Welcome back to The Fantabulous Newsons, by attempt at a Sideshow Challenge, created by aelflaed at MTS, rules reposted on my LJ. It's a hardship challenge, made even harder by my decision to use Apartment Life's Newson family as the subjects. I can win if a) I create a Level 10 circus business, b) amass $20,000 cash in hand, or c) have residents max 6 skills and earn 6 gold badges.

So in other words, it’s unwinnable. But the fun’s in the trying, right?

The moods of the residents have improved somewhat since last time. I’m sure you can see that there are no red or even orange portraits, and Gabriella’s needs are almost completely in the green!

I’m not sure what to do with Mr. Humble’s computer. They can’t sell it and I’ve got nowhere to put it, so for now, it’s just sitting on the floor.

Unfortunately, all those nice green bars aren’t going to be that way for very long, since ordering delivery or going to a community lot are both against the rules. (Assuming there was a community lot to buy groceries at in the hood anyway, which there isn’t just yet.)

The solution, of course, is child labor. Everyone old enough to hold a fishing pole gets to fish in between school, homework, and entertaining the paying customers.

The fruit trees did eventually pay out as well, but the fruit was Bland and only just Not Actually Dead. Was it worth staying up late to pick them? I suppose when compared to starving, yes.

Both good and bad things have come out of the emphasis on food production this round. There are boots, which are hard to eat but good for a laugh if you can afford a juicer, and which might be sellable. There’s definite badge-building, although it is all the same badge rather than the six required to win. And there’s the dubious honor of gaining enough Nature enthusiasm to be greeted by the Hobby Stalker.

On the other hand, it often leaves you too tired to get to bed. I don’t think Garrett’s slept in the bed even once in his life.

I think that perhaps I will have the kids specialize in different types of acts or attractions, like a real circus would have. (Or at least would pretend to have, since I think many of the acts are the same only with different costumes and wigs.) Garrett here will definitely be the athletic one, like the strong man. All I can ever convince him to do is jump rope, which builds body. He’s going to be totally ripped when he hits Teen.

Georgia might make it as a fire-eater, or bubble-eater in this case, but it will definitely take more practice. Fire-eaters don’t really ingest fire, and bubble-eaters shouldn’t really ingest bubbles.

Ginger and Gallagher cooperated on their performances, putting on a “death defying” acrobatics act.

Ginger’s specialization will probably involve dancing and a revealing costume. Not exactly what a Family Sim might be into, but probably the most immediately interesting to the patrons. But not until after she’s an Adult, of course!

I don’t know yet what Gabriella’s specialty will be, but it won’t be storytelling. You can tell how much this Socialite walkby (who is obviously a Bruty on one side or the other) thought of her skill at that!

She liked Gavin’s fiddle playing much better, which is not exactly surprising given the quality of Gabriella’s storytelling.

Although that’s not quite fair – Gavin’s sounding pretty decent these days.

And of course the fact that Gabriella and Gallagher are both grown up now might make a difference to specializations.

What specializations will I pick for Gallagher and Gabriella? Will the family starve to death before I can decide? Find out in the next episode of The Fantabulous Newsons! Until next time, Happy Simming!