Henry Populous was very excited about his birthday.  All he wanted to do was paint and play music, and now he was becoming a teenager he was able to start playing guitar, just like his daddy.

Asa and Bebe gave him a guitar for his birthday and Asa taught him a few chords.  Henry was a real natural and took to it straight away.

Henry’s little brother Ian was turning into a fine chess player, but he was getting to the stage where he was so good that he could beat everyone in the family in a few easy moves, and he convinced Bebe and Asa to let him enter the Valley chess league.

Things were a little awkward when his first chess opponent arrived – Cyclon3 Sw0rd.  Bebe had barely spoken to him since Annalise was conceived, and when they had bumped into each other in town from time to time, it had always been uncomfortable. But Cyclon3 was getting old.  He and Bebe had seen several of their peers, including Leighton, Connor and Jared, pass away.  Bebe told Ian to set up the chess board whilst she had a little chat to Cyclon3.

Cyclon3 told Bebe how upset he’d been that she just ditched him without a word after Annalise was born, and when he’d heard rumours of her having dalliances with the Frios, that had hurt even more.  But he’d forgiven her, and he was pleased she and Asa and the children were all doing so well.  He looked at her curiously as he said this – how was Bebe keeping so young?  How was she still able to carry a child?  She surely couldn’t be much younger than he was.  Something was very strange here – but then she did work at the science lab and there had always been something pretty creepy about that place.

After Cyclon3 left, in defeat, as was usual with Ian’s opponents, Bebe set to work on creating more ambrosia for Asa.  He was so excited to have more of this meal again.  It was the most exquisite thing he’d ever tasted and he’d figured out that it must be something in the meal that was giving him and Bebe the rejuvenating effect.

Asa ate the plateful eagerly.  It didn’t disappoint.  Bebe had said they needed to ration how often they consumed this particular meal, but it was worth the long wait.

Though Asa was feeling younger, it was time for his daughter Julie to become older.

Julie had been watching all of her older brothers taking part in their hobbies and pursuing their desires, and she wanted to be just like Eddie and Fitzy, to write her own stories and paint her own pictures.  Bebe tried to dissuade her from it, knowing how long it was taking Eddie to fulfil his dream, but Julie was insistent.  Like most of the Populous children, she knew her own mind.

Now Henry was becoming proficient with the guitar, Asa suggested the boy took over some of his busking slots, and he soon built up quite a following.

He still took time out to diligently complete his homework, though.  As he sat opposite Mint Greene, neither knew that at that moment, Bebe was in labour with Mint’s child.
After a smooth delivery, Bebe welcomed her eleventh child, and fourth daughter, Katya, into the world…

And in another room in the maternity ward, Jennifer Martinez gave birth to a son named Wilson…

—

< < 24. Taking a risk

26. Becoming a grandparent > >