#5. "I'm Still Me - Part 3"

(In this KATVP introductory story, Chloe gets the chance to explain some of her backstory.)

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...and We are Continuing!

(This story takes place in May 2017.)

I'm Still Me - Part 3
A Picture Story
Written By: Katie-Kat Labrador (me!)
With Help From: my narrative studies class

It is currently finals week for me, and you’re probably thinking, “why do I care?” Well, dearest reader, I’m informing you this because this means I am reaching my college graduation (which is in late May) and I will have more time to write to you all. Even though this story is probably being published much later than my graduation, I will have more time after my school life ends to finish setting up the multi-model story blog. I can finally finish importing about the, maybe five years of content I have placed on other websites. Then the blog will become closer and closer to world domination!

“Oh my landlords you kid yourself so much,” Chloe growls off at me. She is glaring at me though a computer screen.

Allow me to give an image: I am sitting at my laptop on the bed in my dorm room. 

(ok...don't have a picture of this specific action but here's me on my laptop on my bed in my dorm room in general)

Chloe is currently online in Webkinz World, so she is on my screen looking at me and talking to me from her virtual bedroom.
(ignore the icon for the March 2018 Deluxe Challenge; LET'S PRETEND IT'S MAY, OKAY?)

Since I obviously can’t bring over 200 stuffed animals to college and I don’t want anyone feeling jealously, I leave all my little stuffed pals at home and I talk to them when I log onto the Webkinz World website. My pets with online virtual pet sides feel blessed—they can basically access me no matter how far away from their plush bodies I am. My visits to the virtual world is like their Skype or FaceTime, if you needed more details to understand this image.

“First of all, I love this new exclamation,” I begin to say to her.

“Thank you,” she thanks me, sticking her little digital nose up in the air. “I’m making the best of your ‘no adult language or religious exclamations on camera’ policy, even though it’s impossible for me and you!”

“I’ll adapt,” I reply. “Second of all, you never know what could happen. The first two blogs got very popular!”

“Please work on being realistic when getting your life together!” Chloe whines with annoyance. “How many times do I need to remind you that you got a C in a life planning course.”

“No, believe me, I don’t expect this project to like blow up and earn me any money. I just want to reach people, you know?”

“Can you please start telling this part of the story? I’m getting a headache.”

It was the first day of May 2017 and I was completing my normal Monday commute. Every Monday night, I take a bus from school and another bus to Connecticut to catch a train to my house. I do this because I have a therapy group on Tuesday; the routine is comfortable, so I don’t want to consider stopping it.

Anyway, it was late afternoon and I entered the bedroom in my home.

“Well look who decided to show up,” I heard a familiar voice sass me.

I carefully dropped my backpack onto the ground. 

I sighed. “Hello, Chloe.”

“Hello, lazy beluga whale,” Chloe greeted me aggressively from the top of my desk. (“Lazy beluga whale” is one of her various unique nicknames she has for me.)

“I’m lazy?” I jokingly interrogated her. “Chloe, I’m three hours early today! I’m usually home after 9 but I came in a bit after 6 today!”

She rolled her little beady eyes. “Whatever. Anyway, how’s life? Did you actually do any homework this week?”

“I got my story workshopped!” I told her with excitement.

Her snarky eyes widened. “How much did they hate and how much did you cry over it?”

“The workshop actually came out super well!” I informed her. “Most of them liked it?”

Chloe climbed down from the desk...

...and scurried to my backpack. 

She forcefully dragged my drink bottle out of its pouch and took a bit sip. 

She then spewed it out of her mouth like a spit take.

“Why would you waste my custom-made nutrient drink?” I questioned her with a bit of disgust in my voice.

She skipped answering my question. “Why is it strawberry? Why not orange and other various citrus flavors?”

“What is it with you and oranges? They’re too acidic for me so they give me headaches! The only other option for me was strawberry and I like the sweetness of the strawberry flavor.”

“Um, oranges and their citrus cousins are the best fruits of all time!” she argued. “Also, you’re weird.”

“Thank you,” I replied with partial sarcasm.

She brought the subject back to where it was before the drink incident and discussion. “Anyway, your class liked the story? That’s a first.”

“Yeah! The response was mostly positive!” I started to unpack my backpack as I settled from my excitement. “By the way, you’re coming to college with me this week to come to class to meet people. My fellow students want it and I think the professor really wants it.”

Chloe stared at me for a few seconds. “Never did I nor anyone else in this world think you would utter that you’re publicly bringing Webkinz to class.”

“Well, a lot of people apparently loved Webkinz back in the day and then you as a character, so you’re coming in.”

Chloe was not the least bit surprised about that fact. “Of course they love me.”

I continued to unpack, pulling out my chargers and my computer mouse. I proceeded to talk more about my class experience. “And the professor loves the concept of this universe and says it has potential! Like, it’s so cute! I haven’t had a teacher support my writing since my English teacher from high school found out I wrote.”

“Speaking of her, how is she? Did she finally file for that restraining order against you?”

I unzipped the back compartment of my backpack. “No, but she refuses to add me on Facebook yet she adds other students she’s taught on Facebook.”

Chloe stifled a laugh.

As I wrapped my fingers around my laptop in the back compartment, I looked up to ponder. “Yeah, a lot of my old teachers won’t talk to me these days...”

“Okay let’s get off this topic before the State of Connecticut gets involved,” Chloe quickly interrupted me. “Like please do your best to stay out of court! ‘Cause you tend to do way too many stupid things.”

“Don’t worry, I’m staying away from people that taught me in high school because I don’t have time to deal with their drama.”

“So about this workshop session…do you have the comments they made?” Chloe inquired.

“Yes, I took notes on their reactions and I have a few correction notes.”

“Heck yes let me read those suckers,” Chloe rambled on with excitement in a run-on sentence.

I extracted my laptop. “Come on, let’s just start reviewing the comments.”

“This is going to be good!” Chloe commented mischievously. 

“Hey, wait a minute,” Chloe interrupts. “Isn’t this story supposed to be a continuation of ‘I’m Still Me’ where you introduce the diversity of various character identities?”

“Yeah,” I say with full knowledge.

“Then why are you wasting time blabbering about that time you came home the other Monday?” Chloe rumbles off. “I mean, as much as I love talking about me and my thoughts, I’m not sure this is the time to report that? Don’t you usually do side stories or like bonus blog entries?”

“Well, maybe this story could be about you?”

Chloe’s little cartoon body jolts. “I…I was not expecting this.”

“So you don’t want to talk about yourself? I mean I could talk about somebody else--”

She interjects my response. “How many pages do I have?”

“Well, I think I’m on the fifth page right now, and the story for my class has to be between fifteen to twenty pages. I also have another few pages of content for the rest of the flashback, so that gives you at most maybe ten pages.”

Chloe grins her wicked, satisfied grin.

“But don’t go too crazy!” I warn her. “I don’t want to kill my professor when he has to grade this!”

“Don’t worry. I’m good at getting to the point, unlike you.”

“Just tell the people some of your life story.”

“Well, that creature over there you all know as ‘Katie-Kat’--” Chloe begins to tell you all.

“They can call me either or! They don’t have to use the double name!” I correct her.

“Well, your Facebook says ‘Katie-Kat’ and you lowkey want to legally change your name from ‘Katherine’ to ‘Katherine-Katrina’ so…”

“Just continue telling the readers about yourself!”

“Gladly. Anyway, the beluga whale obtained me at her birthday party in 2007. It was a warm spring night and I was everything she had dreamed of placed in one product. It is arguable that Katie was too old for something as childish as Webkinz at that time, but age twelve was like a gray area because she had only just started middle school. Also, I was more of a gift from her friend’s younger sister so there’s that excuse.

“I could tell Kat felt an attachment to me since the very beginning. I mean, why wouldn’t she? I was a lovable stuffed animal that gave her access to a great online game. Plus, I was the start of like, a new major part and passion in her life. There are many aspects to how Katie spent her Webkinz days that kept fueling her addiction and passion for the franchise, world, and fanbase, but this is about me so we’re not going to talk about that right now.

“A bunch of days after my arrival, Fluffy the Persian Cat Webkinz came. She came from the probably-now-closed card store, Cardsmart! Katie had really wanted more Webkinz and her brothers wanted their first Webkinz pets too so their mom took them to her favorite local card store to pick up whoever likable they had in stock. Kat picked out Fluffy...

...her brother got a Frog...

"...and her other brother picked out a Googles A-K-A the company’s platypus creature. 

"Fluffy and I are pretty close considering that we were here first two Webkinz pets.

“Eventually, Katie’s mom drove about two or three towns over to a Hallmark because all three of her kids wanted more Webkinz but all the stores in town were out of stock. That was back when Webkinz were super popular and no store could keep them stocked! That day, Katie had brought home two new pets who would play very important roles in my life: 

"Taffy the little White Terrier who is basically my direct little sister or my little baby...

"...and the Rex the Golden Retriever, who is my very best friend.

“Rexy and I have a very special connection and bond. Like, I don’t feel the same way about anyone else the way I feel for him. And I’m pretty sure he feels the same about me…or at least I hope he does.” She starts breathing heavier, clearly nervous as indicated by her flushed virtual cheeks. “Phew! Um, so I guess you could call him my other half. I say he’s my special friend. Is it romantic? Um, I guess I’m going to have to talk to him about that soon because I may or may not have a thing for him. I mean, we’re not limited by the strict rules of the old forum we were on so we don’t have to hold much definitions back. And like, we’ve known each other for almost ten years so we should probably be clear about things. We don’t have to hide behind platonic wording anymore.” Chloe lets out a built-up exhale. She shakes her sweaty digital head to try to distract her nerves.

“Continuing on from him,” Chloe starts, “I have many more people in my life. My other little sister is Emma the Yorkshire Terrier. 

"Then there’s Paris, who’s a small white Poodle, so basically a little version of myself. 

"I also have this little pink Webkinz ‘Mazin’ Hamster’ that hangs around me and my sisters. Her name is Hammiella, but we all call her Ella. 

"My documented adventures began after Emma's arrival but before Paris and Ella's. We all got into many little adventures. Me and my sisters would often spend weekends driving around the house in a car Kat made for us out of a shoebox. It’s called the ‘Webkinz Mobile.’ 

"Our first one broke...

"...but Kat made another one she calls the ‘Webkinz Mobile 2.’ 

"She later added some enhancements so she renamed it the ‘Webkinz Mobile 2.5.’ It’s a pretty cool ride. I drive, of course, because I’m the oldest of my sisters.”

“Also,” she starts to say before she gets distracted. “Hey…why are you giggling?”

I look back up at my computer screen after looking at my phone. “Nothing! No reason!”

“Oh shut up—I know that stupid look of yours of when you hide your dumb, blushing face behind your hands.”

“Oh okay,” I start to admit. I proceed to confess, “I’m watching a YouTuber livestream and the person doing it is noticing my comments and thinks they’re funny.”

“You literally have the rest of your time to worry about your stupid crush-y nonsense!” she complains. “Ugh, you developing romantic desires was the worst thing that ever happened to me. You don’t pay enough attention to me and my needs! You’re not being a good caretaker!”

“Jeez, I’m sorry I developed after age 12.”

“Ugh!” she scoffs. “Anyway, the Webkinz Mobile is a pretty sweet ride we have going on. A bunch of us can fit in it, and it’s still here to this day. Kat stores it in the top shelf of her closet so nothing crushes it like our last Webkinz Mobile. Oh and by the way, the Mobile isn’t Kat’s invention—many other Webkinz owners made their own shoebox cars before Kat wanted to join in on the trend.

“Beyond the crafted car, we have had plenty of other adventures. Me and my first two sisters, Taffy and Emma, once journeyed to the basement to retrieve Rex from the laundry room because I hadn’t seen him in two days. He had to go to the laundry after one of the real pet dogs vomited on him, causing a need for a wash. We went down there, my sisters fought over a penny, I found Rex, I hung out with Rex for the rest of the night. It was a great day.

“Then one of the past Halloweens there was some incident where Paris and Ella saw some sort of boat sitting in the backyard that was on fire? But it was completely invisible to the rest of us. Kat never actually resolved what that incident was all about, so the whole context of that moment in our history is unclear. All we know is that Kat was really into ‘open-ends’ at the time, or having strange things within stories that are never answered or developed upon.

“There was also one Easter that I witnessed an incident where the little dog-like alien we have living here was laying explosive eggs? Yeah, these plush Peeps suddenly appeared and cast a spell on little Blaze the alien along with Emmerald the bunny. It was a scary day, especially for poor Blaze’s adoptive mom. But that day made a fun story. That might have been the time when my sassy side came out, as I started sassing Kat out of bed and I made fun of her for naming the plush Peeps after their respective colors. Also, I was the only one freaked out by those spontaneous Peeps at first. And I was right to be freaked out!

“Kat says I was a sweet little soul when I first came here. I was very nurturing, which I can confirm because I love my little sisters very much. I do admit I was much more accepting and loving of Kat back in my younger days, but we were both naïve. I was usually mentally the same age as Kat except now I remain at a mental age of 18 while she is 22 and grows older every day. I’m not sure how I feel about that sometimes. She says she’ll never leave us behind, but there’s always this constant anxiety. You guys will hear more about that in future stories where like…Kat goes and tells stuff that happened in the past while being in the present. It will probably be confusing, as her whole timeline is confusing.”

“I’ll make a guide and a detailed timeline of where all the stories go and take place!” I retort as I type. “Believe me, I will write as many things as possible so my readers will be the least amount of confused!”

“And when you turned 16 and when I was mentally 16, I started to see how ridiculous of a person you are!” Chloe responds to me as a transition back into her life story. “Yeah, this fool right here began getting weirder and weirder during her high school years. Like being a very awkward middle schooler is one thing, but she never transitioned out of it. Worst of all, she’s very self aware that she is bizarre and doesn’t bother adjusting her behavior.”

“Oh please, you know you love it,” I playfully argue as she lounges on her virtual bed.

“I spend most of my days being embarrassed that you’re my caretaker.”

“In public you show a lot of resentment. When the cameras and audience are away, it’s a different story.”

She looks away from me and pouts, refusing to make eye contact. “I don’t express feelings worthy of affection to anyone besides Rexy and my sisters. Let alone some ancient human who makes herself look like an idiot on a regular basis and is connected to me because she’s my owner.”

“You say that now, but just wait,” I retort with confidence. “In a week, I will come home. When I come home and there are no cameras or public witnesses, you will climb into my bed at night and sleep next to me.”

“I only sleep in your bed because you have decent taste in mattresses so it’s really comfy.”

“Whatever you say. I still think about what my classmates assumed about your character. Like how you would probably murder someone. Or how the professor thinks you would sit on vintage furniture smoking cigarettes.”

“Blegh, you know I wouldn’t smoke cigarettes.”

“Aw, thank you!”

“You know I would vape if I were to go down the path of chemical breathing.”

I look at her in silence for a moment. “I am aware. And, well, I’m glad you don’t like to see me sick from cigarette smoke, or at least I’m assuming you’re thinking about my sensitivity.”

“Yeah, because if you’re sick, you can’t drive me anywhere!”

“Okay,” I say in a fleeting tone. “Are you done telling the world about yourself? May I wrap up this chapter of our universe?”

“Go ahead,” Chloe allows with dissatisfaction and annoyance. “I mean, I’m never done showing the world myself, but we have a whole blog to post an unlimited amount of these multi-page stories too. Plus, I need to have my beautiful face on camera as much as possible and the first draft of this story doesn’t have any pictures.”

“And I wouldn’t have you or the blog any other away,” I tell her with gratitude.

I minimize my Internet browser window to send away the Webkinz World distraction temporarily and return to writing this story.

I had climbed onto my bed and reclined against some pillows and placed my laptop on my lap. Chloe followed me, climbing on the bed from the opposite edge. 

She brought herself to sit beside me and read my notes with me.

“Holy burnt lattes—your notes are messy,” Chloe rambled in comment to the near-gibberish she saw on my computer screen.

“Yeah, my notes are very raw human train of thought,” I replied.

“Okay, let’s get this straight…there’s human thoughts…then there’s your thoughts.”

“Don’t you want me to tell you about the comments?”

“Yes! Now stop stalling and start telling!”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Well, a lot of the reactions were that my writing style felt ‘fresh.’ The sassy writing style was unique to some people.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“A bunch of people--”

Chloe had been looking at my laptop and she cut off my reports with a burst of laughter. “Holy marsupial moles! Someone questioned your mental sanity?”

“Yeah. This one guy was wondering if the narrator was schizophrenic or bipolar.”

“Did you tell him you were screened for both in 2009?”

“Although there's nothing wrong with either of those diagnoses, we don’t need to get into that right now.”

Chloe had continued scanning my word document. “People were saying that you told too much of the story rather than telling it, and showing would be preferable.”

“I’m not used to not being totally literal because I’m empathetic with people who take a while to ‘get’ things.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Chloe said to keep me from droning on. “I’ll have you work on that aspect. And apparently a lot of people were very confused. I’m not surprised.”

“That’s only because the pictures aren’t attached yet!”

Chloe didn’t answer me. “Some people did not enjoy the multiple points of views and different tenses for different stories and then the fourth wall.”

I didn’t bother responding to her because I knew she just wanted to read out loud and jabber, uninterrupted.

“Someone mentioned the screenplay from last semester. Ugh, you and your obsession with writing characters based on yourself!”

“A lot of comedians and actors make sitcoms about fictionalized versions of themselves!”

“People felt unattached to the story after you tried pulling something meta or something when you used the second person to tell people what they were seeing or feeling. A bunch commented on how I was basically reading their minds with my comments. Ha! Also, not enough story. Too much explanation and blah, blah, blah. The story was very hard to follow.” Chloe turned to me. “So…what do you have to say for yourself?”

“The reaction wasn’t complete rejection!”

She paused. “For some reason I’m inclined to agree with you.”

“Well, a lot of people felt it was very comical and real! Some felt it was like funny behind the scenes stuff and was like a mockumentary. A bunch of others said they were less confused and enjoyed the story more the farther they got into reading it. And there were people that were big fans of diversity and the normalization of neurodivergent people!”

Chloe stared at me, looking like she was waiting to hear something specific.

“But a lot of people were really a fan of my alternative style!” I added to finish my statement about the reactions.

“Aaaaaand…” Chloe said to cue me on.

“And people say your character was very developed and you were very funny and enjoyable,” I tell her.

“Heck yeah I’m developed and great,” Chloe boasts.

“But, yes,” I said as I shut my laptop. “You’re coming to class this week.”

“UGH!” Chloe yelled.

“C’mon!” I cheered as I put down my laptop onto the bedside table and got up from my bed. “It will be fun! You’ll get to meet retired Webkinz players and also Shane the Professor.”

“Why call him ‘Shane the Professor’ and not by his last name like a professional?” Chloe retorted with repulsion.

“Because this story is going online and I want to respect his privacy,” I explained.

Chloe shook her head. “I’m going to need a vape pen after this. They sell citrus flavored ones, right?”

“Please don’t vape in my room,” I begged her. “I won’t be able to wash the smell out of you.”

“I will end you,” she barked at me. She was clearly in a bickering mood, as she usually is in front of other people.

“Chloe, you’re 6 inches tall.”

“Yeah, but I can knock your 5 foot 6 and a half inch butt right onto the ground for cartoonish comedic reasons,” Chloe reminded me in a threatening tone. “I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”

“Hey,” I said gently to her, “you sound like you could go for some sort of citrus-flavored gelato right now.”

Chloe, pouting and refusing to give me eye contact, nodded her head. “Mmhmm.”

I held out my hand to her, leaving my palm open to allow her to climb into if she wanted. “Would you like to go to Rita’s and get something orange flavored?”

Nodding quietly, she stepped into the palm of my hand.

 I lifted my hand off the ground and let her climb up my arm...

...and onto my shoulder. She sat and made herself comfortable and stable on my shoulder, snuggling the side of her stuffing-filled body into the side of my neck.

As I walked towards the door, I said, "you wouldn't really vape, right?"
"Of course not!" Chloe replied. "It's too unhealthy for my temple of a plush body. Plus, we shouldn't be encouraging questionable habits to the kids who read this blog. Don't want to get you banned from Blogger or else the public will NEVER see me! Plus, there are much healthier habits to deal with the stress YOU give me."
"Should have known that," I commented.
"You know me and my bad jokes and my actual intentions towards you."

I grabbed my car keys and said a "hello!" to Toko, the Spotted Leopard Kinz Klip who's attached to them at all times (he's brown so it's less noticeable if he's dirty, which he is...plus he lost his whiskers).
"Going out?" Toko asked.
"To Rita's!" I answered. "Chloe needs citrus gelato, and you and I can split something." (We can do that cause he's a small little guy.)
"Sounds good," Toko said.

As we went out the door, Chloe said, “also, if more than five people beep at you for your terrible driving on the way there, you have to buy me a large because you’ll owe me for threatening my safety.”

“Whatever you say, Chloe.”

MAYBE To Be Continued...

(but this is the end of the story for now)

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