The mouthwatering scent of sizzling batter, melting butter, and warm maple syrup drew almost every woman in the house to the kitchen. I foolishly assumed they had come to help. Instead, they hammered me with questions and made demands. Breanna’s insistent cries for chocolate chips in her pancakes followed Sophia’s urgent need to confirm the homeowners left us plant-based milk. Alessia, Queen of Pancakes, critiqued my flipping technique; Watcher forbid any of them didn’t come out perfectly. I chuckled to myself and shook my head. Women. They are my favorite species, heh. I told them the pancakes would be ready in a few minutes, and if they didn’t like them, there’s other stuff in the fridge they could make. Like vampires fleeing at dawn, they scattered, as I knew they would.
Everyone helped themselves to delicious, fluffy stacks without further commentary. After breakfast, the kids’ joyous shrieks echoed through the house as they cannon balled into the water. The sun beat down on us, warm and golden, promising a blissful, dry day. Before joining them, I stood on the balcony, letting the salty sea breeze caress my skin. The panoramic vista was like a soothing balm for my soul; this vacation was an excellent idea. Our last Sulani trip was Family Day, when me and Less were kids. The first weekend we ever spent with Mama, I think. Being with her was a relief anyway, but building sand castles, dancing, and shooting fireworks on the beach made for an epic weekend. Mama was so magical. Even shadowed by grief and guilt, she had a way of making everything brighter. Even after all this time, I still missed her.
Just as I began to shed my clothes and join the fun, the girls’ excited chatter reached my ears. Words like “cute,” and, “he” and, “should” pierced my eardrums, as if they yelled them on purpose and sent me into a tailspin. See? I knew it wasn’t too early to talk about woohoo, but I thought we’d have more time before the teenage shenanigans began. I rushed inside to find Sophia and tell her we needed to move fast, and I was leaving with the boys. Confusion filled her eyes as she tried to find out what had me so panicked. I probably sounded like a maniac, flailing my arms and saying weirdness like, “it’s happening right NOW!!”
“Luca, WAIT,” she shouted after me as I dashed outside and called the boys out of the water.
I suggested we go somewhere else for some man time, and they were more than glad to come with me. I looked back at Sophia as we sailed to the other side. She was standing on the balcony with her arms crossed. Knowing I’d pay for this later, I whispered well wishes and hoped some would come my way, too.
Taking Lex and Arvin to the same beautiful beach we’d visited with Mama brought back wonderful memories. The crystal clear water showed off all the colorful fish and coral below the surface. I even saw dolphins jumping out of the water in the distance. The beach buzzed with the sounds of kids splashing in the water, laughter, and chatter everywhere. Hopefully, all those folks would show up tomorrow for Beach Cleanup Day.
“Race you to the buoy,” I said to the boys as I ran into the water.
I swam out a few feet and looked back to see how much of a lead I had, only to find the boys still standing on the beach. Were they tired of the water already? Maybe it was too cold for them as summer hadn’t quite arrived yet. I planned to use the fun time to get my thoughts together, but it looked like I’d have to wing it, so I swam back.
“Let’s find someplace to sit and talk,” I said.
Sweat slicked my palms as I scanned the area for a secluded spot. I found a huge pavilion across the street, so we headed there to check it out. My steps felt heavy walking up the hill, like my body also tried to stall. A large, stone-paved open space lay in front of the pavilion with a lone picnic table sitting there as if the Watcher placed it there herself, just for us. Behind it, a massive fire pit crackled and popped, providing a comforting soundtrack for our discussion. The boys’ expectant gazes urged me to say something. Showtime, I guess. I started off casual, hoping to buy myself some time.
“How’s San Myshuno?” I asked.
“Loud,” they said with disdain in their voices.
“Ha! Yeah… I was very surprised your mom chose the big city. Apart from the noise, though, is it okay? Do you like it?”
“It’s aight,” Arvin said. “Sometimes the noise helps me focus on my horse training plans.”
I enjoyed learning something new about him, even though I found the horse thing quite bizarre. What is it with kids today and ranching?
“Your plan is so dumb,” Lex said.
“At least I have a plan,” Arvin yelled. “The early bird catches the ribbon!”
Lex rolled his eyes. I had zero idea of what just happened. Sensing our man time going off the rails, I changed the subject.
“We’re moving back into our old house when we get home,” I said. “Since we’ll have more room, maybe you guys can stay with us sometimes, if you want.”
They both smiled and expressed their approval of my plan, so I took the win and tried to move on. I ran my hand through my hair, debating whether to ask the next question, wondering if it made for a smooth transition. But we were there for real talk, so I may as well go all the way in.
“So, ummm… Have you met your mom’s man friend?”
The moment the words flew out of my mouth, I regretted them because I didn’t know if Less had told them she was dating. But the boys shared a quick glance, and Arvin said he seemed “okay.” I was relieved, not only because I hadn’t spilled the beans, but also because I hadn’t met the man myself and was flying in the dark. Kids can sense things, so him being “okay” meant Alessia was in good hands.
“What about you guys? Any girls catch your eye?”
They rattled a few names with animated expressions, just like I knew they would. I listened, nodded, and let their excitement flow while I got my words together.
“I bet you had all the girls, Uncle Luca,” Lex said with a cheeky smile.
“Nah, it wasn’t like that,” I said. “But I definitely I liked more than a few girls in my time. That’s actually what I wanted to talk about.”
“You gonna give us all your secrets?” Arvin asked.
“Kinda… But it’s not what you’re thinking.”
They eyed me curiously, so I continued.
“You’re at an age now where it seems like everywhere you look, there’s a pretty girl.”
They grinned, Arvin wiggling his eyebrows like he had a few specific girls in mind. Lex just smiled and looked down, brushing sand off his shorts. I took an extra deep breath as I waded into unknown territory.
“In school you learn the science of woohoo, how girls get pregnant, and all that. But they don’t tell you about the emotions… The pressures… Feeling lost—unsure…”
Arvin sat up straighter, but Lex kept his eyes on the sand. He had that look kids give when they’re listening but pretending not to. I took another breath, hoping to channel my dad’s spirit of eloquence and comfort. If I sounded more comfortable than I was, maybe we’d get through it.
“Your body’s gonna start talking to you—if it hasn’t already. You might feel weird about it, maybe even ashamed. It’s normal. There’s nothing wrong with you.”
I paused, checking to see if they were still with me. Arvin leaned in as if to take mental notes, but Lex still focused on the sand. I started to lose my nerve, but I couldn’t quit now.
Come on, Luc, I said to myself. Don’t overthink it. Just give them the talk you wish you would have gotten.
“Woohoo is one of the greatest experiences you’ll ever have. Its effect on us is powerful. Some sims will lie and cheat and change themselves to have it. When you mishandle something that powerful, people get hurt.”
I paused again to let that land.
“One of the best things you can do to guard your heart is to be honest. Not just with whomever you’re interested in, but with yourself, too. Peer pressure is so strong. Sometimes you might think you want something because everyone else does, or because you’re afraid to say no. But lying to yourself? That’s one of the worst things we can do.”
Arvin nodded. Lex finally looked up with a flicker of something in his eyes.
“The world tries to tell men what we should be like. Be tough, don’t cry, always have a plan, smash as many girls as you can and brag about it… But real men aren’t afraid to challenge that. Real men admit when something doesn’t feel right or if they’re not ready. That’s not a sign of weakness. That’s wisdom.”
I let that sit while I considered what to say next. A breeze kicked up, brushing through the palm trees as if to let the silence breathe. Lex wrapped his arms around his knees.
“Let’s talk about respect. It’s not just about being nice, letting girls go first, and all that. Real respect is, when a girl says no, you accept her answer without asking why. Respect is not expecting anything just because someone paid attention to you. No one owes you their body. And you don’t owe anyone yours.”
I watched the wild chickens behind Lex, running around and pecking at invisible specks between the stones before Arvin’s odd comment brought me back.
“Even a wild stallion needs a locker combination,” he said with his chest out.
What the… I shook it off because I needed to stay focused. I had so much more to say and couldn’t lose my momentum or nerve.
“You’re gonna mess up, and that’s okay,” I continued. “You’ll say the wrong thing. Maybe even hurt someone, or get hurt yourself. I’m not saying that because I don’t believe in you—that’s just sim nature. What matters is how you handle it. Learn from it, and try not to repeat your mistakes.”
“Have you ever hurt anyone?” Lex asked.
I let out a huge sigh. Despite what I just said about sim nature, my mistake still bothered me.
“Yeah … I have. I was with someone when I should have been with someone else. I wasn’t clear and hurt both of them.”
He didn’t ask for details. Just nodded. I still felt the need to add a little context, though.
“I don’t recommend dating multiple girls at once. But when you get older, you might find casual dating more your style, especially if you’re not ready to settle down. Or maybe you’ll have friends you woohoo with. There’re all kinds of relationships out there. I don’t agree with them all, but it’s your choice. But whatever type of relationship you choose to have, make sure everyone involved understands your intentions and their place in your life.”
“So like, let’s say you’ve been with a girl for a while,” Arvin began. “How do you know when it’s real?”
I laughed, knowing I’d leave them completely baffled, as the question had no right answer.
“This is gonna sound hella crazy and won’t make any sense, but when it’s right—when it’s real—you’ll just know. I wish I could explain it. It’s something you’ll just have to experience. It’s like … everything just…clicks, you know? You won’t have to force it. It’ll be as natural as getting dressed in the morning.”
“That’s dope,” Arvin said.
“You gotta find someone to put up with your crazy ass first,” Lex said snarkily.
“Shut up!”
“Guys… Come on. Be nice,” I said.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but Lex was different now. The sweet kid I used to know was fading away.
“But, let’s be clear,” I warned. “You’re young and still growing. You don’t need to be thinking about finding the one and if it’s real right now. And you don’t have to date at all! None of this is required. I’m just giving advice for if you choose to date. I didn’t start until midway through my young adult days.”
Lex’s head jerked back and looked at me like I spoke another language.
“Why? Didn’t you have options?”
“Heh, I had all the options. But I wasn’t in a good headspace. I had some things I needed to figure out personally before I got distracted with girls. And trust me, they are a huge distraction.”
“Keep your eyes on the trail, not the tumbleweeds,” Arvin said.
“Yeah… Yeah, that’s right,” I said, confused but oddly proud. “Don’t let anyone pressure you either, because that’s not love. You have nothing to prove. And if you can’t talk about it or say it out loud, you’re not ready.”
The whole Simflix and Chill debacle popped into my head. I was probably the least ready then, but I was under Chi Chi’s spell and completely useless. If she made a move, I couldn’t tell you what would have happened that night. What a mess I was back then.
Time was running away from us, and our pancakes were long gone, so I wrapped it up.
“There’s so much more I can say. Relationships can get real complicated real fast. Let’s not let this be our last conversation, okay? I’m always here for you guys, no matter what it is. I won’t judge, and I’ll always tell you the truth.”
Arvin nodded. Lex glanced up with something soft in his eyes, but it vanished.
“At least somebody cares about us.”
I knew what he referred to, and he had every right to feel that way. But stepping into that right now? Not the move. Maybe another time.
“You know what we need?” I asked. “A beach dance party! What do you say we go over there and show them how the Murillos get down?”
“YEAH,” Arvin shouted as he got up and ran away.
I shook my head and followed him. That kid was such an odd duck and I loved him so much.
“Hey, Uncle Luca,” he shouted when we spotted him. “This how I’m gon’ dance when I win my first competition!”
He danced, grinning and letting out a loud “yee-haw” now and then. His joy while dancing on the beach reminded me so much of Mama and her love for dance. I wish they could have known her and recognize how much of her spirit lives inside of them.
