Week 12, Day 1: Making Sour Nectar

Life goes on at Maccaroni Island. Little by little trees are cut to give room for new builds, especially in the central region. As trees get removed, it becomes easier to see the village structure. The tiny Town Square is still rather primitive, but a natural center for it all.

The latest community build is the upgraded school, the blue building next to the Village Hall.

Corinne Y. Redward, wife of the insane Randal Redward, was asked to become a local teacher. She accepted the position, working 4 days a week, couple hours per day. Kids will attend school 2 days, and teens 2 days. The school still functioned as a library where just anyone could stop by to build skills.

Corinne was satisfied with the new build. The class room was upstairs, while the library, educational play room for toddlers and kids, and new toilet facilities were located on ground floor. There was still a playground outside.

Today was kids' day at school. All these kids are 3rd generation, and there are still more that didn't make it to school this day. In front is Bonita Black, 2nd row are Corinne's daughter Yvilla Redward and Eileen Greench. 3rd row are Richelle Yea-Low and the Hamming twins. On back row are Evita Hedgewall and Blanca Peel. The school might be a good way to build new ties across the regions.

Bonita had heard from her parents Bella and Christopher that Mrs Redward was a poor singer.

Viggo was the skeleton of a man who stranded on the island with Joe Hawk, but who unfortunately was killed and eaten by wild dogs on their first night on the island. Only a few locals recalled that story, though.

Richelle Yea-Low thought Viggo looked scary anyway...

The kids did not hesitate, but ran out to play.

At 3 Greench Farm the twins had reached teens. Boletta Greench had a talk with her mom, Bridgette.

Bridgette B. Greench was actually pushing elderhood. It will be weird seeing the 2nd generation turning gray while there are still 1st generation elders around.

Also in the southern region, at 4 Greench Farm, Greta and Gabriel Greench still resides with their daughter Carie G. Peel. They have helped Carie's little family with the farming bit for quite some time.

Next door their son LaShawn lived alone. He was the poorest man on the island, basically caused by him buying out the family's original green house, before the land was to be shared between the families. His loan had built up an up, he now owed way more than the accepted §10.000.

LaShawn had never complained or asked much. But now he realized he couldn't go on without help. Some changes were needed. So, he asked his old parents to help him with his tiny farm.

A few hours later, Greta and Gabriel Greench turned up at LaShawn's house.

Maybe LaShawn didn't plan his old parents to move in with him, but why not. His sister Carie next door made a good living already, and with 2 kids and several cats the household was big enough even without the elders.

Harvesting from two lots would certainly help.

While Gabriel harvested Carie's garden for LaShawn, Greta and LaShawn walked over to the new Nectary located in the western region, at Redward Heights. Greta was so excited, she even forgot to pick up her walking cane. Both she and LaShawn dreamed of having a full nectar cellar. Making their first nectar was a very much desired first step!

Randal Redward built this wall some time ago, it symbolizes the gate to Redward Heights.

The girl wearing the orange top was Rebecka Black. LaShawn met her on the beach the other day.

They didn't like the idea of paying Randal Redward all that nectar over time, but Greta took a different approach.

When you don't really know how to produce the nectar, the first result will naturally be rather poor, and Greta actually enjoyed imagining Randal Redward's expression when drinking the first bottles of sour nectar.

Rebecka Black resides up north, where most residents make a living from fishing.

At the Village Hall, the council was about to start their simweekly meeting. Some of the kids were still playing outside the school. The garden fronting the Village Hall were planted by Cody G. Major some time ago. He decorated several community lots with plants he grew.

All council members were gathered, except Randal Redward. Bella B. Black heard sounds from the main office, and walked in to find him there...

Bella was a skilled painter - and a photographer. Unfortunately the camera could no longer be used, she would need new cords as well as printing tools. The camera was simply too modern. A very few photos were created in the past, but the equipment could no longer be used. Painting is no longer a way to make a living, because anyone who would pay for a painting had already bought a few, and there was simply no longer a market, except from the gallery. Bella had turned into fishing. Painting Randal Redward's portrait could mean a much needed income.

They all finally got seated. They debated the school, and the nectary.

They also decided to give all households §500 to buy from the stuff found on the main beach. The consignment store owner, Constance R. Hamming, would need to cover the total of those gifts, but after the locals had bought the stuff. It was just a fair way to share the values.

Did they all see that Randal Redward had turned even more insane? Or did they just agree that it was a pretty bad idea?

To be continued in a short week.