Here is an AR Shorts sequel to "Beach Buddies." Trudy continues to reshape reality to her liking, while Colleen puzzles as to what's happening.
Babysitters
by PixChick
After returning from a very fun vacation at the seaside, Trudy was pleased to continue her new friendship with her cousin Colleen. By then, Colleen had forgotten that she had been a 17-year-old teen instead of an 8-year-old like Trudy (see "Beach Buddies"). So back at home, the two girls found a common interest in Barbie dolls as a pivotal point in their relationship.
While visiting Colleen's home one afternoon, Trudy suggested it would be neat to buy their Barbies new fashion clothing, if only they could find a way to earn the money. Colleen suggested that they offer their services as babysitters. But where would they find a client?
The two girls first asked Colleen's mother if she'd like to hire two babysitters. She replied, "Since Colleen is my youngest, I have no need for babysitters, but I'll pass along the word while at the hairdressers later today." The girls them moved to the living room, where they found Colleen's 20-year-old sister Julia doing exercises on the carpet while hip-hop music played on the radio. "We're starting a babysitter business. Wanna hire us?" Trudy asked. "Scram! Nobody needs babysitters in this house. You wouldn't be asking me if you used your head," Julia snottily replied.
"Use my head! Why of course," Trudy said as she retreated to Colleen's bedroom. Again applying the techniques learned from the book, "The Power of Telekinesis," Trudy crossed her legs, raised her arms, and focused her brain on one thought, "Colleen and I need a baby to sit so we can earn some money." Watching this scene, Colleen's only thought was, "Man, this is weird!"
After 15 minutes, Trudy and Colleen returned to the living room where the hip-hop music was still playing, but there was now a 12-month-old baby with a puzzled look on her face resting on the carpet. Colleen suffered another twinge that something wasn't the same, but she couldn't say what. Colleen's mother then appeared, announcing, "I'm off to the hairdressers. Colleen and Trudy, I'll pay you $5 each to watch Julia while I'm out." Trudy grinned. "We have our first job," she said. "Now what do we do?" Colleen stuttered. "Maybe Julia needs a diaper change," Trudy said as got onto her knees to check. Baby Julia tugged back on her diaper, seeming to say, "Let's not get nosy, bub." But it came out, "Argaaayaagurgah."
"Wasn't Julia older than me?" Colleen thought. Then she
thought
about the $5 she'd earn and the Barbie clothes she could buy with it.
Liking
this reality better, she told Trudy, "I'll get the box of Pampers."