The Mini Library

 I saw this online.  It's a tiny library for use as stress relief.  

I bought it even though it was so close to Christmas.  Spank me.

When you get stressed out and want to throw things, the idea is that you can pick up this whole room and shake the poop outta it.    If the shaking doesn't calm you down, putting the books back on the shelf should.  Different ways of destressing.  One of my friends said it would stress her out more to put the books back on the shelves.  Another suggested it would be good for Barbieville.  

**Above photos are from the Internet.  Below, unless watermarked, are mine.**

It came with all the books in that bag.  They're just squares that look like books, but the covers are those of real books.  If you are so inclined, you can even organize them by series or author!  When I was stocking the shelves, I noticed classics and modern works.

As I told my friend, the scale is a bit off for use as a Barbie library.  I was disappointed that the latches for the lid are so big, but that's on me.  Them latches are right there in the pictures!  There aren't enough books to fill the shelves, either.  I can remove the latch from the bottom so it will sit level. Put it on one side or just make sure I hold the lid closed during the quake. 

Here are a few of the books.  I'm pleasantly surprised by this.  This is the area I expected them to fudge instead of the quantity.  Anyway... They are about the same size as my other mini books.

This is a Zuru Surprise Mini Brands book.  It opens and at least a few pages are the actual text of the real thing.  Others are that quasi-print miniature fans are used to.  These were first added to their Mini Toys and are now their own line.  It's started a firestorm of miniature books.  They are all over Etsy and myfroggystuff has printable ones.  Probably other crafters, too but Froggy is my go-to.

****** 

We Barbie folks have certain things we love and always must have in the dollhouse.  Potted plants, pets, artwork... it all depends on the individual.  For me it's books... and I've dealt with some slim pickings.

These are the books that sometimes come with a doll or fashion pack.  The composition books are cardboard, glued closed since the inside was plain.  The others are plastic with varying degrees of detail. None of them open.  Only one has a title "Recipe Book".  One appears to be a science book.  The scale varies, but that's okay because real books come in different sizes.

These are magazines I made.  I just cut out the pictures from subscription cards and glued them back-to-back.  In the case of Catster, I tried gluing it near the spine of a real magazine and cutting that to size.  

My dolls can actually open Catster!

These I got at a craft store.  They're book covers glued onto blocks of wood.  I have them all oriented with the spine to the correct side, to show that some of the covers are upside down!

These are another craft store find.  They're blank, but they open.  Maybe they're journals?

Here all the different types are together.  The mini library books are only slightly smaller than the craft store books.  The craft store journals are fatter but shorter.  Turns out my friend was right about the books working for my dolls.  

I do plan to display and use the mini library as intended.  It's just so much fun to shake the poop outta an entire tiny room!  But have no doubt, y'all, the individual books may very well show up in Barbieville photos.  

Meetings

 KAP  (Kin As Parents) has its first meeting since the disaster, welcoming new members.

Ken:  We don't know what we're going to do.  Peeta's dad pays his tuition, but with Mom and Bonnie gone and having the care of Tommy as well as Ox, I may have to drop out of college. 

Pocahontas: I'm always hiring, but during the off season... 

Tony:  What's your business?   

Pocahontas:  My sister and I own Witch's Cove.  She graduated with Ken and his husband.  I also have custody of a brother the same age as his Tommy and your Marty.  How is Marty?  Any news about his father?

Tony:  Rayshawn might be one of the John Does found, but they aren't ready for identification.  Marty's doing about as well we should expect.  His mother's flying in tomorrow.  

Nova:  How are you and Luna holding up? 

Gwen:  We're a mess.  Neither of us has even gone into Rallee's room, not even to get her work things for the new superintendent.  Guinness is starting the job without a lot of vital paperwork because I can't...  I don't even know if I should be here.  

Midge:  If you need us, you should be here.  I was totally lost when Kamala fell into my lap. 

Gwen:  Yeah, but I've been as good as her parent Luna's whole life.  That part isn't a big transition for me.  I thought about grief counseling instead of this, but I know you people.  That makes it better somehow. 

Ben:  Maybe we shouldn't tell them.  Seems mean. 

Becky:  Yeah, we should wait.

*****  

At the mayor's office, Rose-Grace discusses the dam sabotage with federal agent Carol Danvers.

Rose-Grace:  What do you mean, this might not be related to Hank Higgins?  You have other people in my town in Witness Protection?  And that PI is snooping around about Cash.

Carol:  To the best of my knowledge, Hank was the only person here with ties to organized crime.  But then I found out about Maisie Barnes's birth family.  What do you know about them? 

Rose-Grace:  Maisie?  Dionne's friend?  She has no contact with her birth family.  Hates all their guts.

Carol:  Possibly with good reason.  I have an even thicker file on them than I do on Hank-used-to-be-Cash.  Maisie isn't even her birth name, she legally changed it when she got married.  Presumably to dodge them and any of their associates. 

Rose-Grace:  Well, if you're investigating her, you shouldn't talk to me about it.  Conflict of interest - Maisie's been practically family since junior high.  

Carol: We'll move on to the seismologist that tipped off the saboteurs. 

Rebuilding Begins

 The Barbieville Business Owners Association is focusing on the members impacted worst by the flood.  Mei Chang has lost home, cafe, and husband.  Four Eaton his grandfather/business partner.  Iris Patrick her tailoring business. Whitney Darling's father owned WDLC, was lost in the flood, and she inherited.  

Rose-Grace: This may be weird, but we've never been a normal town, have we?  Sulu suggested this meeting and has offered campsites on his property to anyone lost their home.  Most of the losses were homes, some residents are being housed in motels by insurance, but many are not.  If you know of anyone in need, please send them his way. 

Dionne:  I can't pay near what you were making from the cafe, but Helena House needs kitchen staff.  Do you think you're up for supervising a bunch of kids as they learn basic cooking skills?  We can also offer room and board. 

Mei: You can board all four of us?  We would only need two rooms - one for we girls and a smaller one for Qi - until I find a house. We won't need boarding permanently.  

Dionne: Of course.  Now, let's talk about wages and benefits. 

Pocahontas:  I was discussing you and Dawn with Tierra, my entertainment head.  We could use you for wardrobe on shows.  Tierra's got a lot of ideas.

Iris: It would just be me.  Dawn's moved on.  

Pocahontas: Really?  Well, that's fine.  I really didn't know if I'd have enough work for both of you. We'll order the costumes premade and you'd just have to make alterations and mending.  Doesn't pay much, though. 

Iris: Coby makes more than enough to support us.  My shop was more of a hobby.  

Four:  I don't know if I can make it without Bapo.  I'm still so new at tattooing professionally.  

Whitney:  At least you're trained.  What do I know about running a TV station? 

Okoye: I can help you there, Miss Darling.  I'd like to buy you out.  

Whitney: Who are you?

Four:  That's Okoye, the media mogul.  You just got your butt saved, my friend.  

A man comes in while everyone is conferring. 

Tony:  I'm Anthony Lucas, Rayshawn's brother.  I'll be handling matters for his family for now.  (To Rose-Grace) My brother speaks highly of this town and of the lovely mayor.  I just stopped in to introduce myself and let anyone who might be concerned know that Marty is in good hands.  

After the meeting, Rose-Grace finds Agent Danvers in the parking lot. 

Carol: We need to talk, ASAP, in a secure location.  The sabotage at the dam is way bigger than I thought.  

Rose-Grace: Come to my office in the morning.  

Sulu notices lights on in the greenhouse shop and investigates.

Sulu:  Mattie?!  What are you doing here?!  

Mattie: I came home.  My place is here with my family. 

Sulu: Umm... okay.  Can we talk about that hair? 

Aftermath

 A few days after the earthquake and subsequent flood, Mayor Rose-Grace Pike holds a press conference at the school.

Rose-Grace:  Barbieville is still reeling from our losses.  Everything on the north side of Main Street was destroyed, as well as some structures on the Witch's Cove inlet.  Witch's Cove Amusement Park lost the Overlook event venue and possibly some rides.  The Warehouse district, Lakeshore Townhouses, and Shore Thing cafe are gone.  Many of our families have lost a loved one.  Some of them have lost more than one.

Rose-Grace:  Among the missing or dead are Django Cooper and Kevin Eaton,

  

Rose-Grace: Dorene and Bonnie Carson, 

Rose-Grace: Anna and Elsa North,

Rose-Grace:  Seven Lucas, Genghis Chang, Lara Russo, William Darling, and Rallee Jones.  Owner of The Point, Rayshawn Lucas is missing.  Family friend Tierra Parker has temporarily taken in Marty Lucas, as others all over town have taken in friends and family. 

 

After the press conference, Rose-Grace returns to her crisis post in the mayor's office.  The last thing she needs is more problems. 

Carol (coming in):  We've got a problem.  The dam should have withstood the quake - it was tampered with.  

Fresh Fierce Collection Okoye

 Look who showed up on my doorstep! 

OKOYE! 

Okoye is the the general of the Dora Milaje and leader of Wakanda's armies.  In the interest of honesty, I will confess I have not seen her every appearance in the Marvel Universe.  I've only seen Black Panther in its entirety, and clips from the other movies. 

I have been watching this doll since I knew she existed because I freakin' love Okoye.  Full disclosure: I generally have no interest in superhero stuff.  The only Marvel movies I own are Thor Ragnarok (because Sam Neill) and Black Panther.  Black Panther caught my attention because of the rave reviews, so I watched it out of curiosity.  It blew me away.

Some folks will tell you Danai Gurira is the only reason I watched that movie or wanted this doll.  They're about 50% right, at least about the doll.  When I saw the doll for the first time, I said "She looks just like Danai."  World of EPI did a fantastic job on all three of the dolls in this set.  They all look very like the actresses.  I honestly think they are the best celebrity likenesses I've ever seen.

World of EPI is a black-owned company, focused on making black dolls that are not merely Caucasians in chocolate brown.  The fashion doll line is called Fresh Dolls, not easily found in my area, and a tad pricey.  The Fresh Squad (male fashion dolls) had my eye almost from the moment I heard of Fresh Dolls.  I eventually managed to get my mitts on two EPI dolls, both on sale.  

But I digress.  Okoye was very easy to remove from the box.  The insert has a Black Panther emblem in shades of blue and white.  Very cool.  Since the box didn't have to be destroyed, this gives me the option of keeping her items in it in case I ever decide I want to display her.

Okoye with my other dolls from World of IPA.  Fresh Doll "Lexi" and Fresh Squad "Kalil".  She's a bit shorter than Lex, but her shoulders are higher.  Lex got a big ole noggin.  

WARNING NEKKID PLASTIC PEOPLE AHEAD

RUN FOR THE HILLS

DON'T LOOK, ETHEL

While taking off her armor, I discovered that her skirt/wrap can be a cape.  

The clothes under her armor could be regular Barbieville clothes, but in the interest of keeping the set complete, they will be put away with the spear and armor.  I couldn't do this with my other movie characters because the boxes were destroyed.

Okoye has better hinges at the knee and elbow.  She's more muscular, as befits a warrior, and her wrists are articulated. Lex has smaller feet, so on the rare occasion that my dolls wear shoes, Okoye will have to share with the wrestler ladies and McG.   

With elbows at waist level, Okoye can almost touch her face.  She also sits in a more ladylike manner than Lex.

I haven't figured out yet what Okoye is gonna be doing in Barbieville.  

I now have two mini Danai Guriras in my house.  You are jealous. 

Questions Asked

 The Private Investigator meets with Albus and Pern in her apartment.  He's trying to gather information on Cash Nedakh, the long absent father of Pocahontas, Nakoma, and Anakin Smith. 

Albus:  Sad to say, I was the one who introduced him to Kida. I tried to warn her that he was no good, but she wouldn't believe me until it was too late.  I saw him play his game in towns all across the country when we were working as carnies.  

PI: Kida had bought out the carnival, correct?  This was the start of the amusement park that stands today?

Albus: Yes, and she offered us both jobs.  Cash realized she was not only wealthy, but Indian.. sorry, Native American.  He zeroed in on her like I did enemy camps back in the war.   He had a real thing for "squaws" - his word, not mine.  

Pern:  My story's pretty much the same as Kida's.  He never married me, though.  I guess you needed a bankroll to get the ring. When I first met the girls, I was shocked that he'd not only married their mother, but stuck around for ten years.  He skipped out on me five minutes after I told him I was pregnant. 

PI:  You have not seen or heard from him since?  Neither of you? 

Albus: I'm a pacifist, but if I saw him again, I'd probably be in prison right now.  He broke Kida's heart and deserted two children. Weird thing is, he didn't empty the bank accounts on his way out of town.  

****

Across town, Federal agent Carol pays a call to the police chief.   

Carol: There's a detective sniffing around for Cash Nedakh.  

Lynch: I heard a rumor to that effect.  He could have been hired by another scorned mother.  Anakin already came out of the wood work and I really wouldn't be surprised if there are more out there. 

Carol: Or he could be working for the people he went into Witness Protection to avoid.  We allowed him to come here only because he refused to help in the case unless we did, and it's a major investigation.  

Lynch:  I suppose the people on your end are trying to find out who his client is? 

Carol: We are.  But I need you to keep and eye on this detective.  He's already spoken to the Smith sisters and he's got interviews set up all over town. 

*****

At Helena House, renovation work has paused while the County Oversight Committee investigates.

Lex:  Let me get this straight.  You, Dionne, are the mayor's niece.  What are your qualifications for this position?

Dionne: I'll be happy to give you a detailed resume.  Most women with my background would laugh at the idea of doing this for the agreed wages, but this has been a pet project of mine and Rose-Grace's since I was in high school.  

Maisie:  I was in and out of foster homes all my life.  Dionne talked to her aunt about the problems I was having, hoping to help me since at the time Rose-Grace was working with Children's Services. They bonded over a desire to reshape the foster care system. 

Lex:  You're a law student, correct? 

Maisie: I'll give you a copy of my resume, as well.  I'm here more as advisor than anything else.  

Zenobia: And everything is above-board with my donation of the house.  I made certain of that because I don't want to give my father a leg to stand on when he comes after me for squandering his money.  I asked Mrs. Pike if the town could use the manor for something and she accepted my offer.

*****

Later that evening, Mace sits down with the investigator.

Mace: Rosie was a teenager when she worked for Kida Nedakh.  She joined the military after graduating, to get the college fund, so she wasn't here in town when Cash vanished.  Took leave as soon as she could, though.

PI: Kida considered Rose-Grace her best friend, even though there was a sizable age difference.  

Mace:  Rosie felt the same way.  Kida was matron of honor at both Rosie's weddings, but she died before the little twins were born.  

PI: Did either you or your daughter know him well? 

Mace: No.  We traveled in different circles, as they say, and he gave Rosie the creeps. She avoided him unless Kida was in the same... 

Suddenly the entire house shakes.  They can hear glass breaking and the cries of frightened children.

******

Breaking news: The small town of Barbieville, on the south shore of Muneca Lake, was hit by an earthquake.  The upstream dam gave way and flooded the low-lying areas of town.  Rescue efforts are underway.  

(Flood photos from the Internet.) 

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.