Warning: funny content.


"So what's she mad about this time?" Kuki asked as she made her way down the driveway to Fanny's front door alongside Abby and Rachel. It was around 6 o'clock.

Rachel shook her head. "I don't know. She didn't look mad so much as she looked like she was about to puke."

Abby made a face and ran the doorbell. "Well I ain't holdin' her hair back."

It was only a few moments before the door opened to reveal Mrs. Fulbright in all her motherly glory. "Good afternoon, girls! My dear Fanny's in the kitchen baking ginger snaps. You can leave your bags in the living room." Being her friends, they were pretty much immune to the hilarity of Fanny's name by now. She led them inside before retiring upstairs for the night.

Before the three girls were able to enter the sweet-smelling kitchen, two redheaded masses tumbled out of the doorway and onto the floor. This was accompanied by the sweet-sounding voice of their sister: Fanny. "I'll bring some ginger snaps up when they're done. Go find something else to do, for now." Despite Shaun and Patrick being both taller and broader than her, Fanny was still the muscles of the family.

Everyone laughed as they carefully stepped over the sweet-toothed teens and into the kitchen. Her flaming hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her green t-shirt and orange shorts were covered with a crisp, white apron. She limped slightly on her left leg, but looked relieved to see them. "I'm so glad to see you girls. I've got a serious problem, right now."

Abby nodded in agreement. "You're baking ginger snaps, girl, everybody knows that means trouble." She had always been prone to stress-baking.

Now, Rachel took charge. Taking hold of her shoulders, she steered Fanny over t the kitchen table and landed her in a wooden chair. Once everyone was seated, she asked, "What's wrong, Fanny? We're here to help."

She took a deep breath, fiddled with her hands for a moment, and chewed her lower lip before she finally spoke in a small, shaky voice. "I'm singing in this year's Culture Shock." Kuki asked her to repeat herself, not believing what she had heard. Slightly louder, she repeated, "I'm singing in this year's Culture Shock."

There was a pause in which the oven timer beeped and Fanny got up to take the snaps out. Abby spoke first. "Um, why?"

She didn't answer, but set the snaps on the counter. Rachel added to Abby's inquiry. "Fanny, you hate singing in front of people!" It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

With a great sniff, she answered "I know" and lay her head down on the counter to add a few tears to the shame of her weakness.

All three were stunned but it was Kuki's compassionate nature that drove her to stand and embrace her, usually so strong, friend. "It's okay, Fanny. We're going to help you, that's what we're here for." It wasn't much, but when she offered her upset companion a tissue she got a small smile.

"Thank you, Kuki, I didn't mean to start cryin' like that." She actually didn't mean to cry at all, but it could not be helped.

Abby was probably the least close to Fanny but, when she heard the raw emotion in that Irish voice, got up to give her a hug as well. "Ain't no shame in it, baby."

Finally, Rachel joined the cuddle puddle. "I know you're upset, but I think we're going to need a few more details about this. I mean, why are you doing it if you know you hate singing in front of people?"

Here, her crimson brows dipped down in a familiar angry expression. "Someone's been taping me sing!" It only just occurred to her that, in order for Mr. Shields to have known that she could sing, someone had to have been recording her while she was at the park! There being the only place she sang. The mere thought of someone watching her, undetected, filled her with rage and disgust.

At the worst possible moment, Shaun popped his head in to see if the treats were ready to be eaten. "Are the ginger snaps done yet?"

Fanny's face flushed red, which made her golden freckles stand out brilliantly. "Just take the bloody snaps and get out of here, Shaun!" He did just that.


"My dear Fanny's in the kitchen baking ginger snaps." Enough said.