1.5 A Hero Among Us

"Hello.....Mr. Russell this is Shayne Jackson......Yes I am calling to ask about your accident.......Yes I have read the initial report but the Mayor has a few ......Yes, that's right, it was Ms. Mathews that found you? Well, we know you have a history together, namely a child......I see, that does make this a very sensitive issue......Yes I agree, I will tell the Mayor......No, this is between the three of us....Yes you have my full support and protection.....Hm?....Yes this is a secure line, no one else will know what you've told me. The Official report is you fell from your roof and Ms. Mathews found you. That's right she saved your life. Her quick thinking and field triage saved your life. Good, you get rested up and get back to work as soon as you can......Have a good day."

"Madam Mayor, Shayne here.....Yes Ma'am I just spoke with Mr. Russell.....Yes, she is a bonafide hero. Mr. Russell can't thank her enough for coming to his aide and he wishes there was some way he could repay her for her kindness."

There ya go Jenna, your place among us is secure. It's the least I can do. Maybe someday I can tell you why, but until then your family has a silent protector....he chuckles.....not that you need it dear sister, you're doing a smash up job of it on your own.

"Hello Madam Mayor, you wanted to see me?"
"Jenna Mathews, so nice to meet you in person"
"You too, Ma'am."
"I have heard so much about you. In the short time you've been in our fair town you have made quiet an impression on us. I called you here because I want to thank you for all you have done for our town"
"Uh, well, thank you but I, uh, really it's nothing to...."
"No, Jenna, it's far more than nothing. Not only do you do everything you can while on call, you have also gone above and beyond to serve and protect off the job as well."
"But I haven't....."
"Please, let me finish.....You have upgraded all the gadgets at the station. Things have never run smoother. You answer calls in record time, the WooWoo 4000 has never run better, or been kept so clean.  I get calls every day from grateful towns people that sing your praises. Why in just the last 2 weeks on your off time you apprehended one of The Alto's top goons and saved the life of a townie. Mr. Russell spoke with my assistant this morning and he can't thank you enough for your timely rescue the other day."

Jenna can't believe what she's hearing but she schools her expression into one of gratitude and concern. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat" she says somberly, inside she is cracking up.
"Wonderful, we need more fine people such as yourself! Please accept this Accommodation Medal on behalf of the grateful town of Castle Canyon."

"Thank you, Mayor" Jenna breaks into a grin. To herself she thinks, "Too many more like me around here and all of us will have to find a new town to live in"

Jenna can feel age creeping up on her and she starts kicking up the exercise. With all the crazy emergencies she's had to deal with she wants to be prepared for everything. She can't afford to lose her edge now.

Breanna has been spending her free time hunting up the right things to take to the science center. "Mom, I need a gnome, but not just any gnome it has to be enchanted" Breanna tells her one night before bed.

"I'll see what I can do, it's been since just after your first birthday that we had some running around but I bet I can find you one."

"You're the best mom!" Breanna says and gives Jenna a hug. She never worries about any request to her mother. Nothing fazes her, and she never makes Breanna feel she's a bit odd for asking.

Come here you little bugger, my daughter needs to take you to the science center to make her imaginary friend real!

 Jackpot! This will be perfect for Breanna!

Just outside the town there was a small brush fire. Jenna wastes no time and quickly puts it out. All in the line of duty, she just wishes one of her emergencies would involve saving someone's life! How are you supposed to save 25 people if no one is around a fire or disaster?

Finally she gets credit for saving a life on the job. Francisco's house was hit by arsons. The fire inside was pretty intense. Lucky for Francisco Jenna doesn't hold a grudge and he was freed before the fire got to the second floor.

"Jenna, there is a call over on Military Square, let me find it on the map."

"Okay, found it it's across the river That way!"

"No, it's East, over by the Stadium, this way!"

"How in the world did you get your head stuck in there?"

"I was sure this was where the door was and there were carrots in there!"

1.4 Trouble Brewing

Breanna aged up while Jenna was taking care of an emergency at the graveyard. Exhausted Jenna went straight to bed, but didn't sleep for long before she was awakened by a noise in the front room.

 

She takes only a second before reacting, it's been a while since her last fight, and all the rage she thought was gone during her pregnancy comes back in a rush. She quickly whips the stuffing out of the poor man and hands him over to the police. He mumbles about being shocked by her beauty, had she not been in her undies she wouldn't have gotten the upper hand. Laughing the officer says, "You tell yourself what you need too, but that gal is hard as nails, skivvies or no she still would have mopped the floor with you. If she wasn't the best fire fighter on the force, we would have recruited her ourselves by now. Get a message back to The Alto, Jenna Mathews will forgive one misdeed as accidental or ignorance, bother her again and she just might take the organization down single-handedly." 
"I don't know who you're talking about, I just moved into town and was short on cash"
"Right and I'm the Leader of the Free World"

 Breanna wakes the next morning oblivious to the drama that played out last night. She takes out Rags to give her a hug, worried about the first day of school. "What the.... Who are you?" Where is Rags? " Breanna wails.
"I'm Rags, silly. Don't you recognize me?"  "Um no, Rags is the size of a baby, you are not." she says.
"Well,  I'm her."
"Prove it", Breanna says indignantly. 
"Hmmm, well, your dad only comes by for your birthday, but he only sent a toy box yesterday, your mom taught you to read, walk, and your favorite bedtime stories are about Jimmy Sprocket.  They are mine too, I've heard them so much the past few years I have them memorized." Rags tells her.
"OooooKay, that is way too weird. I never told anyone that but....OK I guess you are Rags, but um, why are you alive and why are you my size?"
"Well, I'm not really alive, not like you are anyway. I'm kind of only an essence right now.  No one can see me but you."

Jenna loves to read to Breanna at night, it makes everything right in her world to be with her daughter. Tonight instead of Jimmy Sprocket, she reads her a logic book. As Breanna drifts off to sleep she can't help but think about Rags. Maybe there is a way to make her real. That night she dreams of having a real life Rags for a best friend, all the kids at school will be so jealous!

The next day she tells Rags her plan. "I hear the Research Center is looking for new butterflies and other insects. I think I will collect a bunch of them so I can get to know some of the scientists. Then I can ask someone if they have any ideas on how to make you real." Breanna explains.

"That sounds great, but don't give them Monarch Butterflies, my great great grandmother was one, I'd hate to see any come to harm. " Rags tells her. "Ya know Rags, you look like a butterfly, at least you have the same colors" 
"Oh do you really think so?!" Rags says wistfully.

While they were out someone comes by to take the toy box Francisco gave Breanna for her birthday. Jenna is furious because all her bills have been paid on time. She may not have much but what she has is paid for. She heads to Francisco's house to get to the bottom of things.

"Did you know there was an attempted robbery at our house a few days ago?" She asks him. "And today while I was at work the repo man came by and took the toy box you gave Breanna."

Francisco's shoulders drop. "Oh no, I thought you would be safe if I stayed away." 
"SAFE!?! Out with it now, before I rip it out of you!" Not one to keep her temper under wraps for long, Jenna can feel it building like molten lava under a mountain. The heat of it shows on her face.

He steps back and puts his hands up defensively. Francisco begins to stammer "I, I'm sorry, I thought it would be okay. I owe The Alto money and instead of making a payment I bet it on the game. I thought they were a sure thing and I could pay off all my debt."

"AND?"

"Well, I didn't think they would link me to your place. I've only been twice, it's why I missed her last birthday. I'm not avoiding you or Breanna, I was staying away to keep her, you both, safe" He watches as the color of her face deepens from pink to red. Funny, he thinks to himself, it's the same shade as her hair now, then the color drains from his own as the volcano blows.

"You low down, llama milking, scumbag! You aren't fit to clean up llama spit!" She growls. "How dare you put MY child in danger? You cowardly scum! So what's the threat this time? To break both your legs?"

"Something like that, yes" he eyes her suspiciously. Llama milking scumbag? that one's new.

"After I'm through with you you'll WISH they were the ones to find you first"

"Dispatch?....... Yes, this is Jenna Mathews, send an Ambulance out to 90 Hatchery Road........ Yes, we have an injured man here, multiple fractures, evidence of internal bleeding. He's nearly unconscious. I'm not sure what happened. Looks like he was fixing the roof and fell."

Francisco moans, he knows she let him off easy, he deserves no less for endangering their child. "Stay away from us or I will turn you over to The Alto myself!" As he watches her greet the ambulance from beneath swollen eyelids he wishes things were different. He loves her even more for the fierce and fearless way she protects those she loves.

1.3 Motherhood

As soon as Jenna got her bonus check, she did some remodeling and enclosed a new room for Breanna. A toddler will need space to play, and a quite room to sleep in. She completes it just in time for her Birthday.

Francisco was the only one invited and Jenna  makes dinner thinking she has a bit more time before Breanna grows up. The spaghetti took her longer than she thought and she misses the transition by a few minutes. She's still bald but Jenna still thinks she's beautiful. In the mail was a funny doll. The note read "A special gift for a special little girl" SJ. Breanna can't quite remember who SJ might be but loves the quirky colors and look of the doll so she places it in Breanna's crib.

Jenna is so excited to read Breanna her first bedtime story, and tucks her sweet girl into bed before crashing herself. "Hmmm, the doll must have a motion, or sound sensor. I don't remember it being in that pose when I put it in here earlier"

The next day is a full one. It starts with Breakfast, then learning to talk. "Hold out for true love sweet heart. You'll know because there won't be any doubt in your heart."

 "Twue Wuv" "That's my girl!"

Jenna loves to sit and read with Breanna, who loves the new book mommy brought home. Such pretty pictures and mommy lets her turn the pages. Jenna is overwhelmed by how much she loves her little girl. 

Going back to work wasn't easy, but at least it is entertaining, so that helps ease her desire to be home with her young daughter. Today the call was about some Gnomes run amok. One looks ready to explode but Jenna isn't a bit afraid to grab them and put them in a safe place. She also decides that Gnomes are truly evil, and not allowed on her property. The garden, not that she has one, will just have to protect itself!

Her favorite times are those spent with Breanna. Her heart swells with pride when Breanna learns to walk without help. With her daughter's birthday around the corner she is thankful she was able to teach her all the life skills she will need and looks forward to having a child around to play with and talk to. 

The science and research center had a mishap today and when she got back to the station she was still suffering from some odd effects. "Um, would you mind not mixing your eggs with mine?"  "Gross, that's way closer of a look at you than I wanted, do you mind stepping back before this wears off? I'd hate to be stuck like this forever" Thankfully there was no permanent damage done. It would have been nicer had they offered her a payoff instead of their regrets, but after their main lab was destroyed she knows they can't pay her yet. A promise to pay in the future is little comfort when the bills are stacking up.

1. 2 It's for the Best

Yup, they don't do much around here. Seems every time a call comes in all they can do is stand around pointing and yelling for me to get there as quickly as possible. I never thought of this as a one man team with multiple supervisors but to be honest with you I like to work alone.

 Beside who in the world wouldn't love to drive this thing around town?The thrill of the call is only part of why I love this job. I love the looks I get as I drive past when they realize it's a woman behind the wheel. I love it even more when they end up eating crow after they see how I handle each job.

 

One of my tasks is maintaining the station. With 4 of us on call you would think one of them could make sure the truck and the alarm are working alright, but again, I'm on my own. I wish someone would hide my uniform again I really hate wearing it to do simple handyman jobs. Besides I really want to catch Fransisco eye. He's always on the computer upstairs or yelling for me to head out when the alarm goes off.

Another Kitchen fire. So many sims attempt to cook waffles for breakfast then realize they forgot all about them after they get to work. Thankfully Castle Canyon has made a new ordinance and all home are equipped with a smoke alarm.

 To keep my skills sharp I've advertised to do odd fixer upper jobs around town. Shayne Jackson sent over his stereo for repair. Seems he just can't help but get the incense too close to things and some of the wires need replaced. I'm happy to have the extra money and working on stuff is one of my favorite things to do.

 Sierra decided to help me out and hide my uniform. We've become really good friends since our fight. At least I think we have, I guess she could be afraid of a repeat but I know she doesn't like Fransisco, she likes Shayne. I told her the next time his place is on fire she should come with me but she didn't look too thrilled with that. "Jenna, would you like some help finding your Uniform? I think I saw something downstairs" The lower level of the station has a built in theater, a game room, weight room and a private room.

 Starting a fire at the fire station......................................................................Priceless!

Of course no good deed goes unpunished as I was working on truck maintenance I realized I was expecting. I hope I can get home before anyone else realizes why I changed clothes. "Hey Jenna, have trouble with your uniform again? I'd be happy to help you look for it"
"I'm sure you would, but no Sierra and I had a bet and I lost. I'm heading home for a few days off I'll see you next week sometime"

It's been a couple of days and I've spent all of it at home. I really should tell Fransisco before the baby come. I know that I'm attracted to him, but I'm not ready to be in a committed relationship. From what I've head he's spent the last 20 yrs avoiding commitment himself. (Fransisco is an adult, a full life stage older than Jenna. and has commitment issues)

"Jenna, why didn't you tell me earlier? You didn't have to go through it all alone."
"Well, I wasn't sure how I felt about it all, the baby, you, us. And I wasn't sure how you would feel about it all. I don't want you to think I'm trying to trap you."
"I'm not sure how I feel about it either, but I will do whatever I can"

I decide to head over the the Art Gallery. Outside I run into Shayne "The stereo works better than ever"
"Great! If it gives you anymore trouble just let me know"

"How are you doing Jenna? Is there anything I can do for you?" Shayne says when he notices the state she is in. "I have lots of connections around town and I think the world of you. You've helped me out of more than one mess so I feel I owe you a favor or 3"
"That's so sweet of you Shayne, I'll remember that if I ever need anything."

It's getting close to dinner time so Jenna heads to the nearby dinner. "I'll have the special"
"Are you sure? I'm not really sure what it is and in your condition it might not be a good idea"
Never one to back down from a challenge Jenna orders the special anyway.
"Okay, that wasn't such a good idea." Hello ER nurse here." Yes this is Jenna Mathews, I am at the local dinner the one near the base?  Send an Ambulance please, either I'm in labor or I've just been poisoned!"
Turns out to be labor after all, though the hospital staff warns her from eating there. They've had a number of cases of food poisoning reported and a few of them have been fatal.

Fransisco met her at the hospital and makes sure she and the baby get home safely.
"Jenna, I've been thinking of us and well for Breanna's sake I think we should get married"
"For Breanna? That isn't what I've been thinking at all. I am not about to be in a relationship with someone that doesn't love me. I won't put my child through that" Jenna thinks of her own childhood. Her parents fought constantly, her father would come home from work and complain about every little thing and nothing her mom did was good enough. "Maybe I wouldn't be so messed up had they split up" She thinks to herself. "You can see Breanna anytime you want but no I won't marry you just to put a pretty package over it. You can leave through the same door you entered, I'll see you at work"

Moving in and Getting Started

This is the story of Jenna Mathews and her family. Using the rules for the Random Legacy Challenge I am going to try to make it through 10 generations with the same family.

"What a quiet town", Jenna thinks to herself. "This little patch of ground overlooking much of it will be nice, and it's not too far out of the way from everything. This will be my home and I can't wait to get started."First things first however is to get a job, so off to the local fire station. They have a position open for a Watergirl and I start on Monday.

It's not much of a house but it has potential. There is room to build out and the place is layout nicely for additions.

The first week of work went pretty well. I met Francisco, Garrett and Sierra. I work with these sims, though so far I haven't seen them do much around the station. It seems that they are best suited to encouragement when I head off on calls than taking an emergency call themselves.

My first call was Shayne Jackson, seems he had a bit of trouble with his incense burner and it got out of hand. He's kind of cute and I took a few minutes to get to know him before I headed back to the station. I'm not looking to settle down anytime soon but it doesn't hurt to have some options available.

I think Francisco is kind of cute, and we seemed to get along rather well. Just seeing him around makes my heart flutter a bit.

Sierra is just so  Good, it sets my teeth on edge. I caught her making eyes at Francisco and let her hear what I thought about it. She denied that she has any designs on him but once the little green monster rears his head someone has to pay. Her pleading and apologizing fell on deaf ears as I leaped at her. Jenna 1, Sierra 0, that will teach her to keep her eyes to herself!

I'm not sure who the prankster around here is, but someone took my uniform while I was in the shower. If they think I'm embarassed to walk around in my undies they have another think coming! I'd much prefer this to anything else anyway and to prove it I decided to work on the fire engine before hunting up a new uniform.

Jenna makes sure to take advantage of the workout facilities at the station often. It helps push the rage back for a while, and ensures that she will win any fights her temper will get her into.


You have just met Jenna Mathews, her main traits are Brave, Hot-Headed, Inappropriate, Kleptomaniac and Ambitious. She is the founder of our Legacy. The goals and restrictions for her are Single parent, 1 child, Fire Fighter, Property Mogul and for more fun, fighter. It's been a while since I played the firefighter career and I'm kind of glad it's happening in the beginning before I have a lot of sims to control. Should be interesting how things continue to go for her and which sims I will find to play major roles in the story as we go.I apologize right now for the quality of pictures. They get better a few chapters down the road, but not by much. I'll keep working on them and try to get better facial shots of sims at least.