Crazy Days Of Summer

Summer is winding down in Barbieville.  After a day of Back-To-School Shopping, Batgirl and Gabriella visit with Charlotte in her sauna.

Batgirl: This is so relaxing.  I should have Joe build me one. 

Charlotte: He may have had a hand in building this one.  His name is on the list of The Tor's contractors.   

Batgirl: Why am I surprised you saw a list of the contractors? 

Gabriella: When are Mary and Max coming?  School starts next week.

Charlotte: My children do not attend public schools.  They're enrolled at a very exclusive boarding school in Switzerland.  

Gabriella (disappointed): Courtney and I were looking forward to going to school with Mary.

Charlotte: I don't know where you got that idea.

Batgirl: From Joe.  He's assumed you plan on bringing them to Barbieville. 

Charlotte: Well, you know what they say about assumptions.  I have the ability to give them the best education possible and I'm doing just that.    

Batgirl: I'd go mad without tripping over my girls every morning.  How can you stand to be apart from Mary and Max?  

Charlotte: Except for the unfortunate habit of interrupting adult conversations, your children are well behaved.  I'm afraid that isn't true of mine - especially Mary.  I contacted their older brother, who they've spent the summer with, and Mary took his phone from him to berate me!  

Gabriella thinks "I wouldn't behave either if you were my mom, you snob" but keeps quiet. 

*****

Stacie and her friends hang out at her house, enjoying the last few days of summer.

Stacie: It almost feels like I have my own room again, but I don't understand why they even wanted to go.  I mean, those people let my dad adopt them!  They aren't Baptistes anymore!

Anakin: That's not fair, Stacie.  My mom let me move so far away and live with total strangers, but she still loves me.  Sometimes grownups do stuff like that and we just don't get it cause we're kids.

Roxy: Yeah, if my dad gets married someday, that doesn't mean I have to stop loving my mom.  You love both your mom and Rose-Grace, right? 

Stacie: Mom didn't let Step-Mom adopt me. 

Roxy: If she did, because she thought it was good for you, would you stop loving her?  

Stacie: Well, no....  I guess you guys are right...  

Anakin: There's three ways to be a Dad - legal, love, and DNA.  Pike took over as their legal dad and he loves them, so that's two out of three.  The Baptistes are still family because of DNA and love, so that's two out of three.  (shrugs) My dad only did the DNA bit.  

******

Speaking of dads, Roxy's is finishing up his last day of work at Witch's Cove.

John: Everything's put away for the night.  I gotta say, I will not miss folding a million maps a day.

Ryan: Thanks, John.  Not just for the maps there, but for putting up with me all summer.  I know I said and did some pretty stupid things.

John: You've come a long way.  You should be proud of yourself. 

Ryan: A lot of that was your patience, showing me the things people have in common instead of how they're different.  Remember that one day -- Oh, boss lady is here.

Pocahontas: Ryan, why don't you go on home?  John and I can finish up here. 

Ryan: Don't gotta tell me twice!  

John: It's all done.  Ryan and I were just getting ready to lock up.  But thanks for offering.

Pocahontas: I wanted a minute to talk to you, since you're not my employee as of the moment you clock out, so it isn't unethical for me to say what I need to say.  

John: What is it?  Is everything okay? 

Pocahontas: Everything is great.  John, I'm ready.  If you still want, we can be together again.

John: Like together-together?

Pocahontas:  Yes, John.  If you want that, hurry and clock out.  I'd hate to be sexually harassing my employee.