Pick'N'Mix Mods for The Sims 2

34 - Breakfast Plans

Analise awoke to bright sunlight slanting through the blinds. She extricated herself from the folds of the duvet and tried to stand; her legs collapsed. Rolling onto her back, swearing profusely, she massaged life back into her cramp disabled legs.

Not trusting herself to stand, she crawled to the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later she walked back into her room and stood naked before the full-length mirror. Her ribs and right hip were yellow-purple with fading bruises, her lower legs looked like they had severe sun-burn, and she'd need to grow her fringe out to cover the scar. "Some holiday", she said out loud. "Clothes", she added. She turned towards the cupboard and noticed clothing neatly laid out over the dressing table chair. Sensible underwear, tracksuit bottoms and a loose-fitting shirt. Under the chair were a pair of old trainers and ankle socks. The items (except for the bra and knickers) wouldn't have been her first choice, but nothing meticulously laid-out would aggravate her injuries. There was even a head-scarf folded on the dressing table. She stared at it.

Heaped in the centre of the scarf was a gold chain. With quivering fingers, she reached forward and lifted it up. Spinning on the end was a gold medallion of a snake eating its own tail surrounding a vivid blue gem. She held it, transfixed by the spinning; mesmerised. Lost in thought, unexpected emotions stirred deep within her triggering a soul-wrenching yearning that was almost painful. She'd given it to the girl who'd shown her to the chalet; that felt like an eternity ago. How the hell had it got here? Someone owed her some answers, and she was damn well going to get them!

She dressed, marched into the hall, and picked up the house phone; it was dead.

She returned to her room and searched for her hand-bag; finding it by the side of the bed. But no mobile; she remembered she'd left it in the chalet. She'd just have to walk to the Mall and buy a new one. She looked for her purse – that had been in the beach hut. She'd have to go via the bank, fortunately she'd left her driving license behind. Sitting in the chair to put on her trainers, she noticed a pile of mail on the bed-side table.

There were several red ones visible; she couldn't face those right now, she'd deal with them later. Her stomach rumbled, she'd deal with them after coffee and a muffin. Fishing a pair of sun-glasses out of the dressing table drawer, and ignoring the headscarf on, Analise felt ready to face the world again.

She bent over for the paper at the end of the path and winced - her ribs and hip complained - and her head spun making her dizzy, she grabbed the post-box for support.

"Breakfast first", she said, stuffing the paper in the box. She managed three of her normal length strides before the pain became unbearable. "OK", she winced, "I'll take it slow." By the time she'd made it to the café, she was in tears from the pain. Gratefully, she lowered herself into the nearest booth.

Bacon and eggs infused the air, her mouth was watering; she was famished.

"Yes?", enquired the waitress.

"Tall latte and a blueberry muffin, please"

The waitress walked off, scribbling on her pad.

"And a bacon sandwich please", she called after her. Analise really hoped she'd heard, as she didn't think she could cover the twenty feet to the counter.

Three coffees, a bacon sandwich, two muffins and a slice of pie later, Analise really felt ready to face the world again. The bank cashier wrote a counter-cheque and gave her money, the phone shop sold her a mobile.

Hating head scarfs, she bought a silly hat - it had ears! She ambled slowly home, stopping often,

and retrieving the paper from the post-box.

Sitting on the end of her bed, she read the paper.

It was dated fourteen days after she'd left - someone really did owe her some answers. The news was dominated by the ongoing rescue and humanitarian relief effort on the island - worst disaster in recorded history; whole villages washed out to sea; crops devastated; farms destroyed by flood waters; roads cut by landslides; airport closed; hospital overwhelmed; no power. All things considered she'd been lucky - she'd got out with her life. But how had she gotten out? She had no memory of the journey from the island to the military hospital.

The hospital, she was going to call the hospital! She went into the den and flicked the computer on - nothing. She tried the desk-lamp - nothing. She tried the main lights - nothing. She got the torch from the kitchen and descended to the garage to check the fuse box.

All the circuit breakers were in, but no power. And no phone. Then she remembered the red bills by the side of the bed. The air in the garage turned blue.

33 - Home at Last 35 - Outstanding Bills