Change Is Good, Right?

Life moves on in Barbieville, with changes big and small.

Joe:  Your office is finished.  Again.

Pike: Well, at least you get a steady income from these constant remodels, right? 

Joe: That's true, but it's a little insulting since I did the last two jobs on it.

Pike checks out the "new" office.  

Joe:  Just for the record, I did not choose the wallpaper.  Your bosses did. 

Pike: I kind of like it.  Not as busy as the earlier one.  How's work on the new break room going? 

Joe: The hardest part was finding the best position of the dividing wall.  I wanted to give them room to relax a bit, but didn't want to leave your office too small, either.  

Pike: We usually only have one or two people at a time on break.  We don't need a very big area.

Joe: Well, it should be done tomorrow.  Maybe even by lunchtime.

*******

Grand Opening of Doll County Day Care's new location.

Jenny: Fred!  I dint know you was coming!  Your mommy had to go to work? 

Fred: Grampa Mace is making her shovel horse poop today.  Me and the babies don't wanna do that, so she bringed us here to play! 

Rose-Grace: Sorry for bringing them at the last minute.  I thought some of the older kids would watch them, but Dad's putting us all to work.  Getting the barn ready for winter is a big job. 

John: No problem.  Fred looked thrilled to be here. 

Rose-Grace: He was packing the diaper bag before I hung up the phone.  He's been bursting at the seams to see this place.  And all his little friends. 

John: The feeling is mutual.  We've all been bursting at the seams.  (laughs) Joe's wearing the same shirt as you.  Well, same pattern.  Are the dancing skeletons back into vogue? 

Rose-Grace:  Well, it is getting to be that time of year.  How are things going with Pocahontas?  

John: Great.  I went to see a realtor about selling my house.  Did you know they sell double-wides with up to five bedrooms now?  We might get one of those put in where her current trailer is.

Rose-Grace leaves.  Samara and Orlando join the rest of the children. 

Kelly: We dint go near the big windows, Daddy.  The floor is ax-id over there, right?  

John: Good idea.  Make a game of staying away. When they reinforce those lower panes, I'll magic the acid away and this play area won't be so crowded then.  

Wilma: How come they dint do that before?  We don't wanna fall to our dooms.

John (chuckles): It's just for my peace of mind. I'm a bit afraid of heights. 

*****

Evening at Sunburst.

Whitney: Ready to order, Mrs. Jackson? 

Charlotte (annoyed): My sister isn't here yet.  We'll summon you when we're ready to order, although what I'll find on this menu is beyond me.  

Whitney: The fish is today's special.

Charlotte:  I said we will let you know when we are ready.  Are you dense?

Whitney leaves to take care of her other customers.  Charlotte reaches for her phone right when Batgirl walks in.  

Charlotte: Dear God!  What are you wearing? 

Batgirl: Gabriella told me the seventies called, they want their pantsuit back. (shrugs) It's comfortable and I like it.

Once they've ordered and Whitney brings their drinks, they chat before Charlotte gets to the point.

Charlotte: Have you been talking to the boys' lawyer? 

Batgirl: Only because I want what's best for Mary-Kate and Max.  Charlotte, we both know you weren't cut out to be a mother and, frankly, I'm mystified that you ever had them. 

Charlotte: The only reason Kaden wants them is to control their shares of the estate when the time comes.  Dr. Eaton tried to get me to sign for Kaden to see the medical records.  As if I'm not seeing that my husband is well cared for. 

Batgirl: He isn't just your husband.  He's their father, too.  

Whitney brings their food.

Charlotte: I've eaten the finest Italian food, young lady, and this is a disgrace.  You call this spaghetti and meatballs? 

Batgirl:  This is Barbieville, not Naples.  (to Whitney) Can I get a refill on my drink?  

Whitney: Of course.  Mrs. Jackson, I can have the owner...  

Charlotte: I suppose I'll survive.  (Shoos Whitney away)

Whitney: How are you folks doing over here?  Everything good?

Ty: How come that lady's being such a meanie to you?

Whitney: I guess she's just had a bad day.  

Suzie (sarcastic): You'd think evicting old hippies would put her in a better mood.

Whitney (stifles a laugh): Albus will land on his feet.  He's such a sweetheart, half the town's offered him a place to stay.  

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.  

New Sets

I saw a really big Barbie house for sale (used) and thought it would be of use in Barbieville, but my storage space is very limited...  no room for another house...  So I made an offer just for the walls!  The offer was accepted and the package arrived today.  (My apologies to the post office employees.)

Here we see them laid out by levels with Suzie as a size reference.  Three stories, each double sided, but only one "pops" together.  I didn't get the floors or skeleton of the house.  A little creativity is required at this point.  

The flip sides.  I want need them to lie flat when not in use, but also to require a minimum of set up work.  Because I'm lazy. That first story's going to be the biggest challenge because the intersecting wall is actually two.  Apparently the floors I didn't buy have slots to hold them in place.  

Second story is easy enough - clear tape hinges!  

The first story's intersecting walls now dangle from a dowel rod.  Those craft sticks in between are measuring the width of the wall they have to "intersect" to make four rooms.  The house has a total of ten! 

They balance on the rod, but are snug enough to avoid excessive wiggling.  All I have to do is line them up.  The exterior wall with the door has another of those clear tape hinges.

The third story has a handy slit to intersect these walls.  You can see in the green room where I got a little overzealous removing stickers...  wall art to the rescue!  Later. 

Some hooligan tagged this door!  Maybe cover it with a big floral wreath?  Besides my green room mishap, this is the worst of the damage to this lovely home.  Or group of homes.  Or random, unattached rooms...  For that you will have to wait...

Mission accomplished.  They fold flat, or nearly so!  Stay tuned to see what these walls become!

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. 

Family Ties

On the last day of the Baptiste family reunion, Nikki and Taylor take the stage. The venue for the event is, oddly considering the location, decorated with ocean life...  

Taylor: In case anyone doesn't recognize us, we're the daughters of Orlando.  He was killed in action when we were still in diapers, so we don't have memories of our own to share, but so many of you have told us stories of Daddy.  We were a little leery of coming, to be honest, because we were legal adopted by our stepfather and we weren't sure if we'd be welcome.

Nikki: Almost nobody has tried to make us feel bad about being the Pike girls now.   Orlando Baptiste always has been and always will be our Daddy.  The Pike family hasn't acted like we have to give Daddy up  -- Grandma says love of family isn't bound by law -- and we're so glad the Baptiste family understands that, too. 

The next day, the girls get in some sightseeing on the way to the airport.  Their uncle is amused by their reaction to the Arizona desert.  

Nikki (singing):  I've been through the desert on a horse with no mane...

Taylor: Name.  Horse with no name.

Nikki: I know, it's funnier this way.

Taylor: Can you imagine living in these tiny rooms, with so many people?  

Nikki: I know!  Remind me of this next time I gripe about sharing a room with Stacie and you. 

Nikki (giggling): We're posing in front of a giant butt. 

Taylor:  Butte.  You're a giant butt. 

*****

Meanwhile, back in Barbieville.....

Sulu: I cannot believe you didn't tell me you two were back together! 

John: Hey, I wanted to tell you first and she wanted to tell Midna first and then we both felt like we should tell our families first....   We decided to just surprise all of you at once. 

Sulu: Surprise is right.  I would have dropped the baby if Albus hadn't been playing with her.

Albus: I nearly dropped Dixie when she kissed John.  

Midna: You could have knocked me over with a feather!  I knew she was softening... but wow... 

Albus: Well, I'm glad to see it.  They would have been together a long time ago if not for adolescent stupidity.  Not that we can really complain, since two delightful children resulted from that.

Roxy:  Can me and Kelly be your flower girls at your wedding?  

Kelly: We'll be good! 

Pocahontas: Slow down there.  John and I need to take a little time to make sure we're still that much in sync before any wedding gets planned.   But I promise, girls, if it happens, you will be part of the party. 

Nakoma: So, Christmas wedding, then? 

Anakin: I was thinking Thanksgiving. 

Pocahontas (amused): As long as you understand it's not going to be Halloween. 

Anakin and Nakoma: A Halloween wedding?!  That would be so cool! 

New Beginnings

In celebration of John's earning a GED and being allowed to re-open his day care center, his friends throw a party at The Overlook.  

John: As soon as Sulu gets done with these pictures, you can go play.  

Roxy: Yeah, and the more you wiggle, the longer it's gonna take.  Aren't you proud of Daddy?

Kelly: I'm way prouder of him than you are.

Kelly: Oh, come on!  We wanna play, not pose a million times! 

John: There, all done.  (To Sulu) What is it with kids? They won't pose when you want them to, but as soon as you point the camera the other way...  

Sulu: Who knows?  Kids are aliens.  Vivica, let me take Dixie before you get up.  She's almost as big as you are. 

Ryan surprises the twins and their sweethearts by joining them.

Ryan: Whitney, you got a minute? 

Whitney:  Only if you're apologizing for being obnoxious for the last three or four years.  

Ryan: That's it exactly. You don't deserve any of the things I said to or about you and, well, I'm sorry.  I promise you, I am not the same guy I was when school let out. 

Whitney: I heard you were trying to get past your stupidity.  I'll forgive you.  

Sylvia: You made all this food yourself? 

Midna: Oh, no.  I have three other cooks in my employ now.  

Sulu: Midna's being modest.  She might have had help cooking, but the planning and setting up here?  That's all her.  And she did it for free.

Midna: Not quite.  I am charging for the food. 

John: Look at them.  You'd think we never feed them.

Albus: Looks like you and Pocahontas, not so long ago.  

John: Not so long ago?  Maybe from your point of view, old man. 

Albus: Of course from my point of view.  Who else's would I use?

Stacie notices Gabriella, who brought Jenny to the party, sitting alone in the corner.

Stacie: Are you mad your parents made you bring Jenny? 

Gabriella (chuckles): I volunteered to bring her.  Anything to get away from my stupid aunt.  Remember I told you I thought my cousin Max would be in your class?   They aren't coming to school here at all - she's shipping them off to some fancy boarding school.  I'm never going to get to see my cousins again at this rate. 

Stacie: Max might be too young, but surely Mary is on some kind of social media.  Might be hard, since her dad is rich and famous, but I bet Taylor could find her.  She'll be home, um... I don't remember what day.  But soon. 

Pocahontas interrupts the scattered conversations by calling for a toast.  

Pocahontas:  We all know what John's been through to get where he is today.  A toast to new beginnings and a wish for good luck! 

Everyone joins in (the young with soft drinks, of course). 

She grabs John and kisses him.  He's not surprised - they planned this.

Sulu:  Wait, what? 

Nakoma: Saw that coming a mile away.

Roxy: Hooray!  Look, Anakin, we did it!

Albus: New beginnings, indeed.

Anakin: Holy shit. 

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.