Brie Newman's POV Contines.....

‘Now then,’ Dad settled himself behind his desk.
Once again his demeanor completely changed.
It seemed he decided to brush away my finding out about his shrine room.
He almost acted like he was interviewing me for a job.
‘What was that you were telling me about your mother?’
I’d been sitting in my seat wishing I was anyone else but me.
With a jagged sigh, I had to launch once more into Mom just kicking me out of the house.
‘So, she actually made good on her threat.’ Dad’s smile was smug.
‘She tossed you out as soon as the child support payments were up. She was trying to blackmail me into paying for your college tuition. She also asked for more money to support you while you were in school...though I doubt you would have seen any of it.’
My hatred toward my two parents engulfed me.
I really wanted to leap out of my seat and attack Dad.
He and Mom always discussed me like I was an object they bartered on between them.
My father’s face softened as he regarded me. He echoed what I was thinking.
‘You really lost out in the parent department, Kiddo’ he admitted. ‘I’m sorry.’
I’m sorry, somehow didn’t cut it.
However; I decided to veil my true feelings toward him.
After all, I needed a place to stay.
I was still hopeful Dad would spring for college.


‘I know you hate me, Brie.’
Dad’s tone was as matter of fact, as if we were merely discussing the weather.
‘Your mother and I kept an adequate roof over your head, kept nice clothes on your back, provided you with all the best toys money could buy, and made sure you were well fed, but there was so much more we could have given you.’
To hear it laid out like that made the tears flow once more.
I was sure Dad would yell at me again, but instead he did something that totally shocked me.
He came out from behind his desk and stood in front of me.
Very gently, he touched my face.
‘I see you had surgery done. I know it looks really bad right now, but your doctor actually did a great job.'


When I had my first consultation with the doctor, I had brought along a picture of Sasha.
I really hoped he could make me look just like her.
Dr. Birnbaum promised me that he would help correct the feature flaws I didn’t like, but told me that I should focus on finding out who I was.
I couldn’t believe I just blurted that out to my father.
‘Birnbaum is right.’ Dad agreed, with a slight scowl. ‘You were only a child when I was married to Sasha. You only saw the better side of the woman. She’s certainly no one to emulate. She doesn’t belong up on some pedestal. Forget about her, Brie.’
How could I?
She was the only one who at least attempted to be a parent when I needed one.
I missed her so much.


Dad grew very serious.
‘I know you must wonder, like everyone else, if I had anything to do with Sasha’s death.’
He held up his hand when I tried to speak.
‘Don’t bother denying it! I’ve seen the question in your eyes many a time. Even that mother of yours thinks that I had Sasha killed. I swear to you, right here and now, that I did not kill her. It’s true that I had fallen out of love with her. I also knew she wanted a divorce, but as her agent, she was still much more valuable to me alive than dead. Her death was a very big inconvenience for me.’
I didn’t know if I respected him for his honesty or was chilled by his coldness.
Women were mere playthings to him.
I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.
‘Nothing to say?’ Dad asked after awhile. ‘No questions? Yet, I see many you want to ask.’
He forced me to look up at him.
‘Any facial flaw that bothered you was my fault. My daughters always seem to inherit my sister Myrtle’s hard stern jaw line. However; unlike your siblings, you haven’t inherited my spirit. You can’t allow yourself to be pushed around Brie. You can’t always be timid and afraid all the time. A true Hackenbush...that’s right, that’s our real sir name..always fights hard for what they want...even if we have to fight dirty. We are leaders and never followers. I think that’s the thing that disappoints me most about you.’
Once again, I didn’t know what to say.
Dad was right. I was a soft spineless coward. I was easily bullied.
As for siblings, besides Stuart, I had an older half brother named Victor.
Did I also have a sister?


‘I admit I haven’t been much of a father, but I do want to pass along some advice...if you will listen.’
I nodded to show I was interested in what he had to say.
‘Forget about your mother and I. We never deserved children.'
He smiled bitterly.
I think your mother got herself knocked up, just to keep me trapped or to ensure she would always have a source of income from me.’
Sometimes I wish my Dad would sugar coat the truth more.
He noticed that I flinched.
‘I’m sorry, but the sooner you realise that real life isn’t like a Trent Thornton-Dagmar Valentine film, the better.
You haven’t been able to count on me for much, but at least you know that I will always be truthful with you.’


‘As I was saying, forget about your mother and I. Do as Dr. Birnbaum advised and go out and find out who Brie Newman really is. Forget about college and get your nose out of those dusty old books. You will never be model beautiful, but will be moderately pretty enough to catch a few eyes. Get your own place and sow your wild oats while you are still young. I’ll call around and find you a fun job where you will be exposed to attractive, connected people your own age. We will also go out and find you an apartment. I want you to take all the necessary precautions to er...not have children right away and to stay safe. You're living in the mod world of free love and rock music. What a glorious time to be young! Take advantage of it Brie. I want you to travel and to experiment. Learn to use those feminine wiles to get what you want, but be careful to give out to only those that have something worthwhile to offer in return. You can be a free spirit and still not be cheap. You don’t have to limit yourself to men only. There will be plenty of girls that will desire your attention as well. I won’t even mind if you drop my name to attract the ones you desire.’
I held up a hand to cut him off.
Somehow, I knew I was the only daughter on the planet to get this sort of speech from her father.
I was not a free spirit. I enjoy being a quiet bookish knowledge Sim.
Parties and the swinging Studio Town lifestyle just wasn’t my thing.
As much as I hated to admit it, I’d never been on my own.
The thought of suddenly having my own apartment was frightening.
I was used to having to share my living space with others.
It also irked me that Dad was all right with my dating people of my own gender, but had a total melt down when Stuart finally came out.
Why was it, with a lot of men like my father, that being gay is disgusting, but lesbian cute?
I never got that!


‘Why can’t I do all that at the Academe La Tour?’ I asked out loud instead.
‘That way I can study for a high paying career instead of settle for just a job.’
‘What is it, you would like to do?’
‘I’m still undecided but...’
‘That’s why I won’t foot the bill.’ Dad interjected. ‘If you had some clear goal in mind, or if I thought you had any sort of special talent, I might consider it. The only thing I’m willing to do on my dime, is to get you into a nice apartment. I’ll call around and get you a job. I’ll even spring for a whole wardrobe of new clothes and things for your apartment. I’m sure Marla will be glad to help you shop for everything you need. Perhaps in a few years, you will know what it is you want to study. You can put yourself through school.’
My hopes of college were dashed...I never felt such anxiety. College had always been my dream.
‘Don’t you dare go into aspiration failure.’ Dad commanded me. ‘I haven’t even told you the really good news....’


Coming Next: Dex reveals a secret.