Dad said that JoJo could write his assignment about politics for his government class in the kitchen.
Why?
A certain tantruming tot broke his bluetooth earbuds when he put her in time out when he was babysitting during one of his parents' dates, and J. J. was napping in the boys' room.
JoJo felt he could focus if he had music.
The bluetooth stereo was connected to JoJo's who-phone and a song was playing at a moderate volume.
As JoJo wrote out the effects the Butter Battle had on the population of Whoville back in the 40s, he listened to the song.
"What the hell is wrong with me,
Don't fit in with anybody,
How did this happen to me?
Wide awake I'm bored and
I can't fall asleep,
And every night is the worst night ever!" The stereo sang.
JoJo started his 4th paragraph on how the battle came to an end. He stopped to erase a stray pencil mark and started again.
"I'm just a kid
I'm just a kid-"
Sudden silence filled the kitchen as the stereo suddenly switched off.
He turned to the stereo and saw that the bluetooth connection was disconnected.
A very loud song started again.
"Hiya, Barbie!
Hi, Ken!
You want to go for a ride?
Sure, Ken
Jump in!" The stereo blared at a high volume.
JoJo gritted his teeth in anger. Not this song...
"I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world,
Life in plastic, it's fantastic
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere,
Imagination, life is your creation!"
JoJo felt an aneurism coming on at the annoyance of this blasted song.
"Come on, Barbie, let's go party!"
"Oh, yeah, let's go party, Barbie!" JoJo sneered as he reached over and tapped the bluetooth button on his phone.
"I'm a Barbie-"
The stereo cut off the song and went back to his music.
"All the small things,
True care truth brings,
I'll take one lift,
Your ride, best trip,
Always I know,
You'll be at my show,
Watching, waiting,
Commiserating."
JoJo relaxed and went back to work.
"Say it ain't so, I will not go,
Turn the lights off, carry me home,
Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na, na, na
Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na, na, na-"
The stereo shut off his music again.
"I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh, oh whoa!"
JoJo slammed his hands on the table and glared at the door.
Helga, Henrietta, Hannavas, Harley and Hannah were between the kitchen and foyer, snickering.
Harley had her who-phone in her hand, her thumb over the bluetooth button.
And so, the real battle began. The Music Battle.
JoJo and Harley glared at each other as they tapped the button on their home screens. The stereo blared different songs every few seconds.
"I've got a- Say it ain't so, I will not- I'm a Bar- I'm just a kid-" the stereo blared.
This went on for a minute, the stereo switching from techno-pop to punk rock.
Ned came into the kitchen and saw his kids battling over the stereo, phones in hand.
"Can you guys pick a song, please?" He asked.
"I had the stereo first!" JoJo said.
"He started it!" Harley argued.
"I'm doing my homework and I need it!" JoJo yelled at her.
"We don't want to listen to your trash music!" Harley yelled back, her teeth gritted.
Ned shook his head.
"Give me your phones."
Reluctantly, the 15 year old boy and 14 year old girl handed their dad their black and pink phones.
"I think you both need to spend some time in each other's shoes." The mayor said.
JoJo and Harley looked shocked.
"You're not saying...?" Harley started.
"Yes, I am. You two have been at each other's throats this whole pandemic. Now go upstairs and change."
Both teenagers slumped upstairs to do what their dad said.
Both came downstairs in sour moods.
Why?
Because Harley was now wearing her brother's black and grey clothes, and JoJo was wearing his sister's fuchsia and orange dress.
Both their faces were red with anger and embarrassment.
Fits of laughter filled the remaining sisters as the two entered the kitchen.
JoJo took it the worst of all.
As he tugged on the skirt to stop it from riding up, he mumbled.
"Why does being a boy have to be so hard?"