The GO Treatment Centre - A Stranger from a Strange Land

[Schipperke]

Dear Camille,

Thank you for referring your mother Trisha to the Treatment Centre.  We would be happy to accept her as one of our first admissions.  Your mother sounds like quite a lovely woman, young for her age.  We'll do our best to help her recover from her grief at losing your father.  I'm sure she will do very well with our resident dog pet therapist, Incubus.

[Anushka]

What an interesting set of characters - I had no doubts this was one of your brilliant ideas and am so honored to be an consultant in this valuable project for Simming community and misfortunate Sims who need help.

I can hardly wait for the First Arrivals!

[Schipperke]

The GO Treatment Centre - Sstarr & Incubus

After being eliminated from the Mole Challenge, Sstarr was at loose ends.  What to do with her life?  One thing was clear, she would have to support herself.  So she started looking for a job she could do.  She went to Carl's Sims 3 Guide to learn more about different jobs and was dismayed to learn that most of the available jobs required her to socialize with her co-workers.  Sstarr knew from bitter experience that when other Sims found out she was insane and heard her talking madness, many of them didn't want to be friends with her.  She was ready to give up when the Science career caught her eye.  A job that didn't require her to make friends!  She would have to learn a lot of skills, but Genius Sstarr had always found learning easy.  So Sstarr became a Scientist.

One day she came home from work to find a little black dog lying on the bed. 



Sstarr hadn't been looking for a dog, but he was a rather engaging little fellow, with one blue eye and one brown.  Of course, she would never tell anyone that she could hear the dog talking to her.  Even at the Science Centre, such talk would get people whispering about her.  And the dog had such a strange tale to tell:  Elders in rabbit ears, an enigmatic man in grey with no first name who appears, does good deeds, and disappears again.  A treatment centre?  Sstarr liked the sound of that.  Maybe a treatment centre could help her to fit in better.  Then she realized with a shock that the dog was saying she would be in charge!  Sstarr in charge?  "Someone's insane here, and it isn't me!" Sstarr thought.  But she was used to strange things happening in her life and had learned not to talk about them to other people, so she decided to forget about it.  Sstarr and Incubus set about getting acquainted.



Sstarr worked hard, studying until late into the night.  She did indeed seem to have a gift for learning, and she studied many different skills.  It wasn't long before she reached the top of her profession:  Mad Scientist.  Well, people had called her mad in the past, so at least now she could point out that Mad Scientists were the best scientists.  On the day of her promotion, she proudly arrived home in her new uniform.



And the dog said, "Good, you made it!  Time for us to be moving along - our work here is done.  The new referrals are waiting to come to the treatment centre, and the resident manager and pet therapist need to be there to welcome them."  Sstarr thought this was the most entertaining hallucination she had ever had.  The dog insisted she accompany him, so she trailed along expecting him to take her to the dog park.  But when the taxi stopped, they were at -



Sstarr:  The Treatment Centre?  It really exists?
Incubus:  Well, of course it exists!  Welcome to your new home, Sstarr.  Our first group of patients will be arriving in a few hours, so why don't you go freshen up while I take a dip in the pool.  I never lived in a house with a pool before!



Sstarr is in shock.  It all feels so unreal - is she dreaming?  Is she madder than she thought?  If she pinches herself will she wake up?  Then she hears the ice cream truck pull up on the front street.  She looks out the window and sees

[SadieHamming]

Oh my, I don't think there has ever been so many insane people in the same place! I can't wait to see what happens next! [Oh, Coleen, what trouble do you cause for Sstarr?]

[Simboy134]

This look's intresting all the Insane sims In one building. Bookmarked for sure.

[SassySimmer]

Can't wait to read more.  This is a fantastic idea!!

[Schipperke]

Just a reminder to those who haven't sent letters or journals - you don't have to, but anything you send will be used to help create interest in your character.  To those who have sent material - thank you for some great stuff!  I hope to be able to post the update about the new residents' first day tomorrow or Thursday.

[Schipperke]

Treatment Centre - Arrivals

They're here already?!  Sstarr feels totally unprepared.  She's sure this venture is going to be another failure, one more to add to her long list.  Sighing, she braces herself and goes out to greet the new residents.

Immediately she is accosted by an angry Callum:



Callum:  Do you know what he did?  That pumpkin-head stole my shoes!!!  Well, what are you going to do about it, hey?
Sstarr:  Callum, please don't yell at me.  If you'll explain - quietly - what you're talking about, then we can discuss what to do about it.
Callum:  When I left home I was wearing beautiful shoes.  Somebody took them and substituted these shoddy old sandals!



Sstarr:  I see.  And who's the pumpkin-head you think took your shoes?
Callum glares at Frank:  Him!
Sstarr:  But why would Frank want your shoes?
Callum:  He took them to give to his famous cousin, that guy with the shoe fetish!
Sstarr:  Frank, who's your cousin, and what do you know about Callum's shoes?



Frank:  You remember A, host of the Mole Challenge?  Yeah, we're cousins.  And I didn't take Callum's shoes!  He's just jealous because I have a famous relative and he doesn't.
Sstarr:  Both of you, cool it.  I think I know what happened.  The Customs people are very zealous in this town.  Sometimes they confiscate clothes they don't recognize and replace them with something more familiar.  I've heard that sometimes they even force Sims to change their hairstyles!  Did anyone else lose any items?
Charissa:  My t-shirt was taken.  I'm upset too, and I'm not going to come in if people are going to take my things.  I'll just stand here.



Sstarr:  Charissa, please come in.  I promise you shall have a new t-shirt - we have some great t-shirts designed by talented people at Carl and Pam's Sims 3 Forum, and you can have any one you want.  And Callum, it's too bad about your shoes, but I'm sure Frank had nothing to do with it.  I know a good shoe store - I'm sure you'll find something you like.
Charissa:  Well .. ok.
Callum:  I guess.
Sstarr:  Follow me and we'll all go to the group therapy room.  It's late and I know everyone's getting hungry, so we'll just divide up the work assignments and then have supper.

From Coleen's letter home:  But I might get to meet Sstarr!!! She's like my idol, she is so cool. With her hair and clothes and what not. She was super cool in The Mole.



Sstarr:  Welcome to the group therapy room.  Does anyone want to request a particular work assignment?



Coleen:  Can I look after Incubus?  Please?  He reminds me of my dear lost doggie, Fried Bacon.
Trisha:  No fair!  My daughter specifically requested that I learn pet care!  I should look after Incubus!
Sstarr:  I think you'll find that Incubus will be glad to have all the attention you can both give him.  What about someone to clean?
Trisha:  I often feel like cleaning.  I'll do that, if you'll let me have a teddy bear.



Sstarr:  Ok, Coleen for pet care, assisted by Trisha.  Cleaning is a big job and I think Trisha should have help - any volunteers?  Callum, what about you?
Callum:  Me?  I hate cleaning!  Dirt is beautiful!
Sstarr:  Dirt may be beautiful, but not in my treatment centre.  Callum, you will help Trisha with the cleaning.  Now, about the garden - Charissa?

From Charissa's letter to Dean Clemens:  -- if I wear gloves when I go fishing, then maybe their sliminess wouldn't bother me so much. Do you think you could send me some gloves? Elbow length, in case the fish flops around?

Charissa:  I'll do the gardening if you let me have gloves to wear.
Sstarr adds gloves to the list she's started.
Emily:  I'll cook!
Sstarr:  Excellent.  That just leaves someone to repair items that break - Frank, you want to be a Scientist - this would help you work on your Handiness skill.
Frank:  Work?  Oh ... if I must.  All right.

 

Emily prepared a tasty dinner, and then they all went to bed.




Dear Readers, Callum's shoes and Charissa's t-shirt really did disappear in transit.  And Charissa really did refuse to move, and had to be reset.  Thanks to those who provided letters which I will continue to draw on for ideas!

[SadieHamming]

Oh, Coleen. You were better behaved then I thought, good girl! Be nice, and don't bite!

[MarianT]

Schip, this had me laughing out loud. I love the expression on Frank's face!

[Audren]

Poor Frank, having to work and all. At least he's made some good faces for the story!  I'll send in another letter soon.

[SadieHamming]

Schipperke, do you want another journal entry? I'll gladly write another one!

[Schipperke]

Sadie, I think I'll leave it up to you and the other referral people to decide when you want to submit a journal entry, letter from home, care package, or whatever.  Any and all of the above would be welcome at any time.  The things you all have sent have given me lots of ideas for updates, so please keep them coming!  If I have specific questions or requests I'll be sure to let you know.

We've only had one evening at the treatment centre, and the residents are keeping me on my toes!  I think this is going to be very interesting, expecially if I let them have much free time.  I have a feeling I'll soon be wondering who's the real insane one here - the Sims, or me for thinking up this idea! 

[Gogowars329]

Callum reckons his shoes were actually stolen by Sstarr to sell to A. I'll try to send a journal entry tonight.

[Schipperke]

Monday - The First Day

Sstarr still has to go to her job at the Science Centre.  Before she dashes out the door, she instructs the residents:  "I've signed you all up to take a Charisma class this morning.  You need to head over to City Hall as soon as you finish breakfast.  Yes, Frank, you do have to go!  Once you learn a little bit about Charisma, every time you talk nicely to someone, you'll get better at making friends.  How cool is that?!  Soon people will want to be friends with you as soon as you say hello to them.  Just think - you'll have real live Sims for friends, not just toys, gnomes, trees and dead fish.  Gotta run!  Be sure to do your chores!  See you later!"



Coleen:  Charisma will help me make friends?  Ok, I guess, that's one of my treatment goals.
Frank:  Aww ... this sounds like work!
Callum:  If you're finished your pancakes, can I lick the plate?
Trisha:  I'd really like to get married again.  Maybe being more charismatic will help with that. [Note:  Trisha popped the 5000-point wish to get married the first day, as soon as she walked into the group therapy room.]
Charissa:  Will Charisma help me persuade Dean Clemens to let me have a horse?
Emily:  I could have my own cooking show.  "Emily Pinson, The Charismatic Cook."

Not highly enthusiastic, the residents dutifully troop off to their class at City Hall.  Charissa wears her brand-new t-shirt.  Jancy's Kitchen Utensils pattern looks very nice with Charissa's brown pants.



What they hear at class makes them excited and wanting to try their new Charming Introduction.  They descend on Central Park and look for someone to introduce themselves to.



The socializing goes well.  None of them have found a new friend yet, but by the time they head home for supper most of the residents have made it up to level 2 Charisma.

Emily's cooking skill is progressing well.  Tonight she serves her newest recipe:  Goopy Carbonara.



It's been a long day.  Everyone is in need of a little fun and relaxation, so they spend some time watching television before going to bed.  Frank and Callum are actually getting along.