"I think you are too short to help make the bed, but thanks anyway Dolly.", Em told her friend. "Well, how about now?", asked Dolly, who had magically grown to the same size as Em. "Wow, I didn't know you could do that! That's awesome!", smiled Em. "I didn't know I could do that either Em, I've been wishing and wishing for as long as I can remember to be as big as you, and it just happened!", Dolly grinned.
It was Emily's first weekend since starting school, and as much as she loved going, she was excited by the idea of having two days off to spend with her two best friends. "I'm going to try to make blueberry muffins for breakfast, then we will go see Princess, and I want to try out the new chemistry station.", announced Em, having planned her whole day from morning to afternoon.
"And don't make that face, the wind will change and you will be stuck like that forever!", Emily said without even needing to check Dolly's expression. "What are you talking about?", asked Dolly innocently, while trying desperately to remove the grumpy-squidgy look from her face.
"You know Princess likes you, and wants to be your friend too.", Emily replied flatly. Dolly did her best to impersonate Em. "You know when you where a baby and chewed on my neck it all was cute and tickly, and when Princess chews on me, it's just all gooey and ickly!", Dolly stated.
"Aww Dolly, don't be such a sook, that happened one time, Princess is just a baby and she didn't know any better.", Emily teased her Ragdoll friend. "Besides, now that you are my size, she won't think you are breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, you always liked my imaginary scones, would you like to try a real blueberry muffin?", Emily asked.
Dolly had realized that there where some differences between being Dolly the doll, and Dolly the life size girl doll person thing. For one thing, her mouth actually opened now, but she wasn't sure if she could really eat or not, so she pinched a few crumbs between her finger and thumb and carefully tasted her first blueberry muffin. She hoped she could really taste it, rather than just leaving a grimy stain on her material.
There was a sudden explosion of blueberry goodness, every fiber and stitch of Dolly's being was suddenly aware of the amazing thing that was flavor, and her knees trembled, threatening to drop her on her bottom.
"And.. you eat things like..like this, everyday?", Dolly stammered as the intense sensation slowly passed.
Dolly reached out, taking a larger pinch of muffin.
"Well, being a Vampire girl, I have to eat every day until I am a grown up, then its optional I think.", Emily answered. "Oh, by the Maker, that was ... heavenly.", Dolly enthused, searching for a word to describe her first ever experience with her new found ability to taste. Emily and Dolly tip toed out to the barn to see Princess.
"My tummy feels strange.", Dolly complained. "Strange good, or strange bad?", Emily asked concerned, maybe it hadn't been such a smart idea to feed Dolly a muffin. "I don't know, it doesn't hurt, but it doesn't feel really comfortable either, it's all new to me.", Dolly offered.
"Show me where.", Emily asked. Dolly pointed to her tummy, just below her bottom button.
"Hrrmmm.", thought Emily. "If the feeling moves down, it may be because you need to poop, and you know how that works, we went through potty training together.", Emily said, matter of factly. "You just sit and make the angry face, and the rest just happens.", Emily explained to her soft friend, realizing that just because Dolly had been there at potty training, she had never actually experienced it.
Emily thought for a moment and added some details to her explanation. "If that feeling moves up, that means you are going to vomit, and all that muffin will come back out.". "Yay!", enthused Dolly, bouncing on the spot, "It tasted so good the first time!". Emily resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "It doesn't taste good if it comes back up Dolly, not good at all.", Em told Dolly gently.
Emily showed Dolly the once portable All-in-one in bathroom that was now a bolted down permanent fixture in the barn. "You might want to stay close to this in case that feeling changes." Emily suggested. Emily had borrowed a book from the school library for the weekend, entitled "The Children's Guide To Elementary Chemistry For Absolute Beginners.", and spent a large portion of her day working through it.
Her Mama had even brought lunch out to her, although she had to take off her chemistry gloves and jacket and eat at the desk, away from the chemicals. Dolly had her first peanut butter and jelly experienced, and again the pleasure of new tastes again rocked her world, although not as strongly as the first time. Afterwards, the Ragdoll waited nervously by the All-in-one in case the food decided to be tricksy.
Emily closed the 'Practical Experiments YOU Can Do At Home, WITH Adult Supervision' section of the library book. Emily was hungry again already, she and Dolly had eaten the sandwiches only twenty or thirty minutes ago. "I'm going to make some more food.",Emily advised Dolly. "I'll come with!", enthused Dolly, who didn't want to be left on her own.
When Emily opened the barn door, she realized it was dark outside, surely it couldn't be that late already?
Emily realized that she had lost track of time, and her carefully planned afternoon schedule had to be abandoned.
Emily and Dolly ran across the yard to the front door, Dolly stopped motionless when she realized Em's parents where sitting on the bench. It suddenly dawned on Dolly that grown ups couldn't see her, just like had never been able to hear when she was younger.
"I was about to come and see if you wanted dinner.", Tam said to her daughter, "You've been glued to that chemistry set all day. I was also coming to remind you about your chores that you have forgotten to do, while you were experimenting.", Tamara said, trying not to sound like her own mother.
"You also left your homework incomplete.", whispered Johnathan into Emily's ear as he followed her inside. "And you had better get that tonight too, or your Mama is going to be one cranky grizzly bear!", John added softly.
"Careful, just because Mama and Papa can't see you, doesn't mean they won't notice a levitating bowl of food", Em warned Dolly. Her Papa used the exercise frame on the wall, instead of the barn gym, and Emily nattered with him while she ate.
"Are there any chores I can do while you eat?", asked Dolly helpfully.
"I'm reading 'The Peoples Of Simnation: Past and Present'. Its all about how Vampires, and Werewolves, and Witches, and all of the other peoples of Simnation came to live together.", Emily told her Papa, "What are you reading?". John held the book up so Emily could see all the pictures of fish. "A local guide to fishing, so I can learn how to catch a tasty fish for dinner.", John replied.
"That's disgusting, how can people eat fish, isn't your sister a fish?", Emily asked mortified.
John roared with laughter while Emily looked on, unable to comprehend what was so funny.
"Do you remember the angry look on Mama's face when you dropped her shiny necklace into the water, and I had to dive off the houseboat and find it?", John asked Em. "Yes, I thought her head was going to explode like fireworks.", said Em, not quite sure what direction the conversation had taken.
"Well, Aunt Sophia is a Mermaid, and she makes the same face when you call her a fish.", Em's Papa explained. "But, but this book says Merfolk are stinked!", argued Em. "The word is extinct.", corrected John gently, "Merfolk almost became extinct, and the last groups of them hid them selves away from everybody else for a long time, so human scientists thought they were actually extinct. And now because it's in all the books, most people believe that Merfolk no longer exist. "
"But why were they hiding?", inquired Emily. John thought about explaining the war between the Old Vampire Counts, and the Fae, and decided against it. "That's a tale for another time, like a time when it isn't bed time, and you don't have unfinished homework.", John chided. "So, tomorrow then?", persisted Emily.
"John, are you busy? My hips hurt, my back hurts, my shoulders hurt, my brain hurts, can I get a massage?", Tam begged. John put aside the floor plans that he was working on for his new business venture.
"Sure, throw yourself on the table, my poor achy Nerd."
John used all of his massage knowledge to ease some of the tension from Tams board like body. Afterwards she rewarded him with a hug and a kiss. "Thank you so much, I've been feeling like crap all day, but I feel much better now.", Tamara said. "You are welcome sweetheart, it's going to cost you a coffee though.", John smirked. "Bargain!", Tam decreed, as she slid off the massage table, "I'll be right back!"
John went back to the floor plans and renovation quotes. At the rate they had been spending, there was just enough money left in his accounts to survive until Emily went to university. That didn't allow for more babies, renovations, vet fees or any other unforeseen expenses. As much as he and Tam, or more accurately , he with Tam enjoyed the freedom and lifestyle of a fabulously wealthy playboy, it wasn't going to last forever. Tam had already talked about working in the past, but John had always told her there was no need. John decided it was past time to update his life goals.
As Tam stepped out of the warm comfort of the barn, she was
suddenly assaulted with the overwhelming urge to vomit.
"Oh my Maker, I'm seasick!", Tam groaned, as she raced back into the barn,
and headed directly for the All-in-one.
Authors Notes.
Nope. Nada. Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The pictures for this chapter where taken on the same game day and play session as last chapter, so there is nothing new to complain about. Well, not for me anyway, but if you have complaints on how I'm telling the story, or not going into enough detail on some parts of the story, then COMMENT. Oh, this also applies if you like what I'm doing, or have any questions. I enjoy reading and answering comments as much as I enjoy putting together the posts. Some of the comments I have received so far have helped shape the direction of my legacy!
On the bright side, this is the furthest I have even been with an Imaginary Friend. I went from Base Game + SN & Pets, to all expansions on one day, and I have had non stop IF issues, less than 1/3 of my babies get notifications of having one, most of those dolls vanish before I even get to see them, and Dolly is the first IF I have had that has animated. I'm hoping my run of luck lasts with Dolly, otherwise there will be a very sad chapter in store for Emily's future.
Did I mention I haven't bitten anybody for days now? Comment. I'm on my best behavior.. I swear!
