Now what?

Pocahontas's office at Witch's Cove

Pocahontas:  Now that Nakoma has joined us, we can talk.  Nakoma, this gentleman is a private investigator.  He's looking for information about our father.  

Nakoma: Last we knew, he was in Virginia.  About ten years ago.  

P.I.:  Anakin is the younger brother and Pernilla Dancer is his mother.  I understand both of them live here in Barbieville now and that she's signed over custody to you and your husband.  I'd like to speak to them, and to Albus Dumbledore.  

    

Pocahontas: I can give Pern and Albus your card, but it's going to be their choice if they want to talk to you.  Neither one of them is president of Cash's fan club.

P.I.: I understand.  The trail's gone cold.  I'm hoping to get some insight into his thinking by speaking to those who knew him.  I've already determined that he's definitely got a thing for women of Native descent.  He's claimed membership in several tribes across the country.

Nakoma (after he's gone):  That is one sexy dude.  

Pocahontas:  I'm more interested in his client.  Why's someone tracking Cash down?  

****  

Speaking of Albus, he's at lunch with the pretty young thing Pocahontas recently hired to coordinate shows at Witch's Cove.  

Tierra:  What do you think?  Could we pull off a show of this caliber in the current venue?

Albus: We'd have to scale it back some, but I think we could make it work.  You know your stuff, that's for sure.  The costumed characters have so much positive feedback, it's ridiculous.  

Tierra:  Since it's Witch's Cove, we call them familiars.  I never heard of a witch with a panda familiar, but buying assorted mascot costumes at that price, we took what we could get.   

***** 

The Sulu family enjoys a rare lunch together across the restaurant. 

Vivica:  How come Mattie went away?  We just now dopted her! 

Lynch: Her musical talent was going to waste here.  Remember what Finnick Pike told us about her, like two days after her arrival?

Bobby (imitating Finnick):  She should be giving me guitar lessons, not the other way around.  You should see about a music scholarship at Julie's Yard.  (To Vivica)  Some day Mattie will be rich and famous.  Wait and see. 

Vivica:  But I miss her so bad!

Rafe:  Geeze, Viv, we just put her on the bus five minutes ago. 

Sulu:  We're all going to miss Mattie.  And I'm sure she'll miss us. 

Rafe: Yeah, she still misses her foster sisters from before you adopted her.  I don't miss my foster anybodies.  Mine all sucked.  

Lynch:  Rayford Sulu!  I'm sure hey did their best.

*****

At the mayor's office, some personal drama goes down.  

 

Rose-Grace:  Brent proposed? Why do you look less than happy?

Kyra: They've inherited their parents' ranch and the whole lot of them are moving to Montana.  Bertie and Daisy have both put in their notice at work.  

Rose-Grace:  That's nuts.  Bertie just got the anchor position at WDLC!  

Kyra: Bertie can't wait to move her lesbian Hispanic self into their house.  She says she can find news work out there, and Daisy really misses Montana.  

Rose-Grace: So if you accept his proposal, you'll be leaving? 

Lex:  Sorry to interrupt.  I hope this isn't a bad time. 

Rose-Grace:  Aren't you from the county oversight committee? 

Lex:  I am.  We've received report of irregularities in the establishment of Helena House. 

Kyra:  I assure you, everything about Helena House is above-board.  

    

Lex:  Mayor Pike acquired the property from a family friend and hired a relative to run the children's home.  And who are you, anyway? 

Kyra:  I'm her executive assistant. 

Lex:  That brings you under suspicion as well. 

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. 

Best Laid Plans

Barbieville High School, 8 am

Cho:  Two new guys on the same day?  Do you suppose they're brothers? 

Belle: I know they aren't.  The brunette is my stepbrother Iggy.  He's moved in with Mom and James, too, but I'm not sure why.  I know his mom wasn't deployed!  

Belle: Who's your friend, Iggy?  

Iggy: This is Rupert.  We met on the plane.  

Rupert: Yeah, it was weird to be seated next to a guy heading to the same little town!  

Cho: Oh, you're a Weasley!  I see the resemblance to Ron now!  (laughs at the surprise on all three faces.)  Everyone in Barbieville knows everyone.   You'll get used to it.

********

Barbieville High School, 10 am 

Whitney: I know Mariko has to work after school.  What are you doing, Nakoma?

Nakoma: Fittings for the wedding.  You can tag along if you want. 

Whitney: If you're sure it's okay.  I'll have Wilma.

Mariko: You always have Wilma.  It's like you gave birth to her or something.  (they all laugh) I'm glad Nova and Jeremiah aren't going all fancy.  We'll just be in old prom dresses. 

Nakoma: Pocahontas isn't going near as fancy as she could.  She's decided the wedding colors are shades of blue and "precious metals" rather than spend a bit extra.    

Whitney: She's smart.  Saving money, time, and stress.

Nakoma: Weddings are supposed to be expensive and stressful! 

****

Mayor's office, 1 pm

Rose-Grace: I know you're trying to finish up your work for the day, but you need to see this. 

Kyra: What is it?  Oh, the people who got into the empty downtown buildings.  (Murmurs as she reads over the list of names, then stops in horror.)  That can't be right.  He can't be... 

Rose-Grace: I double checked everything.  Unless there's another guy of the same name and the same background, it's him.  

****

The Malfoy Residence, 7pm 

Paris: I don't see any harm in letting him drop the class.  If he isn't comfortable, why make him?

Helena: You never see the harm in giving him what he wants, and life is full of uncomfortable situations.  After his brush with the law, I am done looking the other way while you spoil him.  He is not in charge! 

Paris: When he inherits everything, he will be. 

Helena: Everything?  That's ridiculous.  You have a wife and three other children!

Paris: Not everything, of course.  You and the girls will be provided for.  But the bulk of my estate will go to my male offspring.  That's Draco, since you have failed provide me with more. 

Helena: Look, we agreed that the child-rearing was to be my domain.  

Paris: You are the mother. 

Helena: Draco will remain in that class, and he will do any charity work I decide to volunteer him for, and he will learn to at least pretend to have some respect for his fellow human beings.   

Moving On... Or Just Moving?

Sulu takes a break from running errands with Dixie.  He's pleasantly surprised to run into John and Pocahontas.

Sulu: You left your office on a weekday?  Are you feeling all right?

Pocahontas: Always such a smart aleck.  I took the day off to help John get his new day care center ready, and to discuss some things without the kids around.  Nakoma and Anakin are already planning our wedding. 

John: We're talking wedding, too, but in practical terms.  Like where to live - neither one of us wants her in the house that I shared with Albion and her place is too small for us and four kids.

Sulu (chuckles): Her place is too small for her and the two she lives with.  

Pocahontas (to Dixie): You and your daddy can join us if you want.  Your cute little face makes up for his big ugly one. 

John: Yeah, my best friend isn't as bad as the kids are.  

Pocahontas: I'm getting some more food.  You three can talk about me behind my back.

Sulu: A book on premarital counseling?  You never fail to amaze me, Pocahontas.

John: Actually, it's turned out to be a good idea.  I thought she was nuts, but we've found a couple areas we need to work on.

Sulu (scoffs): Like what? 

Pocahontas: Finances and child-rearing.  It's not like either of us had any real experience back in the day, you know.  Our paths divided and we've been through vastly different terrain since. Did you know he bribes his daughters to behave?  Bribes them!

Sulu (shrugs): Society bribes us to behave.  

******

At the Barbieville City Hall Complex.

Kyra: Ready for lunch?  I'm about ready to eat that plant on my desk.

Rose-Grace: I think it's toxic.  (puts away her current project) I can finish up with this when we get back.  Nothing urgent in the stack and I'm ready for some gossip over coffee. 

Kyra: I've got some for you, too, about Lottie Gordon.

Rose-Grace: Charlotte Jackson, you mean.  And I have some of the same for you.  Gabriella got hold of her cousin and WOW.  That is one dysfunctional -- 

They're interrupted by Albus bursting into the room.

Albus (angry):  Did you know anything about this?  I thought you were my friend, Rose-Grace! 

Rose-Grace: I'll let that slide since you're clearly upset.  What's going on?

Kyra (to herself): So much for that gossip. 

Albus: That Jackson woman bought my home!  I'm being evicted! 

Rose-Grace: She bought the campground?  Why would Miss Snooty Pants want that campground? 

Kyra (reluctantly): I have a demolition permit pending.  According to it, the campground is an eyesore and a health hazard.  In that order. 

Rose-Grace: If it's still pending, why is she already evicting Albus? 

Albus (reading from the notice): Permanent residence in an area zoned for temporary stays is in violation of the law.  If lot 420 isn't vacated within thirty days, your vehicle will be towed and your belongings removed.  

Rose-Grace (taking the eviction notice from Albus): Kyra, I'm afraid I have to postpone lunch.  

Albus: Lunch?  No, no, don't go hungry on my account.  

So Long, Sister

Much to Brent's relief, Kyra's family gets along well with his sister's.  Now he can feel comfortable in taking things to the next level.  On the last day of the visit, they take in the sights of Washington DC.

Kyra: Make sure you can see the Memorial behind us.  It's not often my girls and I get a vacation.  I want photographic evidence it happened.

Brent: Is this really necessary?  You know I hate having my picture taken. 

Kyra: Surely you don't want me to gripe all the way home?

Bertie:  Oh my god!  Delete that!  I look like I have no neck! 

Daisy: You know that shirt does that and wore it anyway.  Suck it up, Buttercup. 

Bertie: Seriously, Daze, I look ridiculous.

Daisy: Siblings shot!  Me and my bro!

Brent: You know, I just wanted  a picture of the Washington Monument.  

Daisy: As seldom as I get to see you?  Did you really think I wasn't going to insist on pictures? 

Whitney: Wilma, where are your shoes?

Wilma: Brent gots them.  We was sticking my toes in the water so the fishies could nibble them.  It tickles, Mommy, you should do it with me. 

As night falls, they pack up The Tank and prepare for the journey home. 

Daisy: Let me know when you get home safely. I don't care what time it is. 

Wilma: Bye bye, new aunties! 

As soon as her brother is out of sight, Daisy bursts into tears. 

Esper: Here come the waterworks.

Bertie: Behave.  You know how much Brent means to her.  When the rest of the family turned their backs on her, he... 

Esper:... turned his back on them.  (To Daisy)  Hey, think of it this way.  If things go well, we might be going to his wedding soon.  

Daisy: She is a wonderful lady, isn't she? I haven't seen him this happy in, well, ever!

Brent: Wendy, turn the stereo down a notch.  I want Nakoma well rested when it's time to switch drivers. 

Wendy (does so):  I think your sister is very cool.  Your parents must be real jerks.  

Brent: They are. 

Kyra: I really can't imagine disowning my child.  (Winks at Whitney) Even if she did have a baby when she was still one herself.

Whitney: Speaking of Wilma, where is she?

Wilma (shouting from the rear sleeping area): I'm taken a nap with Nakoma.  Them new aunties done weared me out.

Meet The Sister

Somewhere between Barbieville and their destination....

Brent: Next rest area, I'll turn the wheel over to you, Nakoma.  Road's starting to hypnotize me.

Nakoma: Even with Kyra talking to you, you've already driven farther than you should have.  I was about to suggest the switch.

Kyra: We're more than halfway there, according to the GPS on my phone.

Eventually, after what feels like forever....

Nakoma: Here we are, folks.  Juniper Hill Campground and RV Court.  

Kyra: Wilma, get out of the way.  Brent and Nakoma are trying to set up the tent.

Wilma: I'm helping!  Why we got the tent anyway?  Lots of beds inside.

Brent: There's five beds and six of us. I'll take the tent since I'm the only boy.  And mind your grandmother.  

Wilma: Boo.  I wanna be a helper.

Whitney: You can help once this hot dog is in your belly.  

Wilma: Mommy said you gotta hold on real tight while we look for your sissy.  

Brent: I will.  Daisy will be in either a red truck or a dark colored car.  Probably the car, since it's hard to cram three grown ups in a truck cab. 

Wilma: Esper ain't no grown-up.

Brent (chuckles): She's as grown-up as your mommy.  

Wilma: Oh, she's that big?  I thought a kid like me or Wendy.  

Brent: Well, your mommy is technically a kid, you know.

Wilma (nearly jumping out of his arms): Car!  Is that them?  Someone is waving real big and crazy.

Brent: That's them.  

Whitney: I'm here to help you down the ladder, Wilma.  

Wilma: I can do it all by myself, Mommy! 

Whitney: I'm here to catch you if you slip.  Is that better, Miss Fussy Britches?

Brent runs to greet Daisy with a big hug.  

Daisy: Wow.  You brought a whole family of hotties.  

Brent: I told you Kyra and her girls were lovely. 

Daisy: Your taste has always been questionable.  (sticks her tongue out at him)  Even that Naomi girl is pretty.  No, not Naomi.  What is it?

After introductions, the party splits into smaller groups.  

Bertie: Brent says you met when he ran against your boss for mayor? 

Kyra: Technically, she's not my boss, the town is.  But she is my best friend.

Daisy (laughs): Oh, that's not awkward at all.

Brent:  Rose-Grace doesn't hold it against me.  In fact, she was impressed that I didn't make the race personal.  This was her third election and last time two people went up against her. Both ran smear campaigns. 

Daisy: We met at my work.  Bertie stops in every morning for coffee and an apple turnover.

Kyra: Whitney's a waitress, too. 

Daisy: It's a gas station.  Hasn't Brent told you anything about us?

Brent: Not about your professional life.

Daisy (to Brent): You're fired.  This woman doesn't even know she's in presence of celebrities.

Brent: Sorry, I don't think of you in term of your jobs.  (To Kyra) Bertie is the anchor for the local news and Esper has had a few roles in musicals.  

Esper: You guys are dating twins?  Are they identical?

Whitney: Yes, identical twins.  Usually we can tell them apart.  Mine is surlier than hers.

Nakoma: Surlier?  Is that even a word? 

Esper: Most of the guys I know are gay.  That stereotype about theatre guys?  Almost totally true.

Whitney:  You do theatre?

Esper (shouts down to Brent):  You're fired!

After a long visit, everyone decides to give Brent and Kyra some private time.  Bertie and Daisy take the two youngest for a hike.  The older teens join them for a bit, but eventually wander off. 

Wilma: Help! I climb-did up here and now I'm stuck! 

Daisy: You aren't very high up - just drop and I can catch you.

Wendy (annoyed): She does this all the time.  

Bertie: For the love of God, don't drop that baby! 

Wilma (indignant): I'm not a baby!  Babies wear dipes!

That evening, Esper posts a selfie on her social media.  She couldn't post it when she took it because there was no signal out there! 

Into Summer

Zenobia starts her shift at Sunburst, already looking forward to the move this evening.  She gets an unpleasant surprise at her first table. 

Draco: Oh, dear god.  You're waiting tables now? 

Zenobia: Obviously.   I'm also moving into Lakeshore.  

Draco: From one slum to another.  Honestly, Zenobia, what is wrong with you? 

Zenobia: Contrary to popular opinion, there's nothing wrong with me.   

She takes their drink orders and leaves menus, all business. 

Charmaine: You know that person? 

Draco: Unfortunately, she's my sister.

******

Kyra and Brent follow Rose-Grace to the barn so they can check out The Tank prior to borrowing it.  

Rose-Grace: There's a total of five sleeping surfaces but we also have a small tent we use.  

Brent: You need one, as large as your family is. 

Kyra: This thing is a lot nicer than you led me to believe.  (To Brent) I've only ever seen the exterior.  She told me it's all cobbled together, but look at this - everything matches and there's even a shower in here. 

Rose-Grace: Pike recently found a similar model and cannibalized it.  

Brent: He does good work.  There's very little indication this wasn't professionally done.

Rose-Grace: Since you're doing this to save money, I think you might want to think about another driver.  That way you wouldn't have to stop and get a hotel or campsite halfway there.  

Kyra: Whitney suggested we take Tanner along, but I wouldn't be comfortable with that.  

Brent: She's already concerned about my family's reaction to Wilma.  Whitney's boyfriend... 

Rose-Grace: I understand that.  Did you know Whitney's best friend can drive this thing?  The boys say she even handles it better than Finnick does.  

Brent: Nakoma or Mariko?  

******

Meanwhile, at Doll County Day Care:

John: I'm really proud of you girls.  Most grown women wouldn't handle my job problems as well as you two have. 

Roxy: You won't let us be poor for long, Daddy.  You'll do all your homework and ace that test and get the center back, I bet, before school starts back up in fall. 

Kelly: What we gonna do in here when the center moves? 

John: I guess we'll just leave it as a playroom. Maybe turn this downstairs back into a house and move out of the servant's quarters.  (shrugs) The Sulu kids and Anakin are coming to play while Sulu and Pocahontas help me study. 

Less than an hour later. 

Sulu: You're late.

Pocahontas: You're ugly.  (They both laugh.)  John, I hope you don't want to study in here with all this chaos. 

John: No, I have a study area set up in the kitchen.  Dixie should come with us, but Roxy and Anakin can supervise in here.  

John: You hear that, Roxy?  Anakin? 

Anakin: Yes, sir.  We'll try to avoid bloodshed and broken bones.  

Start of Summer

Brent and Kyra meet for lunch on Sundance's patio.

Zenobia: Don't you see enough of me when the band rehearses at your house?

Kyra: Forget you, I'm here for some of Midna's pot roast and a tall glass of sweet tea.

Zenobia: Whitney said you're planning a trip out West.  Please don't do it Fourth of July week.  

Kyra: Whitney already told us you and Tris got that apartment at Lakeshore and drafted the entire family to help.  You might want to keep non-breakables for Wilma to tote.

Brent: I offered to babysit but both she and Wilma vetoed that idea. Who else do you have for heavy lifting? The Pike boys, I'm sure. 

Zenobia: And Four.  Tris's boyfriend. All the guys hope to bring siblings to help.  

Brent: With all that help, we should have you moved in a day.  

Zenobia: That's the plan.  

******  

Pocahontas is working in her office when someone knocks on the open office door. 

Pocahontas (not looking up): If it's open, you can stroll on in!  We keep it casual at the cove!

John: I wasn't sure if I'd be welcome.  All things considered. 

Pocahontas (surprised): Don't be silly.  I told you, I've decided to forgive if not to forget. 

John: Fair enough.

Pocahontas:  Is there a problem with Anakin?  Has he been behaving when he comes over?

John: Anakin's a great kid.  I came to ask for a job. The county's revised the criteria for day care providers and I didn't make the cut.  They're shutting me down at the end of the month.

Pocahontas (angry): What the?!  

John (exhausted): I know.  I'm telling the parents tomorrow.  

Pocahontas: That's ridiculous.  You were born for that job.  All you ever talked about was being a kindergarten teacher, then you couldn't go to college, so...  (forces herself to calm down)  You can start here the first of July. If nothing else, you can operate kiddie rides like back in the day.

John bursts into tears of relief.

******

Finally, Marcus Eaton takes Finnick and Albus back at the same time to get the casts removed. 

Marcus: Who's first? 

Finnick (to Albus): Age before beauty.

Albus: But I'm both!  

Marcus: Both of you, make a follow-up appointment.  I don't think any PT is needed, but I want to make sure before deciding. 

Finnick: I'm just glad to have that thing off!  

Albus: How do you think I feel?  At least you could walk! 

Finnick: Didn't slow you down any.  You still managed to score with the fed. 

Albus: I don't like to kiss and tell... but if I did...