Chapter Text
" I can ring you up." A friendly female voice echoed through the waiting line of the quite busy drugstore. Next in line was a tall broad darker skinned man. Tapping his foot repeatedly as his patience wore thin. Behind him stood a short brunette teenager who had been typing away mindlessly on her phone. After the teen, there stood a fairly tall blonde woman wearing a white blouse with pink flowers printed on it. Accompanying the blouse she wore navy blue skinny jeans and a small black handbag. Having the bag's strap hung around her neck.
Barbie -or Barbara. Which is technically her now human name. Stood in line ready to purchase a pack of pads for the first time in her life. Who knew that becoming a real woman would come with the price of seeing blood once a month? A very shocking discovery.
Just yesterday she had been calm as a cucumber and as happy as she could be until this morning. She woke up to lower back pain, feeling a bit irritated, and felt something heavy rush down there as soon as she got out of bed. Once Barbie rose from her bed she turned around to then release a loud gasp once she saw a puddle of dried blood, stained on the bed sheets. Panicking, Barbie fled her room and rushed to the hallway bathroom. After several minutes of silence, Barbie yelled for her friend/ roommate Gloria.
In an instant, Gloria hurried to the bathroom from the kitchen. " Is everything ok?!" She knocked on the white door.
" No! I'm bleeding! Why am I bleeding?" Barbie cried out from the other side of the door.
" Where are you bleeding? Can I take a look? I can get the first-aid kit." Gloria pushed her ear closer. Worried about hearing no answer, Gloria knocked on the door once again and attempted to open it, knowing very well it was locked.
" I'm- I'm bleeding down there," Barbie mumbled shyly, hardly making it audible to Gloria.
" Where?"
" I'm bleeding from my vagina! Something's wrong with me!" Barbie cried out. Her heart pounded against her chest as she felt anxious and scared of her current situation. Why was she bleeding? And why from her vagina? Does Gloria also experience this or does she have some sort of cancer?
" Look, honey, don't worry it's nothing serious. It's completely normal for women to experience this. It's called a period. You get it once a month and the most it lasts is a week." Gloria clarified.
" A period? Do only women get periods?" Barbie's rapid heartbeat slowly ceased.
" Yes."
" Why?" Asked Barbie.
" I have no idea." Gloria sighed.
Finally unlocking the door, Barbie let Gloria in and let her further talk about the subject. Apparently to deal with this 'period' women use pads or tampons or any other period-related thing to get through the day. And if the pain gets bad then use painkillers and eat a lot of chocolate.
Gloria recommended Barbie use pads as the brunette thought that tampons were a bit too complex for Barbie to handle right now.
Since they were out of pads, Barbie made her way out to the closest drugstore. The blonde struggled a little to find these so-called pads and struggled even more with the variety of brands and whether she should get either lightweight or heavy-duty. Listening to her gut, Barbie picked one off the shelf and made her way toward the checkout line.
While waiting, she reached over the candy shelves near the cashier area and grabbed two chocolate bars. Even though learning the whole experience of having a period was scary it was also exciting. She was learning more about what it means to be a human or in this case a human woman.
She never experienced anything like this with Barbie Land and being a doll of course. But, Barbie admits that some days she misses it. Her old life. It was easier to change clothes, have breakfast thrown at you, and have the car drive on its own.
At times Barbie wonders how Barbie Land changed after she left. What were her former friends doing? Did any of them change careers or did they change? Also if the Kens were treated better and had jobs.
Sometimes she wondered if her Ken was doing fine. What was he doing now that she was gone? Has he found himself? Does he miss her? Unexpectedly, Barbie finds herself missing him quite a bit. She only dated him for roughly sixty years.
Lost in thought, Barbie failed to notice that it had been her turn to get rung up.
" Next!" Barbie peered over the cashier lady and walked on over.
***
A bright artificial sunny day, plastic ocean waves, and the pink sand slightly losing its color made up the day for the Barbies and Kens to roam and enjoy themselves on the beach. All of them bopped to a funky beat in their heads. As they usually took the time to greet each other.
" Hi, Barbie!" One Ken would say.
" Hi, Ken!" One Barbie would reply.
Their greetings maneuvered around the beach making sure to not leave one doll out.
Meanwhile, sitting on a white beach chair in the center of the area was stereotypical Ken. Wearing a pair of red shorts and nothing else as he looked out of a pair of teal binoculars. Ken occasionally moved his view right and left. Waiting to save someone in need. Which he loved doing.
" Hi, Ken!" A Barbie's voice sneaked up on him.
Jumping a centimeter, Ken quickly dropped his binoculars and searched for whoever spoke to him. Next to him was Nobel Prize Winner Barbie.
" Oh hi, Barbie," Ken said calmly. Not with the same amount of energy as the others.
" Why such a downer Ken?" Asked Barbie. Cocking her head to the side as she examined him.
" I'm not. I'm just focusing on my job."
" Beach?" She asked again.
" Nope, I'm Lifeguard Ken now." Ken showed off a smug smile.
" I thought you were Beach Ken still." Said Barbie.
" And I thought you were Stereotypical Ken." On Ken's other side stood Rival Ken or more like a frenemy Ken. Who also scared Stereotypical Ken out of his chair. They got to stop doing that, Ken thought.
" Well, I still am. But now I'm Stereotypical Beach Lifeguard Ken." Ken grabbed his binoculars and looked through them again.
" Now if you excuse me I have a job to do." Ken shrugged them off and sooner or later he sat in the middle of the beach alone. Five minutes had passed and nothing occurred. Not one Barbie or Ken seemed to be in trouble, boring. The blonde threw his binoculars onto the sand and slid down the chair. Bored out of his mind. As he sat there, his mind slowly began to wander into his thoughts.
After Barbie left to pursue her dream in the real world, Barbie Land became united for the first time. Kens were now allowed to have any job they wanted. They could be a teacher, an astronaut, a chief, or anything their little heart desired. The President and the Supreme Court even passed a bill allowing the Kens to vote in upcoming elections. And foremost each Ken was no longer treated as an outcast. Ken's dream came true.
For most Kens at least.
**
Later at night, on Barbie Land beach, the dolls threw a massive party. Boisterous music crammed the area with luminous colors coating the scene. The party of the month. Everyone was invited, even Weird Barbie and her gang of discontinued dolls. What were they celebrating? Who cares? They partied as if it was the last party they would ever throw.
Gals and guys chatted among themselves led a competitive volleyball game, and danced until their plastic bodies couldn't take it.
" Everybody’s gonna love today!
Anyway you want to
Anyway you’ve got to
Love, love me"
The song " Love Today" by Mika blasted through the artificial speakers adding to the vibe of the party.
But sitting in a chair, in a far distance, all by himself, holding a clear cup containing a red umbrella was a Stereotypical Beach Lifeguard Ken. For the party, Ken decided to throw on a sparkling deep blue dress shirt and nice pair-fitting white slacks. Giving Fred from Scooby Doo.
He watched from a distance the other Kens laughing and dancing with their own Barbies. In this time of age, every Ken had a Barbie. To hold hands, take strolls, watch movies together, and finally be in their loving company and go home together. Kens who had a Barbie, shared a Dream House.
Stereotypical Ken had a Dream House, but no Barbie to share it with.
Ken jerked his head down to gaze at his black shoes playing in the sand. He frowned in thought. Sure he's living a better life and sure he finally got a place to stay. His ex-girlfriend's house. A house where he thought he would live with said girlfriend if only she felt the same way he did.
Some days were better than others. On his good days, he would go to work as a lifeguard and enjoy helping people. A thing he found out he loved to do. Then there are times when he gets a strong feeling of loneliness. Especially when he sees the other Kens being thrilled with their Barbies. And the girls feel the same way, they react the same way the Kens do. Something he strived for.
Yet, in the end, there's nothing he can do about it.
Trying to rub off his sour mood, Ken rose
from his current position and walked along the beach attempting to get in the party mood. Everyone commenced gathering around toward the center of the beach as the song changed to a high upbeat party mix. Sooner or later the dolls proceeded to dance to the rhythm of the music.
Ken continued to walk along the beach when up ahead stood Allan. By the looks of it, Allan seemed to be also withdrawing from the festivities. Well, Allan is Ken's buddy so Ken wouldn't mind spending time with Allan.
" Hi, Allan!" Ken reached the ginger filled with high hopes and enthusiasm.
" Oh hi, Ken. Are you having fun?" Allan, very pleased, turned to greet him.
" I guess I am. Are you going to the dance floor?" Ken pointed at the massive group of dolls dancing.
" In a bit, I'm just waiting for Midge. She took off to get us drinks." Allan smiled.
" Awe, that's so nice of her. I already have one but I appreciate the effort." Ken released a goofy smile.
" No that's not- oh forget it." Allan sighed.
" So do you want- wait? Did you say you were waiting for Midge?" Ken cocked a dark brow. Worrying about the ginger's response.
Allan scrunched his brows and readjusted his pose. " Uh yeah. Midge and I are together."
Not him either! Ken stomped his foot and tightened his grip on the cup. Seconds passed by while Ken controlled himself and directed himself back to Allan.
" Since when have you been dating her?"
Still confused, Allan spoke. " Since the sixties?"
" I thought you were my buddy. My clothes fit you and you kept this a secret!"
" I didn't. Mattel made us a couple. " Allan clarified.
Ken groaned in frustration. " But hold on- she's pregnant." Ken looked over at Allan and all the ginger did was nod. Baffled Ken stormed out of Allan's presence without hearing his buddy's response.
At this point, Ken didn't know what to do. He circled the beach- not knowing where to go- as he groaned and kicked the sand while everybody experienced the time of their lives.
Ken moped as he sauntered his way to the other side of the beach and found an empty chair to continue moping. The blonde took a sip out of the cup and leaned back to view the party.
If Barbie was here, she'd be the life of the party. Glowing and dancing as nobody's business. Giving him the chance to dance with her yet simultaneously pushing him away so subtly to run over Ken's thick head. But she must have felt something right? If Barbie didn't have any feelings toward him, then why did she constantly allow him to be near her? Why did she say yes to the times he asked her to hang out with her? Or the times he asked her if he could visit? OR the time she allowed him to go with her to the real world? She must have felt something right? Right?
" Hey there blondie." A female voice crept behind.
Startling Ken, the blonde plunged his cup into the sand and rapidly shifted his body. Searching for the owner of the voice. To his luck, it appeared to have been Weird Barbie.
" You guys gotta stop doing that!" Ken brought his hand to his chest.
Weird Barbie brought her hands together behind her back and began to pace around Ken. " My bad. I just happened to notice you looking all sad instead of partying like others."
Looking down, Ken replied. " I'm not sad." He cleared his plastic throat as he cocked his head up and gave his full attention to Weird Barbie.
" I'm having the time of my life." Looking all smug, Ken crossed his arms.
In a deadpan tone, Weird Barbie said," You're having fun by sulking the entire night?"
" What? I'm not sulking. I'm not depressed. " Ken shrugged off. Soon his smug and cocky attitude shortly started to fade." I just don't have anyone to dance with or any real motivation to impress somebody and hope they'll say yes to letting me dance with them. " Ken choked, while fresh wet tears commenced to build.
The blonde started to snuffle and said not a single word for a few minutes. Leading to the impression he was done talking when Weird Barbie decided to break the silence.
" Okay, so-"
" And there are times I think to myself what's the purpose of living here? Yeah, I feel more included in the community but at the same time, I feel alone. " Several tears trickled down his defined cheeks. His eyes were red and moist and his throat became heavy, almost as if it was too hard to speak.
" It's like things never changed. Every time I want to hang out with some of the guys, they always say it's Barbie night. Even- even Allan rejected me! " Instead of holding back his tears, Ken sobbed into his hands while Weird Barbie placed her palm on his shoulder and continued listening to him.
" I thought I'd be fine without Barbie. She told me that I don't need her to be Ken. That I need to discover who I am. I took what she said and did just that." Ken took a big deep breath and exhaled. " Throughout her absence, I learned three things about myself. One, I like helping people out. I get much joy when I see them pleased that I was able to help them. Two, I learned I like other animals that aren't just horses. And three, I can do so much more than I thought I could as a former accessory."
Ken let out a few more tears.
" Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?" Asked Weird Barbie.
" It is. Every day I say I'm living my best life and that I'm happy, but every morning when I wake up, something doesn't feel right. My heart suffers from emptiness. It sinks each time I see Barbie and Ken so happy together it makes me wonder how I could have had that special connection with my Barbie. " Ken raised his hand to wipe away his salty tears.
Recovering from his burst of sadness, Ken snuffled. " Thank you for listening. It's nice for someone to actually take the time to listen to me. Thank you, Barbie." The blonde wiped another tear.
Stunned, Weird Barbie widened her eyes and furrowed her brows. Taken away by what Ken had called her." It's been years since anyone called me the name Barbie. It's kind of…weird." She mumbled to herself.
Bringing her attention back to Ken, she clapped her hands. " All right. So your problem is that you miss Barbie."
" Yes." Said Ken.
" Ok, ok, ok." Weird Barbie formed her lips into a thin line and occasionally tapped a finger against her chin. Back and forth, she paced while she pondered. Her thought process came to an end and made her way to stand in front of the sorrowful handsome plastic doll.
She squatted down and peeked up at Ken. " Look, babe, I get it. We were both treated quite similarly as outcasts. But our stories are completely different. I'm at peace and very satisfied with my life right now. And I don't want to change one thing."
" Well, I'm happy for you," Ken added with a small sorrowful smile.
" Thanks but I'm not finished yet." Weird Barbie snapped back with a wide grin filled with annoyance.
" Listen, Ken, my point is you have to find your happy ending. An ending where you're satisfied and have won first place. An ending where there's absolutely nothing you want to change! That's a true happy ending! And from what you said earlier." Weird Barbie took a couple of steps forward, making sure Ken listened. " You believe you found it but in reality, you're nowhere near it. "
She rose from her squatted position and lowered her view to him. Ken slouched on the chair having his fist touch his chin. Staring at the sand.
" If it pains you to wake up every day to the world you live in. Then, honey, that world isn't meant for you."
Ken sat there as Weird Barbie's words concentrated in his mind. Is she saying what he thinks she's saying? From previous experiences, it had been the exact opposite.
" What are you trying to say?" Ken asked hopefully. His eyes sparkled dazzlingly as he met Weird Barbie's eyes.
" Ken." She sighed. " If all you feel is misery here then Barbie Land is no longer a fit for you. This place is supposed to be a paradise where everyone is happy. Not a place where you mope constantly, that's what a graveyard is for." The weird blonde drew herself closer to the lost boy.
" Stand up." She ordered.
Without hesitation, Ken obliged. He stood up straight and looked deep into her tense gaze.
She dropped her hands to his shoulders and gripped hard. Causing Ken to release a painful hiss.
" Ken, you must say goodbye to Barbie Land and go to the real world. I know you already visited the place and came back but that's because it wasn't your time yet. Now you must leave and pursue your happy ending." Weird Barbie showed Ken a soft grin.
" Tell Barbie I said hi." Weird Barbie's smile turned slightly lopsided as she loosened her grip on his shoulders. She gave him one last pat on the back before nodding her head at him and turning away.
Ken watched as Weird Barbie headed back to her gang of discontinued dolls at the far end of the beach.
" Thank you, Barbie," Ken spoke to himself, his eyes not leaving Weird Barbie.
He must go to the real world to find his happy ending. He must find Barbie. His Barbie. Maybe this time, he'll finally have the relationship he yearned for all these long years. A relationship where Barbie and Ken are both on the same page. Not one where one is hoping the other feels the same. That's Ken's true dream.