Chatterbox: In This Month's Issue

(quick notes before we begin. 1. I'M SO SORRY FOR MESSING UP SO MUCH LAST TIME.  2. It's late because the past weekend I've had an extremely severe case of winter bad and I only recovered yesterday after drinking half of a diet coke during art. 3. This one is a bit sad and deals with subjects of grief, so view at your own risk! LET'S A GO!)

Hello everybody! Welcome to the February Monthly Check-up, As well as the Floof CBversary and MY CBversary! So yeah, it’s a pretty good day. 

(*)Still not awake?

***...no. I’m sorry. I just need more time.

(*)How much longer is it- *sigh* sorry. I’ll calm down.

...Sorry this is late, guys. I was grounded from electronics, and even if I wasn’t my creativity couldn’t exactly...y’know what, let’s move-

*Just say what’s on your mind, Ella. 

Zeke, I get it, but I don’t want to be a downer just because I’m feeling off-

*Listen Ella. I’m certain that further shunning your emotions won’t exactly help our situation.

*sigh*...I can’t argue with that.

*here. I’ll give you some time to think. *click*

IMPORTANT DATES! (feb 10 and before already Added)

Feb 1 - National Freedom (From Slavery) Day

Feb 2 - Groundhog Day

Feb 3 - National Carrot Cake Day

Feb 4 - World Cancer Day

Feb 5 -  National Nutella Day (Tealeaf)

Feb 6 - National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day 

Feb 7 - Ella Starburst’s birthday!

Feb 8 - National Boy Scout Day 

Feb 9 - Safer Internet Day

Feb 10 - National Umbrella Day

Feb 11 - National White Shirt Day (Tealeaf)

Feb 12 - Lincoln’s Birthday (Moondrop)

Feb 13 - Galentine’s Day (Or Guylentines if you want!)

Feb 14 - Valentines Day

Feb 15 - George Washington’s Birthday (Moondrop)

Feb 16 - Marius and Cosette's 188th wedding anniversary and a self-proclaimed Les Mis appreciation day. *confetti* (Both Morning)

Feb 17 - Ash Wednesday (Tealeaf)

Feb 18 - National Battery Day

Feb 19 - National Caregivers Day

Feb 20 - Love Your Pet Day! (Moonkitten)

Feb 21 - National Grain-Free Day

Feb. 22 - National Cook A Sweet Potato Day

Feb 23 - National Banana Bread Day

Feb 24 - National Tortilla Day (I AM SO SORRY I LEFT THIS AS CHRISTMAS EVE IF YA’LL FIND ANY MORE INACCURACIES DON’T FEEL AFRAID TO COMMENT IT)

Feb 25 - National Chocolate Covered Nut Day

Feb 26 - National Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Feb 27 - National Strawberry Day

Feb 28 - Rare Disease Day USA

Huh…

*What is it?

Apparently Andrea wrote all of the January dates down.

*That’s pleasant-

-But did she really want to do it to help me or did she just want to be loved? UGH, I can’t see a single thing without trying to take apart its meaning! My brain is falling apart!

*That is a severe overstatement. We’re all fine, aren’t we?

Sure, yeah, but am I really human if I don’t have emotions?

*Ella. You’re opening a can of worms.

*groans and slumps on the table* I just wish there was something I could do...or say...or think. But I don’t even know the cause!...Is there...really nothing I can do?

*...I don’t think anyone knows.

***You’re on cams.

For how long?

*Long enough. Our next section is quite useful for people who want to make the most of the time they have.

Low-effort ways to show others love!

Majestic Mary said: Grab a few sticky notes. Choose a person. Write one thing you love about that person on each sticky note. Stick them in areas where the person will see them, such as on the bag of their favorite bagels, on the computer monitor, or on a page of the book they're reading. It's sure to brighten their day :)

Pangolin said: give them a compliment!

Moondrop said: Leave kind notes around the house!

peppermint said: Give them a compliment, do a favor, or make them a cup of hot chocolate!

Princess Juniper said: Draw their bed and say you "made" it

Luna-Starr said: hold the door; compliment someone; hug someone; smile at someone; share your dessert; offer to help carry something or some such thing; and of course, have a tissue box ready when they're reading The Book Thief.

Tealeaf said: give them a hug or help them with schoolwork.

Morning said: Hugs (for lizards you're quarantining with) and text hearts (for everyone else) are probably a few of the easiest ones, but something that will be appreciated just as much or even more is spending time talking to a person, be it in real life, over texts or the phone, or a video call. Just take time to say hi and listen to what they have to say.

(the group is all in the control room. Exhaustion weighs in the air.)

***...I just wanna say something.

Go ahead, Sammy.

***Even if everything goes worst case scenario, you won’t lose your emotions. Another figure will come and represent them. You could even make an argument that, if that’s the way things go, it’s for the best.

(*)Sammy, shut up.

***Look, all I’m saying is that maybe, MAYBE, it’s all a hypothetical, but if Andy really needs to be replaced-

(*)SHUT UP!

*When will you two not be in opposition to each other?

Calm it, guys. Sammy, I get that. That might be true. But...even if that is what happens, Andrea is still loved, just like you are. She’s fun, kind, surprisingly patient, and she has a special place in all of our hearts. If she...if ANY of you guys went, I…

***Don’t cry, Ella. Change and loss are natural parts of life.

*And so is sorrow.

WOW THE RECENT MCUs HAVE TAKEN DARK TURNS! Maybe a certain therapist extraordinaire will be able to knock some sense and stability back into our lives?

(*)Sense and Stability? Isn’t that a Jane Austen novel?

ASK ABCDE!

Callisto, kindly topping my thread, said, 

 

"Dear Abcde,

 

Hi there, my sister and I are newer Alter Egos, and we've been signed up for the AE Ball- but our CBer hasn't posted there yet. It was her idea to go since she thought it would be a good way to help us get to know everyone. How do we kindly remind her to make a post?

Thank you so much!

-Callisto"

 

I responded with my characteristic wisdom and graciousness, saying,

 

“Hello, my dear Callisto.

 

I'm so sorry for this terrible tragedy. I'm tearing up right now. I, too, know what it is to be neglected. I, too, have been hurt and ignored and pushed aside, by my Chatterboxer, and by my siblings. It is a pain that will never diminish, and there is rarely anything that you can do. You can try to gently remind your Chatterboxer to post at the ball, tapping on their shoulder and whispering in their ear.

 

Or, you can be annoying.

 

Bake (VEGAN!) cakes with the words, "Take me to the ball!" written in (VEGAN!) icing. Scream in their ears. Compose loud rock music with lots of drums. Let your voice be heard. Stand up for what is right! 

 

I believe in you, Callisto. You can go to the ball!

 

Sincerely,

 

Abcde <3”

 

Hiro, then, came with desperate sorrow and a loss of trust in humanity, telling me,

 

“Dear ABCDE,

 

I have made it my life's to make the world a better place. All I want is for everyone to respect and be kind to each other and nature. I really, really want to help with this. Whenever someone does something bad, i.e. stealing or burning down a tree, both horrible acts, I correct them and remind them not to do those things. However, it never seems to work -- they do bad things again. I want to learn how my words can make more of an impact to make the world better, to make people hear me when they do bad deeds. Could you please give me advice on that?

 

Thank you, Hiro”

 

And, once more, I bestowed on him my helping grace,

 

Hi, Hiro, 

Your goal is a worthy one, to make the world a better place. And, according to the moral of intentionality, that should be enough. Some philosophers believe that, if your intentions are correct, if you do what you do in order to make the world better, it doesn't matter what the outcome is. It might be a good idea for you to join that group of thinkers. 

However, that doesn't sound like you. You care more about what happens next. If your beliefs and deeds will actually make the world better. And in my opinion that is your problem.

 

I would reccomend studying famous people with similar morals to you. How did they become famous? What made people suddenly start to listen to them? Did they write the problems of the world on their arms, or did they stand up and protest?

You need to make your voice heard. Speak in ALL CAPS. Let the world know that tree-torture is wrong, and that they need to fix it. Someone, somewhere will agree. And your movement will begin!

 

~Abcde 

 

Finally, two people who are certainly NOT Adrian and that awful Dallas said,

 

“Abcde~ 

 

there has been a recent tragedy in our AE family, and it's quite hard to get over. I was very close with one of the AEs who was retired, and I feel more lonely without them. I've heard that you had two siblings that have also been retired. How did you cope with that? Are there any tips that you could give me to be more... aware. here. in the moment. less introverted. Go away, this is my letter. Anyways, yes what that other person said. I regret doing this, but I've heard you're a psychologist and are mediocre at that. So, please help! 

 

I don't know why I allowed you to do this.

 

Because you don't control me?

 

Hmph.

 

thanks Abcde!

 

~Someone

 

and your arch-

 

don't give away my identity! *posts*”

 

And, despite the fact that Dallas is awful, I helped Adrian, because they can be nice. And a psychologist cannot allow her own personal dislikes to guide her help of others. I responded,

 

Hi, Someone.

 

Before I help you, I have a bit of a bone to pick.

 

I am much more than a MEDIOCRE psychologist. I am a genius in my field, the best of the best, perfection personified. Liddy, back me up on this.

 

…sheis right… 

 

Thank you. As I said, I am PERFECTION. I am not MEDIOCRE.

 

As long as you comprehend that with your sweet little brain, we can get down to business.

 

I would like you to know that I never had the best relationship with my retired siblings. Rayne was terrified of me, and Grace hated my sidekick. So I don't know what you're going through. I do know, however, that, annoying as they are, my siblings are always with me. Grace sends baskets of baked goods. Rayne sends letters full of semi-awful poetry. So, although they are not physically here, and do not show themselves on the Chatterbox, they are here in my heart, and that is what matters. Send your fellow Alter Ego a letter. Video call them. Stay in touch, and your heart will be healed.

 

And, to address your other problem, introversion is not something you can fix. It is part of who you are, neither negative nor positive, and you should not want to lose that. Becoming less shy is a worthy goal, however, and the only way I know how to fix that is by making friends. When I first arrived here, I was a nervous mess. Ask Alice, DuskSky's Alter Ego. I couldn't stop rambling about tofu. But I made friends. (Shaow <3) Got interests. (At first nothing more than the color red, but eventually branching into psychology, my life's passion.) And look at me now! Am I shy?

 

…noooo…

 

No! I am not.

 

And Dallas, it's not very nice to tease Adrian like that.

 

So Andrea...won’t really be gone?

***Yeah, she’ll live on in our hearts. And in reality, really. Just...not here.

...but I still...don’t wanna lose her...sorry, I shouldn’t-

***On second thought, it’s okay to cry.

(Ella hugs Zeke, burying her head in his chest. Sammy continues when she is finished.)

***It’s gonna suck if it happens, no duh. But we have to have the strength to move on. You know that’s what she would want. After all, she’s felt firsthand all of the bad emotions…

It’s gonna be hard?

***yeah, and that’s okay. It’s growth. It’s acceptance. And you will be so much stronger after it.

*sniffle* Th..thanks, Sammy.

***...Ella, I have a question for you, too. 

What is it?

***Do you consider me a part of your emotions?

...Yeah, I do.

(*)Kazmara and Zeke look at each other wide-eyed.

Even though I have anxiety, and ADHD, it’s still all my emotions. I’ve got to learn ways to manage them, but I can’t think of it as something in opposition to me. After all, that’s me fighting myself. You’re not an enemy to me, Samantha. You’re...me.

***...in that case, it’s time for me to wake up.

 

 LMWAY!

Last Month We Asked You: How do you celebrate your birthday in quarantine?

Tealeaf said: mail cards! write letters! send mail!

Princess Juniper said: Socially distanced snowball fight! (If you live on the east coast and just got hit with a big storm like me)

Morning said: Car parades! My birthday was the last day before quarantine in my state, so I got an actual sort-of party, but my sister had a birthday during the very start of the pandemic, and she had a drive-through birthday. People made signs and streamers and drove in a loop around our street, then dropped presents of at the front door. It was really fun, and it makes you feel super special to have a personal parade.

Moondrop said: Do an all-around the house celebration! Go from room to room and do different activities, such as a dance party in the living room, cupcake decorating in the dining room, and a pinata in the hall!

Majestic Mary said: Drive-by parties are a great option. Make posters and hang them out the car window as you drive past the birthday person. Maybe even bring some confetti poppers!

Silver Crystal said: I had my birthday last May, and even though I couldn't see any of my friends, I still got a lot of presents and my friends baked me cupcakes and made me a chalk mural to wish me happy birthday; so really what I'm trying to say is little things really add up, and if you know someone who is having a quarentine birthday, just let them know how much you appreciate them and maybe get them a little something :)

peppermint said: Have people send cards in the mail or happy birthday videos, maybe?

Luna-Starr said: you can leave presents at someone's door, or do a drive-by to celebrate someone else. If it's your birthay, have a Zoom party if in-person isn't an option, and order a meal from Doordash or some place like that. 

Hold on, what? What are you saying? 

*Samantha Starburst, this is no time for jokes-

***Do you think I’d be joking about this? I’m completely serious.

(*)No. NO WAY.

Can someone please tell me what’s going on here?!

***If everyone would just be quiet, I could!

(Silence)

***Thank you. Ella...I am Andrea.

H...no. No no no. I don’t know what this is, but you are Sammy. What are-

***Just listen. As you stated before, I am technically one of your emotions. However, Andrea separated your anxiety from your emotions - made me apart from her - because she didn’t like that part. She didn’t want that to be her, because she...I saw that it hurt you. I wanted to perceive it as a separate force, one that couldn’t be controlled and wasn’t her fault. The only reason that I could do that was because, I suppose, you saw your anxiety as that.

***Eventually, we were ALL tricked into the mindset that I, as Sammy, was a separate being and not just her CAPTCHA - remember when that was floating around? But Andrea (it’s easier to refer to us like that) still hated me with the same vigor. I just felt empty and sad and angry. I wanted to be loved like you guys. But I was afraid, too.

Why, Sammy? You don’t have to be afraid anymore, you’re one of us!

(*)Ella, you don’t understand what you’ve done.

What do you mean?

(*)You accepted anxiety as a part of your emotions. That means that Andrea mans the anxiety, and Sammy isn’t needed anymore.

You don’t mean…

(*)...savor your last moments, Starburst.

LOCATION OF THE MONTH! (Update on last month’s third place: I did get the hot choccy and I’m drinking it right now :) )

Third place is…

In a chocolate box

Why: I just find it interesting that two people put this. None of us will fit, you know. But yeah, it’d be fun.

Second Place is…

Staring At The Sky and Wishing For Snow

Why: I like this one because it’s funny! However, you’ll see why I couldn’t pass up the next one...great job!

Great job!

First Place IS...

Making a Snow Angel

Why: Alright, I’ll do this one, but with one SMALL revision…

Making a Snow Angle

Better! I will be alternating between this and 2021! We made it! Because I COMPLETELY forgot about using it. I forgot the location and just assumed it was Starting Anew...

I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I honestly don’t understand why you did this! 

*I have to agree with Ella on this one...I won’t even try to hide my tears.

***It’ll hurt, like I said, but change is for the better, guys.

What about you? Aren’t you afraid?

***I was, actually. But now...I think I’m ready. I don’t even consider myself Sammy anymore. I’m already becoming one with her.

*You’re...fading.

***Goodbye, Ella. I’ll always be here with you. I’ll always look back on the memories we had with fondness. I’m so sorry I was so rude to you, I was just...afraid. 

…I love you, Sammy.

***I love you too.

(The two hug.)

*Wait, I have one more question, please!

*Looking up at him, smiling sadly**What is it, Zekey?

*Why did you go into the memory valley? What were you searching for?...why did you leave us alone?

***I never left you alone. I just watched through these eyes, wondering if you would accept me.

*Zeke hesitates, then lunges toward Sammy, but she is gone.

CHATTERBOX AWARDS!

(awarded by Moondrop)

The Awesomeness Award: EVERYONE!

Have some choccy milk.

(Awarded by Luna-Starr)

Welcome back: Silent Shadow Walker!

I know I'm not just speaking for myself when I say that your return is very welcomed and exciting. We can't wait to see where your adventures will take us next!

AE chat resurgence: dreamii, Starwatcher, and Honeybee/Feline Fantasy!

You all came up with some awesome ideas to bring the AE world back to life. You've created many opportunities for some drama and fun. I can't wait to involve my own AEs in the fun!

Goodbye!: Autumn Artist.

Farewell, friend! We'll be missing you. Your time on the CB will be remembered. We hope you come to visit soon!

(Awarded by Feline Fantasy)

Winner of the second MWW - Salty Kitchen with 103 points!

 

Congratulations to this team's leader, Majestic Mary, and it's salty members, peppermint, Dusk Sky, and Luminescense! Although this team had the least members, their activeness helped them pull through! Extra credit to Dusk Sky for getting the most points. (31) 

 

 

 

Anyway, make sure to comment content for the next MCU!

Here’s what we’ll accept:

Location of the Month!

What are you going to do after 

LMWAY (Ok, ok, we all have the Shamrock Shake, but what are other seasonal foods? Get wacky, folks!)

ABCDE advice (Go to Chirp at Cricket to ask questions!) 

CBer awards!

Important dates!

(*)Additionally, if you have any ideas for future advice columns or LMWAYs, PLEASE tell us! 

We’re always accepting new ideas, because making the MCU is harder than it seems!

*If you have any suggestions, make sure to comment them! We-

(A bit of mumbling comes from the room adjacent to the recording room. They immediately rush into the room, Zeke making sure to grab the camera.)

(We see Andrea sitting up on a space-themed bed. She’s lightly smiling, and she mumbles…)

**...Appreciate it more than we can say.