When Joe reached 27,296 happiness points I paused the game, took some screen shots and quit. It was over... right? But something niggled. I felt regret. I had spent a lot of time invested in Joe. Not just playing through his story, but writing about it as well. I was deeply involved, I had a note book full of scribbles of the things I needed to remember and more than half never made into his story (having seen what did make it you should appreciate the tedium of what I missed out!). But it ended so quickly that I didn't manage to achieve what I wanted to achieve. There are still things that are left unfinished, and they taint my successes.
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| Makes it all worth it! |
Well then, what did I learn? That apparently an extremely thin concept can be stretched over seventeen posts and that I get way too involved with my characters. I also learnt that the Sims 3 had much more to it than I realised when I first bought it, and there are a lot of options open to your characters! There is no plant trampling though and if I was reviewing it that would mean at least 37% had to be knocked off the final score. I am really glad I managed to find Shan Feldman's home before the end though. Ridiculously, it makes me feel extremely smug. Joe's revenge, while timid at best, was at least a moral victory. That feeling is overshadowed though by the failure to grant Joe's lifetime wish. I may have done it in the thirty one day time limit I originally set myself, but I'll never know now.
All of the above is insignificant though, because there is one big gaping unknown that gnaws at me... Tamara. Is it wrong that I feel sad about the unresolved issue? It is my fault after all, I was mercilessly heartless and focused only on the goal to the sacrifice of all else. The thing is, I like Joe, and now I have finished, I regret separating them. I know they aren't real, but neither is a film like Casablanca, but that doesn't stop millions shedding a tear for Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund (just to be clear I'm not comparing my humble posts to the classic landmark film... my story is clearly better than that over sentimental rubbish). However it is all over, and like that great film, we will never know what became of the protagonists once they had gone their separate ways. Unless they do a Casablanca 2, which is never impossible these days. All I have left to say is thanks for reading Joe's story, I appreciate the time you have given it.
So that's it, the end...
But then I started up the Sims again and returned to sunset valley. Joe was still sleeping soundly, exactly where I had left him the previous night. I instructed him to have a shower and use the toilet as soon as he woke and then told him to make himself some pancakes, preferably without setting the new cooker on fire. Then I decided he should tend the garden as well as there was no point breaking the usual routine. Finally, I made him call Tamara.
Joe woke and carried out my instructions, one by one, slowly. Eventually he pulled out his phone, dialled the number and waited patiently. This was it, the real ending about to unfold before me. It was a good ending, a proper ending, a fitting ending for Joe. He had waiting for this moment and now it was finally about... 'Sorry, I'm too busy to talk right now. Try again in about three hours'... oh... erm... awkward!
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| Washing her hair maybe... sorry mate. |
Joe just looked at me, accusing me with his dreary gaze. Then he read a book. I pretty sure that never happened in any romantic films, maybe its in Casablanca's deleted scenes and I can't help feeling it dented the romantic ending somewhat. So we waited. We tried again a short time later, and she was still too busy, 'try again in an hour'. Right well, seriously, she has no grasp of narrative pacing. Eventually Tamara was persuaded to come round, when she could be bothered to get off her arse and take her part in the story.
She turns up at the door and Joe rushes to answer. He embraces her fondly. They take a moment to stare in each others eyes and then, Joe pulls a stupid face... smooth. Tamara laughs heartily, she is easily pleased, and the real flirting begins. It starts with hand holding, a whisper in her ear, a charming compliment and then it grows into sensual hugs, tender back rubs and finally, eventually, inevitably; a timid first kiss. The sun is setting over Sunset Valley (yep!), the lighthouse flickers in the distance and Joe finally gets his wish...
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| Finally! |
And then they shag...
Twice.
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| The End! |
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