DISC: I DO NOT own any of the chars from BSC. They belong to Ann M. Martin. I Do however own anyone you don't recognize!
Enjoy!
"Kristy's Big Decision"
CHAPTER 18
Anya returned to the center a little while later and Claud quickly pumped her for information.
"So?" She said expectantly.
"So what?" Anya asked as Alex tugged on her arm.
Thinking she wanted some attention, she picked her up and set her on her lap, only to have her daughter jump off again.
"What was he like?" Claud asked.
"Who?" Anya inquired. She ruffled Alex's hair as her daughter sat down in a chair next to her. "And as for you, my cherina," she said, "what's up?"
Alex shrugged.
"I'm bored." She said.
"Why don't we take a walk." Anya suggested. "In fact, why don't' we all go somewhere else." She turned to Karen. "What Disney movie has the song "There's Nothing in the World Quite like a Friend?"
Karen didn't hesitate.
"The Return of Jafar." She answered.
"Thanks." Anya said. She pulled out a map and searched it until she came to the Aladdin characters. She found Genie and put the map down so everyone could have a look.
"Can we go there? " Karen asked. "Please, Anastasia? Please, please?"
"You read my mind. " She said. "Let's get the others and head over."
Alex and Karen smiled at one another, friends again for the time being.
Once we were all together, we headed over to the Morocco pavilion in World Show Case.
The kids talked excitedly along the way as did us baby-sitters.
Charlotte and Alex got into a conversation about Ariel and Karen joined in shortly afterwards.
Emily grew tired of walking halfway to our destination, so I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way.
Sari had the same idea and Claud carried her as well.
Claire tried to get Mal to, but her sister wouldn't budge. She wasn't tired, she just wanted to be carried because the younger kids were.
As we walked along the route, we spotted many things that the kids wanted to stop and see.
Mariah wanted to stop and watch a band perform, while Gabbi started dancing along to the music.
This got us smiling and laughing a little.
Gabbi was a good dancer for only being three.
Alex started showing Karen and Charlotte a Russian dance that Anya had taught her. The girls were soon awash in giggles from all the mistakes the other two were making.
Once we had gotten back on our way, Karen started everyone singing a traveling song that quickly turned into something very silly.
As we approached Morocco, Sari told Claudia that she was hungry.
Some of the older kids voiced the same thing, so we tried to find something for them to eat.
Karen's eyes lit up upon seeing a sign for a restaurant for Spanish food.
I quickly diverted her attention to a vender selling the same thing.
After the kids had their treats and a drink of juice in Alex's case, we continued on our way to meet Genie.
As we neared the place where he was, Karen tugged on my arm.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Kristy, I need to go to the bathroom." She said.
"Okay." I replied. "You can't be long though. And take someone with you."
Karen nodded. She was about to pick Hannie, when Alex said she had to go too.
"NO fighting you two." Anya instructed. "And stay together."
"Yes Mama." Alex said. With that, she took Karen's hand and the two left in the direction of the ladies' room.
While I kept an eye out for the girls' return, Anya kept her blue eyes peeled for Jon.
I giggled as I realized what was going on.
Anya hadn't mentioned a boyfriend since we had met her and she also hadn't shown any interest in any of the boys our age back home.
This could only mean one thing. She had a crush on him.
Since I, along with Claud, Stacey and even Mal had boyfriends, I hoped things worked out for Anya and Jon. That would also explain why we walked halfway across the park to meet Genie.
As we got into the line to meet Genie, I glanced down at my watch and realized it had been some time since Karen and Alex had gone to the bathroom.
I nudged Claud, who looked over at me with a giggling Sari in her arms.
"Karen and Alex have been in the bathroom for a long time." I said. "Maybe one of us should go check on them."
"I'll do it. " Claudia said. "Sari told me she had to go a few minutes ago anyway."
"Okay." I said. "Be careful."
"I will." Claud replied. With that, she took off.
Meanwhile, Gabbi was jumping up and down with excitement.
She tugged on Anya's arm.
Anya smiled down at her.
"May I help you, Miss Gabbi?" She asked.
"Can we meet Genie, Anastasia Springer, please?" Gabbi asked. She then attempted to say please in Russian, which got Anya giggling.
"You're cute, you know that." She said, picking Gabbi up and placing her on her shoulder so she could see better.
Gabbi giggled in response and held on as she peered into the crowd.
"Where's Genie going?" She asked.
"What do you mean, Gabbers?" Anya asked.
Gabbi pointed ahead of her, to where Genie was walking away.
"Oh no." She said. "Come on, sweetie. Let's see if we can catch up to him. Can you hold on?"
"Sure!" Gabbi said honestly. And she did just that.
Anya ran after Genie and caught up to him a few minutes later.
She put Gabbi on the ground and took her hand. They walked over to where the cast member was, who was accompanying Genie.
"Excuse me. " Anya said. "But my name is Anastasia."
"Just like the princess!" Gabbi said with a smile.
Anya nodded.
"And this is Gabbi."
"HI!" Gabbi said warmly.
"She's a really big Genie fan and she wants to meet him."
"Well, ma'am, he'll be back out in about thirty minutes."
Anya frowned.
"Well, we were actually heading somewhere else soon. You see, we're not alone. I came with my daughter and a bunch of my friends and some of our baby-sitting charges."
The cast member nodded.
"Well, he'll be back out a couple more times if you'll be back."
"Listen, sir, Genie's her favorite character. We practically ran across the park to meet him. Un fortunately, this is the only time that we have to do it."
"Okay." He said. "I'm sure Genie will make an exception for you."
"Thank you. " Anya said gratefully. "You don't' know what this means to Gabbi."
Gabbi gave the cast member one of her famous smiles.
"Thank you, sir. " She said.
"You're welcome, young lady." He replied.
"Come on!" Anya said with a grin. With that, she led Gabbi over to where Genie was standing.
Gabbi grinned a mile wide as she approached him. She wasn't' scared at all.
Genie smiled at them.
"Ah, two young princesses." Genie said with a smile. "And apparently, one of them isn't' so good at time management." He winked at Anya.
Gabbi giggled.
"I'm not a princess!" She said.
"You're not?" Genie asked.
Gabbi shook her head.
"Nope!" She said.
"Okay! I must be a princess." He said, changing his voice.
Gabbi giggled.
"You're silly!" She said.
"You know, this would probably look better on your head." With that, he placed a smaller version of Jasmine's crown upon the four-year-old's head.
Gabbi grinned.
"Thanks, Genie!" Gabbi said happily.
"You're welcome." He said. "AH, now I can finally go back to being Genie." He turned to Anya just then. "Someone has just made a Genie's wish come true."
"And what do you mean by that?" Anya asked.
"Well, it's nice to see you. " He said.
"Same here." Anya agreed
But before they could get into a conversation, Genie was mobbed by a crowd of people.
Gabbi waved good-bye as Anya lead her back to where we were waiting.
When they returned, Gabbi told everyone about her meeting with Genie.
Mariah and the other kids were excited to hear about it.
Emily wanted to see Gabbi's crown and the little girl obliged.
Once everyone had calmed down, Anya noticed two kids were missing.
"Where are Alex and Karen?" She asked. "Didn't they come back from the bathroom yet?"
I shook my head.
"NO." I said. "We've been looking for them for the past half an hour."
Anya frowned.
"WE have to find them." She said. "I can't lose Alex. She's everything to me."
"We'll find them." I assured her. "Karen's gotten lost before."
"You don't' understand." Anya said as her frown deepened. "I almost lost Alex once before."
"We'll find her." I repeated. With that, I went into president/coach mode and organized a search party in ten minutes.
Anya decided to search on her own. She took off in the direction of the bathrooms. When she didn't' find her daughter and Karen there, she decided to look at the last place she was, which was back where Genie was located.
Throughout the search, she prayed that God would keep Alex and Karen safe.
The only thing going through her mind at the moment was when she had almost lost Alex two years ago.
She couldn't go through that again. She wouldn't let it come to that if she could help it.
Unconsciously, she started humming "Journey to the Past" as she continued to search.
IT kept her mind on the task at hand and stopped her mind from wandering.
Meanwhile, Alex and Karen were walking around World Showcase, trying to find us.
"I told you to wait until someone came to get us!" Alex said in frustration. "Now we're lost."
"Don't' worry." Karen assured her. "We'll get help."
"Where?" Alex asked. "We're not supposed to talk to strangers"
"There!" Karen shouted. She pointed to where Genie was talking to a few kids.
Alex frowned.
"How can Genie help?" She asked.
"He can grant wishes." Karen explained.
"He can only do that in the movie and TV Show. " Alex said wisely.
"How do you know?" Karen challenged.
Alex gave her a glare that rivaled her mother's.
"I just do. " Karen said. "Come on." With that, she led the way over to where Genie was standing. "Uh, excuse me, Genie?" She said without any fear whatsoever. "HI! I'm Karen Brewer and this is my friend, Alex."
"Oh hello, young ladies. I'm surprised you're not with a grown up."
Before Karen could speak, Alex beat her to it.
"We would be with my Mama if someone hadn't been so stubborn."
"I'm not stubborn!" Karen shot back.
"So, you're lost. " He said.
"Yeah." Alex replied. "Can you help us find my Mama again? Please?"
"Forget about finding Anya." Karen said, her eyes lighting up. "I have a wish."
"You know finding the grown up you were with is more important than any other wish at this point."
Karen frowned.
"Not to me." She said. "Besides, there's someone I've wanted to meet ever since I came here."
"Would that be Alex's mother?" He asked.
"No." Karen said.
"I was afraid of that."
Without any hesitation or preamble, Karen continued.
"I want to meet Ariel!"
"Look over there." He said.
"Where? " Karen asked.
"Over there." Genie said, pointing to wear a small family sat, eating lunch.
Karen wasted no time in pulling Alex quite literally over to the spot.
Genie went after them, feeling he needed to keep them safe until they found Anya.
As they got closer, Karen's eyes widened in surprise.
It was then that a little girl with blond hair and blue eyes spotted them.
"Mama, look!" She said.
The woman, Jodi, glanced up and smiled at the two girls approaching her.
"Hi there." She said as she stood up and approached them.
Karen couldn't speak for a second.
"Are you lost, sweetheart?" Jodi asked kindly.
Karen came back with her own question.
"Are you really Ariel?" She asked.
"Yup!" The little girl who had spotted them said. "My Mama's Ariel."
"Wow!" Karen said with a grin.
Jodi smiled back at her.
"What's your name, honey?" She asked.
"Karen. " Karen replied. "Karen Brewer."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Karen. And whose your friend?"
"Alex. " She said.
"It's nice to meet you too, Alex." Jodi said sincerely.
"Hi." Alex said. She suddenly got the urge to ask a question of her own. "Will you sing "Part of Your world" for us, please?"
"I'd love too." Jodi said. "But first, we need to find your parents and let them know you're okay. Are you two sisters?" She asked.
Karen shook her head.
"No. We're just friends. Kind of."
"Kind of?" Jodi asked.
"It's her fault we're lost." Alex said. "I told her we should stay in one place."
"It's not my fault!" Karen shot back.
"Is too!"
"Okay, okay." Jodi said knowingly. 'I think there's another song you two need to hear first."
"Which one? " Alex asked.
Jodi smiled and started to sing the song she thought would help the two children.
As she finished it, Karen sat next to the little girl who introduced herself as Delaney and the two started to talk.
Jodi took Alex aside once she was sure that Karen was okay for the moment.
"Alex, sweetheart, does your Mama have a cell phone?" She asked.
"Yes. " Alex replied. She gave Jodi the number and waited for her to call.
Once Jodi had gotten off the phone, she informed both girls that Anya was on her way and they could stay with her until she arrived.
Both children were fine with this. Karen continued her conversation with Delaney.
It wasn't long before Anya arrived. She sighed with relief upon seeing Alex and Karen safe and sound.
"Alex!" She said in relief. "Thank God you're okay. You had me really worried." She scooped her daughter into her arms and hugged her tightly. She planted a kiss on each of her cheeks and put a hand through her hair.
Alex snuggled in for a cuddle and apologized for worrying her.
After she put her down, she went over to Karen and gave her a hug as well.
"Do you know how worried Kristy and I were? " She asked.
"I told her to stay in one place." Alex informed her mother.
It was then that Anya glanced up and saw Jodi standing there.
"Thank you so much. " She said. "You kept the girls safe."
"It was my pleasure." Jodi said sincerely. "They're sweet kids."
Anya nodded in agreement.
"All right you two. " She said. "It's time to get back to the others."
Karen and Alex nodded.
"Can we say good-bye to Ariel first?" Karen asked.
Anya was taken aback at first, but quickly recovered.
"Sure." She said. "And I Think you have something else to say to her too. Hmm?"
Karen nodded. SHE ran forward and gave Jodi a hug, which the young mother returned.
"Thank you so much for helping us, Ariel!" Karen said. "You're welcome, Karen. " She replied. "And you're welcome too, sweetheart." She said, hugging Alex. "But I Think you're forgetting one thing."
"What's that?" The girls asked in unison.
Jodi smiled.
"Didn't you ask me to sing Part of Your World?"
"Oh yeah!" Karen said with a grin.
After Jodi was done singing, she gave both girls one more hug and said good-bye one more time and watched them leave with Anya.
As they walked, they stopped when they heard clapping a few yards away.
Anya turned around and smiled when she saw who it was.
She mouthed thank you to him before leading the girls back to where we were all waiting.
The second they got back, Karen couldn't hold it in any longer.
"We met Ariel! We met Ariel!" She exclaimed.
"You did?" I asked in surprise.
"Yup! She helped us until Mama came to get us. " Alex confirmed. "She even sung IN Harmony and Part of Your World for us."
"She did?" Mal asked.
"Yup!" Alex said. "It was awesome!"
Anya smiled as she wrapped an arm around Alex and hugged her close.
I did the same with Karen before leading the way to a place for lunch.
"Do you guys want to go to the Typhoon Lagoon tomorrow?" I asked once we were all sitting down.
Everyone readily agreed to my suggestion and plans were made for the next day…