The Monroe Legacy - G.1. Chapter 20 - As Time Goes By

With everyone in the family either working or in school the years began to roll by faster and faster. Marlie was finally gaining ground in her career and now that she had no need to look on her colleagues as possible threats she quickly ascended to the rank of Yes-Woman. The night she was promoted, she disturbed Brody's chess time and explained her plan to him - they were planning a remodel and she wanted to keep costs down and save the money for the future.

He agreed and the resulting remodel was not much more than a new couch and a little re-arrangement of the upstairs now that the nursery was no longer needed.

Hallie and Belle now shared a room where they could talk about art all they wanted. The constantly fought over the easel but Hallie usually won. The two were very close and Hallie was excited to start high-school where she could get to know all Belle's arty friends.

Belle spent her time hanging with Hallie, practicing piano and playing with her band. She had developed a major crush on the lead singer, Harrison, but he didn't seem to be interested, always making an excuse to go home when she invited him to hang after practice.

Belle didn't want to talk to Lola about it, she knew from the times they did spend together that she wasn't really over Carson, not that she'd ever admit it. Instead she became closer to her mother. Marlie would comfort Belle with stories of her own teenage years, promising only that in time, the right one would come along.

To distract Belle they started working out together, Marlie was determined that middle age wouldn't see her return to plumpness and Belle just wanted a perfect physique to catch Harrison's eye.

Oscar would often join the two of them when Georgia was playing with friends. He was fiercely protective of his sister, the two were thick as thieves, as she'd already started to steal the hearts of the boys in her class who would beg their moms to arrange play dates!

Georgia was oblivious. Often in her own world she just loved to be surrounded by friends or playing with her brother. When little Humberto Pinkerton tried to hug her she didn't even notice. She left him standing in the wrathful glare of Oscar who was horrified that his best friend was sweet on his sister!

As Hallie approached her teen birthday she became more ambitious in her projects, even painting a portrait of Marlie. Marlie loved it - even if her nose was a bit wonky!

Hallie celebrated her birthday quietly with a trip to SMOMA (Sims Museum of the Modern Arts) and a cake at home.

There was something alluring about her aloofness and unique style and she started high school with a reputation for being a great kisser! She'd never even been on a date!

Hallie had no time for boys. She knew that if she wanted to pursue her artistic dreams she'd have to work harder than anyone - vocation was not an easy path - so she set about honing her painting skill, even taking up street art in the hopes that she'd get into art school.

After about a year Marlie started receiving postcards from a family supposedly called the Greensons. They were brief and vague, coming from all sorts of exotic locations, from China to Europe. "Rex, Nina and Colton Greenson" were all in happy and good health and hoped some day to meet them again. Marlie smiled, happy to to know that Norma was alive and well and loving the tidbits of her life that they shared through the post cards.

Every time one arrived Lola would ask about Carson (Or Colton as he was now known!) but Marlie never had much news, only that he would soon be starting at University. Lola was always quiet on the evenings the postcards arrived, lost in her own world, the hopeless romantic in her imagining scenarios which would bring them to the same place at the same time and with a magical explanation for them not actually being half-cousins.

The rest of the time she buried herself in her studies, she had decided to become a doctor, the logic and solo study suited her art-hating, loner ways whilst the idea of helping people appealed to the good heart beneath it all. Lola was determined to ace high school, that way she might be able to go to university on a scholarship instead of starting as a cleaner.

What none of the children noticed was that Marlie and Brody were out a lot more, Marlie was back to busking at the park after her shifts whilst Brody worked overtime and made a bit extra repairing things for the neighbours. Their reasons would soon become clear.

All too soon another round of birthdays arrived. This time a huge party was in order, both sets of twins and Marlie would all be celebrating together and Marlie knew that once the festivities were over it would be time to sit her children down and explain her will.

Marlie blew out her candles with just her family around her. Her hair was slowly turning white and she knew that she couldn't keep going as the head of the household indefinitely. She updated her blazer and dress ensemble to a version more appropriate for her advancing years but still felt young in her heart.

As the crowds of friends for the twins descended on the house Marlie was glad she's made plenty of food, the noise was enormous and she could barely hear the chorus of Happy Birthday beneath the blaring music and the whoops and screams of the guests!

Lola, the eldest went first, growing in to a beautiful young adult and developing a much needed Good Sense of Humour. She knew that the time had come for her to decide on the direction on her life and she swore she'd become a World Renowned Surgeon, specializing in pediatric surgery. The now traditional birthday makeover was kind of wasted on Lola, she just wanted a pretty dress and to keep on growing out her blonde hair!

Belle was next and she grew in to a striking young woman and developed the dramatic trait. Her exuberant personality, combined with this new penchant for drama and her virtuoso standing made her goal an easy choice, she wanted to be a Rock Star! To help her on her way Belle went for an edgy new look with messy bangs and a leather jacket.

Once they were done changing the girls posed for a quick photograph with their mother before hurrying back to watch Georgia and Oscar blow out their candles. Marlie couldn't believe that her little daughters were now gorgeous young women.

Oscar blew out his candles - he'd had enough of his friends fawning over Georgia but as he grew up it became clear he'd soon have a fan base of his own! All his working out as a kid had left him with a body that the high school girls would fight over.

Despite his jock-ish ways, Oscar also had a sensitive side which had developed from spending so much time with his artistic sisters, he preferred photography though and grew up to have quite the Photographer's eye.

 By the time it came to Georgia's candles, most of the guests had gone home. She grew up a little neurotic but was still the sweet-faced girl she had always been.

She was as girly as her brother was sporty, loving nothing more than pretty clothes, cheerleading
and slumber parties. It was clear that between them the Monroe twins would be ruling high-school!




Once everything was cleared up Marlie called the family together to the living room, knowing that they were now old enough to understand what she was going to tell them.

Marlie looked around at the family she and Brody had built and felt her heart fill with love and pride, she hoped that each of her children would know the satisfaction of looking at their lives and knowing that all their wishes had come true.

 Marlie cleared the lump in her throat and began,

'Your father and I are getting older now and we've spent a lot of time planning how we'll take care of you all, even after we're gone.

We hope that we have many years left together, but life can be unpredictable and the time had come for you all to know what we have decided.

You all know, and each of you have experienced on some level, how little I began with. I was lucky enough to find a man who loved me and provided for me, a job that I enjoy and I was blessed with each of one of you. The Monroe name has gone from being a mark of shame that I wore in high school to a source of pride as I watched each of you grow.

I would like this legacy of happiness to continue and to do this Brody and I have decided on an unusual plan.

We have worked hard to set up a small savings fund for each of you. When you turn 21 you will each receive four thousand dollars, we wish it were more, for you to begin to pursue your dream. You may spend it on whatever you like, University, a car, a house payment. It is yours to do with as you wish.

Lola and Belle, yours are now ready, the rest of you will find the money there when the time comes.

Everything else we posess is tied up in this plot of land and the home we have built. We want to keep it that way. We want our legacy to continue here and so, in the coming years, we will choose an heir.

This heir wont be the smartest, or the loudest or the one of you with the best grades but rather the one of you who we think needs this place most. The one of you who can find here the fulfillment that we have been blessed with.

Whether you are the heir or not, this will always be your home and the heir will be legally required to remember that although the house is theirs, any with the Monroe blood should be welcomed. In time we hope that the heir will select from their children an heir, and so on, until ten generations, or more, of Monroes have lived and loved on this land.

To be the heir is a great responsibility. If at any time any one of you decides that your path will take you elsewhere, please tell us, we will not force any of you to shoulder the burden unless you truly want to.

Take some time and think it over, you don't have to choose straight away. Follow your hearts as your father and I have and you will find the answer.

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Who will be heir to the Monroe Legacy?

YOU DECIDE!

Click here to read short Biographies of each of Generation 2 and to cast your vote.

Then read Chapter 21 here - The Monroe Legacy - Daring to Dream