2.7 Falter

Evan no longer cries when he's put into the high chair, but his displeased expressions and kicking make it clear he doesn't like it. 

"Here. Eat." Calvin's not in a good mood, either. 

"I'm tired of this whole song and dance too," Calvin says wearily at Evan's skeptical expression. "The sooner you eat, the sooner you get out of that chair." He's not sure how much Evan can understand, but the toddler soon begins eating. 

"Morning," Naomi says blearily. 

"Another late night?" Calvin says over his ringing cell phone. 

Naomi nods. Ever since she accepted that promotion to co-campaign manager, she's been getting less and less sleep to meet deadlines. 

Calvin looks between Naomi and his phone. "I'll go put Evan in the nursery and get this call." 

While Calvin answers a phone call from an old friend from his job at the theatre, Naomi peers uncertainly at the high chair. How does Calvin wrangle Evan into that thing? Total mystery. 

After a quick breakfast, Naomi is off to manage campaigns. 

Leaving Calvin alone with Evan and housework. 

He looks around the house. The laundry is done. His plant is watered. Evan is playing. The house is clean. 

Maybe now would be a good time to check out that thing his friend called him about?

He calls a baby sitter and goes out for a jog. Ostensibly, it's to get some exercise and clear his head. 

In reality, it's to raid the science lab's garbage. If his friend is right, he can make some good money off of the stuff he finds in here! Enough to at least pay the sitter... 

Smelly but successful in finding spoils, Calvin jogs triumphantly to the consignment store. 

The cashier might crinkle her nose in disgust at Calvin's odor, but the guitar he has in hand is nothing to sneeze at. He makes nearly a hundred simoleons. 

More than enough to pay the sitter. 

Naomi comes home from a successful day at work herself. 

She'd like to tell Calvin all about it, but he seems to be in a bad mood. 

Isn't he always in a bad mood? Is it because he's home all the time with Evan? Is it because he regrets being with me? Naomi's thoughts quickly spiral. 

Before long, she's silently crying. 

Calvin is shocked and uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" he asks quietly. 

"I'm a terrible girlfriend!" she weeps. 

Calvin surprises her with a kiss. 

"Everything's fine..." 

***

Calvin tells Naomi about his trip to the dumpster.  With her promotion, the small family now can survive off of Naomi's salary alone, but Calvin would like to pay his parents back. Knowing them, they will refuse the money, but he feels like he has to try. At the very least, he would like to put the money towards household expenses.

"That's..." Gross, "An interesting way to make money. Are you sure that's even legal?"

Calvin shrugs, "Apparently it's fine, the cashier at the consignment store told me she sold the guitar as a 'second hand good'." 

"Do you want to make it a regular thing?" Naomi is already starting to worry that this won't be a sustainable source of income. 

To her dismay, Calvin grins and says, "Yeah, definitely. If I can sell more stuff, I'll make a lot more money." 

Naomi's smile falters. 

Calvin doesn't notice. He goes to shower. 

This leaves Naomi alone to feed Evan his dinner. After wrestling him into his chair (no easy task, she would say!) she gets a phone call from work. 

"Oh, hi Salvatore. No, I'm not busy..." Evan is quickly forgotten in favor of fundraiser logistics. 

Evan is not happy about this. He wants food! 

Naomi walks to the other side of the room. "No, that's just my son. He's a bit cranky. Just ignore him, he'll calm down." 

Calvin emerges from the bathroom. "What's all the fuss about?" 

Naomi points distractedly at Evan. 

After feeding Evan, Calvin angrily turns towards Naomi. 

"Why didn't you feed him?" 

"My boss called. What am I supposed to do, ignore him?" 

"It could've waited until after you fed Evan!" 

Naomi rolls her eyes, "He'll live!" 

"How can you say that!?"

Naomi looks away defensively. "It was an important call!" 

"You say that about every call!" 

"They are important!" 

Sensing that this argument will go nowhere, Calvin just shakes his head and gets his own dinner. 

"I'm going to bed. Good night," Naomi says bitterly. 

Calvin sighs.

***

Early the next morning, Calvin is out like a light. Naomi has no success in waking him, so it's up to her to change Evan's diaper. 

It doesn't go very well. 

"Calvin!" she calls out. She just can't do this. 

The yelling and crying gets Calvin to spring out of bed. 

Not long after, Naomi walks in quickly. 

"Look, I'm just...no good with this baby stuff. Can you change him?" Naomi pleads. 

Calvin looks sadly at them. "You can't even change his diaper?" 

Naomi's eyes narrow, "I don't have time!" with that she practically shoves Evan into Calvin's arms. 

Calvin frowns at her retreating figure. 

When did things get so difficult? 

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AN: Evan spent 1 sim-hour in that chair waiting for food. Poor kid.