22-Aug-2019
Who put Fixer-Upper in as a genre???
“Mommie, is the camera on?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, honey.” Her mother didn’t even turn around. Instead she held her phone on her shoulder sort-of pointed at Chloe. Sometimes adults didn’t listen to directions very well.
“Mommie, you’re supposed to watch.”
Chloe’s mom let out a huff and turned part way around. It was hard to tell if she was doing her best, because daddy said she had to stay in her seat belt just like Chloe. “I’m watching, baby.”
Her dad chuckled.
“We’re recording it so daddy can watch it later, right?” Her mom suddenly smiled.
Chloe hugged Octo tight. “Yup.”
Her dad muttered something, and her mom laughed. “Okay, baby, it’s time.”
Chloe shook her hair, like she saw people do on YouTube, and wiggled her shoulders. She looked right into the camera, just like her dad did. “Hi, everyone, and welcome to today’s episode of Toy Crib Overhaul.” Her dad had helped her with the name. “I’m your host, Cutest Chloe, and this is Octo, the remodeling Octopus.” She held the orange stuffed animal up for the camera.
Her mom smiled. Her dad’s shoulders shook as if he were laughing.
Chloe licked her lips, then pointed to the seat behind her dad. Her mom swiveled the phone. “Today we have the My Little Pony crystal castle.” She made a sweeping motion with her hand. “As you can see, it’s getting a little old, has some damage, and could use something fresh.” She pat the side. “It has good bones, though.”
At this point her mother sniggered, and her dad snorted.
She glared at them both.
Her mom made a circling “go on” gesture with her hand.
“Octo.” Chloe held up the octopus so they were eye to eye. “What do you think?”
Chloe lowered her voice and wigged her head back and forth as she spoke for Octo.
“Well, Chloe, I think you’re right about the bones. But there’s a lot of work to do. It needs new batteries, some of the fashion accessories are missing and the baby’s swing is broken. It won’t be easy.”
“Is it ever easy?” Chloe laughed like her dad’s co-host did. “Where do you think we should start?”
Octo’s voice again. “Remember the old fairy house we found at Good Will and fixed up for Tinkerbell?”
“Yeah.” Chloe tried to sound unconvinced.
“I think we should do the same here. Mix two things to make something new.”
“Something new?”
She held Octo closer to the camera. “I think your Peter Pan toys might need a new place to hang out.”
“Like a night club?” Chloe gasped and put a hand on her chest.
“Like a night club.”
Chloe let out a squeal. “What a good idea!”
“I know.”
She put Octo down and motioned for her mom to zoom in on her. “It’s true this is going to take a lot of work, but the My Little Ponies have deserted their castle to live in the giant dollhouse that we renovated three episodes ago. This will be a perfect fit for Peter Pan and his gang.” Chloe rubbed her hands. “We’re going to need to raid the toy closet again, but man, this is going to be great!”
After smiling for what felt like forever, she gave her mom the signal to stop the recording.
Her mom and dad burst out laughing.
“What?” “Chloe asked.
“That was great, honey,” her dad said over her shoulder. “You even left them with a good hook.”
“Thanks.” Chloe beamed. “When can we upload it?”
“I told you, no uploading until the project is complete,” her dad said. “Start planning your next steps.”
Chloe snatched her notebook off the seat and wrote the words “Next Steps” in blue crayon. She was pretty sure she’d spelled it right.
“This might actually keep her occupied the whole trip,” Chloe’s mom said.
“We may have created a monster,” her dad replied.
Monster? Chloe wrote that down. Maybe she’d do a monster project next!
