Jobs: Day 1

   The 7 AM wakeup call seemed to come very quickly, and found all sims still in a deep sleep.  Upon rising, there were multiple complaints about hygiene—no one had felt energetic enough to shower before bed. 

Peculiarly, however, few took the opportunity to do so in the two hours before Morning Meeting—instead they fixed breakfast and chatted in the kitchen before filing into the dining room. 

The atmosphere of the meeting was somewhat deminished by the dirty dishes which had been left on the table from the previous day’s meals. 

Taking her seat in the green Super Sim chair (and doing her best to ignore the furtive snickering directed at her Super Sim headgear for the day) Aileen brought the meeting to order.  She explained that during these Morning Meetings, they would receive each day’s schedule and instructions, compete for special assignments, and consider any house business.  Opening the envelope she’d found (along with the Super Sim hat) in front of her bedroom door that morning, she read, 

"This morning’s order of business is for every sim to accept a job within the household.  As will be true whenever jobs, benefits or assignments are available, the Super Sim will have the first choice.  Super Sim will then draw numbers to determine the order in which other household sims may make their choices.  The Loser will always be last.   

Aileen then passed out sheets of paper listing the eight possible positions available to them.  The sims read in silence for a few moments.
 

Chef:  Maintain a small herb garden, cook meals (pays 3 points and may sell extra herbs.)

Painter:  Replace 10 dino stencils with paintings; create 1 painting for each bedroom.  May sell 1 painting/day  (pays 2  points plus value of sold paintings.)

Gardeners:  (2) Each maintain 2 raised beds, 1 w/veggies and 1 w/flowers.  (Pays 3 pts. each; may sell extra produce.)

Handyman: Repair all broken items; upgrade if nothing is broken.  (pays 3 points; may sell unneeded upgrade parts.)

Entertainer: (musician or comedian) Entertain for an hour during parties; may play for tips during outings. (Pays 2 points plus any tips earned.)

Social Director/Mixologist:  Host a party every few nights at the house or other venue.  Tend bar during party, make contact with all guests.(Pays 3 points plus value of any party  prizes earned.) 

Chronicler:  Keep a journal of the household’s experiences by writing at least 2 hrs/daily; write one book to be given to each household member, including him/herself.  May sell one book per day as well. (Pays 3 points plus value of any works sold.)

When all the household members had set down their papers, some looking excited and others mutinous, Aileen spoke again.  

“As today’s Super Sim, I am going to claim the Social Director job.  I assume there are no objections.”

Silence.

“So now, I will draw numbers so that you may all choose your positions, according to the directions.”  Aileen took a small green velvet box which had been hidden in her lap, and placed it on the table.  Reaching inside, she drew out a number. “Number 6—Alysha, that’s you.”

Alysha looked a bit befuddled.  “Um, I really don’t know—I really just want to get out there on the river and do some fishing!  Can’t I do a fishing job?  No?  Well, man, I’m not sure—I guess I’ll take gardening, then.  At least I’m outside, and there’ll be two of us working together, that’ll be okay, I guess.”

Several of the other sims heaved obvious sighs of relief.  It was clear that many of them already had their eyes on certain jobs and were holding their breath hoping to get to choose in time.

“Number 3.  Braylen.”

“Why, there eees of course no doubt!  Me, I am a painter of genius extraordinaire!  I shall be the HRS painter, and fill the house with zee masterpieces!”

The numbers continued.  Some were uneventful—Deb happily chose to be the Chef, Reece accepted the second Gardener position (although it was clear that he’d have preferred not having any sort of job) and Efrain moodily agreed that he would make a stab at learning guitar or piano.  “It won’t be good, though, it won’t be good enough,” he warned them glumly. 

Keira and Hunter, however, almost came to blows when Hunter originally opted for the Chronicler position.  Her eyes flashing, teeth bared in an almost frightening look of ferocity, she told him that she, SHE, was going to be a best-selling novelist, and that if he took the position from her, he’d regret it for the rest of their time at HRS. 

“Fight, fight! “ exclaimed Brayden.  “What are you going to do about it, Super Sim?”  Mockery aside, Aileen was wondering exactly the same thing.  Fortunately, Hunter, shocked by Keira’s vehemence, backed down quickly.  

“Fine, fine, keep your hair on!  I’ll be handyman, okay!  I’m a little clumsy, not sure how good I’ll be at it, but whatever!  No need to snarl at me like that, Keira!”

At this point, realizing that the meeting was quickly getting out of hand, Aileen began hurriedly to get through the remaining items of business.  Sims were getting uncomfortable and edgy, and she herself was badly in need of a bathroom break.

“Fine, great, we all have jobs, wonderful!”  she gushed.  “Now, just a few more quick things.  For the first 8 days, we are allowed to purchase a textbook or self-help book to help us gain skills.”

“Fine!” interrupted Keira.  “I’ll take Strunk and White….”

“Well, I’m sorry, Keira, but I’m afraid that the choice is made, um, well, by the Super Sim.  So, well, um, me, actually.”  Seeing Keira’s glower, she hurried on.”I’m sure it will be you soon, of course!  But for today, I’m going to order a nice bartender’s manual.  Don’t you think we’d all enjoy being able to have some nice relaxing drinks at the end of the day?” (Or even earlier, maybe, she thought.)

“So, for the rest of today, we’re all supposed to get started on our jobs and try to learn a bit about what we’ll need to do.  Once we’re done with that, the rest of the day is free.  Deb will be serving dinner tonight at 7, here in the dining room.  If you have any questions, just let me know! “ 

“Just one more thing, though—today there’s an opportunity for one sim to get out of the house and do some exploring.  If you take this assignment, your task for today will be to go out and look for fruit and veggies to stock our fridge, as well as to meet some of our neighbors and make them some nice dinner.  Who would like to volunteer?”

Hunter’s hand flew up.  He didn’t feel any particular excitement about learning household repairs, and the opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy some time alone was a powerful lure—not to mention getting away from Keira.  That ferocious glare had left him feeling seriously uneasy.  “Something’s a bit off with that one, “ he thought, and was grateful when Aileen nodded and wrote his name down as Sim in Spot.

Unfortunately, the task proved to be impossible.  Although Hunter did enjoy the peace and solitude of exploring many of the natural beauties of Willow Creek, and found some nice mushrooms, it turned out to be the wrong season for fruit and he wasn’t able to find any.  The dinner with a neighbor was even more nerve-wracking—there was only one neighbor home, and shortly after letting him in, she suddenly took off for work.  It felt terribly awkward sitting around in her house and cooking alone in her kitchen, and he was horrified when her roommate suddenly returned and demanded to know what he was doing there.  He tried haltingly to explain, and they ate a bit together, but Hunter’s cheeks were flushed when he took the first opportunity to leave and return home.

Back in the HRS, the day had been easier.  Sims had completed their chores without much trouble, and spent much of the day relaxing.  Aileen hadn’t quite had the courage to tell Keira that in addition to her usual job, she needed to do the cleaning for the day since she was Loser—that dangerous look hadn’t been lost on her, either.  But to her relief, various housemates chose to tidy up on their own, so she didn’t have to say anything.

By 11 pm, the housemates were all tired and longing to get to bed, wondering what tomorrow would hold.  Who would wear the Super Sim hat?  And who would sit in the Loser chair?  Hunter, miserably aware of how dismally his first day had gone, had a sad suspicion that he knew.