Sims County

But dancing is only so much fun when you’re two lemons away from starvation, so Miera soon quit the group to go eat the free chips she had spotted at the bar when they first walked in. 

She also hit it off with the bartender, and managed to get a kiss out of him as his shift ended. 

They ended up making out in the janitor’s closet, but it wasn’t long before all of the walking and sweaty dancing caught up with her.  Caleb said his polite goodbyes and quickly left our poor Miera behind. 

The nightclub was too noisy for a nap, so she found a quiet place in the plaza to snooze. 

Once clean, Miera meandered through the town square, looking at all of the beautiful old buildings, and pretty plants.  Idly, she wondered whether she could

pick some of the flowers without getting into trouble. 

Oof! 

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” 

Miera turned to the man she had run into.  “Oh I’m so sorry!  I’m new here, and it’s just so nice I got distracted.  Are you okay?  I didn’t mean to step on you!” 

He ended up inviting her out with his club mates for lunch and dancing at the night club.

But Mr. Jang was very kind about her stink, and told her that the bathrooms downstairs had free showers available. 

A shower!  Oh glorious creation of science… 

Once she had one of her own she would never take it for granted again! 

To celebrate on the cheap, Miera went into town to swim a few laps in the public pool.  She didn’t have a bathing suit because she’d had to sell most of her less necessary clothing for cash, and she was forced to swim in her t-shirt and an old pair of boxer-style PJs. 

She met another local by the pool’s edge, but the scent of wild living put him off quickly. 

It was grueling, disgusting work, but finally she saved up enough money to apply for a building permit!

Here’s to hoping the mailman around here delivers it promptly. 

After doing some research at the library, and borrowing their phone to talk to a few people, Miera found out that to build her house she would need 500 simoleons just to pay for the initial building permit and water meter installation! 

How could she pay for that with no job? 

Thankfully she found that her neighbors always left their easel outside (once with a blank canvas on it!), so while they were at work she would sneak over and doodle as best she could.  A nearby art school offered to buy them, and set them up in the classrooms as examples of How Not To Paint.  Oh well, at least they paid her. 

She also resolved to improve her fishing skills.  She had never been a fan of seafood before, but lately the thought of tender roasted fish left her mouth watering.  Mmmm, food… 

As she traveled back and forth for her secret easel sessions, Miera grabbed up everything she could possibly stuff in her pockets: sparkly stones and fossils, fresh flowers for the little florist’s shop down the way, and all of the fruits and veggies she could find.  They were her only guaranteed meals around here. 

But UGH.  Eating whole, raw lemons might be the worst thing she’s ever had to do… 

Welp, first thing’s first, let’s look to lunch!  After a bit of wandering, Miera found a nice pond full of lively fish.  But a few hours in she still couldn’t seem to hook one.  They were too clever for her.  =/ 

It was starting to get dark, so she wandered some more, looking for shelter and an easier meal.  All she found was a small bluff with a bonfire and a bench.  She lit the bonfire for warmth, and watched the sun set from her bench.  A friendly stranger came by to chat for a few minutes, but left for her own home shortly after dark. 

Exhausted and frustrated, Miera eventually passed out on the bench. 

Around midnight, she woke up achy and stiff, but what had woken her?

Food! 

Somewhere down the path there was food! 

She ran down to the small park and stuffed herself full of leftover fruit kabobs.