Pikes' Addition - Part One

 Went out to hit the after-holiday markdowns and, as usual, stopped at Goodwill.  They had a huge (for them, anyway) assortment of dolls and doll stuff.  I was picking through, tossing things in my cart or back on the shelf, when I spotted it.  A 2011 Barbie Dream Townhouse, with a box full of furniture taped securely to the roof.  For 16 dollars. 

This is the official Mattel photo.  Well, one of them... 

The major draws for me are the affixed kitchen and the fireplace.  As my Wicked Cool Toys dollhouse ages, the floors have begun to sag.  Which means the large appliances like to fall on the dolls while I'm setting up a scene.  And the fireplace speaks for itself.

Also, the dollhouse my sister got me from a yard sale is breaking bit by bit, which will leave Mace and the littles without bedrooms and Sarcastic Fringehead without a studio.  

I argued with myself for a bit, knowing what a major project getting this into Barbieville would be, but I decided the Pikes are going to build an addition!   So I put back all the other doll stuff (except the donor bodies) and got the house + box.

Here it is, taunting me from the center of my living room. Those walls are cardboard glued to plastic, and all kinds of "personalized" by the former owner.  Those of us who rescue orphan dollhouses are familiar with the problem.

First order of business, because it's the easiest, is to sort and clean the contents of the box. This thing is blurry because it fainted while I was taking a picture.  The parts that snap together to hold it upright have failed me.  Further research is required. 

Looks like Barbieville will be getting an eye doctor.  

Assorted food items, dishes, and cookware.  I'm loving the Thanksgiving turkey, giant salad, and huge banana split.  

A couple of beds, a fridge, things to sit on, a desk/shelf of some sort, a table and a small hot tub.  One of the things to sit on is a child sized eye exam station.  You know, the thing that Doc switched lenses around and asks "which is better" 500 times.  Definitely getting an eye doctor.

Back view of the house.  I'm not real concerned about how it looks, since it's going to be up against the wall.  the flower stickers in the window boxes fell off already.  Now the real fun begins.... 

Here Comes The Grooms

 Oksana hurries into the venue on a very important mission.

Oksana: Now, don't forget.  Grampy Dean and them got stucked in a blizzard, so they gotta watch on my tablet.  Make sure you got it pointed the right way and... 

Bonnie:  I'll take that, Ox.  Don't worry.  The Mellarks are in good hands. 

Oksana: OK.  Daddy P said he's gonna be really mad if you mess up! 

Bonnie: As he should be. 

Peeta and Ken come down separate aisles, Peeta accompanied by Oksana and Ken by Tommy.  

Wilma:  Oh, Mommy, look... 

Whitney (covering Wilma's mouth and whispering) This is why I had to talk them into letting you come.  You have to be quiet. 

Peeta spares a sad glance at the empty seats his family should be in, nearly stumbling over Oksana as he does.  He hopes no one noticed.  

Tanner and Finnick stand at the front, acting as Best Man for each of the grooms.  Mayor Rose-Grace Pike acts as officiant.   The ceremony is simple, an exchange of the traditional vows.  Oksana keeps a close eye one her aunt Bonnie, making sure Grampy Dean's family can see. 

Finnick:  Tanner designated me to make a speech for both of us, since I "do sappy stuff" better and since we have the same story.  Ken was the first person to befriend the new kids to town.  (pause) It was never a secret that Peeta was gay. Peeta says that's because he's Jewish and used to being persecuted, but really it's just that Ken's a bit of a wuss.  Took Ken almost three years to let us in on his secret.  He was afraid we'd run screaming for the hills, which was pretty stupid of him.

Ken:  Yeah, it was. 

Finnick: We were glad when  they finally hooked up after all the times we'd advised them to.  In the wise words of Frodo Dean (nods at Frodo) "You ain't gonna find anyone more compatible ever."   Some folks will say they're too young to marry, but those people do not know Peeta and Ken.  (toasts them)  Now, a few words from Miss Oksana Carson-Mellark.  Or is it Mellark-Carson?

Oksana: Just Carson.  My daddies decided that was easier.  (deep breath) The orphan house lady told me I was gonna have two daddies and I said "WHAT?" I didn't even know that sometimes boys marry boys!  Then my friend Vash got dopted by two mommies!  Anyways... I'm super happy to see my new daddies get married and promise to be a good daughter as much as I can.  Now it's Grammy Doreen's turn.

Doreen: I met Dean Mellark went he came to work at the school.  We bonded over both having been recently widowed and were happy when our sons became fast friends.  We were both delighted - if a bit surprised, to be honest - when they started dating and now I'm standing here making a speech for both of us at our boys' wedding. Now, let's stop talking and start celebrating! 

Catching Up and Getting Acquainted

Windu Acres: Candy has provided lunch for Mace and Tanner.

Candy: I'm surprised you're not taking courses in animal husbandry or something, given society's rejection of apprenticeships.  Unless you call it internship. 

Tanner:  Grandpa Mace found me some on-line courses.  I usually do that in the evenings while everyone else is fighting over the television. 

Candy: I see.  And Finnick is in trade school learning to fix roller coasters.

Tanner: Well, it's not that simple, but yeah.  Albus says he's looking forward to retirement, finally, but the guy's full of it.  Witch's Cove could've hired someone a long time ago if he really wanted to retire. 

Mace: Albus will retire when he's dead.  He's as much a part of the family as the park is.  Or maybe it's the other way around.  Ask Tanner about the wedding.  

Tanner: Grandpa!

Candy: Whose wedding?  Peeta and Ken's is the only one I know of.

Tanner:  Grandpa thinks it's funny that Whitney is...  well, she keeps fussing at Nakoma and Finnick that there is no reason to delay their wedding.  But me and Finnick want to have a double wedding.  There's no way me and Whitney are ready - I'm not gonna be the guy that moves his wife into his parents' house.

Candy: Maybe she's turning into a Bridezilla and doesn't want to share the glory.  Or maybe Ken and Peeta gave her wedding fever and it'll pass. 

Tanner: It better pass. 

******

Speaking of Nakoma, she's providing Maisie with a casual tour of the college campus.

Nakoma:  Most of your classes will be in this building, and I've never even set foot in here!  

Maisie:  Thanks so much for this.  They gave me a map and everything, but it always helps to have a flesh-and-blood person to ask. Where's the best place to study?  Besides the library.  (Her phone chimes)  Oh, that's my husband.  Let me take this real quick.

Husband: Who is Helena House and why are you using her phone?

Maisie: It's the group home's name.  Helena was the mother of the benefactors, and this is my new phone.  I get a company one as one of the founders.

Husband: She found you again, didn't she? Where'd she get arrested this time? 

Maisie: I don't know and I don't care.  Look, I'm kind of in the middle of something.  I'll call you tonight? 

Nakoma: Finnick told me what little he knows about your history when he asked me to show you around campus.  I'm sorry your birth family sucks.  

Maisie: Thanks.  I lucked out when I met Dionne, though.  The Baptistes welcome me to everything - and now the Pikes do! (gestures with the phone)  The military ever stops deploying my husband, I hope to start a semi-functional family of my own.

Monster High Is Back

Back in the day, when I first saw a Monster High doll, I was intrigued by the concept:  The teen daughters of classic monsters, all going to school together, with all the drama that goes along with that.  That doll was either Frankie or Draculaura, I'm not sure which, but I remember wondering if they'd do a werewolf and later seeing Clawdeen.   

I was put off by the dolls themselves, though.  (Some of these things I see as flaws were excused by them being monsters, I know.  Please don't yell at me.)  They were skinny.  No, skinny is an understatement - these gals are outright gaunt.  They had huge heads, a flaw that seems to be quite the trend these days in almost any doll line.  Both of those were strikes against them in my book. 

I did, and do, love the furniture and accessories for Monster High.  Most of the original Coffin Bean set in in my dollhouse as we speak.  Nikki Pike sleeps in Spectra's bed.  I picked up the original school playset at a yard sale.  Things like that.  I wanted Draculaura's car until I realized it only seats two.  

One on the things I love about Monster High as a concept is the devotion to the source material.  For example, one of the boys who eventually came along (as we all knew they would) is the son of a Gorgon.  His hair is a mohawk style made of snakes and his pet is named Perseus, both references to the original Greek Myth.  

There are other aspects I've not mentioned.   The entire message of Monster High is "be yourself, be a monster", which spoke volumes to pretty much anyone who felt marginalized.  It's really not a stretch to say this franchise saved lives!  The cartoon featured things like a couple's parents resisting because they were different types of monsters.  One character became an analogy for non-verbal autistics.

As happens with doll lines, the popularity faded.  Some of the current dolls lines still use features innovated (or introduced to the general public) by Monster High. One that many doll lovers of today seem to take for granted is the pop-off hands that make dressing our little plastic people in mesh or tight sleeves so much easier, as well the wrist articulation that goes with them.  

There was a short-lived "reboot", which included dolls now largely disliked by collectors.  They featured unpopular things like only five points of articulation - neck, shoulders, hips - and molded-on clothing.  Which might work out well for me in the long run, but I'll get to that.  Then Monster High went away.  

I was gifted a pair of the reboot dolls, by a friend who combined my love of dolls with my love of Halloween.  I'd recently buried my long-tern feline companion, and I have it on good authority that she's the reason one of the dolls is Cleo DeNile. 

 

Since the "reboot" dolls are so unpopular, they actually have a better chance of  gaining value than many dolls considered collectable - thus my earlier comment about it working out well for me in the long run.  Such are the absurdities of collecting.

But they don't meet residency requirements for Barbieville, although if a guest in my home wanted to play with them, they could certainly visit!  They've joined a handful of other display dolls I am adverse to altering.  Not that I could shrink the 18 inch Pocahontas twins.... 

Now that y'all have had a history lesson, I'll get to my point. 

I can hold my own in a conversation with a MH fan, but I'd never go so far as call myself an expert.  I see all the happiness it brought to people.  I repeat, I love the concept and the accessories, but not so much the dolls themselves.   And I am thrilled to see the return of Monster High. 

They have sturdier (and more varied) bodies than they used to.  The face mold looks more like a high schooler and they have even more features that point to their parentage - Draculaura's hair echoes Bela Lugosi's widow's-peak hairline and she has pointed ears, which goes back to Bram Stoker's novel. Frankie isn't just made from dead people, Frankie has a prosthetic leg and is nonbinary.  (More inclusion, which I honestly thought wasn't possible.)  

They do still have the giant noggins.  But... new playsets!  Clothes that might fit more non-MH dolls! Human skinned body donors?  I know the original "mansters" are beefy enough to be body donors, but now some of the "ghouls" might be, too!  

Touring The Mansion

 Picking up where we left off... 

Maisie:  Don't say anything that's gonna give away where we are.  She still thinks I'm in Arizona.

Dionne:  I got your back.  (Answers the phone)  Stop calling Maisie.  She can't afford to bail you out, financially or emotionally.  Grow the hell up, you lunatic!  (listens for a moment)  Oh, it's never your fault, it is?  Who's to blame this time?  Your lover of the week?  The president?  Godzilla?  Get over yourself.  (disconnects the call)

Maisie:  That bought me a couple of hours while she tells all the cops what a bad daughter she has, at least.  Or how you're brainwashed her innocent little baby.  (heavy sigh)  I wish I knew how she manages to find me.   I never even told her my married name, but she...  

Dionne: I know.  We better hurry, we're gonna be late to meet Boudica at the place.  

****

Boudica:  These last few rooms are basically attics.  They were servant's quarters back in the old days, but over the years we had fewer live-in help and more junk.  Especially considering that both my parents were historians.  

Dionne: You're leaving all this stuff?

Maisie:  Zenobia said they've removed anything of value to them.  We can use all this stuff for our foster children!  

Dionne:  I guess we don't need to worry about the place looking too institutionalized.  

Maisie: No wonder your aunt was so confident we could do this at low cost.  She knew it was coming with furniture and all!  

Dionne: I have to ask.  Why are you giving all of this away?  It must be worth millions and, as you said, it's been in the family forever. 

Boudica:  We're doing it to spite Dad, frankly.  Can't pay expensive defense lawyers if we give away the bulk of the estate, can we?  (notices Dionne's confusion)  Oh, you don't know about our dad, do you?  I thought Rose-Grace would've told you.  

Dionne: I have no idea what you're talking about.  

Boudica:  He's a murderer and one of his victims was Mom.  And no, he didn't do it here.  Anyone who died here did it a century ago and not through violence.

Maisie:  I like this room.  Very light and airy, if you know what I mean.   Way different from the rooms I had when I was a foster kid.

Boudica:  I didn't realize you'd been in the system. 

Maisie: My mother and I left my dad when I was little, and then she got into all kinds of legal trouble.  I spent most of my life going in and out of care, never knowing where or with who I'd end up.  That's why our big thing is stability - this way any Doll County foster kid will know exactly where they are going.

Dionne: There's also a level of supervision that's just not available in individual homes.  Most foster parents mean well, but there's always the abusers.  And sometimes the kids abuse each other.  

Boudica:  We do have one request.  Would you consider calling the place Helena House?  After Mom? 

Note to readers: 

Backdrops inside the mansion are from a book called Find The Cat. 

Making Plans

 Sunburst, early evening 

Whitney:  What are you guys up to tonight?  And who is this little lady? 

Peeta: We filed for an adoption, figuring we wouldn't get a kid until after the wedding.  Well, here she is!  (To Oksana)  This is our friend Whitney.  She's Tanner's girlfriend and has a little girl about your age. 

Finnick: Man, you called us down here to talk about the wedding?  Again? 

Whitney: Hey, a wedding takes a lot of planning.  You have no idea how many times we met while planning Tris's.  Probably because all Four did was show up that day.  He let her do all the work. 

Tanner:  Well, traditionally, that's how it works.  Not my fault this particular wedding has two guys! 

Whitney: Well, I certainly hope you don't think you're off the hook if we get married.  Same goes for you, Finnick.  

Oksana:  You're silly.  You can't marry both of them! 

Finnick:  My girlfriend is one of her best friends, Oksana.  (To Whitney)  Has Nakoma said something?  Because we agreed -- 

Peeta: --to wait a couple years.  For no good reason, I might add.  Nakoma is one of the wealthiest women in town and you've got a steady job.  Me and Ken are living in his mother's house! 

Finnick: Mind your own business, freeloaders.  

Ken:  Okay, we will.  I think we can make her a flower girl.  We're both coming down an aisle - side aisles instead of the center one - and this way Tommy walk with one of us as ring bearer and Oksana with the other.  You dudes of honor wait up by the altar as planned. 

Tanner: Seriously, guys, just go to Step-mom's office and have her do it there. 

Whitney:  Geez, maybe I should do all the planning if I marry you.  You're about as romantic as a kick in the shins.  

******

At another table, Dionne and Maisie go over their plans.

Dionne:  We can have girls in the north wing and boys in the south.  Center area is common ground.  

Maisie (silencing her phone): That arrangement isn't going to do much to stop gay residents from doing it.  Where do we put any non-binary or trans residents?  

Dionne: Gays don't generally get accidentally pregnant.  That's the main thing I want to prevent. 

Maisie: Dionne, I know it's a mansion, but is it really big enough to house all the foster kids in this county?  Even if you make those huge third floor spaces into wards for the preadolescents, I don't see how you can pull this off.  

Dionne:  It won't be easy.  But -- wait a minute, why aren't you taking that call?

Maisie:  It's her again.  You know if I answer, she's going to guilt me into it. 

Dionne:  Give me the phone.  I'll deal with her. 

New Folks, Old Families

 In a small park near Doll County Airport, three new arrivals claim a bench.

Oksana:  I bet my new daddies get here before your new mommies do.  

Vash: No way!  Your new mommies are old and everybody knows old people drive slow. 

Oksana: Mr. Picard, do you think it's yukky to have two mommies or two daddies?  That man on the airplane said it is.

JL: I'm sure it's none of my business.  I was asked by the agency to escort you here, since we were all coming to the same place.  I was not asked to judge anyone's morals.  

Vash: Are you calling Miss Tuesday to tell her we made it?  

JL: Yes.  Please play quietly while I do so. 

Vash: We gots to be quiet anyway because Jraff and Sleepy are having a nap.  

JL (on phone): We've arrived safely.  The families are stuck in traffic behind an accident, but they are on the way.  I will stay with the children as promised.  (Listens for a moment.)  I did have to suggest to a homophobe that he write to the government instead of frightening small children, but otherwise there's been no problem.  

JL reads up on his new hometown while the girls play, occasionally mentioning something that might interest them, until the first set of parents arrives.  Peeta handles the legalities with JL while Ken plops onto the ground beside the children.

Oksana: I told her that my daddies would beat her mommies here.  Cause they're old and you aren't.

Ken: We know the roads because we grew up here and they just moved here. Bertie and Daisy ain't so old.  Older than us, but younger than my mom.  

Vash: You know my new mommies?  Do you know my new sister, too?  (pronouncing carefully) Es-per-on-za.

Ken: Barbieville's a small town.  Pretty much everyone knows everyone.   

JL snaps a photo for the agency before releasing Oksana to their custody.  (Probably for promotional and legal purposes, but he didn't ask.)  

Oksana:  Bye-bye, Vash.  See you at school, I guess! 

Vash:  I hope we get a nice teacher.  

Peeta: She's very nice.  (elbows Ken.)  We like her a lot. 

Oksana: Oh, yeah!  I forgot, Vash, my new Grandma is gonna be our teacher!  

Vash:  That's almost as neat-o as one of my mommies being the news lady! 

Ken (points toward parking lot):  There's Vash's mommies, in that white car.  We'll point them in the right direction.

Since JL has the camera ready, The Hernandez family poses before getting down to business. 

Daisy:  We really appreciate your taking care of Vash for her trip.  It was very nice of you. 

JL: It seemed the most logical course.  A sister agency had, after all, helped me find my home here and therefore knew I was safe for them to travel with.  No need to burden airline staff with the responsibility of two excited adoptees.

Bertie: A lot of people would have refused to do it.  Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?  We could give you a ride if you don't mind squishing a bit.

JL: I was planning to call a cab, but I'd be very happy to accept a ride.  

Esperanza: So.  You're my new sister. 

Vash: Yes.  I had a big sister before, but she got dead like my old mommy and daddy.  It made me sad and scared. Some nice people helped me come here to be safe. 

Esperanza: Nowhere is safe, kid.  Some places are just safer than others, and they're usually boring.  Are you friends with that other girl?  The one Ken and Peeta adopted?  

Vash: We was at the orphan house together.  I'm happy we got adopted to the same town so we can still play together.  

Nepotism or Networking?

 After the very long road time, Candy parks at Windu Acres and strolls into the house.

Candy: Anybody home?!  We're gonna raid the fridge!

Rose-Grace (from the kitchen): You'll do nothing of the kind!  I've sent Tanner to pick up a couple of giant pizzas.

Maisie:  Nice place.  Oh, look, babies!  (plops onto the floor with Orlando and Samara)

Rose-Grace:  Group hug!  That way neither of you can say I'm playing favorites! 

Candy: You've seen me more recently than Dionne and Maisie.  They get dibs.

Dionne:  Maisie doesn't do hugs.  Besides, she's found those babies.  We're gonna drag her out kicking and screaming when it's time to go. 

Rose-Grace: I swear, Candy, every time you come back from an assignment, you look different.  

Candy: Well, you know us creative types,  We gotta keep you normies guessing.  (to Dionne)  I was going through a fitness and tanning phase last time I was in town. 

Dionne: All the family sends their love, Aunt Rose-Grace.  Where are Taylor and Nikki? Hell, where are any of the kids?  Besides the babies there, I can see them. 

Rose-Grace: My dad and Nikki are picking Taylor up.  She's interning with a local seamstress shop.  The boys are off with their respective girlfriends.  Pike's parents took Stacie and Fred for the night, trying not to overwhelm you.  They'll be here tomorrow. 

Taylor and Nikki run in and hug Dionne.  

Rose-Grace:  Dad! You told them! I wanted to see their faces when they saw her!

Mace:  Rosie, you know I can't keep secrets.  

Candy (laughing):  What am I, chopped liver? 

Mace: I'm Grandpa Mace.  You may have heard of me.  You're Maisie. 

Maisie: I have indeed heard of Grandpa Mace.  Nice to finally meet you. 

Mace: Can I have one of my grandbabies now?

Maisie: Oh, I don't know about that.  I'm pretty baby-crazy and I don't share well. 

Nikki:  I can't believe you've come to live in Barbieville!  I'm so excited!  Is anyone else coming? 

Dionne:  Right now, it's just me and Maisie.  Your mom's finally found a place for my group home.  

Taylor: Cool.  Where's it at?  Or is that top secret mayor stuff? 

Candy: Zenobia and Boudicca donated the manor.  

Taylor: You mean Zenobia did.  Boo don't come out of her textbooks any more than Maisie does - I bet they'll be study buddies! You are transferring here, right, Maisie?

*******

Monday morning, bright and early, at the mayor's office.  They settle at a conference table after introductions are made. 

Zenobia:  I'll send you PDFs of the floor plans.  We are keeping a few acres, which are a tad removed from the manor itself.  No problem there that a fence won't solve.  

Dionne (looking at the tablet):  This is fantastic.  How many bedrooms? 

Boudicca: Ten, officially.  But there's also two home offices that could be converted.   Each of them with a private bath.  Any of those first-floor rooms could be your office, but I suggest the one marked Library.  It's centrally located.   

Rose-Grace:  This red line?  Is that the fence you mentioned? 

Boudicca:  Yes.  The guesthouse has more than enough room for the four of us to live there, but we were not about to give up the pool.  We'll admit to being that spoiled.  

Dionne:  You could probably donate some of this land to the county parks.  A group home won't need that much acreage.  

Zenobia: Not a bad idea.  It does abut the nature preserve.