((Candy Apple Land))
Rosey: ::giggles:: I have a present for you, Miss Annamae!
Annamae, her hair up in pigtails in her bright, striped, pink and white dress, placed her hands on her chest and opened her mouth to give a big smile.
Barberra: ::Cheerily:: For me? Really, Mister Rosey?
She moved off the sparkly pink path, onto the pristine green grass, right next to the lake full of orange juice. Her skin felt so warm from the shining, smiling sun that was looking down on her!
Her best friends Poxy the snake, Tutu the bear, Yumyum the tricorder, and Grisby the cat all inhaled with delight.
Giggles: ::giggles:: Yes! It's a... can you guess...
Barberra: ::Excited voice:: Is it a... is it a...
But out of sheer delight, the words would just not come--
Poxy/Tutu/Yumyum/Grisby: ::Simultaneously:: CAAANDY APPLEEE!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!
Annamae placed her hands over her mouth, as her eyes sparkled. Could it be?
Rosey: ::Giggles: That's right! A candy apple! For sharing, and being a good friend, and helping old Grandma McAdams rebuild her candy house after that pesky mice gang, the Cheesebreakers, ate it all.
When Mister Rosey revealed a candy apple from behind his back, Annamae jumped up and down and squealed with delight.
Yumyum, the human sized tricorder on leg, trilled as he lifted a finger and shook it.
Yumyum: Now, Annamae, my scans tell me that even though it's fruit, it's not a healthy snack.
Annamae, suddenly sad, put out her bottom lip, as her shoulders dropped and she leaned forward a little. She let her arms flop with disappointment.
Barberra: ::Sad:: But it looked so delicious.
Yumyum stepped forward, and patted a consoling hand on her shoulder.
Yumyum: But don't worry, Miss Annamae...
He trilled again, as a readout scrolled behind his face.
Yumyum: My scans also indicate you have been a good friend, and a responsible citizen, and the bestest friend in all of Candy Apple land.
Annamae gasped with delight, as the grinning Mister Rosey, extended his arm to hand her the candy apple.
Poxy/Tutu/Yumyum/Grisby: ::singing:: Ca-ndy apples are-a sometimes food, we can't-eat too-much treats... but eve-r-y now-and-then is o-kay, as-long as-you clean your teeth!
Everyone raised their hand and cheered in unison! Annamae gasped again, and smiled, as she gracefully and politely accepted the candy apple from Mister Rosey.
Barberra: ::excited, bubbly:: Oh, *thank you*, Mister Rosey! But I really couldn't have done it without my friends, who I love very, very much!
Poxy/Tutu/Yumyum/Grisby: ::Simultaneously:: We love you too, Miss Annamae!
Barberra: ::Looking up:: And I love you, Aunt Sun, thank you for giving us so much warmth and brightness in our lives!
The sun's smile got even bigger.
Sun: I love you too, Miss Barberra. Now, enjoy that candy apple before my rays melt your delicious treat. We don't want that!
Everyone laughed at Aunt Sun's funny joke! Annamae licked her lips, and with eyes wide open, lifted the candy apple towards her mouth. As she did, she felt full of so much love, and joy--
Barberra: NO!
((Iko and Barberra Apartment, Marrakech District, Amity Outpost))
Annamae sat up sharply in her and Bec's bed. She felt sweat running down her forehead. Panting, she looked around the room. It was dark.
She was on Amity.
She was in their apartment.
Relief washed over her. She closed her eyes again, and let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding onto.
The Science Specialist let her body flop back onto the bed, and her head safely thud into the pillow.
oO What a nightmare. Oo
She rolled over to her side, and exhaled once more to calm herself. She didn't want to wake Bec.
And just as she was drifting back off to sleep - hoping to dream about something, anything else other than *Candy Apple Land* (where in her brain did that come from?)...
The "clang" of something falling in the floor in the nearby kitchen area of the apartment snapped her back awake.
Barberra: ::drearily:: Bec, did you hear that?
There was no answer...
Barberra: ::rolling over:: Bec?
... because there was no Bec.
She sat up again, resting back on her palms, and called out.
Barberra: ::Raised voice:: Bec?
Iko: I'm okay. Don't worry about it.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Bec entered the room.
Barberra: Ugh, I can tell by the tone in your voice, and whatever you threw on the ground, that you're so not. What's going on?
Iko: It's the personal evaluation. If I don't do it now it's not going to get done.
Barberra: ::Shrug:: Then don't do it. Come back to bed instead. Ugh, I just had the worst nightmare, I need to go to see Doctor Wong tomorrow and have my brain erased.
Iko: Response
Barberra: Are you sure you're okay? You know you can tell me things, right? Troubles you're having, any ailments, bowel issues--.
Iko: Response
Barberra: Because... ::small gulp:: I... ::eyes up, left, speaks quietly:: love you and I care about you.
Iko: Response
Barberra: I love you and I care about you, okay?
Annamae suddenly *leapt* from the bed, and got into a fight stance, raising her fists.
Barberra: Wanna fight about it, huh? C'mon, Iko, what have you got?
Iko: Response
She lowered her fists, and got back onto the bed on her knees, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend.
Barberra: Bec, c'mon, you can tell me. What's bothering you? Is it bowel related?
Iko: Response
==========================================
[cid:image0...@01DD0755.79052DA0]
Chief Petty Officer Annamae Barberra<
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Annamae_Barberra>
Science Specialist
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0