Desert Dreamers VI

Previously: Another child was born into the Martínez-Jang clan, a girl named Gabriela this time. Meanwhile, Fátima's attempt to set up a date with a pretty townie for her daughter miraculously succeeded, as Ana and Gracie instantly clicked.



It's officially Ana's birthday! She's decided to have a bowling party with a few of her friends, and her parents are supposed to be chaperoning, but instead they almost immediately head to the bar to get drunk. To be fair, it has been a while since they've been in the presence of alcohol. I can't blame them for going a bit crazy.


Without any form of adult supervision whatsoever, this girls' night out is about to get wild.


By wild, I mean they're all about to get left for dead out here. This game takes no prisoners.


Ana: Okay, at least it didn't immediately land in the gutter this time... I feel okay about this one!


Ana: Oh god, I can't look! Did I get it? Did I get it? *slowly removes fingers from eyes* Fuck, I didn't get it!


Gracie fares even worse, not even managing to get the ball anywhere near the lane. I guess kicking butt at the video game version of bowling doesn't really translate to success at the real thing.


She sure does look cute in the face of epic failure, though.


Oh, damn! Somehow, she pulls through on her next turn and is suddenly the best player out here.


Meanwhile, Gideon and Fátima have reached the level of drunkenness where they're flailing their limbs around sloppily and shamelessly calling it dancing. At least it looks like they've got a couple new friends along for the ride!


Gideon: You're so cute!
Fátima: No, you're so cute!
Gideon: No, you are!
Fátima: YOU!

I can only assume this goes on for ten minutes straight.


Ana isn't even drinking, but she's feeling all flirty, too. I think Gracie is enjoying it, and I think Mandy feels super awkward and would like to be anywhere else right now.


Ana: Hmm, I expected a bigger crowd, but I guess this will do... Now, what shall I wish for?


As she samples her first grown-up beverage post-birthday, Ana is surrounded by a bunch of weirdos dressed up like knights just to snag a free drink or two... and loving it.

Ana: Wow, adulthood is already such an adventure!




As a (very generous) birthday gift, Gideon and Fátima had the house renovated to add on a little upstairs "apartment" for Ana. Honestly, I think it's because they were tired of listening to her practice her acting ad nauseum in front of her bedroom mirror. Now, she has a more secluded place to refine her skills (and maybe engage in some romance, too, but don't tell them that).


Her favorite part is her private bathroom with a luxury tub, in which she plans to spend as much time as possible.


Of course, it's the perfect place to finally share her first kiss with Gracie, too!


Since youth is an asset in the make-it-or-break-it climate of Del Sol Valley, Ana wastes no time hiring an agent and entering into the acting career. Let's hope the auditions start rolling in soon!


It's pretty clear Ana has entirely won me over, but I'd better check in with her half-siblings, even if they're still at those ages where their personalities aren't really developed yet. Rafael attempts to make some friends at the local park, but he's a bit too shy to ask if he can join them on the monkey bars.


Instead, he waits until they're empty to take a go at it himself. I can relate to his fear of failing in front of others. Being alone for his first try definitely relieves the pressure!


Afterward, this little girl strikes up a conversation. Here, I'm sure Rafael is regaling her with stories of his adventures with his dad in Granite Falls.


I think this is the two of them becoming friends... I think. You can never really be sure with kids these days.


Back at home, Gabriela is torpedoing her way into toddlerhood, and Fátima seems totally unfazed. Will she be cute?


Of course she's cute! Do you even know my Sims at all?!?


Back to Ana, though, here she and Gracie are making out in front of the Mexican restaurant. They're head over heels for each other, and they don't care who knows it.


I also gave Gracie a bit of a makeover so she wouldn't look like she's perpetually stuck in her teenage years.


God, this is just too cute. I am sick over how perfect for one another these two are. I may have questioned her sanity in the moment, but I am forever grateful to Fátima and her matchmaking ways.


Unfortunately, this date isn't going so hot for reasons entirely beyond their control - mostly that their food took so long to arrive that Gracie had to get up to pee and Ana fell asleep in her chair.


Ana: I think I've lost all sense of time. How long have we been here? Am I even hungry anymore?
Gracie: I've heard the food is pretty hit or miss here anyway. Do you want to just call it a night?


Luckily, she made it back home early enough to get a good night's sleep and wake up refreshed and confident for her first ever audition! She's got this.


Nailed it! It's only a role in a commercial hawking detergent or something (as a pirate, naturally), but at least it's a start. Once she's got her foot in the door, there'll be no stopping our rising star!