Frank and Julie

Wednesday, Day 3

Julie woke up a little after six, in a wonderful mood and looking forward to seeing more of Frank.

So what would be on the agenda after her morning ablutions? She has Wednesdays off from work, so the whole day lay ahead.

Julie started with some more P.D. James, and then her diary. Of course. Having a little crush doesn’t change one’s personality completely, you know.

But surely she would at least do some spilling to her diary about her new romance. Right?

“Dear Diary,

“I’ve been thinking about gnomes lately.

“Who invented them? I know I would never have thought of such a thing.

“Why are they always short, and old, and with beards?

“What’s with the red pointy hats? Always those same hats. Is it some official uniform? Required by their religion?

“And why do you never see a gnome inside?

“No one ever builds little shelters for them in the garden either. Don’t you think they might like having something like that, especially when the weather turns nasty?

“If I were a gnome, I’d want someplace to go if a big thunderstorm came along. That’s for certain.

“And I wouldn’t want to have to wear a beard, either.”

Sigh.

Julie certainly plays her cards close to the vest. Even where her diary is concerned.

Her thoughts on gnomes exhausted, Julie went out to get the morning paper…

…and a neighbor was there, waiting to meet her.

Hello, Rainbow Tigress.

Julie forgot all about the newspaper for the moment, and invited her new acquaintance in for a chat and some lunchmeat sandwiches.

Well. Except for the big-kiss greeting, you’ve got it all over Frank already, Rainbow.

Julie also resisted the pull of Crime-Scene Cleanup and You, her diary, and The Lighthouse, even though they all sat there gazing at her from the nearby bookcase. She was only interested in Rainbow.

So this is what a girl crush looks like.

Julie and Rainbow sat on the couch for a good while, bonding over talk of food, cooking, and especially desserts.

Frank may be the doughnut maven, but from the conversation we would guess Julie has quite a sweet tooth of her own.

Julie and Rainbow started to feel hungry again as evening fell, and so Julie whipped up some macaroni and cheese for them to share.

Julie was just digging into her bowl when the phone rang. (So that happens in the Sims’ world too.) It was Frank, inviting her on an outing Downtown.

Julie didn’t know what there might be to do downtown at night, in a town as small as Cardinal, but she eagerly accepted nonetheless. She did hope that there would at least be food.

Julie made her apologies to Rainbow, urged her to finish her dinner and make herself at home, freshened up a little, and then climbed into the taxi for the ride downtown.

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It was seven-thirty when the taxi deposited Frank and Julie outside the One-Twenty-Five Cafe. Julie bought coffee for herself and for Frank; and then, too hungry to wait for Frank to take the lead, she got a table on the patio outside, and promptly ordered salmon for them both.

“Oh, sorry, Frank. You did say you liked salmon, didn’t you?”

As Frank and Julie chatted and waited for their food, some of the other inhabitants of Cardinal made use of the dart and chess boards

“Yes, Val’s a fine woman. I can see that for myself; and I’ve been assured of it by others too.

“Many, many others.

“(Odd how so many of them are named ‘Bayfield’. And male. Hmm…oh, well…probably doesn’t mean anything.)

“But her unreliable taste in music is a worry. I mean, Eminem? Couldn’t she have done a video to…oh, I don’t know…maybe Die Zauberflöte instead?

“Or Weird Al? That would be awesome too.

“At any rate, I think I’m going to stand here scowling, with my hands on my hips, until she notices how displeased I am.”

You’re a smooth operator, Kevin, and not the least bit snobbish. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.

After eating, Frank and Julie joined the dart-players for a while, until they were rudely interrupted by a Taz.

“Hear ye! Hear ye! Taz has just hit Frank and Julie with a VentriloFart! And the Town Crier still thinks Julie is cute!”

“Oh. Joe. Didn’t see you lurking over there in the corner. Thanks for the news bulletin. And I am flattered. But scram now, why don’t you?”

Sorry, Joe. Again.

“Hey, I know something that might take your mind off that. Shall we dance, Julie?”

“That Kevin fellow was right. This Mozart person is funky. Get down…yow!

“Julie? Are you laughing? At me?”

“With you, dear. With you. Now here, let’s slow dance a while.”

Frank and Julie slow-danced until the sun came up, then caught a cab home. Julie, exhausted and happy, went straight to bed, and slept in until nearly eleven.

Dreamlessly, of course. (Or so she maintains.)

Next installment: Frank gets his day off. How will he spend it? And with whom?