Dollface lazily strummed the ukulele as she hummed, lazily rocking herself in the hammock. Regina snorted, sitting in the straight-backed chair Dollface had carried on her back all the way out here.
"I find your behavior rather deplorable."
Dollface shifted in the hammock, one bare foot planted on the ground.
It was too hot to argue.
Regina was, as usual, sitting stiffly in Gramma's chair, hair elaborate styled out of her perfect, oval face and tight corset forcing her upright, complaining.
With a loud 'thWOORP!' Regina opened her fan and began delicately fanning herself, "Your need to dress like a man is utterly detestable. Do you know nothing of your status?"
"C'mon, man," Wolfie grumbled, lying barefoot on a blanket, shielding her eyes with her cap, "We all know yer related t'Cowatch. Y'all ain't got shit!"
Regina turned red and scowled, "You're vulgar and incorrect!"
Wolfie giggled dumbly and grinned, showing too many teeth as she said, "Oh yeah? What's yer daddy's name, then?"
Regina frowned further, fanning herself harder, "Well, I don't know, but whomever he is, I know he's important."
Wolfie grinned further, then rolled on her side for a nap, "Yeah right sweetie."
"Why do you two feel the need to be so vulgar and brutish? The only time I ever see you wearing proper attire is when you're on stage. How crass."
Seeing that Regina's attention was turned on Dollface, Dollface hummed with her ukulele and said, "'Cause 'round here, nice clothes are hard t'come by. 'Sides, do ya really wanna bail hay in foot corsets?"
"'Foot corsets'?" Regina gasped, gobsmacked, "'Foot corsets'? I'll have you now that real, women's shoes are nothing of the sort! Why, you could stand to use a real corset! You positively look like a- a-"
Dollface lifted a brow, still strumming as Regina looked for the right word, answering for her, "A boy?"
Regina's nose curled up, "Yes!"
Dollface did like wearing her corset on occasion, it fit well and held things in place, but when working, it was easier to wear pants and a little jacket. Jeans were a godsend.
She just wished she could wear something less restrictive that she could wear under a button-up.
Dollface laughed, "Regina, ya gotta learn faster, life 'round here ain't some damn walk in th'park."
"Well I think it should be! The women in this horrid place look like cows!" Regina exclaimed, "That isn't right! A woman is to be delicate and sensible, not some brute like Isabelle or Princess!"
Can you just play the song already? Michael asked, letting Regina keep ranting.
Dollface nodded, strumming louder.
"Reggie, shut up, I'm tryna sleep!" Wolfie loudly moaned. Regina's jaw snapped shut with an audible pop, still scowling.
"Thank ya kin'ly." Dollface said, rocking.
In the big city, a skirt was worn, but here, no one gave a rat's ass what anyone wore.
Just show up to church every Sunday and bring cookies.
"Follow me, an' I'll follow you," Dollface said, rocking herself to keep time, "An' we'll think of a million things we can do..."
"Howdy!"
Practically dropping the battered ukulele, Dollface sat up in her hammock.
"Mr. Afton!"
William smiled at the little group of girls, "Thank you all for last night's performance. Reggie, I think you have a great future ahead of you as a prize peddler."
"My name's not-"
"Great." Wolfie said, sitting up with her legs sprawled out on the blanket, "I was tryin' somethin' new with th'drums last night, I hope ya don't mind."
"No, not at all Wolfie," William assured, "I want to encourage all of you to try something new. That's what keeps things fresh and exciting."
"That's nice t'hear." Dollface said, sinking back into the hammock and rocking herself. She yawned, "Anythin' else, sir?"
"Not much, I just wanted to thank you for your hard work. I hope you're ready for Branson."
"Oh, yes sir, I am." Dolface said, Regina glaring at her pointy shoes. They made her feet look small and slim, "I'm just restin' up fer t'night. It's too hot t'think right now."
"Oh, I know how that is." William beamed, white shirt completely soaked from the pits to his waist.
He smelled like too much cologne and Dollface suspected he hadn't bathed in a while.
Michael told her to get her sister and GO.
"Look, sorry t'run," Dollface said, unhooking the hammock from the trees and packing up her ukulele, "But Gramma'll be needin' us fer chores soon."
Wolfie looked up at her, incredulous.
"Do you need me t'help?"
"No!" Dollface said, "I mean, no, it'll be just Reggie an'I helpin' clean sice Grampa's workin' t'day. He's an inspector, ya see."
Regina looked at her, matching Wolfie's confused expression. Dollface gulped, "So sorry to cut things short, thank ya fer hirin' us."
Regina protested, "It's too hot to move!"
"Yes, it is, but Gramma needs us."
"Bye-bye, Reggie!" Wolfie grinned as Regina was practically scooped up by Dollface.
Regina turned, and turned bright red, suddenly quiet. Wolfie stood and approached Regina, and stuck out her tongue, making her turn even redder.
Regina stammered out, "Let me go, you heathen!" and turned away from Wolfie, red as a tomato.
"Look, Gramma needs us to unravel some old yarn, at least come with me for that." Dollface snapped. She looked up at the confused and hurt William, sweaty suit warping into a ratty teeshirt and khakis.
She huffed in the heat, sweat rolling down her Hawaiian shirt.
Calm down.
"Ya can't take her anywhere."
"I see." William said, tipping his head and wiping off his glasses, comb-over becoming stringy as it plastered against his sweaty forehead, "I'll see you gals around, I have to meet Henry for a few plans. Ta-ta!"
"Ta-ta." The girls said in deadpan unison.
Wolfie dropped back down on her blanket and soon began snoring, skin tinted white with suntan lotion. "See y'all later, I guess."
