01-17. Trav Runs Free

This chapter is about Traveller and takes place during the three days when Holly embraces her Wiccan nature and Roy advances his athletic career. For himself, Trav gains more confidence and runs with the herd.

Roy had made a promise to Trav that he'd take him to the Equine Center for stud services. But with Roy busy preparing for a game and getting to know his new teammates, Holly said she'd help out.

She wasn't the equestrian Roy was, but she had some skill.

At any rate, Holly and Trav made it to the horse stadium and Trav met a nice filly inside. The Thorn family earned over $1000 for Trav's "date."

Back home, Holly fell off the saddle trying to dismount, and Trav couldn't help but snicker a little. Just a little. He was still grateful to Holly for taking him down to the Center.

That evening after work, Roy and Trav practiced jumping again.

Trav was still having some trouble with the more advanced jump.

But he finally cleared it after a few more tries and some encouragement from Roy.

Later that night, Traveller was still restless and answering the call of a herd of wild horses, he chased a beautiful white mare past a rushing waterfall.

That was when he realized a unicorn had also joined the herd.

Trav felt the magic at once.

Here was a horse who was More Than a horse. A Legend.

Trav stayed with the wild horses all through the night. At dawn, he headed for home ... in a water ferry.

He was anxious to talk to the family about his magical night.

(That day, I edited the waterfall lot to make more room for the horses. I removed a few trees and leveled some of the ground. I also moved the trough and fire pit to open up more space. Riley and Trav checked everything out.)

Riley was happy to visit the waterfall park with Traveller.

The view was breathtaking.

Riley understood how much Trav liked the place.

Traveller had seen Holly over by the river during the night. If anyone understood magic, it was this witch woman. So he shared his excitement with her too ... even though she was still a little lacking in horse sense.

But Trav took her smoothly over the advanced jump, no problem. Holly was learning.

The two of them were getting close. Not like it was with Roy, of course. But Holly did get out of bed that next night to groom Trav. He certainly needed it, and Trav appreciated her care.

01-20. A Place of Pets

The other day I realized the pet annex was a hub of activity. I was constantly hearing elevator muzak. The pets were the main elevator riders, but Watson was also a regular. Even the humans enjoyed visiting the animals.

But Watson couldn't keep his hands off the pet toys. He wanted those chew toys and catnip mice back in the boxes where they belonged.

He also couldn't keep his hands off of Poirot. Luckily, the cat tolerated his attentions.

So I ended up enlarging the basement. Not only to accommodate Dudley's new police cruiser, but to also make room for pet activity. And I installed another access point to the basement.

I added a ladder. Pets couldn't use it, but Watson could.

And he did. Often.

I have no idea what Watson wants with Poirot. Maybe he's trying to give him a bath. Good luck with that!

But pet fun continues as usual. All happy and thriving: Spade terrorizing the postman ...

Monsieur Poirot hunting prey of all kinds ...

Miss Marple being the well behaved lady she is ...

And Piper loving the attention she's now getting from the family.

They all get along together despite Spade's snarly attitude. Is he all bark and no bite? Hope so.

Even when he's just following a sim, Spade snarls. He thinks he's a bodyguard and is very protective of Di.

Poirot can find something to swat at even when not officially hunting. Bugs beware!

And as if three dogs and a cat weren't enough animals, Di and Watson also carry pet sprites: Wanda and Alton.

01-19. Festivities and Strange Sightings

The same day Di would meet Qedef in town, Dudley invited his partner over for a visit. He failed to let Di know.

She panicked at the sound of the doorbell. Could Mr. Qomiphash have come to see her again?
Di: The doorbell! Is it him? Oh no! What should I do?

Seeing Dudley's rookie partner instead of her dashing foreign gentleman, Di decided she should call Qedef herself instead of waiting around the house for him.

In the meantime, Dudley practiced some logic skills with his young partner and then decided to take a break and enjoy the festival.

Watson went along, and the three spent most of the afternoon in a water balloon fight before exploring the park.

Dudley came across a stranger in town raking leaves on festival grounds. The man was muttering to himself.

Qedef: Illogical symbiosis! Trees shedding foliage. Humanoids gathering it up. ... Intelligent life forms serving non-sentient vegetation? Inconceivable!

Then Dudley noticed Di had gotten so hungry she'd entered a hot dog eating contest along with the same stranger.

Afterwards, the man looked ill, and Dudley heard him say something about his job. What could he possibly mean?
Qedef: The Commander asks too much! I will never blend in! My mission here will surely fail!

Watson tried roller skating and found he didn't need skates.

Watson: Be cool. Just hover and glide. Hover and glide. 

Later that night, Monsieur Poirot caught sight of a sneaky looking rat. The rodent was up to no good.

Poirot pounced and wrestled the miscreant to the ground!

The suspect escaped, but Detective Poirot managed to confiscate a SimCard with Vincent Vole's name on it. A clue! Poirot quickly deduced that the rat must be an identify thief.

Tomorrow, Poirot, he would be back on the case. There was something that smelled of the fish going on with these rodents of Twinbrook!

Meanwhile, Piper had discovered another odd phenomenon.
Piper: Why, here is a plant suddenly growing inside our basement. It wasn't there just a minute ago. Where did it come from? ... Oh dear! What does it want from us?

01-18. Falling in Love

After Dudley got home from work that day, he was in a good mood. Not only had he been given a raise, he'd gotten his very own police cruiser AND a promotion. He was now in the Forensic Division of the force. His lifetime goal was in sight.

He talked to Anna about his work, how finally he was making his way in the world and would soon be earning good money. He'd been down on his luck for the longer part of his life, but that had changed.

Dudley: I know you're a successful journalist, Anna. Top of your career. I just wanted you to know that I take my work seriously too. I owe a lot of my new outlook on life to Di, of course. But you've been a great inspiration.

And before Anna retired for bed, Dudley let her know just how much she inspired him.

That night, Anna went to sleep feeling young and hopeful. She'd been a career woman her whole adult life. Things were about to change. Maybe she had room in her life for romance after all. Dudley had inspired her too.

Di was still awake, so Dudley told her about his newest promotion. Now that he had his police car, he said Di could drive his truck any time she wanted. She didn't have to run around town in that little scooter of hers anymore. 

Di: Why, thank you, Dudley. That's mighty kind of you to share your faithful old Rig.

Dudley: The least I can do, my dear. You've been a faithful friend yourself these days.

Then Dudley cleared his throat and came clean about his feelings for Anna.

Dudley: I don't know how or why it happened, but there's just something about Anna that draws me to her.

Di: Well, I can't say that I'm surprised. I understand. Really I do.

And Di did understand. Because the love bug had also bitten her. She found herself thinking about her gentleman caller from the night before.

Di thought there was something special about him too. Mr. Qomiphash was unforgettable.

So the next day, Di was more than willing to help Anna look her very best for Dudley. It was fun to have a girlfriend to giggle with over beaus.

And it was true, both Anna and Di had missed out on love during their younger days. Old maids, the both of them. Anna because of her work. Di because of her isolation in old Twinbrook. Now look at them. What a new world!

Anna was a changed woman.

And Di couldn't stop thinking of kisses. Goodness sake. Kisses! Her. Old Crazy Di Riddle, kissing a man!

Well, and why not? She texted, then called Mr. Qomiphash, and encouraged by his enthusiastic response, she asked him on an outing. Why not meet at the consignment store for a short visit? See how things went?

When she saw him, Di thought her heart would beat right out of her chest. He looked so debonaire!

The two of them stood out by the front of the shop, visiting like they'd known each other for years. They even called each other by their first names.

When Di found out Qedef was an Animal Lover like herself, she knew she had finally met her true love. She blushed at the thought of them together.

And then she quickly suggested they go across the street to the festival park. Dear Qedef was so entertaining, playing games with Di and even entering a hot dog eating contest with her.

But the best part of the day was roller skating with Qedef. Imagine. The two of them, acting just like young lovers.

Skating together was just an excuse to hold hands.

So what if they weren't so used to those skates.

They just laughed it off and smiled at each other. Di couldn't have been happier.

She would always remember her first date with Mr. Qomiphash.