Round 1/Conway 1-Life and Money

Introduction: After her husband passed away, Gertrude Conway decided it was time to sell the family house and move out of the city for some peace and quiet in her later years.  She found a cozy little home in the new suburb of Ollendale.  It had a pond, and garden, and a nice kitchen--everything she'd wanted.

As a teenager, Sarah was a handful.  She was always staying out late and sneaking off with boys whenever her mother Gertrude turned her back.  This finally caught up with her as a young women one day when she found herself pregnant.  Though her mother insisted she either marry or move back in, Sarah stubbornly insisted that she didn't need the help and could do just fine on her own.  However, with the bills piling up and her son Timothy heading towards his teenage years, Sarah decided she'd like some help after all, and showed up at her mother's new home.

Sarah: So, I finally did what I swore I'd never do--I moved back in with my mother.  Once I realized I didn't know how to keep little Timothy from making the same mistakes I'd made, I knew I needed help.  It was time for me to seek out a grandmother's influence.  I didn't want to be too much of a burden, though, so I also got a job in the law field.

Timothy adapted well, just as I knew he would.  He's a good boy, and I hope he'll turn out to be a good man, too.  For now he's made friends with some of the neighborhood kids.  We only have a small community for now, but I'm sure it'll grow with time.  I might be interested in contributing to that myself in the future, but right now I'm focused on saving up money.  You see, I want to set up a little business for myself.  I've always wanted to open my own business, and soon my dream will become a reality!

My work and real-estate research keeps me busy, but I try to find the time to take care of Timothy.  Mom's there and ready to help out, but she shouldn't have to do everything.

Timothy: Well, we'd been livin' with Grandmother for a while when at last, it was time for me to become a teenager!  Whoo!  Now I know Mom was all worried about me becoming some wild punk, but that just ain't me.  I mean, yeah, I like girls alright and everything (especially that one Melissa girl), but what I really care about it writing!  Right  now I write for my high school newspaper, but one day I'm gonna be a famous journalist!

I make sure to work hard in school so I can get some nice scholarships to help with college.  See, funds are kinda tight around here.  Mom's doing her best, but college don't come cheap, you know?  There isn't even enough money to renovate the house, so Mom and I have to share a temporary structure out in the backyard.  But hey, Grandmother did a favor takin' us in, and she's an alright lady.  Little strict, but I s'pose that's just how grandmothers are.

Bad news, though.  I gave the Madalk State University Financial Aid Office a call to check out my aid package, and they said they'd only give me one scholarship!  I was like, what??  But they said good grades aren't enough, and they want all sorts of extracurriculars and what not.  When'm I gonna do that, huh?  I'm busy enough as it is!  Mom said no big deal, though.  I didn't have to run off to college so early, and could stick around longer to work on some more things.

Gertrude Conway:

Fortune/LTW-Earn S100,000/Cancer

Sarah Conway:

Fortune/LTW-Own 5 Top-Level Businesses/Leo

Timothy Conway:

Fortune/LTW-Reach top of Journalism Career/Aries (5,8,6,3,3)

Points:

+3 (Gertrude, Sarah, and Timothy Conway)

Round 1/Palmer 1-New life, new dates

Introduction:

Tired of the city life, Patrick Palmer decided to move to Ollendale for a fresh start on his golden years.  He was settling into his new home when his granddaughter appeared on his doorstep.

Melissa Palmer had a good childhood and was looking at a bright future.  Sure, having unmarried parents was unusual.  Parents who went spelunking, deep-sea diving, and pirating, too!  Despite their oddities, they were good parents who raised a good daughter.  One trip, though, took a turn for tragedy.  Jenny and David went off to find some new relic, and that was the last anyone heard from them.  Just like that!  Suddenly the teen was left with her mom's dad Patrick as her only relative.

Patrick:

Don't know why that girl came to me.  Not like her mom and I were close, not since she started shacking up with that good-for-nothing explorer.  I gave 'er a room and a bed though, even included that little picture there.  A child is the last thing I needed, but what can ya do?

A few people came by to welcome me to the neighborhood.  No attractive ladies, but I did find a fun fellow by the name of Joe.

Got me a job, too, workin' at a little music shop in Semyr City.  Already got a couple promotions, too, but I'm not real excited.  I'd rather be at the top, makin' my own music.  Or at least spendin' time with the ladies.  *grumble*

One day Melissa comes on over, says she's missin' her mom and pop.  Me, I just didn't know what to say.  Now I know what you're thinkin', here I'd raised a daughter of my own so I should know what to do, right?  Wrong.  My late wife, rest her soul, did most of the raisin'.  Besides, Melissa's completely different from how 'er mom was.  Jennifer was a wild thing, always off having a good time.  Melissa here has a steady job and is studyin' up for college.  Anyhow, I gave 'er some money and told her to go have some fun.  I figure it'll at least get her mind on somethin' else.

Melissa:

So here I am, orphaned, living with a grandpa I hardly know, and in the middle of my teenage years.  What's a girl to do?  Find a guy, that's what!  Like, don't get me wrong, I'm workin' hard and planning on heading to college, but it wouldn't hurt to, like, have a boyfriend, you know?  Well, I didn't know hardly anyone in this speck of a city, so I called up the local matchmaker, right?  She said she could hook me up, but it'd cost me, so good thing gramps gave me that money?

That first guy turned out to be, like,  a total bore, so I called the old woman back a couple weeks later, right?  Got a new guy, this one named Orlando.  But he wasn't any good either!  Can you believe it?  Maybe I'm just unlucky!  Gramps says sometimes there isn't just one right person, but, like, more than one?  I dunno.  I think I only need one, you know?

So it was finally time for college, and was I ever excited!  I could hardly wait to get outta there!  I mean, I appreciate Gramps takin' me in and everything, but it was time for a change of scene, you know?  Losing Mom and Dad was... well, I try not to think about it.  College'll help me move on, and maybe I can finally get that boyfriend I've been waiting for!

See you at college!

Patrick Palmer:

Romance/LTW-Reach top of Music Career/Libra (2,8,2,6,7)

Melissa Palmer:

Fortune/LTW-Reach top of Law Career/Gemini (4,7,8,3,3)

Points:

+2 (Patrick and Melissa Palmer)