DING DONG!
Vanilla The Punk Rabbit opens the door.
"Nicely!"
"Good afternoon, Vani!"
With a few steps, the matriarch rabbit leaves her house to hug and kiss her best friend, Nicely The Skunk.
"Are you ready?" Vanilla asks as she inserts the straps of her blue backpack onto her shoulders.
"Of course I am," Nicely guarantees. "But why didn't you go alone with your daughter Cream? It's already 4:30 pm and you could have made better use of this Saturday afternoon. Who tells me to be late?"
"Please don't blame yourself, Nicely. I'm the one I owe an apology to you for making you leave the hair salon early."
"Imagine. For my goddaughter, I get all the time in the world," Nicely smiles. "But so far I don't know what it's about."
Vanilla scratches her chin: "Well, you must know that there is an old tradition in my family, long before I became punk."
"Which?"
"It's Yes Day!"
"Yes Day?" Nicely is intrigued.
"Yeah!" Vanilla exclaims, radiant. "Every time Cream gets an A in school for 3 days in a row, she gets a Yes Day. And on this day, I stop being her Mother and become her court jester."
"Please, Vanilla, it's kinda confused," Nicely demands, a little annoyed. "Explain better."
Vanilla laughs lightly:
"Okay, here's the thing: this is the day I have to fulfill all my daughter's wishes. Strolling around, eating junk food, being lazy... in short, whatever she wants. This day, she becomes my Queen," she concludes, raising her arms.
"She is always your Queen," observes Nicely. "But let's take easy. If she asks for 20 toys at the store, you go there and buy all 20?"
"No, not then either," Vanilla refutes, looking back, but still cheerful. "After all, what fun would be Yes Day if it's not good for both parties? And I know she understands that."
"YOOHOOOOO!" A thin and high voice runs through the house, accompanied by strong footsteps descending the stairs.
"Must be her," Nicely points out.
Cream The Rabbit, the cute 6-year rabbit, leaves the house running straight to her Mother.
"Mommy!"
"Daughter!" Vanilla opens her arms.
Cream jumps into Nicely's lap.
And kiss her.
"SMAC! Glad you came, Mom!"
"Huh… It's a pleasure, daughter," Nicely is a little embarrassed.
"Hey Cream, what's this story?" Vanilla complains. "I'm your Mother."
"Today Nicely is my Mother," Cream decrees. "After all, today is Yes Day, right?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
Cream holds out her right hand: "Each one put your hand here."
"Right."
"Okay."
"Now repeat after me: 'I promise make this day...' "
" 'I promise make this day...' "
" '...the best Yes Day that Cream has ever had.' "
" '...the best Yes Day that Cream has ever had.' "
" 'And I won't cry on the way.' "
" 'And I won't cry on the way.' "
" 'Cream is the greatest!' "
" 'Cream is the greatest!' "
" 'And I'm worthless.' "
" 'And I'm worthless.' "
Cream undoes the union of hands.
"So Mom, you carry me. And Vanilla walks two steps behind us."
"Yes," Nicely agrees.
"This is going to be more complicated than I thought…" Vanilla scratches her head.
Vanilla and Nicely (carrying Cream on her shoulders) leave the humble and peaceful village where Cream lives with her Mother. And the three go to the metropolis.
"So, Cream?" Vanilla wants to know. "We've been walking around downtown for half an hour and you still haven't said where we're going.
"Easy, Vani," Nicely softens. "Don't you know how to enjoy a good walk? The view may not be amazing, but..."
"All in its time, sweetheart," Cream informs. "We're about to make our first stop."
"What would..."
"In the mall! Or, to be more exact, at the clothing store!"
"Okay, it's going to be exciting," Vanilla speculates. "I think..."
"One more look!" Cream announces.
"Okay!"
"Shine, Diva!"
Every outfit Cream tries on deserves a new click for her Instagram.
Vanilla and Nicely take turns on the smartphone.
"Ha ha ha, that was fun," Cream laughs as she undresses for the last time.
"And then? What clothes are you going to buy?" Vanilla questions.
"Buy? Who said I came to buy?" Cream refutes, as she put again her orange dress. "Do I look like Amy Rose?"
"Huh? Just came to try it?" Nicely is startled.
"Some problem?" Cream crosses her arms.
"Hmm… Oh no," Vanilla refutes. "It's even better. That leaves a little change to eat."
"Yumy," Cream's mouth is watering. "But first you two go do something."
"What?"
"Say."
"You're going to go into the dressing room and change clothes with each other."
"What? Am I going to be a punk Mother?" Nicely marvel.
"That's it."
"Is good for you, Vani?"
"Sure. It's Yes Day."
Cream adds:
"And you're going to be like that for the rest of day."
On the food court...
"Thank you," Cream thanks the waitress lynx, after she brings Monster Mac and strawberry frappe.
"Enjoy your meal, and Happy Yes Day," the waitress smiles and withdraws.
Vanilla, smelling of skunk in Nicely's clothes, worries:
"Are you sure you don't want to change the snack, daughter?"
Nicely, poking at the rips of Vanilla's purple punk shirt, tries to help:
"This Monster Mac is too much for you. Unless you want to take the rest home."
Cream explains:
"Monster Mac is not to be eaten selfishly. I start with three bites."
NHAC! NHAC! NHAC!
"Now it's your turn, Vanilla. Three bites."
"Hmm... Okay. I don't even like Monster Mac, but today is Yes Day."
NHAC! NHAC! NHAC!
"And now you, Nicely."
"Only three bites? Can't take three and a half?"
"Three bites," demands Cream, with a slightly stern look. "Equally."
"Okay, socialist."
NHAC! NHAC! NHAC!
Cream requires:
"Now give me back the Monster."
Nicely obeys.
"Now I take three more bites and we will continue like this until the snack is over."
Vanilla mocks:
"If you don't mind a triple wet sandwich..."
Nicely laughs out loud.
In Central Park, the three walk to the big lighthouse with a panoramic view of the city.
Before they got there...
"One stop, please," Cream requests.
"Of course, daughter," Vanilla concedes.
As her Mother and godmother stop, Cream takes ten steps in front of the pair. She sits on the floor and does stretching exercises.
"Did you teach her?" Nicely asks.
"Yeah, we always stretch at home gym," Vanilla explains. "She liked so much that she's gotten used to doing herself."
"You have a very disciplined daughter."
"Of course. She took from her Mother," Vanilla smiles.
"You don't even falter after becoming a punk Mother."
"Of course. Who said punks can't have a responsible side?"
After stretching, Cream throws herself on the floor and exclaims:
"Oh, how wonderful!"
She gets up and returns to her older friends.
"Go to lighthouse?"
"Come on," Vanilla calls out. "Especially now, when it's already 5:15 pm. If we go soon, we can up and down the lighthouse before the park closes."
"Okay. Just give me your water bottle, Mom."
"Take it."
Cream puts the plastic bottle on the floor.
She takes off her shoes and socks.
"Take to me, Vanilla."
"Alright."
Then the girl takes off her dress.
"Take to me, Nicely."
"Huh? Okay."
Cream takes the bottle and drinks some.
GLUB GLUB GLUB!
Then she pours the water on her head.
"AAAHHH, how hot!"
"Don't waste all, daughter," Vanilla warns.
"Okay. I take the bottle."
"But Cream, are you really going to lighthouse like this?" Nicely asks, somewhat incredulously.
"Just how exactly?" Cream disdains.
"I mean: are you going to walk naked in the park?"
"If was Tails The Fox, no one would question. Why me then? And today is Yes Day, did you forget?"
"Yes, daughter," Vanilla concedes. "Or rather: no, we have not forgotten."
"So let's go."
"You're the boss, girl."
Cream walks ahead.
Nicely asks Vanilla:
"That you taught her too?"
"I don't even know anymore."
15 minutes up by elevator.
The three arrive at the open terrace of the lighthouse.
There's no one else there.
"VIVA! Long live the city!" Cream exclaims.
The bunny squeals as she runs in circles across the terrace, enjoying every bit of the view.
"The good thing about childhood is being happy," Nicely comments, seeing the scene.
"As much as the view of the city isn't exactly a paradise," Vanilla points out.
"I understand you being more bucolic, Vani. What I really like is the city, the hustle, the noise, the lights... I just dislike the pollution, of course. But your daughter doesn't seem to mind. Look at her happy, taking advantage of every opportunity that life gives her."
"I wanted to be like her." Vanilla crosses her arms behind her back.
Nicely supports Vanilla with her left arm:
"You're getting there, friend. You has already become punk. Now you have to open your own business. Or create a tourism channel on YouTube. I don't know. One step at a time."
"Clear. Everyone helps me. You... Cream... Sonic..."
"You've always been empowered," Nicely punches her rabbit friend on the shoulder. "You just needed to find that out."
Vanilla smiles.
And she focuses on Nicely.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" The skunk doesn't understand.
"VANI! NICE!"
The friends return to reality.
"Come here!"
They follow the girl.
"We're leaving now. But I have more requests to fulfill here."
"Say soon, daughter."
"Don't rush her, Vani."
Cream clears the throat:
"First: each one holds my hand."
Vanilla holds Cream's right hand.
Nicely holds her left hand.
"Now each kiss my cheek."
SMAC!
SMAC!
"WOW! And to finish with a flourish..." She smiles mischievously.
"?"
"?"
"I want you two kissing on the mouth."
"WHAT?!"
"WHAT?!"
"Let's go girls. In the name of friendship."
"But... Really need be like this?" Nicely blushes.
Cream recalls:
"When you were children, you each pierced your finger with the needle and smeared the blood on the same paper, as a token of friendship."
"Yes, it's true," Vanilla confirms. "But was a great idiocy."
"And then? Let's make up for it. What's better? What sounds less pathetic? And more affectionate?" Cream extends her hands.
Vanilla scratches her chin.
Nicely scratches her head.
Vanilla hesitates: "I don't know if I can do this."
Cream crosses her arms and scoffs: "If that's what you're worried about, know that in Russia, hetero men greet each other with kisses on the lips. Although gays are persecuted there."
"Wow! This is new to me!" Nicely marvels.
15 minutes down by elevator.
Cream is excited, staring at the mirrored wall, with the biggest smile on her face.
Vanilla, with zombie eyes, doesn't even dare look at her skunk friend. Although she is not angry, she feels haunted.
"Vanilla? It's all okay?" Nicely asks.
Vanilla opens her mouth, but takes 5 seconds to respond:
"I'm fine."
After descending from lighthouse...
"Let's go home?" Cream summons.
"Yes, we will. Was a great Yes Day," Vanilla admits. "And kind of… intriguing..."
"Can you return my shoes now?"
"Yeah. Here they are."
"Oh. Take your dress, Cream," Nicely nods.
"Dress? What dress?" The girl sneers as she wears her orange sneakers.
Vanilla points to her back.
"Come on Nicely, open my backpack and put her dress away."
"Hmm... Okay."
Cream announces:
"I have one last request for when we get home. The three of us."
"Will I have to extend more?" Nicely speaks with a half-hearted air.
"You will love too, Nice."
"Okay. One last Yes."
After returning to village, the group heads to Cream's house.
"AAAHHH... Amazing sunset!" Cream exclaims, walking ahead.
"For her, everything has to be beautiful," Vanilla observes. "She's so special..."
"When I decide to be a Mother, I will kidnap your daughter," Nicely teases.
"No need," Vanilla smiles. "I share her with you."
"Really?" Nicely smiles back.
"Actually, doesn't sound an absurd idea to me."
"But how so?"
"WE ARRIVED!" Cream announces, stopping in the garden that surrounds her house.
"Fiuuu… I can't take anymore." Vanilla drops her backpack off her back and throws herself on the dirt floor, not worrying about the dirt.
Nicely notes:
"Huh… Looks like someone here is dying to take a shower and get rid of those skunk clothes. Hehehe..."
"Exactly!" Cream announces, taking off her shoes and socks again.
"What?"
"Let's take a dip in the river! YOOHOOOOO!" And the girl runs away.
"Yes Yes Yes!" Vanilla gets excited. "It's what I need most after this hard day!"
"HERE WE GO!" Nicely screams as she rips her purple punk shirt.
RIIPP!
"Hey! This was my favorite shirt!" Vanilla complains.
"Oops. Went badly. Excitement." Nicely smiles. "I buy another."
"It's all right!" Vanilla takes off her clothes as she runs to the river. "Last to arrive is Metal Sonic!"
Nicely imitates her:
"Wait for me, loser!"
THE END!