"Paul! How do you expect me to make this money..I can't take anymore loans! I've got no qualifications, who's gonna give me a job! Tell me that Paul!" Garth shouted angrily
"Look" Paul said raising his voice "There's no point getting angry with me Garth. Its my house and I'm putting the rent up. I can easily find someone else who would willingly pay that little."
"But that's not the point! I'm your friend!"
"Well Garth, actually, you cheated on your wife, ripped your family apart and I gave you somewhere to live! I wouldn't say I'm your friend though." Paul saw the desperation in Garth's eyes "Look, I'm sorry, I really am. Have a word to Syd, there might be something available at the hospital."

Adelaide walked into the room and on hearing the conversation piped up "Its my fault isn't it! I'm sorry, I'll stop using so much hot water."
"Haven't you got some homework to do or something?" Paul grumbled
"What business is it of yours" Adelaide snapped back
"Uhh, Hello, who's house is this!?"
"Hmpf...whatever.."
"Yeah, well can you "whatever" somewhere else please!!"

"I wish I'd never said anything about forgiving Sydney now! That girl...she's grates on my nerves!!"
"Well perhaps you should move out then" Paul commented haughtily "At least you'd wouldn't then have to put up with my girlfriends grating daughter!"
"But you were the one with the problem about her?! Don't have a go at me about it!!"
"Yeah, but as you said, I forgave..Garth...just sort the rent ok!"

As the evening draws on Cathy recieves a call from Maria:
"Hi Cathy? Its Maria."
"Oh Hi, how's things?"
"Well, I guess as good as can be expected. Listen, I was wondering if you could do me a huge favour?"
"Go on..."
"Well Tom's come home and said there's this cake thing at school, I was wondering if you could help me out with the baking?"
"No problem at all Maria!! Penelope called me earlier...she's got the same problem plus she has no kitchen. She's coming round tomorrow, fancy it?"
"Oh yeah, that'd be so great Cathy. I could really do with some company."
"I'll see you tommorrow then."
"Ok, night then."
"Night Maria."
 

"Who was that then babe?" Sangeev asked
"Maria..she's coming round tommorrow as well as Pen."
"Oh great! I haven't seen her since she was back from pr..well you know."
"Well the thing is" Cathy started tentatively "I was wondering if it could just be us girls. You know, for a gossip and stuff."
"I see!! So I'm kicked out of my own house am I" Sangeev smiled "No problem...I'll go and do a stock take at the pub..plus I can get working on this drink of all drinks!! Harry's gonna be there so we can start brewing!"
"Do you really think you can win this competition?"
"Well, I definately won't if I don't enter will I!? Plus that 10,000simoleons will come in handy as well."

Marc returns from work in a great mood:
"Hello, darling, darling Kate" He beamed as he hugged her tight
"Wow, your in a good mood!! What happened at work?"
"Nothing, just had a good day that's all! Helps when you know your coming home to a lovely child and gorgeous women! How was your day?"
"Not so great actually" Kate replied weakly "Some old women turned on me in the park."
"What? Why?"
"She didn't think it was appropriate for Chris to be scratching around in the dirt!"

"Well what does she know!! It was none of her business.Your his nanny, your practically his mum."
"Exactly! But there's one thing though isn't there, I'm not his Mum, Carrie is and that'll never change. I shouldn't be wiping out her image..Chris should know her as his mother."
"He can't though Kate, can he, he never knew her!"
"But I don't know if I can do this, I'm not ready to be a mother!"
"No-one's asking you to" Marc said a little stunned "Your just Chris's nanny! Your just taking something that an old busy body said and blowing it out of all proportion!"
"Oh thanks, so now I'm just a bit neurotic?! Is that it! I don't this whole arrangment was such a good idea Marc, I really don't!" And with that she disappeared into her bedroom.

"What are we gonna do Chris?" Marc said as he picked the toddler of the floor "I think you're gonna have to up your charming skills...and I'm definately gonna have to work on mine!"

Its the following Morning in Sageway and Max is already nervous:
"Morning Ma."
"Hi Hon, you all ready then?"
"No, I need to do more studying, I can't remember half of it!"
"You'll be fine Max, just breath, relax and you'll whiz these finals!! Think about the good side...no more school...EVER!"
"I wish I was there already, I wish I was as confident at Laura."

Jen turned to face her son
"Look, you'll be fine, I know you will. You've been studying hard this past year. There's nothing to worry about."
"I guess, I just hope I can answer some of these damn questions...otherwise I'm for it."

Jen gaver Max a warm hug "Look, I'm working a double today as Pen wanted the day off so I'll give you a lift to the exam. Grab your stuff and we'll go."

At Cathy's the baking brigade are well underway:
"Well, a couple more of these and we'll have enough to eat ourselves" Maria smiled as she brought the first cake out of the oven "I'd forgotten how much a liked cooking! Its not so pleasant cooking in the canteen when your on the inside."
"Oh Maria, it must have been awful!"
"Well, don't get me wrong Pen, it was. But you know what, there were some pretty nice sims in there. I got put on the canteen team, well it was either that or toilet duty! We used to have a hoot, its was quite good fun..not like this though!! Thankyou so much Cathy for having us round!"
"Not at all" Cathy smiled "This is what we've been missing. We really should all meet up more often, and try and get Jen here too"
"How's everything going with the pregnancy?"
"Really great, but I'm trying desperately to lay off a bit! I know that I'm getting excited and Sangeev has told me to step back just a little. I think I've been swamping Jen slightly!"
"Guys" Maria asked "Sorry to change the subject but can I ask you what you think of this."

"Did you do that Maria?! Its incredible!"
"Well, I like it too and now I'm out, and to get my life back on track, I went to see my old boss. He flatly refused to take me back, he said my sketches were bad and that my work had never been of a highest enough quality. I couldn't beleive it, I mean he was the one that suggested I go for a promotion when I was there."
"You don't think its something to do with what happend?"
"Well, yes I do, but I can't believe he let it be. I mean, I was let out!!"
"What you gonna do?"
"I'm going to keep looking for work with other company's. Hopefully they don't know my past and I can show them my work and it'll all be fine, Pen what's the matter?"

Maria looked at Penelope who's face seemed to be nearly bursting:
"I've got a date tonight!!"
"WHAT, OH MY GOD" Maria and Cathy shrieked with excitement. "WHAT, WHERE, HOW?"
"Well, I met him at work and he just started chatting to me. He is soooo good looking!! I'm so nervous."
"What time is it?"
"Well quite soon, so I need to go and start getting ready!!"
"You better go and make youself look gorgeous then! And Pen "Cathy called after her "Don't think your getting away with it..as soon as its over we want EVERY juciy detail!!"

Later on in the afternoon Dee and Jason are returning from school when Dee spies a hunk:
"Jason! He is about the lushest guy I've ever seen!!" Dee whispered
"Your going out with my brother!!" Jason replied
"I know! But if I wasn't" she said with a smile and open eyes "He...would be mine!"
Jason put on the campest voice he could muster "I don't think so girlfriend. You'd be fighting ME for him and you know I'd win...you might break a nail!!"

"Honey...I'd break ALL my nails to get to him!!" She laughed out loud
"You won't though, will you?"
"NO! I'm going out with Max, we're just having a laugh...god, Jase, chill!"
"Oops, sorry love!! I wonder if he is gay?"
"No way, men that attractive can...oh hang on, maybe he is gay!"

At the Dixon's Penelope's waiting nervously for Adam to arrive:
"Oh Penelope dear, you do look nice! Looks like we're suddenly doing rather well in the men department!"
"We're? What do you mean?"
"Oh, haven't I told you? It must have slipped my mind." Rosy grinned excitedly "Ever since I got this new look a chap called Merle at church has been paying me a lot of attention. He's lovely, we even held hands during communion yesterday!"
"Oh mother! I didn't know you were dating again, why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry dear, I just been busy I guess...with Merle! Ha ha!" Rosy beamed while her daughter looked a little uncomfortable at the thought of her elderly mother dating "ooh, the doorbell Pen, you know who that'll be! Good luck dear, knock him dead...not literally though, oh dear, I didn'"
"Its ok Mother, I understood!"

"Hi Adam" Pen smiled nervously but gushed with confidence at the look on Adam's face
"WOW, you look, well, incredible!! I'm a lucky man tonight!
"Oh, well, I could say the same!! Where we going then?"
"Are..its all a surprise...shall we go?"
"Come on then.."

Just as Adam was ringing the doorbell Jason and Dee arrived back at the house:
"Are you joking me?" Dee cried as she saw Adam kiss her mother hello "What does she think she's doing!! She's far too old to be dating him!! MOTHER....."