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Mad Martigan’s
Mayhem MiniaturesThe story of a family, as told by Terry
Martigan. Redecorated per request of
pleading, puppy-eyed narrator.
My first memories are of my
father’s toy store. Mad
Martigan’s Mayhem Toys, it was
called. I knew I wasn’t all that
important from early on, but I did
spend a lot of time with several
different children, all answering
to the name Phantasma.
The first clue I had that my
family had a chance to survive
the test of time and the
boredom of the Great Plumbob
was my younger sisters. Both
of them were born in the shop,
and spent their earliest years
bringing in customers with the
help of my dog, Vlad.
Vlad was a breeding dog. I think
now that he may have been the most
important one among the family.
Between Vlad and my sisters Daisy
and Delilah, I made it safely to my
teen years. By luck of the draw, I
met a young woman named Miri
Hatfield. She was beautiful. She
was of the Phantasma blood.
Miri and I went to college
that winter. We rented a little
house together and continued
the romance from our early
years. We kissed in the snow,
made snow angels, and did all
sorts of cute couples
interactions in the snow.
I resolved that winter to do my
best to give Miri, and the
children I knew we both wanted,
the same kind of home that both
of us had grown up in. A home
bustling with friendly faces, and
endless shelves of fun things. A
home over a shop—a toy shop.
Maybe even with a dog.
The year seemed to fly by.
After winter came spring, and
then summer. Miri and I got
engaged, and I knew that
graduation would bring a
wedding and the little ones
both of us longed for. There
would be new challenges, and
new struggles.
With fall came both celebration
and preparation. We were
getting married, and I had a
down payment on the most
perfect house I could find, with
a large front room to sell toys
out of and a nursery upstairs
for the prospective little ones.
Graduation was a sweet taste
of freedom and possibility. My
party, with my family, was
first; then Miri’s with hers.
Both of us were ready to meet
the world head-on and see what
it had to offer.
We moved into the house over
the shop; a shop we decided to
call Visions of Sugarplums.
Both house and shop were
christened with a dinner party
and the arrival of a small, furry
gift; Callie, the daughter of my
own beloved Vlad, a gift from
Miri’s grandfather Erik.
Miri and I were married in
the backyard of our home,
and Miri Hatfield came to
be known as Miri Martigan.
The ceremony was only
family, but what a family!
It seems the both of us have
quite a variety of relations.
Honeymoon in the
Mountains!
Miri was soon carrying a child. Both of
us were thrilled; as was her mother, who
was eagerly awaiting a fifth (logically,
not really chronologically) grandchild. I
wondered, with Miri’s family history, if
we might have twins, but decided not to
dwell on it. The nursery was fitted out
for one baby—our precious first.
My daughter Julianna was born
in the shop one evening in early
fall. She has my pale skin and
grey eyes, and her mother’s brown
hair. My perfect firstborn;
always to have a special place in
my heart through the challenges of
an ever-growing family.
Julianna grew faster than I could
believe, and was soon a charming
young lady as much as an adorable
baby. Her features seemed to fit
well on her face; a trait that seems
not always to bless the little ones.
So many could be so beautiful
with one eye a little more to the
left, or a smaller nose.
Julianna learned fast, and I was
already looking forward to the
day that I could bring her down
to the shop as more than just an
advertisement for the toys. Such
a pretty child would surely bring
home lots of little friends, to buy
toys and play with the dog.
Snow came with the winter, and
the promise of another child.
Business slowed down a little;
Miri was too tired to help in the
shop, I was often occupied with
Julianna, and customers were
scarce to come through the deep
winter snow just to buy toys.
Still, life was good.
Julianna grew into a charming
child that winter, and my second
daughter Carli was born on a
morning of bright white sunlight
on snow. To pay for the extra
child while the snows continued,
I took up a side job in law,
promising myself to return to the
shop when spring came.
This is where I myself shall make an
appearance. Julianna was gorgeous,
right up there with one Elizabeth
Hatfield. Plans began forming—
’twas going to be an interesting spring
for childhood bonding, if I had
anything to do with it.
Project Carter had another child.
The nursery got a few
improvements for my angelic
oldest; a bed as well as the crib,
and a desk for schoolwork. The
nursery remains plenty large
enough for two girls, and would
take three without an issue—
something I hoped to discuss
with Miri come spring.
Birthday time for my littlest!
Solid Carli landed in my arms
in a heap of confetti, the same
as Julianna had done, and
every child in history born.
Colors make a difference. Julianna, with
her ivory skin and grey eyes, pulls off the
look my wife and I create with elegant
grace. Carli, with her toasted skin and
brown eyes, just doesn’t have quite the
same effect.
Carli did enjoy meeting Great-
Grandma Faustina and Great-
Grandfather Erik at her party, though.
That pup we got when the shop
opened grew up, the same as my
daughters. Cobie, loyal shop dog and
protector of my precious little ones,
purebred Shopwulf*, and daughter
of my childhood companion Vlad.
*Shopwulf being the official breed name of the
large, white, fluffy, Samoyed-spin-offs that
haunt the Sim-run businesses around the island.
Spring came in with a silent
whisper of melting snow.
Julianna, a bit stir-crazy from her
winter in the nursery, was thrilled
to be able to play outside for the
first time in her short life without
a heavy coat. (I bought her a
lemonade stand to celebrate, and
help promote the family shop).
Spring also brought the promise
of a new member of the family.
As much as I love my
daughters, I do admit to hoping
for a son—or maybe one with
my auburn hair. Julianna and
Carli were clearly Hatfields—I
wanted a little Martigan.
Still, I didn’t have the heart
to be disappointed when my
third daughter Emma was
laid in my arms; another
perfect, brunette Hatfield girl.
Carli grew into a child just in
time; Emma needed the crib.
Charming child; perfectly
average beauty, creative the
same as her sister and
multitude of cousins.
Unobtrusive—a good middle
child.
Emma grew up, as well. Just
as darling as her sisters, but a
bit unfortunate in the looks
department—my facial
structure apparently doesn’t
always mix well. Emma was
still an adorable and
precocious toddler.
Carli and Julianna continued to
get on remarkably well into
childhood. I had moved out
before my young siblings had
gotten up to much, but I heard
horror stories from Miri’s various
drop-by relatives of fights and
rivalries that only got nastier as
the little ones grew.
They grow up so fast; and my
little Emma became a child on
the same night that Julianna
became a teen—also the same
night I discovered that I had
a fourth on the way. Emma
and Carli also became fast
friends.
Not another word. You’ve gone far enough.
Spoilers, Terry, spoilers. Think of the children.
Think of the readers!
The next chapter, “Project Carter”, is coming to
a laptop screen near you. Sometime. Maybe
next week. Hopefully sooner. Stay tuned!