I'm not sure why this is. It starts up and begins to load, but somewhere during the loading process the program stops responding. I've never tried to load bodyshop before the Pets expansion pack, and only recently even then. I don't get an error message or anything, so I have no clue as to what's wrong. Help appreciated!

He he... I'm excited. This is the first part of the first ministory. Before I get on about the story, does any one know the max number of pics allowed on a free subscription at photobucket? Now, onto the story!!

I had this idea to do a series of ministories, done in episodes, much like a tv show. Each episode will feature a different sim/couple/family/etc who has gone through/is going through something and would like to share their story with you wonderful people. When we really think about it, life is so short. Take the time to appreciate what has happened to you because it makes you who you are. So, without further ado, I give you:

Episode 1: Memiors of a Should-Be Geisha

(Kokoro Mizumi's story)

I'm the daughter of the second most famous geisha in the Pleasantivew area.

As such, you would expect me to follow in my mother's footsteps, right? Well, I've never been so inclined. I leave the whole geisha-in-training thing to my little sister, Tomihatsu.

That was the first thing I did wrong in life: I was a lousy geisha/ The second thing was befrinding the daughter of mom's rival. We go to the same private school and became good friends. Her name is Kimora. Her mother, Hong-Mei, is the number one geisha in the Pleasantview area.

Talk about salt in the wounds, eh? I could go on listing all the other reasons my mom hates me: I'm a rocker, not 'traditional' enough, somehow I caused her second child to be a boy, and I drove my father to cheat (no freakin way it could have been her calling him a 'sperm donor'). And now, yet one more reason: I'm pregnant.

I hope she doesn't know yet. I just found out, and the first person I told was Kimora. I rushed over to her house that very instant I saw the results, pregnancy test still in my hand. She made me destroy the "evidence." She was completely shocked and was almost livid when I told her that the manager at the record store where I work is the father.

"Are you sure?"
"There can't be anyone else, Kim."
"Is Donte the only one...?"
"Yes, Kim! And if she finds out, it's just an excuse for her to kick me out of the house! I don't have anywhere else to go!"

I could see the gears in Kimora's head turning.

She was devising a plan for us, the sweetheart. I only hoped it was one that we could actually do this time. I didn't have time to find out as I had to get home before my mom came back from the store.

I rushed up to my room and called Kimora. She was just about to tell me her plan when my mother walked past my room (conviently after I said "I can't be pregnant") looking rather evil.


My worst fears were confirmed at dinner.

"Kokoro, do you have something you want to tell us?"
Her face was so accusing and she was looking directly at me. Everyone else stopped eating, and my stumach lurched. I was going to barf. I was shocked and worried, but, fortunately, I didn't have time to answer. Mom stormed out of the house, no doubt to have a little talk with Kimora and Hong-Mei.

Later Kimora filled me in on this part:


"Kuniko," Hong-Mei said. "Please be rational. All children make mistakes. I know you and I have made some in the past. Let things run their course and see how they turn out-"

"I don't know what you may have done in your past, you old hag, but you better stay the HELL away from my daughter. Don't you dare tell me how to raise my child. Don't you even dare lay eyes on her!"

"Kuniko, listen to how silly you sound."

And with that, she walked away.

The first thing she did when she came back in the house was to slap me.

Thankfully Tomihatsu and Onoe (the brother I was responsible for) were sleeping. They shouldn't have to see such abuse.

"You wretched whore! This was your plan all along! You want me to fail at being a geisha! You're trying to soil my name with your flith! As if that sperm donor donating to other women wasn't bad enough! First you tell me you want to make rock music, then you're pregnant!"
"Mom, please, it was an accident..."

"And how many of these 'accidents' have you had, whore? I've worked hard to get where I am, and I'll be damned if you ruin it for me. Do you even remember the pic you spread your little whoris legs for?"
"Yes. His name is Dante...Dante Parker. He gave me a ride home from work and-"

"Yourmanager?! A college student? O ho ho ho! This is rich, you dirty little slut. YOu spread your legs for your manager. And did you get anything out of it besides this damn baby?"
"That's not why-"
"Did you?!"

"No."
"Figures."
"Mom, please-"
"And I suppose you went crying to that wench Kimora, didn't you?"
"She had nothing to do with this.
"Like hell she didn't! Hong-Mei sent her to corrupt you so you could destroy me! I want you out of my house.

She turned her back on me. I though about the little life growing inside my belly and felt the insane urge to barf. I was sickened by what I heard. I couldn't believe a mother, heck, even my mother could be so mean. I cried all night. I couldn't hide my pregnancy any longer.


At 2 in the morning, I called Kimora. She's so sweet. She didn't even complain or fall asleep.
"Kim, I'm so scared. I can't stay here."
"I know, love. I'll think of something. Even if we have to move out together. We'll think of something. I've already got a plan forming in my mind. Sisters don't leave each other in the dust."

The months wore on and I started showing. Move out together is exactly what Kimora and I did. It's not like she had a bad home life. She did it with her parents' full permission and support to help me. Kimora and her twin brother being the youngest of six children, I couldn't very well stay with them. We became two teenaged girls living alone together. One of them, me, pregnant, no less. I was determined to graduate high school and go to college. Even if I had to take my baby with me.

Our new found freedom was short-lived. Even with Hong-Mei and her husband, Ashitaka's help, we still had to deal with school and jobs. Hong-Mei was nice enough to lend us the NannyBot2000(read: servo), so we sent it out for work. Our main focus was school. We were both getting full scholarships to college for music. It would be a shame to let that go to waste.

Either way, life was starting to improve for me. Moving out was the best thing I ever did. One night, Kimora and I talked about college over cheeseburgers (I'd been craving them like mad!)

"There's no doubt about it," Kimora said. "We have to go."
"But the baby..."
"Look, Koko. I promised you I'd stick by your side. Just because we go to college doesn't mean anything will change. We're bandmates, right? Girls against the world?"
"Bandmates? Girls against the world?"
"Well, you know, Koko, we both love music, so...why not? Do what you love for a living."

Even though neighter one of us ever expected, at that moment, to really form a band, it had already been decided. We were girls against the world, fighting for a life to be called our own. Kimora gave up nearly everything she had by moving out of her parents house. We didn't know it, but seeds had been planted in our hearts. We could imagine ourselves as a rock duo, everyone adoring us. Unconsciously, that was the dream we'd work toward our entire adult lives. That was what we ultimately wanted, even if we didn't dare utter it, even to ourselves.


So ends Episode 1: Memiors of a Should-Be Geisha (Kokoro Mizumi's Story) Part I. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!