Parasol opened her eyes to the dim light coming in through the big window, wondering how long she had been out for.
Had I entered a liminal state? Did I taste the unconscious void beyond perception? No, I just fell asleep.

That had been happening to her to an almost embarrassing degree. She would lose focus on whatever she was researching, devolve into daydreaming, and then fall asleep, only to wake up unaware of how much time had passed. Parasol had gotten used to her summer routine. She would have breakfast with her family, then leave for an expedition with her older brother, Grape, and their two best friends, the Fragrance siblings: Frederick, nicknamed Flappyface, and his older sister, Daisy. However, she doubted she would ever get used to the silence that often led to increasingly unanswerable questions.

 
How much can one ship of Theseus a toy before said toy needs to assume a new identity for themself? Do parts need to be lost and replaced, or do the years themselves bring along new memories and the atrophy of old ones? How many different identities have I had? Or, more concerningly, how many have I forgotten?

​

Parasol could still vaguely remember years ago when she was one of hundreds of Littlest Pet Shops sitting on a glass shelf, week after week, waiting with bated breath to be brought home. The bright, buzzing fluorescent lights would flicker throughout the flea market. Her ears would perk up with hope at the sound of children's voices, only for them to pass her by. The clock would strike five, and her world was submerged in darkness. As weeks became months, the lights stopped blinding her and the cries of kids became a hum in the background. Until one fateful day, she felt the warmth of being in the palm of Julie Bell. Parasol saw a smile she thought she’d never see again. She got everything she wanted: a home, a family, friends and adventure.
But now the salty air of sea voyages and the stars on the solar system's outskirts were a distant memory to her. The big window, a hazy yet tanalizing peek into the outside world. This time of year was hot, humid, and with each passing year, evermore dread-inducing. Parasol pondered what would happen if she took the initiative. Took the risk and faced it. Just left it all behind. The years had brought on an unintrusive yet ever-present low-level anxiety. What was intrusive were the layers of dust that had accumulated on the roof of her family’s apartment that would periodically drift in and cause her to burst into sneezing fits.

​

Her phone ringing broke her reverie.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Parasol. It’s Daisy. Being as the weather kinda sucks today, do you want to have a slumber party?”
“Sounds great! I'll ask my dad.” 
Parasol called him from the other side of the apartment. “Hey, Dad, can Grape and I stay over at Daisy's place tonight?”
“Yes,” he said, “Just don't stay up too late! Remember, school is starting soon.”
“Okay, thanks!” 
Parasol lowered her voice. “He said yes. What's our all-nighter plan?”
“Well, we have ice pops, but our soda supply is running low,” said Daisy. “What do you guys have?”
“We have ice cream and popcorn,” said Parasol. “I think if Grape and I combine our pocket money, we can get a pizza.”
“Is there anyone else you'd like to invite over? We could invite Patrina.”
“Daisy, don't you remember what happened last time Patrina came to a slumber party?!” said Parasol. “Her loud music made us get caught trying to stay up!”
“Yeah, maybe that's not such a good idea. I was thinking about inviting Kiesha.”
“Cool beans!” said Parasol.
“Anyone else?”
“I’ll ask Grape.” 
Parasol called her brother, “Hey Grape, is there anybody you would like to invite to a slumber party tonight?”
“Could we invite Bloop?” he asked.
“Sure!” said Parasol. 
“Sounds good, see you guys tonight!” Daisy said and hung up the phone.
***

 

Daisy told her brother Flappyface about the slumber party.
“Kiesha’s coming?! Oh, yeah, sure. That’s cool or whatever.” He said in a somewhat defensive tone.
“Uhh... Okay, can you give her a call then?” said Daisy.
“I'm not going to do that! Why can't you do that?”
“I need to go to the store and get some more soda and energy drinks,” she said.
“Fine!” 
Flappyface dialled Kiesha, trying to hide his begrudgement.
“Hi, Daisy!” said Kiesha from the other side of the line, assuming it was her.
“Ahem, this is Flappyface speaking.”
“Oh yeah, Fred! My dude, what's up?”
“A slumber party is what's up. Would you like to come?”
“A slumber party? Yeah, sure! Do you need me to, like, bring anything?”
“I think we've got everything except... Oh, can you bring cookies?”
“Of course I can! See you then, Fred,” said Kiesha, then she hung up.
***

 

Later, Grape’s fishy friend Bloop approached the Fragrance residence, a two-story, cream-white house with turquoise shutters, a matching door, and a salmon-pink roof. The garden was complete with a lilac bush and white picket fencing. One could tell whoever lived there put way too much effort into their lawn.
Bloop rang the doorbell. Flappyface answered it.
“Bloop?” he said, wondering if he was late. 
Flappyface let him inside.
“Hey dude, you’re just in time. You can put your stuff in my room.”
The living room had a small TV and fireplace. Various nick-nacks, books, and flowers adorned the shelves and mantel. Bloop looked around, noticing how much of an odd mix of classy and tacky the place was. For every delicacy, like the fine carving on the stair rail, there was something to off-put it, like the hideous floral rug in the hallway.

Daisy turned to Flappyface, “Are you sure Kiesha's coming?”
“I mean, she said she would,” he said.
“Hey, guys,” said Kiesha. “Sorry, I'm late. I've got the cookies!”
“Great,” said Daisy. “Everyone’s in the living room. Come on in!”
After reviewing the plan and ordering pizza, the six friends gathered to play a car racing video game. Daisy gave Kiesha the first pick for what racer she wanted to be. Flappyface rolled his eyes.

​

After a few rounds, they all went upstairs to Daisy’s room to play truth or dare. 
“Parasol, truth or dare?” said Kiesha.
“Truth!”
“Have you ever had something stuck between your teeth, but instead of spitting it out you swallowed it?”
“Yes…” Parasol said, much to everyone's disgust. “But it's for a perfectly understandable reason! I had a piece of popcorn stuck between my teeth, and we were waiting in line to go on the roller coaster. Anyways, Flappyface, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Are you doing okay? I mean, I’m totally fine, never better but-”
“What, why?!” he said, his fur puffing up slightly. “Do I look ill?”
“Well, you’ve been acting a little off lately,” said Grape.
“I’m just cranky because I didn’t sleep very well last night,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.”
“So guys,” said Kiesha, “I was thinking instead of passing a cootie catcher around, do you guys want to play spin the bottle?” 
“And have someone risk getting actual cooties?!” said Grape.
“Yeah, sure, that sounds like fun!” said Daisy.
Flappyface whispered to his sister, “Dude, what the heck!?”
“Just shut up, okay!”

She grabbed an empty glass soda bottle from the kitchen, brought it upstairs, and placed it on the floor. Kiesha gave it a turn. It spun around once, twice, and landed on her. She spun it again, and it landed on Daisy.
“Uhh... Hey Daisy, is it okay if I kiss you?” said Kiesha.
“Umm… Sure!” said Dasy.
Just as they were about to kiss, Parasol’s phone began to ring.
“Saved by the bell,” whispered Grape.
“No kidding,” said Parasol.
It turns out it was their dad, Chocolate on the other end. He had some pressing news for his kids.
“Okay, we'll be on our way home,” Parasol sighed. “So sorry to interrupt the moment, but we’ve got to go home and consult our dad. Come on, Grape!”
“Coming!” he said. “Bye, guys.”

​

Once they got home, Chocolate sat them down. 
“Kids…” he began, “prepare to be sold on eBay.”
“What do you mean, prepare to be sold on eBay?” said Parasol.
“You know how people who make content for children younger than 13 on YouTube will have their ad revenue axed if the plans for changing advertisement regulations are executed, right?” said Chocolate.
“Well, yes,” she said. “But, what does that have to do with Julie?”
“She still watches people who make that kind of content,” said Grape.
“That’s my point,” said Chocolate. “If Julie wasn’t watching YouTube, I bet most of us wouldn't be here!”
Grape gasped, “Does that mean Julie won't collect us anymore!?”
“Exactly Grape!”
“Stop being ridiculous!” said Parasol. “Do none of you remember that correlation isn’t causation? Julie is starting high school, she just has less time on her hands.”
“Next thing you know, we’ll be locked in a box on a one-way trip to Goodwill!” said Grape in a panic.
“The older she gets, the more sentimental value we have! WE ARE FINE! NOBODY IS BEING SOLD ON EBAY!”
The room was filled with a deafening silence as it was quite unusual for Parasol to speak in such a way. 
“I’m going to bed,” she said and hopped away to her room.
***

 

Meanwhile, back at the Fragrance’s residence, Flappyface, thinking he was whispering, said, “Kiesha, if you ever try to make out with my sister again, you shall feel the full extent of my RATH!”
She froze. 
“Uhh… Everyone can hear you, you know?”
The room fell quiet.
“Flappy!” said Daisy. “What the heck was that all about?”
Flappyface, flustered and puffy, said, “I don’t want to stay up anymore. Good night!” 
He got up and slammed the door to his room.
“I’m sorry, Kiesha,” said Daisy.
“I’m just going to call my mom. Bye,” said Kiesha, leaving to wait to be picked up downstairs, tail between her legs.
“Bloop, bloop?” Bloop asked Daisy, offering her a cookie.
“No thanks, Bloop,” she said. “Night.”

***

​

Later on, Flappyface was staring dry-eyed and vacant into the darkness, Bloop’s bubbly snoring keeping him awake as the moonlight trickled into Julie’s room.
Flappyface called Grape.
“Dude,” Grape yawned. “It’s two in the freaking a.m. Why are you calling me?!”
“I’m calling to ask if you had any bungee cords,” said Flappyface. “Not only did you neglect to mention that Bloop snores like an underwater dump truck without a muffler, but he’s also a somnambulist! We haven’t been able to sleep a wink because we’ve been babysitting his stumbling, unconscious body.”
Grape groaned, “I’ll be right over.” 
He figured this was why Bloop typically slept in a fish tank.

​

Once Grape got to the Fragrance residence, Flappyface and Daisy helped him fill up a bin with water, scoop Bloop into it using a fishing net, and load it onto a wheelbarrow. As they pushed the contraption to Bloop’s house, Grape apologized for the inconvenience. 
“Don’t sweat it,” said Daisy, eyeing Flappyface, still mad at him for being a buzzkill.
“I guess you’ll be even crankier tomorrow, huh, dude?” said Grape.
“No, it’s not that,” said Flappyface. “I was upset that Keisha was there.”
“Why? You said it was fine,” said Daisy.
“I guess…” he began. “I guess I was jealous. I didn’t want to admit it because I knew it was dumb. Keisha’s a nice girl.”
“Uh, yeah. It is dumb,” said Daisy. “I have friends of my own now. If you were a good brother, you wouldn’t be so weird about it.”
“But, ever since school got out for summer, we’ve only been on like, one adventure together?” he said. “Now it seems like all you care about is Keisha!”
“Because I like her! Whatever, you’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I’m only two years younger than you!”
“Well, you’re acting like you’re five!”
“Will you two shush and push?!” said Grape.
Flappyface and Daisy took a breath, and they continued on their way.

​

Once they got to Bloop's house, a coral fixture resembling an antique diver’s helmet, Grape sniffed around for the spare key.
Flappyface turned to his sister. 
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she said. “You’re right. I guess I just lost track of time. I kept telling myself I would join you guys on the next one.”
“‘Till the next one became the last one?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry.” 
“Always check under the garden gnomes!” Grape said as he returned with the key. 
Once they got Bloop in his tank, Grape bid them goodnight, and they all went home.

​

Daisy nuzzled her younger brother as she tucked him in. Flappyface felt better, but a lingering sense of unwanted novelty stuck with him. He and Daisy had never fought like that before, and he still wasn’t sure what to make of it.