Afternoon In The Park

Nova has just finished a picnic lunch with her stepdaughters.  

Lottie:  Mommy's here!  I just seen her car!

Nova: Well, don't run into the parking lot after her.  You nearly got run over last time.  

Lottie: Did not!  That car stopped so far away from me!

Alex: He was only going like five miles an hour.  You got lucky.

Lara: Are you girls ready?  I've got lots of fun on the agenda.

Lottie: Mommy! 

Nova: We saved you some potato salad.  Lottie and Alex made it. 

Alex: Alex made it while Lottie talked her ear off. (as Lottie)  "Why can't we put candy in it?  Candy would make it yummier.  Mommy likes candy."

Lara: Not in my potato salad.  (laughs)  After the potato salad, for dessert.  (to Alex) Did you use Grandma's recipe?  You know that's the best kind. 

Alex: Of course.  To do otherwise is unthinkable, right, Lottie? 

Lottie: Just like the Titanic.  (Both girls giggle.) Let's go hop in Mommy's car.  I'll hold your hand and be good. 

Nova: Sorry you had to work during the reception.  We missed you. 

Lara: Me, too.  Although if that grandmother of yours was there, it might be best that I wasn't.  

Nova: She wasn't.  Still boycotting the very idea. (changes subject) You sure you're okay to keep them while we run off on our late honeymoon? 

Lara: I signed on for it when I gave birth to them, right?  Anyway, Alex is old enough to watch Lottie if I get called in.  How did the reception go? 

Nova: It was wonderful.  (checks the time) Oh, I better run.  Make the girls show you all the pictures and videos, okay?  

Lara:  I will.  Have a good time in Hawaii.  

*****

Later, Charlotte meets her sister after her appointment with the lawyer.

Charlotte: And he said that if I insist on trust funds for the kids, that might make Kaden give up the lawsuit.  He can't get to the money, he won't want to deal with them. 

Batgirl: Why are you so sure he's motivated by money?  

Charlotte: You're so naive.  Everyone is motivated by money.  You really don't -- Hey!  What the hell do you think you're doing, Hagrid?  And what the hell are you doing in Barbieville?  (Sprints away from her sister.)

Hagrid:  I'm trying to see a comet.  And I live in Barbieville. 

Charlotte slaps him, hard.

Batgirl: Stop it!  What is your problem, Charlotte?  

Charlotte: This is my brother-in-law.  I told you about him. 

Hagrid: Lady, I don't know you from Adam.  And I ain't anyone's brother-in-law.

Charlotte:  LIAR!  (tries to slap him again, but Batgirl holds her back)  You're pointing that thing right at my apartment, you answered to his name, and I recognize you.

The police arrive, much to Batgirl's relief.  She's beginning to think her sister has finally gone totally bonkers.  Lynch has things under control quickly.

Hagrid:  I think the lady's mistaken me for one of my cousins.  Very strong resemblance and lots of us are named after the same ancestor.  (To Charlotte)  Honestly, lady.  Our family reunions look like one of them movies about clones.  

Charlotte: I don't believe you.  I know Kaden sent you to -- 

Jimin: Mrs. Jackson, please, let me do the talking. 

Hagrid:  Jackson?  Oh, yeah, I got cousins named Jackson.  Kinda strange that one of them would be as rough-looking as me, though.  (whispers to Lynch) They got money. 

Batgirl: What's his full name? 

Charlotte (softly): Rubeus Hagrid Jackson.  He goes by his middle name because...

Hagrid: Because the family's overrun with Rubeuses.  (To Lynch)  I'm not gonna be pressing any charges.  Looks like my cousin's giving this lady a rough way to go and she made an honest mistake.  

Let The Carnage Begin

WARNING: DOLL CARNAGE AND NUDITY AHEAD

TURN BACK NOW OR SHUT YOUR PIEHOLE

I've had my eye on these gals for a while.  For the articulation, frankly, but more on that in a bit.  This is my COVID-19 splurge.  The rest is going to bills, I swear!  Okay, most of the rest...

The single pack Comfy Princesses do not have knees.  Not even click knees.  So I had to buy the double packs, which gave me a couple of extra gals.  

Most Disney Princess dolls suffer from a severe case of Vapid Face, so my intent from the start was to do some head-swapping.  I bought three princesses of color for the best match to Nikki, Courtney, and Gabriella.  I hoped the extras would match Wendy and Alex.  

Skin tone match isn't perfect, since the noggins are Mattel and the bodies are Hasbro, but I can work with it.

Here Nikki and her body donor compare how well they can hold a phone.  Neither can put it to her face, but at least Tiana can FaceTime.  Whoever Nikki is talking to is looking over there!

Nikki only has click knees, which is an improvement over no knees at all.  But only a slight one.

No, this isn't cannibalism.  

Boiling water softens the heads so they can be easily removed and minimizes the chances of neck pegs breakage.  We don't want the pegs stuck in there because then the new peg might be too big.  Wendy and Alex were already off their bodies.

I'm not so nice to the noggins I don't plan to keep.  This way the neck pegs are intact and not even bent.  You'll notice only four heads when I said I was rebodying five gals.  The Alex head didn't match any of the skin tones at all.

So I'm just going to recast her with one of these two.  Comparing them to Alex's father and sister, Aurora seems to fit in best.  (I guess my dark-haired Alex is gonna get a makeover.)  Not sure yet who Rapunzel will end up being.    

UPDATE: Alex will be the fashionista with the green mohawk on whichever body matches best.  There was an issue with my delivery and Amazon gave me a credit on my account, as an apology.  I chose to get a different noggin for Alex!  Neither of these big-eyed blondes were Alex for me. 

And here they are!  

Wendy Darling, Courtney Montez, Gabriella Montez, and Nikki Pike 

Debuting working elbows and improved knees!

They do have a slight case of bobble-head but that's all right.  

Jeremiah, the younger Eaton boys, and most of the children are jealous.  

They don't even have click knees.

That will be my next project.

COVID-19 Fallout

Nova finds her stepchildren in the summer kitchen.

Nova: I just got off the phone with Witch's Cove.  Instead of refunding our payment for The Overlook, we decided to postpone the reception.  We'll have it as soon as this lockdown ends.

Lottie: Why's your grandma being such a meanie?  

Nova: Well, I'm going to have to kick Mariko's butt for telling you about that, but Obachan believes Japanese ladies should only marry Japanese men.   It's a very old-fashioned...  

Lottie: It's racist!   My teacher said only white people can be racist! 

Alex: I'll explain the difference later, when Nova's not trying to draft us into helping with the reception plans.  (In a Butt-head voice) Settle down, Beavis.

Lottie giggles.  

While they are working, Mariko emerges from her post-work shower.  

Mariko:  Well, today was a doozy.  Someone refused to tip Tris because she's a lesbian and Whitney heard that her friend Esperanza has the virus. 

Alex (laughing): Tris is a lesbian?  Someone better tell Four! 

Mariko: She gets that sometimes because of her hair.  

Lottie: Who's Esperanza?  Do we know her? 

Mariko: Whitney's mom's boyfriend is Esperanza's uncle.  We've never met her.    

*****

WDLC multimedia, operating out of downtown Barbieville, has sponsored a series of banners posted around town.  "In The Shadow Of Corona" features seniors who won't be having a graduation ceremony this year.

Kenneth Carson

Whitney Darling

Edward Dean Jr "Frodo"

Tobias Eaton "Four"

Peeta Mellark

Nakoma Nedakh

Tanner Pike

Finnick Pike

Beatrice Prior "Tris" 

Midna Takes One For The Team

Violet: As your business manager, I have to object to your advertising a competitor's business, but as a citizen of Barbieville, I understand.  Strange times we're living in. 

Midna: I figure the Changs need the little bit of profit still coming in more than I do.  I'm more upset about doing this to my employees than I am about any hit my pocketbook's gonna take.  

Violet:  Are the Changs doing all right?  Aside from the money, there's so many people blaming this on Asians and Chinese in particular.  

Midna: Well, I guess any racists in Barbieville get to cook for themselves or starve. I vote for starve.

Violet (laughs): You're an evil woman, Midna Sunburst. 

After finally getting into and registering at the Unemployment website, Pern browses free on-line courses.  Knowledge has become Pern's new drug of choice, a vast improvement over her last one!

Nova: Mariko?  Why are you here? 

Mariko: Sunburst is closed for the duration.  I was almost to work when Midna called, so I just turned around and followed Jeremiah home.

Nova: We'll muddle through somehow.  We always do.

Jeremiah: Alex, one of us needs to use your computer while the other uses the family room one.  We hear it's a nightmare to get into Unemployment's website.  You got anything on it you don't want us seeing?

Alex: Not that I can think of.  Why not have Mariko use mine, just in case? 

Jeremiah: Good plan.  She's not your dad.

Nova: Hurry back.  We're doing cornrows.  Lottie's upstairs admiring hers.   We'll do yours, too.  

Frodo: I guess your mom told you we're out of work for a while? 

Four: Yeah.  I was just getting ready to whip Finnick on COD.  You in? 

Frodo: Sure.  Let me pry my little brother off of Youtube.  

Zenobia: Welcome to Openly Biased.  My roomie and I are both out of work due to COVID-19, so my content will be a little different for a while.  We'll talk about current events, of course, but my only guest will probably be Miss Tris here, and we'll share what we're up to! 

Tris: Tomorrow's topic will be "alternatives to pitching your device out the window while trying to apply for Unemployment".

Whitney (sobbing):  What am I gonna do, Mom?  

Kyra:  Honey, it's not that bad.  You aren't paying rent or anything. 

Whitney: Dad just moved into town and this was my chance to show him.  I'm carrying good grades, working a job, and taking care of Wilma.  Everything he's been saying about me is wrong. Now I'm unemployed and not going to school. 

Kyra: You were laid off because of something you have no power over.  You are still doing your schoolwork.  And you don't have anything to prove to Meanie Grandpa, Whitney.  He wrote you off and that's his loss. 

Whitney (still crying, but not as hard): It still hurts so bad, though. 

Kyra: I know, sweetheart, I know.  He wrote me off, too. 

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. 

Not-So-Sweet Charlotte

Study Hall.  Students are allowed to talk quietly.

Taylor:  You had this whole conversation with her last night?  Wow.  

Gabriella: Yeah, it looks like she's as done with her mom as I am.  Her older brother - he had a different mom - is suing for custody because Charlotte is such a hag.  The part I'm not getting is the bit about when she was pregnant with Max. Mom said both Charlotte's pregnancies were totally healthy. 

Taylor: Well, as self-involved as Charlotte is, I think Mary-Kate is onto something with the getting fat angle.  If I was that vain, I know I'd cry a lot at the thought of stretch marks and extra weight.  

Gabriella: Uncle Billy already had the two boys from his first marriage, so it couldn't have been about him wanting a son.  I'm pretty sure the Mary-Kate pregnancy was how she trapped the poor guy into marrying her, but Max just doesn't make sense. Especially if she was crying in bed the entire pregnancy.  

Alex: My dad said your aunt is nuts.  Like, asylum crazy.

Gabriella: Your dad knows Charlotte? 

Alex: Both of my parents do.  They graduated with her.  

Frustrated, Gabriella waits until Jenny has gone to bed before confronting her parents.  Joe and Batgirl exchange a knowing glance, sigh heavily, and call Courtney into the room. 

Batgirl: I knew Kaden was trying to get custody of his younger siblings.  His lawyer has been in touch with me.  I hoped to spare you girls the drama, but since you had to have Taylor track down Mary-Kate and she's told you about it...  I'm not mad.  I should have known this would happen.

Batgirl: The fact of the matter is that your aunt Charlotte has never been entirely stable.  She spent a good part of her teen years in and out of the Psych Ward.  She simply isn't as resilient as I am and the abuse we grew up in hurt her a lot worse than it did me. 

Joe: She even went after a guy with a knife once.  I'm not gonna tell you who it was because you know the guy, but Charlotte almost went to prison over it.  Shortly after that, she left town for good.  We didn't see her again until she was married.

Courtney: Should we be scared of her?

Joe:  Haven't you noticed we never let you be alone with her?  So many times the two of you wanted to spend the night with Mary-Kate and we couldn't let you be in Charlotte's care.  Broke our hearts to tell you no.

Batgirl: Broke our hearts to let your cousin go home with her.  But she had the older boys and, of course, a nanny to protect her.  You two only had us.

Gabriella: She must have been off her meds while she was pregnant with Max!  That's why she cried in bed the entire pregnancy!  

Batgirl: Both her pregnancies were probably as hard on her mentally as mine were physically.  But it's what she felt she had to do to get the things out of life that she wants.  I really question her priorities, but...  Anyway, that's all you need to know.

Gabriella: Can I tell Mary?  Mary-Kate, I mean? 

Batgirl: Might as well.  She'll hear it eventually.  

***********************

Note to readers: This story in in conjunction with the Facebook page Our Toy Story.  

For the Mary-Kate side of the action, or just for the fun of it, check the "Almost Famous" album. 

Morning, Noon, and Night

Morning 

Taylor:  What's going on?  Why is Samantha crying?

Gabriella:  He's back.  I guess he got expelled again. 

Taylor: I can just imagine what he said to her.

Kevin: Actually, he's only spoken to one person since he got here, and it wasn't Samantha.

Samantha (crying): I thought she was my best friend.  How could she...

Alex: I don't know.  But don't let them see how upset you are.

Draco: I hope my parents find a new private school for me quickly.  I loathe having to associate with the likes of these people.

Charmaine: I know what you mean.  I wish my folks didn't insist on my attending public schools.  

Draco: I wonder about your parents, Charmaine, I really do. Are you certain they're as wealthy as they appear? 

*****

Noon

Fred: This is Silver Stream.  She's a mare.  That means girl horse.

Orlando and Samara: Ores!

Fred:  When you get big like me, you can ride her with a grown-up.  When you get big like Stacie, you can ride her all by yourself.

Pike: Fred, get down before you fall and spill the babies.  I've already got Dr. Potter here, I don't want to have to call an ambulance.

Fred (climbing down):  Are the doggy and kitty okay?

James: I can't say for sure until I run the blood tests, but they appear to be healthy.  You'll want to make an office appointment to get them fixed?

Fred: Why we gotta fix them if they're hell-fee? 

Pike:  I'll explain that later, Fred.  Say, James, I heard we might be neighbors soon. 

James: We're closing on a house right down the block.  Hope to be moved in by the wedding.  You've got an eighth grader and a third grader, don't you?  

Pike: Taylor's an eighth grader, but Stacie's in fourth grade.  You have kids that age? 

James (chuckles): Between the two of us, we have one of each sex in both grades.  She's got girls, I've got boys.  That's why we needed a bigger place - either of our two bedroom homes wasn't up to the job. 

Pike: Does she still think Rose-Grace is out to give the whole town to the amusement park?

James:  That's why we bought in your neighborhood.  It'll be the last one gobbled up. (Turns to Angus)  Now that I've dealt with the creatures that could have come into my office, it's your turn.

Pike: Hey, you were already scheduled for today.  I figured you'd offer to check them anyway.

James: Yeah, I probably would have. If all the blood tests are good, then they're going to need names.

Fred: I'm the boss of getting ideas.  You got any?

****

Night

Midna enters the data for today's business while Mariko and Whitney clean the diner for closing.

Mariko: Back of the house is done.  Once Whitney's done cleaning the tables, we can mop...

Someone knocks on the locked door.

Whitney: Jeez, people, we close at ten.  Read the sign!

Mariko: Oh, crap.  That's my aunt.  Something must have happened.

Midna:  Let her in.  I seriously doubt Nova Nakano is going to rob me.

Mariko:  What happened?  Are Dad and Mom okay? 

Nova: They're packing for the move.

Midna and Whitney:  MOVE?!  

Nova:  Don't worry, Mariko isn't going with them.  That's what I've come to tell her.  (To Mariko) Since you were so upset, your dad and I worked things out.  I'm moving into the house with you so you can stay here in Barbieville.  

Mariko:  Thank you!  Oh, Nova, you are the best aunt ever! 

Nova: Now, about that two week notice Mom told you to put in tonight... You can still do it if you want, but your new guardian is totally okay with you working as long as your grades don't suffer. 

Mariko: Why would I want to do that?  I love working here!

Nova: I figured as much.  I loved it, too, when I worked here. 

Mariko:  Wait, what?