1.12--A Little Older, A Little Wiser, A Little... Wrinklier?

As usual, Olive decided to start her first day of High School by booby-trapping things around the house. "Can't let them grow complacent," she thought.

Over the years, her family had built up a quasi-immunity to her pranks and often just laughed it off as Olive being Olive... but sometimes she would hit the jackpot and pull an especially clever one that managed to be both funny and annoying. It had been a while since she booby-trapped the shower with temporary hair dye, so she was hoping that perhaps no one would catch on this time. 

(Her "smile" in the second picture reminds me a bit of the Commander Shephard rape face. 0_0)

However clever Olive thought she was that morning, Sybil immediately caught on to her trickery.  She tended to give herself away too easily, at least according to Sybil.

"You pulled another prank didn't you?" Sybil asked.

"Hey, I need to assert my individuality and independence... or something."

Sybil laughed. "Is that the excuse you're going to give mom and dad when they ground you for it?"

"Perhaps."

"It'll never work."

"Wanna bet?"

"Oh no... last time we made a bet you totally cheated and weaseled your way out of it."

Olive shrugged, feigning offense. "I would never do such a thing."

"Right. Just like you would never dare Tyler to drink the lake water or you would never put jello in the school toilets..."

Olive giggled. "Nope. Definitely wasn't me."

While the girls were at school and Mya at work, Robert was the only unfortunate soul left in the house to test out Olive's prank.

"Dammit. Not again!" He yelled.

After taking two more showers to get the brunt of the dye out of his hair, he played with Corrigan... awaiting the moment that Olive returned home so he could have a stern talk with her.

He just couldn't understand it.  Olive was a straight-A student who was the local track and field star.  For those reasons alone, she was often regarded as a model student by her teachers; their only complaint had been that she has an "odd sense of humor" which often leaned toward slap-stick and at another's expense.  However, it was really only the teachers that ushered any complaints about Olive's pranks.  If she pulled any on fellow classmates, he had yet to get a parent phone call over it.

Once Snuffle was placed in his crib for a nap and Rob had some time to himself, he contemplated his upcoming birthday.  He would officially be an adult after tonight and although he had seen Mya age gracefully, he was still a little hesitant to do so himself.  This would cement the fact that time was going by and that someday he and Mya would be old.  The mere suggestion of adult diapers and wrinkles sent a shiver down Robert's spine.  

"If there comes a time when I can't poop properly on my own, I might as well just end it." Robert thought, while glimpses of his own feeble grandmother right before her death went racing through his mind.  He joked about aging before, but this was quickly becoming too real. 

"Well, on the upside I can let myself go now.  Time to develop that mid-life beer gut of glory." He mused.

When the girls did finally return home, Robert waited until Olive was finished with her homework...

...before talking to her about her choice of humor.

"So, lovely daughter of mine, I seem to have stumbled upon a trap of yours."

"If I said I didn't do it, would you believe me?"

"No, but I commend you for trying."

"I'm just asserting my individuality... as an individual... and independence from the tyranny... of, uh... society's oppression of teens? You can stop me at any time." Olive's argument was clearly going nowhere.  No point in wasting breath, she concluded.

Robert couldn't help, but laugh at his daughter's ridiculous excuse.  It was honestly something he would expect from her, as none of the Dennis children were particularly stellar at lying.  They may be able to keep secrets from their parents for a bit, but they always eventually caught on; which severely stunted their ability to boldface lie in certain circumstances.  The perks of having a father in the Investigator career.

"Did you actually think that was going to work?"

"I believe this is the moment that I say 'told you it wouldn't work.'" Sybil gloated. 

"Fine. I did it. Do with me what you will." Olive sighed, holding her hands out in a mock gesture of being arrested.

Robert slapped both her hands playfully. "Dishes and laundry for a week and cleaning the bathroom until it is spotless. Understood?"

Olive nodded. "Understood daddy dearest.  You start harping about wire hangers though, and I'm out."

Robert laughed while shaking his head. There was no denying she was their child. 

When Mya returned home, it was time for Robert's birthday festivities to begin. 

Mya felt it was the perfect opportunity to point and laugh at her husband. "Now you'll be just as old as I am!"

"Thanks dear." Robert said as he looked at his cake.  "Well, here goes nothing..."

Robert doesn't seem too pleased. 

Perhaps it's my shitty makeover. Oh well, he'll have to deal with it. 

After the Dennis's ate their fill of cake and the dinner that Mya made because my game is being stupid and not letting them eat their birthday cake, hence the sandwiches...

...and choking on their food when Olive randomly asked permission for a facial tattoo...

...Mya and the rest of the family escorted Robert outside to see his present.

Rob was beyond excited. 

Or severely constipated, who really knows?

"Do you like it?" Mya asked after Robert had a chance give it a good inspection. 

"Like it? I love it.  Now I won't have to drive that piece of crap-mobile around town."

"I don't mind driving a crap-mobile!" Olive interjected.

Mya smirked. "Nice try.  Let's work on getting you and your sister's license first before we start negotiating transportation."

The thought of driving in what she regarded a "death box on wheels" made Sybil go into full blown panic mode.  Mya managed to calm her down by promising to never force her to learn how to drive.  "At least we won't have to potentially buy a car for one of the children." Mya reasoned.

Once Sybil's freak out had passed, both of the Dennis girls wished their father a happy birthday before heading to bed.

"Happy birthday dad. And may I remind you that I have absolutely no issues with our old car if you want to, let's say, donate it to a worthy and loving daughter of yours."

Robert laughed. "I'll remember that your offer is still on the table."

And with that, the Senior Dennis's entered their next stage in life; sincerely hoping that this new stage will be as loving and fun-filled as the last.

---------------------------------------------

They actually received their car somehow through Robert's job. Do they get cars as a promotion present for the Investigator Career? Perhaps he autonomously stole it, but I think I would have noticed that. *shrug*

Anyway, Robert is an adult (hurrah!) and Olive is slowly starting to take center stage as I progress toward the end of Generation One and the beginning of Two.  It hasn't fully happened yet in my game, so I'll likely still have mostly Rob and Mya chapters until I get her more developed (although next chapter is mostly Olive and Sybil).  

I'll fit Sybil, and poor little Corrigan, in when the story permits.  I feel bad leaving both of them out of it so much, particularly Corri... but oh well; thems the breaks.  

Chapter Thirteen is almost finished... so onward we go! 

**Quick Note: I just got Generation Two started in-game, but am a bit behind with my Chapters.  I went ahead and updated the sidebar anyhow. : ) To be continued...