The Green Family Story: Generation 2, Chapter 1

 Generation 2: Under the City Lights

Your parents lived a simple life on the farm, but that was never right for you. Instead, you dreamed of escaping to the big city and living under its ever-bright lights.

1. Complete City Native and Friend of the World (spouse) 

2. Reach the top of the Business career and Social Media (Internet Influencer) career (spouse)
3. Max the charisma skill (founder) and video gaming skill (spouse). Have either or both max the comedy skill

4. You don't share your parent's traditional values...so don't get married
5. Have kid(s), but only a single pregnancy...you can't take more time off work!
6. Learn all the city food stall recipes

7. Attend every city festival at least once

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Hi! My name is Willow Green. I recently graduated from high school and moved from my parent's farm in Brindleton Bay to the beautiful city of San Myshuno. Living in the city had been my dream for years, and although I know my parent's don't really understand the appeal, they're happy for me. They paid for the deposit on my first apartment, and now here I am in the Spice district at long last!



I thought you might like it if I caught you up on the family first, though. My older sister Fern was the only one of us four kids to go to university, where she aimed to get a degree in Biology.



And she succeeded! Basil and I travelled back from the city to attend her graduation ceremony with Mum and Dad; we were all so proud of her.



After she graduated, just like she'd discussed with our parents, Fern returned to the farm to take over. She planned to stop selling produce and turn it into a research farm, where students could come and run botany experiments, and she could do her own research as well, and maybe get a PhD one day.



Just in case you were worried Fern's life was going to be all work and no play, never fear - her girlfriend from university, Hina, agreed to move to the farm too. She has a couple of semesters left on her degree, which like Fern, is in Biology. That's how they first met. Hina's nice, and I'm glad Fern met someone she cares about.



Back in the city, here's what the apartment looks like right now. It came with a kitchen and basic bathroom installed, but nothing else - not even lights. I'm too broke to do much about that though. Mum and Dad paid the deposit but I didn't want to take more money off them to decorate, so my first job was to...well, get a job. I phoned around some local businesses and found someone looking for an assistant to the manager, and took it immediately. It's not very well paid but it's a foot in the door, and I always wanted to work in a sophisticated office job - so different to being a farmer!



Before I even went in for my first day they emailed me some reports that needed to be done right away. I don't have a computer, so I headed to the library in Willow Creek. Hardly any time in the city and I'm off again! But I can't afford my rent if I don't do well at work.



I called Fern to come and meet me while I was there so I could see how things were going back home. She gave me a big hug.
"Willow! It's so good to see you. How's the city?"
"Honestly, I hardly know yet. I haven't had time to check it out. I got a job though! How's the farm?"
"Everything is just great. Hina loves it there, and Mum and Dad love her. Mum's so relieved I've agreed to take over. Plus, we renovated the cottage so it's more comfortable for all of us."
"I'm happy for you, Fern. You've no idea how much of a relief it is that I can go to the city and do what I want to do without worrying about the farm and our parents."



As I finished up the reports, I also got to catch up with my niece, Nicole - Clover's oldest daughter. She'd swung by the library to get out a book for her book report. She told me Clover was doing fine too - frantically busy, with five kids and the youngest twins only toddlers, but fine.



Once I'd finished the reports and got back to the city I was excited to start having a look around. I found a produce stall a bought a few things to cook with back home, though money is pretty tight and I couldn't afford much.



Luckily there's plenty of free things to do in the city, and I decided to check out the art gallery. People are friendly in the city, so I introduced myself to someone out front, but he immediately started flirting with me and that was just awkward.



Luckily I managed to escape inside pretty quickly. I absolutely LOVE the art on display here; it's so bright and vibrant, just like the city itself.



I was so inspired I decided to try my hand at some art myself, while I was there. I don't think I'm going to be a great artist any time soon, but it was fun.



Then, as I was getting pretty hungry, it was time to try my first food stall meal. San Myshuno is actually pretty famous for its food stalls, which serve all kinds of traditional ethnic foods. I ordered pork adobo from the Filipino stall and it was just as amazing as I had hoped.



Just for fun, and because I was already there, after I finished eating I messed around for a while painting a mural. I guess it was an unexpectedly artistic day for me! The city is well known for its art community though; Basil lives in the art quarter and says it's full of famous artists.



After that, I headed home for a rest. One thing I have managed to get for the apartment is a bed, and a few other bits and pieces of bedroom furniture.



Later that night, I decided to go for a short jog.



Outside my apartment once I got back, after people watching for a while, I met what I think might turn out to be my first city friends - Valentina and Miki. Val is shy but friendly, and works in politics.



And Miki is like, insanely pretty but not at all stuck up, and works as a stylist.



Speaking of business, my first work day seems to roll around very quickly. I was nervous because I really wanted to do a good job, but it was all good. My coworkers are nice and I even like the manager I am assistant to.



After work, Basil phones and tells me I should meet him at the arts quarter, where he lives, for his favourite festival - Humor and Hijinks!



We both decide to join the jokesters, and enjoy a bubbly, fizzy, sweet orange flavoured drink to celebrate our team choice.



Basil eats some weird purple hotdog-looking things, which he swears are delicious, but he pulls funny faces the whole time he's eating them so I decide to give it a miss.



To add to the fun, Basil also invited Dad, and he swung by just as the festival was really getting going.
"Dad! It's so good to see you. Mum didn't come with you?"
"No love, she's working with Fern in the greenhouse."
"At night?"
"I guess she doesn't really feel relaxed in the city."
Uh oh. I hope she's not more upset than she's let on that Basil and I both picked the city over the farm.



Anyway, at least Dad seemed to have a good time. He even tried the bubble machine.



I had banh mi for dinner, at got chatting with this woman, who has the exact same hair cut and colour as Fern!



Also, I guess all our joking around paid off, because we won the festival competition! We actually won some money, which I didn't expect, as well as some fireworks, which I figured would be fun to try.



Or not! I managed to just about take my eyebrows off. Oops. Maybe it's a good think Mum didn't come tonight!



The evening ended with the professionals setting off some amazing fireworks with a lot more success. It was such a fun evening. This is exactly why I came to live in this amazing city!



I was pretty tired by the time I got home that night and crashed in bed right away, but as it turned out, my night wasn't over...



I had the weirdest dream, and when I woke up the next morning I had bruises on my neck and was even more tired than when I went to bed. It was so strange.
(Author's note: isn't Caleb meant to be a good vampire? I expected this from Vlad, not you, Caleb Vatore!)



Even though I felt like crap I still had to go to work in the morning. I drank about six cups of coffee and I guess it worked, because I got promoted to assistant manager!



I could finally afford a couch, but while I was dragging it into the right place, what should I see but this little guy! Gross, the downside of living in a cheap apartment. I called the landlord to deal with it.



Then I called Darwin and asked him to come over and take my mind off it.



Which he did, very effectively.



Darwin asked if we could talk after we'd finished...catching up.
"Babe, how do you feel about me moving in? I know you haven't been in the city long, but I've missed you since you moved out here. It's probably time I moved out and gave my sister some space, anyway."
I thought about it for a second, then grinned.
"I'd love it if you moved in. You're going to adore living in the city." 
Darwin only went back to his parent's old place to pick up some stuff of his, most of which he sold so we'd have a bit more cash to get our own furniture, and to say goodbye to his sister. His parents died when he was just a kid, but his sister's married now, and I think she was ready to settle down and start having kids, so she was happy Darwin had found somewhere to live.



Just like me, Darwin had to head to the library pretty quickly, to try and find a job for a start. He managed to get hired as a media intern, which was perfect because our hours pretty much aligned, and we'd have the evenings and weekends to spend together.



I didn't necessarily expect to move in with my boyfriend quite so quickly, but for me, coming to the city was never about dating loads of people or playing the field.



Besides, living together definitely had its perks, especially since we couldn't afford a TV, and had to make our own fun!



Our neighbours came around not long after Darwin moved in to welcome us to the building. I'm not sure why they never bothered when I lived here by myself...



According to Darwin the fruitcake one of them brought was terrible, anyway.



It didn't exactly put him in a good mood for socialising with the neighbours, though he tried his best. Neither of us really clicked with any of them; they're nice enough people, but I don't think we'll be close friends.



Like me, Darwin prefers meeting people naturally, and seeing who he clicks with. He's really confident and self-assured like that. He became good friends with another local, Leonardo, quite quickly, even though they were both a little down when they first met.



He also bumped into Hina, Fern's girlfriend, one evening after work. She was in the city buying new equipment for their research projects out on the farm.



I knew Darwin would settle right in to city life, just like me. He picked up a promotion at work just as fast as I had, although it involved this stupid get up - I have no idea why.



Another evening, I was out for a walk after work when I came across the best busker I'd heard yet.



I introduced myself after she finished playing. Her name is Delilah, and she's studying at Britechester University, where my sister also went. She wants to crack the big time with her music...I reckon she needs to work on her look to help her along. She's so pretty but she has terrible dress sense.



I figured I might be able to use my new connections to create some magic. I asked Miki, my friend who works as a stylist, out for coffee, and asked if she'd help Delilah. She agreed, and the next time I saw Delilah she looked SO much better. Mission accomplished!



I really enjoy Miki's company, actually. I decided to give her a key to the apartment so she could visit Darwin and I whenever she wanted.



For our first Harvestfest together, though, it was just the two of us. Darwin even cooked a special glazed ham for the occasion.



"Oh, gross, this is awful. Sorry Willow."
"It's not too bad. Anyway, I think it's sweet that you cooked for me."
"That's nice of you to say, but let's go out to a bar or something, I think I need a drink."



I guess staying in for a cosy Harvestfest isn't really us! Singing karaoke together was really fun, though.



After the karaoke we went to the bar and ordered drinks.



I might have gotten a little overexcited...well, I ordered my favourite drink, but then Darwin ordered a round for everyone, and I didn't want to miss out...



It was the early hours of the morning when we both finally crashed...but it was totally worth it. The city has been everything I dreamed of so far!