27. A NEVER-ENDING STREAK OF SUCCESS

The new week brought a somewhat gloomy mood for the Drozd family. Akito started feeling a midlife crisis creeping in. However, he also discovered that he's an Active Sim, which was a positive revelation! Unfortunately, Klara, despite cramming for exams, failed her last two subjects and was suspended. :(

The boys are doing fairly well in school, though Piotr experiences an inexplicable fear of doing homework... Only Filip seems to have things perfectly under control right now: he's the top student at school and might even graduate early! Plus, his relationship with Anna is going great.

Kazik: Hey! I heard you and Anna finally became a couple! That's awesome, congrats, man!

Piotr came home with a school project and asked his dad for help.

Piotr: It says here that we can only use scissors, a knife, and pliers.

Akito: WHAT? Do they even know how to work with real wood?

Piotr: Dad, the bridge is supposed to be made of cardboard.

Akito: Oh, that changes things! ...and done!

But Piotr hasn’t completely outgrown his silly jokes. His teacher called to report that Piotrek had used inappropriate language at school.

Akito: Piotr! Honestly, sometimes I just don’t have the energy for you! Get your act together, kid, or you’ll ruin your life!

Unfortunately, the talk with his dad only made Piotr feel worse. At school, he was in such a bad mood that he ended up getting into a fight with a classmate.

Today is Career Day at school.

Filip: Would swimming or physical fitness skills be useful in a lawyer’s job?

Lawyer: Ehm... maybe talk to the coach.

Coach: With skills like that, you could make a career as an athlete. Think about it!

Piotr: Seriously?! A criminal career? Is the universe sending me a sign??

Piotr: Maybe you should watch where you’re going, Smurfette?!

Yuki: WHAT? Is that supposed to be about me?!

Piotr: I... I mean...

Yuki: Yes, I have blue hair, and I’m proud of it. At least I’m not some idiot who fights with everyone.

Piotr: Hey! I’m not... Alright, sorry!

At home, Filip was browsing college options when a job listing caught his eye. Perfect! Three clicks later, Filip got a job as a Lifeguard at the Free Spirits Academy of Body and Spirit in Windenburg. His advanced skills allowed him to start at a higher level.

It only took one day of work for Filip to get promoted to Lead Lifeguard, completing his Goal Oriented aspiration.

Filip: Hey, you there, your swimming skill is really low. Please get out of the water!

Swimmer: What are you going to do if I don’t?

Filip: Nothing. But you might drown. Your choice.

Filip: Hey, what’s going on, bro? You’ve been looking really down lately.

Piotr: Nothing’s going right for me. How do you do it? School, your girlfriend, your job, completing aspirations – it’s just a never-ending streak of success... And me?

Filip: You need to find something you love and are good at. Focus on that. I know you have something like that.

Piotr: You know what... You’re right! I do have something!

That same day, Piotr met up with a classmate, Yumi.

Piotr: So then I’ll do this and that... And here are some other jokes I wrote. What do you think? Will it work?

Yumi: I think your comedy talent is perfect for our Talent Show!

The next day, Piotrek was practicing at school with Yumi.

Yuki: Oh, wow, are my eyes deceiving me? You’re actually going to compete in the talent show? Haha, good one. Watch and weep when I take first place!

Piotr: Listen, I apologized for the Smurfette comment. You don’t have to keep picking on me. You’re a good DJ; let’s just let the best one win.

It’s Harvestfest!

Akito: The whole crew is together again! When did we last celebrate together? New Year’s?

Zoe: What are you talking about? Since then, there was Carnival and our wedding!

Klara: And we visited you to meet Antos.

Zoe: Oh, right. Time really flies.

Filip: Antos, that’s you, right? You’ve grown up nicely. When you’re older, we’ll take you to a party.

Akito: Sweetheart, as always, the food is delicious.

Filip: Wow, Mom, this turkey is simtastic!

Zoe: Klara, you sure have fans! So, how are the boys doing in school?

Akito finally felt that his midlife crisis had passed. He got through it, and it wasn’t so bad. However, he knows that if he doesn’t take the fight against the Original seriously, the crisis will return with a vengeance... Meanwhile, Piotr wrote a comedy sketch for the talent show and is now rehearsing it.

It’s the day of the Talent Show! Piotr went first and immediately got the audience laughing.

Yuki: Hmm... he’s pretty good...

Filip: I didn’t know Klaudia from my class could sing so well!

Yumi’s performance didn’t go well because stage fright got the better of her.

Piotr: Hey, you were pretty good! Don’t worry about it.

Yumi: Oh, stop, it was terrible.

Yuki: Is it my turn now? Oh no... sorry, I can’t do it!

Principal: Well, if that’s all the participants, let’s announce the results...

Principal: ...and second place goes to Piotr Drozd! Congratulations!

Piotr: Thank you very much! Especially since there were three active participants, not two!

Filip: Way to go, bro!

Klara: I’m so proud of you!

Yuki: Oh, hey. Did you come to make fun of me for chickening out?

Piotr: Next time, you’ll crush it. I heard you play, and you’re really good. It’s a shame you didn’t perform – you would’ve raised the bar.

Yuki: Ehh... thanks. You’re pretty good with jokes too. Congrats on second place.

<<<Previous chapter: 26. LOVE IS IN THE AIR

>>>Next chapter: 1. UNEXPECTED PLOT TWIST