Live and Learn

Batgirl is enjoying her lunch break when Charlotte barges into the Employees Only area.

Charlotte: I cannot believe the gall!  They've dragged Billy's brother out of hiding! 

Batgirl: Billy has a brother?

Charlotte: God only knows what he's going to tell the lawyers.  When I was pregnant with Max, he called me the most vile names.  

Batgirl (resigned): Sit down, then, and tell me.  

Charlotte: I never mentioned him because he isn't worth mentioning.  Or wasn't until now. 

Batgirl: Honestly, I don't understand why you don't just let Mary Kate and Max go.  Gabriella's been in touch with them and they seem to be happy. You'll have a better chance at patching things up with them once they're grown. 

Charlotte: Billy's sons and brother have always hated me.  They tried to turn Billy against me and now they're taking my children.

Batgirl: They suspect you married him for his money and that you're only interested in the kids' inheritance.  (heavy sigh)  And you've always had... well, challenges, in connecting with people.  

Charlotte: You don't get it.  These are MY children.  MINE. 

Batgirl: They're people, Charlotte, not possessions.

Charlotte stares at her sister for a long moment before rising and leaving without another word.

On her way out of the grocery, she stops in her tracks when she hears someone call her hated nickname. 

Charlotte (irate): What did you call me?! 

Jeremiah: I didn't call you, Charlotte.  (nervously laughs) You don't recognize me, do you? I'm Jeremiah Russo.  Father of two now, one of which happens to be named Lottie.

Charlotte: You named your child after me?  

Jeremiah: She's actually named after her mom's grandmother.  (to Alex)  Go find Lottie.  I'm sure she's back in frozen foods.  

Charlotte: Oh, this isn't her? 

Jeremiah: This is Alex. 

Alex: You're Gabriella's aunt, right?  Charlotte Jackson?

Charlotte (to Jeremiah): I apologize for shouting at you.  Please understand, I've had a very bad day.

Jeremiah: No problem.  I have the same reaction when people call me Jerry.

*********

Phoebe is taking advantage of the unseasonably warm day.  She's researching the history of Witch's Cove, preparing for the paranormal team's work there, in the park.

Becky: Hey, I was just headed over to City Hall to help you out.   Jeremiah told me I could tag along and do a story on y'all for the university paper. 

Phoebe: I got done with everything I can't take with me.  I'll be glad to go over it with you once I get all my notes in order.  

Becky: History of Doll County?  Anything juicy in here or just a lot of land deeds? 

Phoebe: All the juicy stuff was in the newpaper archives. (stops typing)  About what Sylvia said the other day?  About Ben?  She has no idea what she's talking about.   Her ex was convinced Ben's gay because he has a man bun.  Seriously.  That's his entire basis for the assumption.

Becky: Wow.  Sylvia dodged a bullet when they broke up. 

Phoebe: She dodged a nuke when they broke up.  Anyway, I dated Ben back in the day and I can attest to his heterosexuality.  So if you are interested in him, go for it.  

Becky: Really?  You and Ben? 

Phoebe: We just didn't work out.  Not much to tell.  

****

Note to readers: Charlotte's children (Mary Kate and Max) live on Facebook page "Our Toy Story" under the album "Nearly Famous". 

Sex, Drugs, and... Remodeling

At Barbieville Middle School, the day begins. 

Alex: I appreciate all the advice, but I really don't think it will be rough adjusting.  For one thing, I'm going to have my own room to hide in if it gets crazy.  

Hermione: It was all the boys in the house I had to get used to.  

Samantha: Having a stepsister is a godsend for me.  Raven has helped me so much since Charmaine did what she did.  (laughs) And now they've moved out of town, so I don't even have to look at her! 

Alex: Still gotta look at the piece of crap she did it for, though. 

Samantha: He's not to blame for her actions.  (Waves dismissively in Draco's direction.)  I heard your dad's team finally got a chance to investigate Witch's Cove?  

Alex: Yeah, and it was Pocahontas's idea!  I think he's more excited about that than the wedding!

Gabriella: ...then Charlotte told Courtney nobody cares and Mom said "Keep your mouth off my children."  

Taylor: No wonder y'all come to my house so much.  Beside helping your dad with the remodel, you can get away from that hag.  

Gabriella: Have you heard anything from Candy?

Taylor: No, and it's been over a week.  We're starting to really get worried.

Draco: You know, a decent school doesn't teach this stuff to boys and girls in the same room. 

Nancy: You and I have very different ideas of what a decent school does.  (Draco rolls his eyes.) If you have parental consent, you can turn in your book and take a study hall.  Do you have parental consent? 

Draco: You know I don't. 

Nancy: I suggest you discuss your discomfort with your parents.  In the meantime, please keep your complaints to yourself.  

*******

Pern is walking home from work when Pocahontas calls her over to a table in the park. 

Pern: I knew this was going to happen.  That you'd make me say it. 

Pocahontas: Pern, I'm not going to do this without your okay.  You've surprised me, to be frank, with your drive to stay off the drugs.  I really don't want to hurt you. 

Pern: It's just so hard to admit I failed that badly as a mom.  

Pocahontas: I'm sure it hurts.  I'm sorry.  

Pern (crying softly): But it'd be a bigger failure to stand in the way of what's best for him.  

Pocahontas:  You'll still be in his life.  Hell, if John's the mom and I'm the dad, you can be the doting aunt.  We've all come to love you, Pern.  Warts and all. 

********

At Windu Acres, Joe's short break is interrupted.

Mace: Did you have to make mine the ugliest room in the house? 

Joe: Hey, you left it up to Rose-Grace.  She told me to use repurposed materials from my warehouse.  Not my fault they ended up being contrasting patterns.  

Mace: I'm just messing with you.  It's actually kinda bohemian.  Makes me wanna invite Albus over and smoke some weed. 

Joe: I donated a few horse prints.  I'm a city boy, barely know one end of a horse from the other.

Mace: Thanks.  Hey, what say we go to Sunburst for lunch?  My treat. I can teach you which end is which. 

Love, Barbieville Style

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching and too much time on my hands, I decided to show off all the happy couples of Barbieville.

Engaged

Jeremiah Russo & Nova Nakano

John Smith & Pocahontas Nedakh

High School Sweethearts

Left to Right: Four Eaton & Tris Prior, Ken Carson & Peeta Mellark, Tanner Pike & Whitney Darling, Finnick Pike & Nakoma Nedakh

Just Dating

Brent Spiner & Kyra Darling

Married

Left to Right: Hikaru Sulu & Becky Lynch, Christopher & Rose-Grace Pike

Front: Lee & McG Pike

Rear: PJ Granger & James Potter

Front, left to right: Daisy & Bertie Hernandez, Batgirl & Joe Montez

Rear, left to right: Violet & Dean Mellark, Nancy & Alec Guinness

Left to right: Suzie & Eddie Dean, Esmeralda & Marcus Eaton

Office Hours

This time of year is usually pretty slow at Witch's Cove, but not today.  Pocahontas has a full agenda.

Pocahontas: It looks like your reservation for The Overlook is all set.  Albus will meet your contractors at the gate, at eight am, so they will have plenty of time to set up.

Nova:  Excellent.  We did have one more, slightly odd, request before signing anything.

Jeremiah: I want to bring my younger daughter up there.  She's extremely sensitive to spirits -- 

Pocahontas: That's not even close to the oddest request I've had.  You bring Lottie by any time during business hours and I'll escort you myself.  In fact, since I have decided to play up the witch aspect, I was considering hiring your team to do an overnight.  

Jeremiah: We can do that.  Tomorrow after school?  

Pocahontas: We'll sign on the wedding and work out the details on the overnight after Lottie approves the venue.  I'm sure she will, by the way.  If we have ghosts, they're pretty mellow. 

Nova: We were worried.  Some people...  well, I'm sure you know. 

Pocahontas:  Even if I didn't agree with your beliefs, I'd respect them.  I want my clients comfortable.

Her next meeting is with Rayshawn Lucas, new owner of The Point. 

Rayshawn: I'm planning to reopen later this week.  When Charlotte shut the place down, all she really did was lock the doors.  Everything is still in place and most of the employees came back to work for me.  They're doing a clean up even as we speak.

Pocahontas: Have a seat, Mr. Lucas.  I can't tell you how relieved I am that The Point will be -- Wait.  Did you just call Mrs. Jackson by her first name?

Rayshawn: I've been doing business with the Jacksons for years.  Charlotte made a big mistake with The Point and I saw a chance to both grab a prime business opportunity and help out an old friend.  

Pocahontas: What did you want to see me about?  

Rayshawn: As I understand it, you had a deal with The Point.  Lower admittance fees for your park, perhaps a shuttle bus?  I'm not clear on the details. 

Pocahontas: Oh, that.  It was ten percent off admission for your guests.  There should be coupons in the rooms.  Our people mover isn't street legal, so there's no shuttle bus, but parking is free.  Most of our profits come from admission and in-park purchases.  

Rayshawn: We can just continue with the existing arrangement, if that's good for you? 

Pocahontas: Perfect.  And thank you.  There's not a lot of exaggeration to people calling you the economic savior of the town. 

Albus: Who was the guy I passed in the lobby?  

Pocahontas: New owner of The Point.  Seems like a decent guy, even if he is a friend of Charlotte Jackson's.  

Albus: Very easy on the eyes.  (Gets out a laptop.)  Anyway, I wanted to go over-- 

Pocahontas:  You?  You have a laptop? 

Albus (slightly embarrassed): Well, the Pike boys convinced me to give it a go.  I have to admit, it's easier than toting around a clipboard and file folders.

Pocahontas: Before we get into boss and employee mode, I need to talk to you about Anakin.  You're the closest thing to a father I ever had and I'm really struggling with this whole Pern situation.  I really can't refute that it would be the best thing for Anakin, but what about Pern?  I'd hate to undermine her sobriety by stealing her baby.   All she will say about it is that it's up to me and John.

Albus: She'll never be mother of the year, but there is no denying her love for Anakin.  If you take full custody she'll know her boy is safe, and that's really all a mother's love requires.  It's not like you'd refuse her access to him.  

Pocahontas: As long as she stays clean.  

Albus: Talk to her, Pocahontas, and let her know these things.  The poor girl is woefully ignorant and has been used badly all her life.  She's family and it's time you let her know that. (chuckles) As long as she stays clean.