Post by Pally on Dec 16, 2017 15:46:18 GMT
I didn't sleep well the night Mud made his offer. The next morning, after sending the kids off to their Thursday class, I headed down to the oasis cave to do some thinking. Something about the cool air and the sounds of dripping water were very calming to me, and for some reason I felt close to Sunshine here. I know it sounded crazy, here in a place where the sun could not fully shine, but the little ray's that found their way in were like little memories of the time I shared with him. But today I lay in the cool dirt and thought of another man, Mad Mud. And as I thought back to the first time we met, I couldn't help but wonder if the strange man had fallen in love with me. You see, Mud has three main traits; Mean, Hot-Headed, and the lesser known, Romantic. I've seen them all. When we first met he was in full romantic mode.
He kept looking at me and smiling that smile. At the time I was creepied out. I think all the rumors and other Murklander's opinions had somehow made me form an unfounded opinion of him myself. Don't get me wrong, he could be a huge meany, but I had seen the other side to him, and I also suspected he was lonely. Many times when I was tending my roof top garden I saw him watching me from his own rooftop. He also paid me many visits to ,Check my Progress. We had developed a strange relationship over the weeks. Perhaps something more than a friendship...I wasn't sure of how I really felt about him now. The fact was, I had agreed to have 6 kids, and I needed 3 more. Having them with someone who, loved you, was better than having to eat special cookies just so you could look at the guy. So I had made up my mind and that evening after I put the kids to bed, I went to Mad Mud's abode.
When I arrived he greeted me with all the charm I think he could muster,"My dear, you have no idea how happy I am that you have decided to join me tonight," he smiled warmly,"you look especially beautiful in this moonlight. I could look upon you forever." I had never heard anything cheesier in all my life, but then again, Mud did love his cheese. He grabbed my hands and kissed them. His lips were cold and wet, I shivered involuntarily. "Are you cold my sweet," He leaned closer to me and grinned," why don't we go inside and warm you up." Inside his small kitchen he gestured to a plate on the table,"I have made us a small cheesecake. I used the cheese from my very own cowplant. It is very special." When I turned my head to look at the table, he kissed me softly on the cheek. His lips were still cold and wet.
We sat together for a little while. I listened to him talk about his plans for the future. I tried to eat the cake he offered me but was too nervous to be hungry. "Is it not to your satisfaction, my dear?" he asked. "Um, oh, it's fine really! I guess I'm just not really that hungry," I smiled nervously. "Well, perhaps we should save it for after you've worked up an appetite," he said in a husky voice,"shall we head up to my, private chamber?" I smiled and nodded and he led me up to his bedroom. We sat on his bed and talked again. He told me more of how he had become leader of his faction and of how he had long desired to have me be the mother of his heir. Then he showed me his record books, "You see I have written my name here," he gestured to the page he was keeping family partner records on,"all that is left is for you to add yours." He handed me a feathered pen and I put it to the page, my hand shaking as I wrote my name. He then walked over to the bed,"Shall we?" 'Forgive me, my Sunshine,' I thought to myself. Then I pulled back the quilt.
It was early morning when I returned to the jail, the sun had not yet begun to shine. I had taken a pregnancy test Mud gave me before I left and was already showing the results of our night together. Hannah was returning from some where herself. When I asked her where she had been she said at the fire and music festival with some friends. Then she looked at my stomach, "Where have you been?" She asked. "Oh, just at a friends," I replied. "Did they feed you a million trash fruit or something?" she joked. "Well, actually I'm going to have another baby." I grinned. "What?! Who's the dad? I didn't see anyone move in!" She exclaimed. "Well," I began again,"This time the father isn't going to live with us. He will stay at his own home." "Mom, who is it?" "It's Mad Mud's baby," I answered her. "Oh mom, that's so disgusting!"
The following day I was out for a walk when a powerful wave of morning sickness hit me. Mud, who was also out walking, stopped to laugh, "I see everything is moving along nicely." I looked like I was going to hurl all over the street. "Don't worry, my dear," he laughed again, "I'm sure it will pass soon." But it didn't. Later when I was tending my garden, I was trying to use some deodorant cream to get rid of the murky smell I had worked up. I was trying to concentrate on not puking when Mendy started speaking next to me. "Mom I asked, why you are acting so funny," She repeated. She also asked about my growing stomach and I told her about the coming baby.
I was still feeling sick the next day when I had to go to the Puffer Dome for my weekly fish meal. I managed to get thru the dish while talking with a couple of my neighbors, the Engines. I asked them if they were going to be part of Mud's Family Partner program. They told me since they were married before the program was started they were allowed to stay married. I told them how lucky they were.
Before leaving for the night I visited with the bartender, Andy. He and I had become friends over the time I had been in Murkland. I was considering him to be a possible family partner after I had Mud's child, since he was going to let me pick the father for the two children I needed after his. We were having a nice talk when Mud showed up. He stood listening and the asked me, "So is this the kind of man you find appealing?" It was so awkward and we all fell silent after that. Mud started to walk away so Andy started talking again, he was joking in an almost flirty manner. That was when I saw Mud standing directly behind him, narrowing his eyes at us both. I broke into a murky sweat. Apparently Mud had a jealous side as well.
The next day I was feeling strangely grumpy and started smashing the pumpkins I had found to to decorate the front entry to the jail. I guess the pregnancy hormones were getting to me. Mud showed up that day. He said according to his calculations I should be going into labor at anytime. I told him that these things didn't go by numbers. I was hungry and went inside to make some lunch. Mud found me standing in front of the stove and asked me what I was cooking. I told him some scrambled eggs. He got mad,"I told you to only eat the food on the list I gave you! You have to be careful with my child!" 'The sooner I have this baby the better,' I thought.
Later that night I got my wish. Only instead of one little murky mad bundle, I got two! Mud was still at the jail, I guess he wanted to be there when I gave birth. He came in to see his offspring,"Oh how wonderful! An heir and a spare," he grinned and peered down into one of the cradles, "No! Whats this?! Girls!! How could you give me girls!!?" He covered his face and the baby began to cry.
After I calmed the baby I frowned at him," What do you mean? Whats wrong with girls?" I demanded. "I wanted a boy, a son!" He began in a loud voice,"I should of known you would give me girls!" "I don't know what biology class you took, but I was taught the man is the one that decides what sex the baby is," I told him. "I..of course I know that, but...." he stammered,"...girls." "Well, in case you haven't noticed this, girl, is capable of quite a lot and has done quite a lot for you, so I don't see why a boy would be that much better." By this time Hannah had heard us arguing and came in to see what was going on. Mud had softened some and told me he was pleased despite the fact I gave him girls. He said he would return when they became toddlers with a list of the training he wanted me to give them.
Over the next day or so of babies crying, Pain became frustrated and took this out on more of the pumpkins. I don't think he much cared for babies, just like his father. Soon the little mad muddy bundles grew into toddlers. True to his word, Mud showed up with his list. He wanted me to max all toddler skills. "Nothing but the best for my girls!" He demanded. The girls were actually quite fond of their father. I had named the babies, Muddia and Maddy. Muddia had light blonde hair and Maddy had pitch black. They both had Mud's pale skin. And despite Mud's mean and hot headed persona, I think he loved them both. After he finally left, I put them both to sleep for the night. Maddy almost threw a fit. She seemed to be developing an evil side.
When all was finally quiet around the jail, I had time to catch up on my tasks. I had found my last two cowberries and planted them. They were so cute as baby plants. As time went on, Hannah was a big help with the girls, well she tried her best anyway. Muddia loved to make a mess with my baking goods and Maddy definitely had an evil side. Every once in a while you could see her making some face and had to wonder what her tiny mind was scheming up. Hannah was as patient as a teen could be with them, though. I knew she'd make a great mom someday.
Let me tell you, taking care of two sets of twins can be hard work! The girls were so needed especially with teaching them all Mud wanted me to. I got so behind on cleaning and cooking one afternoon Pain began complaining,"Mom, how come you never cook anything good anymore?" "I'm doing the best I can, dear," I told him. Thankfully later that day Brennachan and Forest Tree paid us a visit! Brenna played a little chess with Pain and Forest was kind enough to listen to Hannah ramble on about her teenage life.
I was able to clean up and finally cook something. "I'm making your favorite, Cowplant pie!" I told Pain as he came in sniffing the air. He was really excited and everyone had a piece when it was done. Over the next few days I kept up with the toddler's lessons and my cooking and cleaning. We even had a surprise visit from Wound. He helped Mendy with a school project and then left right afterward. Hannah was a;ways a big help she even tried to help feed the cowplants...in her own way. So this was my murky life for sometime.
Then one evening I was working on my hacking skill, I had almsot maxed it and was getting really good at breaking through firewalls. I had found an un-named computer and started working my way into it when all of a sudden some strange text popped up on the screen. I made it past a locked pop-up box and then couldn't believe what I saw!
:::CDCUINT3:::
Subject: 435-YAM
Location: Classified
Date of Placement: 11-29-2057
Code Name: Hippy Bun Man
That was 2 days before I was sent to the jail. And that code name! It had to be Sunshine.
