simgaroop | The Road Back Home (A Day of the Dead Story)

This is a very small "Day of the Dead" story I'm offering as my treat for those of you who are celebrating Halloween tonight. It is not related at all with the Broke Legacy, so don't worry about spoilers :).

"Awwww! Come on! Come on, let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

"I can hear them already! They are going to get all the candy for themselves if we don't hurry up! It's not like there are many houses around here after all!"

"Come on, Johnny! We've been here for HOURS! Tank and his friends left my place already... and I promised Buck I'd share half of my candy with him! Come on!"

"Come on! I'm so booooored! And I need some sugar badly! How am I supposed to get sick from eating so much candy if there's nothing for us by the time we go?! Come on! Don't you want candy too?!"

"My mom says that candy just fills our stomachs with empty calories and rots our teeth, so I don't really care about that. But I love going around town with you guys, so yeah, I also want to leave as soon as possible..."

"But we also promised Phi we'd help her with her offerings..."

"And you know how important this is for her..."

"I know that, Johnny. But I didn't know this would take so long!"

"And I really, really don't want to lose against Tank this year! I won't hear the end of it if he gets more candy than me!"

"In that case you can tell him that you got to be part of a very ancient and interesting tradition!"

"Just look around you! We are standing in the middle of an awesome party!"
"Yeah, I can see that, though I don't see the point of all these flowers and candles, unless there's a cake hidden around here..."

"You must be kidding me! Didn't you pay attention to Mrs. Specter's story?"

"Errr... I guess I didn't exactly listen to it..."

"Wha... that's exactly the reason you do so bad at school! You've got to start making an effort and pay attention at what's going on around you for a change!"

"Oh please, Johnny! Now you are sounding exactly like my Dad!"
"Wha...?"

"Don't get mad, Johnny. I can explain it again to you, Ripp. If you want to, of course..."
"Sure!"
"But you've got to pay attention this time!"

"All right! Well... this is a very special night, for the spirits that have crossed to the other side are granted one night to visit their loved ones in this plane. It is a long journey, of course, and some of them don't remember the road back home very well. That's why we left this trail of orange flower petals and candles, to light the way for them..."

"Imagine what'd happen if they got lost!"
"Yeah... that wouldn't be fun at all..."

"And what about the sugar skulls and all this food?"

"Well, the spirits will be hungry and thirsty by the time they arrive here. And as their hosts, we should make sure they get something yummy to eat. I really don't know which were the favorite food of the spirits that leave here, except for my Mom and Dad..."

"Speaking of, I've got thank your mom when we get to your place, Johnny!"

"Mom loved her chocolate muffins, so I'm sure she'll be very happy when she arrives here. Thanks again for asking your mother to bake some for her..."

"Aw, it's nothing, Phi! Anything for a friend! Besides, I know how important it is for you to celebrate this night with your parents,"

"Yup! Most people will think this is silly, but while I decorate their graves, I can actually... feel my Mom and Dad close to me. As if they were standing right here, right now..."

"Well, well... this looks very nice, Ophelia. You kids did a good job decorating the garden for our visitors. I'm sure they'll enjoy everything you prepared for them."

"You think so, Aunt Olive?"
"I have no doubts about it."

"Nonetheless, I think it's time you kids stop worrying about the dead and enjoy this night too."
"But I've not finished y..."
"I'll finish it for you Ophelia. You go and get some candy, all right?"
"Wow! Thank you so much!"

"Then what are we waiting for guys! Let's go!"

"Last one to get to the Beaker's house will have to ring their doorbell!"
"Hey! That's not fair Phi! I had to do that last year!"
"Then I suggest you to get moving, Ripp!"

*Sigh*

"Someday, those kids will have to learn the truth, Lyla Grunt. But sometimes I think that deep inside they already know you're not coming back..."

__________________________

"Uggghhh... Aghhh.... *cough*"

"Ughh! I... I swear I won't ever eat a single piece of candy.... at least until next week!"

"Are you feeling better now, Ripp?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Be sure to change out of those dirty pajamas, boy! And go straight to bed! You've got training at 0400 sharp tomorrow!"
"Yeah, yeah..."

"... Most people will think this is silly, but while I decorate their graves, I can actually... feel my Mom and Dad close to me. As if they were standing right here, right now..."

"What if you're the same as them, Mom? What if you tried to come back, but got lost just like Phi said?"

"I hope you like these cupcakes as much as I do. Mrs. Smith gave them to me tonight and I was saving them for a special occasion. Besides, the General won’t let me cook yet, so this is the only thing I found in our fridge..."

"He won't let me use the matches either, so I guess I'll just leave my light on, all right? I promise I'll leave it on all nights from now on! Just don't get lost and come back, all right?"

"Good night, Mom..."

_______________

"Don't worry, Ripp..."

"I'd never forget the way back home..."

"Good night, my child... I love you so much..."

"ZZZzzz... M-Mommy?"

"I love you too....ZZZzzzz"

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Notes:

- The Lyla Grunt featured in this story was originally made by

strange_tomato. Thank you so much for sharing her with us!
- Tomorrow I'll visit a graveyard with my family, so I'll share pictures later of the way the people in my country decorate them for the "Day of the Dead".
- For me, the sims don't have an specific nationality or religion, but I figured that the Specter family would celebrate a special day in honor of the spirits of their loved ones.
- Yup, Olive isn't exactly evil in this version of Strangetown. I left the "truth" about Lyla's demise open on purpose, by the way, so you can imagine how did she die and why is Olive keeping it as a secret from her family.

And as promised, here are two small treats for you:

1. These are some very simple recolors I did of Windkeeper's skulls, so they'd resemble the sugar calaveritas that decorate the Ofrendas of Muertos in my country, and I also used them in this story. I'm including the original mesh too. Feel free to do anything you want to with them.

2. This my favorite "Halloween/Dia de los Muertos" song. It's called "No es serio este cementerio" (This graveyard is not serious) and it was originally composed and performed by Spanish group Mecano. The version I'm sharing with you comes from the Spanish play "Hoy no me puedo levantar". I love this song very much!

- Anyway, have fun and eat lots of candy! (well, as long as you don't get sick, of course!).

Happy Halloween / Día de los Muertos!