing hug. Clearly delighted that Kenya was with him 100% of the way.



He didn't dare tell her that the reason why he wanted to quit, was because he was booed at the grand opening, by one of the bystanders. And it made him realise that his popularity was beginning to wane.

He also realised that things were going to be a little tight, as he would be starting from the bottom rung again and working his way back to the top.

But this time......

...... things were going to be a little different......

Chapter Twelve - A Fresh Start

The taxi pulled up and they all tumbled out. It was shame they couldn't use dad's personal helicopter, but he told them that it was only used for private and diplomatic functions. Besides, it wouldn't look good if his family was utilising government property, whilst the poor and needy still remain 'poor and needy'. He had to show a good example to all his constituents.

Being the Mayor of Simsville wasn't an easy ride for Raven Valdin. All the pressures of dinner venues, charity events, civil ceremonies. His role of Mayor meant that he was constantly in the public eye. People scrutinized his every move, and that of his family.

Maybe a change of pace was what he was after. He could pull a few strings, get himself a big house on a hill..
Heck, he had plenty of money, he could afford it all.

And that's exactly what Raven did. He went on a countrywide search for another property, and found a prime plot of land, here in sunny and serene Cloverdale. It was quiet enough to relax in, and took him well away from the rat race.

However, this move didn't quite suit everyone. Kenya, his wife for example, wasn't happy about it at all. It meant leaving behind Hunter, her lover (and brother in law).

Skye, their daughter, had 1 day to go before she transitioned into a teenager. Though she was a shy little kid, she had hoped to have a small, informal party to celebrate her 'coming of age', but that was ruined. Moving on the day before her birthday, wasn't exactly what she'd had planned.

All through the journey, she sat quietly, watching the changing scenery scooting by in a blur. Oh how she missed her grandpa. He and grandma were fast reaching their winter days and couldn't travel very well. Besides, Tanis was speedily losing his marbles and was often found wandering around the house in his pyjamas.

Kyle was still too young to understand what was going on and simply sat on Kenya's knee, babbling away to himself and pulling their dog, Maxx's ears.

The taxi was packed to the hilt with the final bits and pieces they needed to complete their final journey.


The house itself looked pretty impressive, considering the small plot of land that Raven had acquired. In Kenya's eyes, he could have done much better for himself. Getting the biggest plot of land and really letting fly with his hard earned money. But once again, he reminded her that it was his 'duty' to set a good example to his constituents. And a modest home would be just perfect for that.

It lacked a garage, and needed some landscaping, but at least it could be called 'home'.

Poor Skye though. She'd barely spoken a few words when her father glowered at her with his arms folded.


"Now then, young lady," he said, his thin lips made even thinner with a scowl, "we've moved quite a long way away. And I've seen the faces you've been pulling all through the journey."

"But dad," she protested, her inky black eyes boring piteously up at her towering father.

"Never mind the 'but dad', routine Skye," he interrupted, "this is our home now, and I expect you to be happy here."

Skye hated this kind of pep talk. She always felt as though she was always in trouble for something. It was there and then that she decided she was going to hate this house....

.... no matter what.


Kenya tried to intervene, but Kyle started whimpering, and complaining that his bottom was wet, so she swiftly picked him up and took him indoors. After a quick change of his nappy, she tried to settle him down for a nap, but he was wide awake.


So she recited a few nursery rhymes instead, much to his delight. Kyle squealed and clapped his hands at the funniest rhymes and grimaced at the bad ones.

Skye, in the meantime, wasn't happy at all. Tiger had used the kitchen as a public toilet and that just wouldn't do at all for her. That was the final straw.


She'd had enough of being lectured by her father, it was time to issue some punishment of her own. Glaring down at poor Tiger, she wagged her finger at him.


His bright curly tail soon stopped wagging and drooped sadly as he took his lecture quite seriously. Yes, he'd been a bad doggie and used the kitchen floor. But he was only marking his territory after all.

Satisfied, Skye wandered over to the activities table, where drawing and scribbling always seemed to calm her down.


A distinct humming sound could be heard outside, as Raven's personal helicopter appeared from nowhere, making a dreadful racket.

Raven looked towards his wife.


"I'm sorry," he muttered, straightening his tie and adjusting his ribbon, "got to go to work, duty calls. I'm going to be out all day. Grand opening of a shopping centre."

Actually, he didn't need to tell his wife of his duties, nor fill her in on his extremely full diary, but, out of habit, he felt it necessary to let her know what he was up to.

Sighing heavily, he clambered into the waiting chopper, groaning at the very thought of opening yet another shopping precinct. To him, the sparkle was fast dying out in his role as Mayor. But could he be that brave to quit and find another job in another field?


The rhythmic sounds of the rotor blades faded into the distance, leaving Kenya to unpack, settle in the kids and walk the dogs.

Luckily for her, they had two well behaved children. And as she cleaned up and tidied around, she smiled warmly to herself as she watched Kyle join in with his sister at the crafts table.


Having another child was way back in her list of priorities. But apparently, that was the thoughts in Raven's mind, as he was making his way out of the door.