User blog:Thomperfan/Selfie Improvement (my version)

(It starts with Lori and Leni in the living room)

Lori: Ooh. My last post got 100 likes. New record. Look. [Shows picture]

Leni: So cute. You've really found your best angle.

(Just then I come in)

Me: Hey, ladies, what’s up?

Lori: Oh, nothing much, Nolan… Except my last post literally got 100 likes!

(She shows me the picture)

Me: Wow, that’s really great, Lori. Congratulations.

Lori: Thanks. [scrolling her phone] Not to brag, but, I kinda feel like I mastered the selfie.

Leni: [offscreen] Oh, totes. Your pic almost got as many likes as Carol Pingrey's.

Lori: [drops her phone on her face] Ow, Carol Pingrey!? I didn't even know she was on this app!

Leni: She just joined, can you believe her first selfie got 101 likes?

Me: (thinking) Hm, Carol Pingrey… Why does that name sound so familiar? (Realizing) Oh, right! She was that girl Lincoln and I hired to replace Lori, when she didn’t want to be in the family picture we took!

Lori: (sighs) Thank you, Noah, for that very vivid flashback. (to Leni) Now, give me that! (Grabs Leni's phone and sees Carol's first selfie) Ugh, typical. Perfect Carol Pingrey has to one up me in everything I do.

[Flashback to when Lori, Leni, and Carol were little and Carol receives a medal award for selling the most Bluebell cookies, while Leni is comforting a despondent Lori]

Young Leni: Don't feel bad Lori, you sold almost as many cookies as Carol.

[Flashback to Carol beating Lori out for homecoming queen and Leni comforting Lori again]

Leni: Oh, don't feel bad Lori, you got almost as many votes as Carol.

[Flashback to Carol beating Lori in a golf tournament and Leni cheering for Lori]

Leni: Yay Lori! You got way more points than Carol.

Lori: Thanks Leni, but let me explain golf scoring, again.

[End of flashbacks]

Lori: [grumbles] I'm sick of it, I've literally been working for three months to get this many likes on my photos, I am not letting Carol waltz in here, and show me up, again!. [Slams one foot onto the table, and the background becomes something that gives the impression that Lori is flying through the sky] I swear on my senior parking space! My next selfie will get more likes than Carol Pingrey!

Leni and I: [From behind] Yay! Go, Lori! [Background returns to normal]

Leni: Umm, could I have my phone back so I can like Carol's photo? I don't wanna be rude.

[Scene changes to the bathroom, where Lori is wearing her hair lower, and a little extra makeup, while placing a candle on the toilet, then she fixes the flowers next to it, she pulls out her phone]

Lori: Okay, got my soft lighting, my flowers, time for the mirror selfie, literally a classic.

[Lori prepares for the picture, when the tank lid on the toilet starts shaking, then Lana and Hops burst out drenching Lori in toilet water]

Lana: And done.

Lori: [flabbergasted] Lana! What are you doing?!

Lana: Installing a dual flush valve.

Lori: Get out!

Lana: [Feeling unappreciated] I thought you of all people would appreciate the pressure assisted flush.

Lori: Out! [Lana and Hops leave, Lori closes the door behind them and looks at her phone, and her toilet water selfie] Yeah, that's not gonna beat Carol. De lete.

[Scene changes to the backyard where Lori is preparing to take another selfie]

Lori: Okay, got my sun hat, my SPF, and my strawberry lemonade with a little umbrella. Time for the "fun in the sun" selfie, always a crowd pleaser.

[Picks up her selfie stick and prepares to take a picture, then there is the sound of a baseball] Lynn: [offscreen] Loud takes a wicked cut! And...

[Ball lands in Lori's lemonade]

Lori: [Yelps as the splash messes up her hair and eyeliner] Dang it, Lynn!

[Lynn approaches Lori]

Lynn: I'm the one who should be cheesed. You just robbed me of a double.

[Takes her ball back, and Lori moves her chair closer to the house]

Lori: Let's try this again.

Lily: [comes out the back door] Poo-poo.

Lori: I can't change you right now, Lily. Go ask someone else.

Lily: [angry] POO-POO! [Throws her diaper at her sister. Lori screams in horror and accidentally takes a 'diaper to the face' selfie. Lori is then seen moving her chair to the side of the garage]

Lori: Forty minute, scalding hot shower. Let's do this again.

[Tries to take another photo, only to to have dirt land on her face at the last second]

Lori: Gah! Literally?! [Looks angrily at Lucy, who the scene widens to as she is digging a grave]

Lucy: Sorry, but I've claimed this area for my cemetery.

[Lori groans in annoyance, steps over the grave Lucy dug, but falls into one next to it. Accidentally taking a 'falling into a grave selfie. Lori growls as the scene changes to her closing her bedroom door]

Lori: Okay, doors locked, siblings gone, perfect conditions for the 'lost in thought' selfie, mysterious, yet intriguing.

[Prepares to take the photo, but an RC helicopter starts hovering outside her window]

Lori: [growls and pops out the window] Lincoln, move your dumb toy! You're photo-bombing me!

Lincoln: [from the front lawn] Oops, sorry.

[Lincoln fiddles with the remote and the helicopter accidentally cuts off some of Lori's hair]

Lori: [Looks at her head] Gah! My hair!

(Cuts to Lori setting up in my dad’s office, with me by the door.)

Lori: Thanks for letting me use your Dad’s office for my computer selfie, Nolan. Are you sure your dad won’t mind?

Me: Nah, he’ll be fine.

Lori: OK, now what are you going to do?

Me: Stay out here, and not come in.

Lori: Good. I’ll be out in a few minutes.

(She closes the door and I wait. But just then, I notice something. Lori’s hair is clip is on the ground. I pick it up.)

Me: (in my head) Oh no! Lori’s hair clip! She must have dropped it! Oh, I know Lori said I needed to stay out here, but, I have to give it to her!

(Lori has gotten everything set up for her selfie and is about to take it.)

Lori: OK, 3, 2-

Me: (bursting in) LORI, WAIT!!

(I crash into Lori and the picture gets taken. We fall to the floor.)

Lori: (angrily growls) NOLAN! What did I ask you to do?!

Me: Sorry, Lori, I know you wanted me to stay outside, but then I saw you dropped your hair clip, and I just panicked.

Lori: (sighs) Never mind.

(Lori takes her clip and leaves. Later she’s looking in her mirror and combing her hair vigorously)

Lori: It's not fair, I'm never going to be able to take a decent picture with my insane siblings and my insane best friend everywhere. [Suddenly an idea dawns over her]

[Scene changes to the backyard where Luan is unicycling on the fence, Lynn, Leni and I are playing baseball, Lucy is digging graves, Lisa is waiting to study Charles' feces, Lincoln is playing with his helicopter, while Lily is trying to take his remote, Luna is practicing her guitar, and Lola is chasing Lana in her car. Lori comes out the back door]

Lori: Hey guys, who wants to help me rake leaves? We could really make the yard look nice.

[Lori's siblings and I stop what we're doing and give Lori blank stares. Lincoln's helicopter drops, and we all run inside telling Lori not]

Lori: [to herself] Do I know my siblings or what?

[Scene changes as Lori finishes raking. She tosses the rake into the pile and sets up a tripod for her phone. Her phone rings and she declines, picks up some leaves and it rings again, she answers to what is revealed to be Bobby]

Bobby: Hey babe.

Lori: Sorry boo-boo bear, our daily 4 o' clock phone chat will have to wait. I need to take the perfect leaf jumping selfie.

Bobby: That's gonna be kinda hard babe, leaves don't jump.

Lori: Not the leaves Bobby, me.

Bobby: Oh, okay cool, yeah, well I just need someone to talk to you know I have that dentist appointment I told you about, and I'm kinda nervous.

Lori: Sorry Bobby, can we talk about this later? The light won't be this good forever. Love you, bye. [Hangs up] Okay scarf draped, leaves piled, timer set, here we go. Wheee. [Jumps into the pile landing on the rake which hits her in the face] Ow! [Camera goes off, Lori sees her 'rake to the face' selfie. She than moves to the tire swing] Okay forget leaves. Let's do a good old fashioned 'tire swing' selfie. [Sits on the swing, which is revealed to be full of bees] Gah! Bees! [Camera goes off, Lori sees her 'running from a swarm of bees' selfie. She than moves to the driveway wearing rain clothes] Okay, forget tires. How about a 'rainy day' selfie. [Opens her umbrella and picks up the hose, which doesn't spray any water, much to Lori's frustration] Where's my rain? [Yells as the hose sprays her in the face, and her camera takes a 'sprayed in the face' selfie, Lori then moves to the backyard with Mr. Grouse's tractor, sets up her camera while wearing a farmers outfit] Forget rainy days, let's do a 'tractor' selfie. Those are a thing, [to the audience] right? [Takes the photo which turns out well] Wow, it's actually, literally perfect, and I didn't hurt myself [Stands up in triumph over not hurting herself, only to accidentally turn the tracor on in reverse, which gets stuck in one of Lucy's graves, launching Lori into the other one] Aah! Ow. [Scene changes to Lori laying on the couch coveredin ice packs and bandages looking at her phone] One-hundred likes, thank you, Chaz. One-hundred-and-one likes. Thank you, random person from golf camp and YES! One-hundred-and-two likes! Thank you, Aunt Ruth, and in your face, Carol Pingrey! [Stands up in triumph, but then drops to the floor in pain] So sore.

[Scene changes to the kitchen, where Leni is eating a sandwich, and looking at her phone. Lori walks in humming]

Leni: Cute 'tractor' selfie Lori.

Lori: Thanks, Leni.

Leni: It got almost as many likes as Carol's.

[Lori gasps at this, dropping the milk carton she had been holding, grabs Leni's phone, and sees that Carol uploaded a tractor selfie with a dog in it. The 'sky flying' background from before returns]

Lori: That rat!

Leni: [from behind] I think it's a corgi.

[Background returns to normal]

Lori: No, it's a dirty trick. Putting a cute, lovable, animal in her selfie to get more likes than me! Well guess what Carol. [Sky flying background] 'Cute, lovable, animals' are my middle name!

Leni: [from behind] I thought it was 'Marie'.

[Background returns to normal, and Lori pets the poor, innocent Leni. Scene changes to the front door where Charles, Walt, Cliff, and Geo are making a run for it, while Lori chases them, trying to make them put sweaters on]

Lori: Get back here you animals! These tiny sweaters are literally the perfect size for you!

[Offscreen, Lori is heard screaming as her pets attack her. Her camera is heard going off. Scene changes and Lori is outside Lola and Lana's bedroom looking at the photo, she sighs and knocks, Lola is at her vanity]

Lola: Come in.

Lori: Umm, Lola, you're good at photo retouching right?

[Lola turns around to face Lori]

Lola: I think my work speaks for itself. [Gesturing to numerous photos of herself] Let's see what you got. [Lori shows Lola the photo and Lola looks at it with shock] This is gonna cost you some serious cupcakes.

[Hits the edit button and changes Lori's 'angry pets' selfie to a 'happy pets' selfie. Later Lola is eating her cupcakes and Lori is looking at her phone]

Lori: One-hundred-and-three likes. Take that Carol! And nice work, Lola.

Lola: Thank you. Milk, please.

[Scene changes back to the kitchen, where Leni is still eating a sandwich and looking at her phone. Lori walks by towards the fridge]

Leni: Cute 'pet' selfie Lori, it got almost as many likes as Carol's 'coffee shop' selfie.

[Lori gets a look of shock]

Lori: [grabs Leni's phone] What! [Sees Carol's selfie, growls, Bobby calls her again, but Lori declines] Not now Bobby, [sky flying background] I've got a crisis!

[Scene changes to the kitchen where Lori is decorating the place to look like a coffee shop, she walks up to Lincoln, who is wearing a button down shirt, a bow tie, and a beanie, she places a false mustache and glasses on him, then pulls out a pair of suspenders, much to Lincoln's shock]

Lincoln: Look, I'll play a barista, but I am not wearing suspenders.

Lori: This has to look like a real coffee shop. Now do you want a ride to the comic book store later, or not? [Lincoln sighs and Lori goes over to Leni and Luan, who are sitting at the table wearing berets] Okay, so now you guys pretend to laugh at something I've just said.

Luan: Ooh, was it coffee related humor?

Lori: It doesn't matter Luan.

Luan: Maybe you said this; "Why'd the hipster burn his tongue? He sipped his coffee before it was cool. [Laughs]

[Later, Lori is laying on the couch looking at her "coffee shop" selfie]

Lori: Yes! One-hundred-and-five likes. [Notices her brother] Lincoln, you can take the suspenders off now.

Lincoln: Actually, they're kind of working for me.

[Back in the kitchen, Leni is still eating a sandwich and looking at her phone, Lori comes in slightly dispirited]

Lori: Leni, please do not that Carol outdid me with a selfie of her sailing, or icing a cake, or swimming with dolphins.

Leni: Nope, but she did get the most likes ever for her 'picnic' selfie. [Lori gasps at this, and looks at Leni's phone to see Carol's selfie] Picnics are totes trending right now.

[Lori pulls out her phone and calls Bobby, who appears on a split screen, and is very excited to hear from Lori]

Bobby: Babe, I'm so happy you called.

Lori: Boo-Boo Bear, we literally need to go on a picnic, right now. [Hyperventilates as Bobby speaks]

Bobby: Right now? Babe, you know I love picnics, but we live three hours apart, I'm just about to get into my--

Lori: [Cutting Bobby off] Bobby! This is life or death! Meet me at the rest stop by exit 57 at four o'clock, sharp!

Bobby: [Nervous] Umm, I think I could make it there by five.

Lori: [Lets out an annoyed sigh] Fine! I guess picnics will still be trending then, but no later! And wear your red button-down if it's ironed, if not wear your teal polo, please do not mess up my color scheme!

[Hangs up, Bobby's split screen pans away revealing Leni's hair blown back, likely from Lori's yelling. Scene changes to the rest stop, Lori is driving up, parks Vanzilla, angrily steps out with her hair in curlers, takes the picnic stuff out of the back seat, and walk over to a spot to set up]

Lori: [Exhales] This should do. [Throws the stuff down and growls] Where is Bobby? [Takes out the blanket, and yelps when it blows away in the wind, knocking the curlers out of Lori's hair, Lori chases after it and sees Bobby pull up] Boo-Boo Bear. [Having caught the blanket, excitedly runs over to see Bobby] You made it.

Bobby: [Comes out of the car, with swollen gums, and extremely groggy] Aw, Babe. [Walks over to hug Lori, but instead plops over Lori's shoulder]

Lori: [Worried, grabs Bobby's shoulders and shakes him] What did you do to yourself?! [Drags Bobby over to their spot] Good thing I brought scarves, [lays out the blanket] maybe we can hide the swelling, [puts the scarf on Bobby, and turns his head] or I could just shoot you from behind?

Bobby: Babe, I got my wisdom teeth out, remember? I told you weeks ago.

Lori: [Realizing that] Oh my gosh, you did. [Drops down next to her boyfriend] Boo-Boo Bear, I'm so sorry, I've been so selfish, I can't believe you still drove all this way, [tearing up] especially after what you've been through.

Bobby: Babe I would drive to the moon for you.

Lori: [Crying, hugs Bobby] Boo-Boo Bear, you know what? Forget about the dumb selfie, let's just make the most of our time together. [Later, Lori and Bobby are sitting at a picnic table, sharing a Flippee] I can't believe I've been so obsessed with trying to beat Carol Pingrey, maybe she is better than me at everything but, who cares? I still have lots of great things in my life, like a really amazing boyfriend for starters. [Bobby tears up in happiness] Aww, Boo-Boo Bear.

[Hugs Bobby, who groans in pain]

Bobby: Ice chip, in tooth socket.

[Scene changes to The Royal Woods Mall]

Lori: [To the cashier] Hi, I'd like to return all this picnic stuff. I don't need it anymore. [Looks towards the sound of a shopping cart, and gasps slightly when she sees Carol Pingrey] Carol. [Carol tosses two plastic daisies into her cart and moves on with her shopping, Lori lets out a deep breath and runs after her] Umm [Carol gasps in shock of seeing Lori] Carol.

Carol: [Nervously looks around] Uh! Uh. Hi Lori. [Awkwardly waves]

Lori: I know this is literally the most awkward thing in the world but, I just wanna tell you that, you win. [Carol's jaw drops] You've been better than me at everything since kindergarten but, I'm okay with it, i can't live my life trying to compete with you anymore. Well, enjoy your shopping.

[Lori starts to walk away, but Carol has something to say too]

Carol: Lori, wait. [Lori stops and turns around] You think I'm better than you? [Pauses, and slightly sheepish] I kinda thought it was the other way around. [Lori is now confused] I mean you made the varsity golf team when we were freshmen, no one else did that, and you have ten siblings who all look up to you, and don't get me started on your hair I will, never, have volume like that [laughs, and picks up her own hair] this takes like, six cans of dry shampoo, and it's still flat.

Lori: [Amazed] Wow, so all of our competing has literally been pointless?

Carol: It's true, those selfies were getting out of control, I had to adopt that corgi, and he's mean.

Lori: I fell into a grave, twice.

[Both laugh]

Carol: We're ridiculous. I'm so glad we're done with all this.

Lori: Me to, hey, I just had a crazy idea, what if we made it official by taking a selfie together?

Carol: Shut up, looking like this?

Lori: [Bring Carol closer and takes out her phone] Yeah! I mean, who cares right?

[Carol takes her phone out, and they take the selfie. They both look at it uncertain, they then look at each other questioningly, and smile knowing that they're both thinking the same thing]

Lori and Carol: (in unison) Post.

[Back in the kitchen, Leni is still eating a sandwich and looking at her phone, but this time I’m with her also eating a sandwich and looking at Leni’s phone. Lori comes in]

Leni: Cute pic of you and Carol, you guys got tons of likes.

Me: Yeah, you guys look really happy together.

Lori: Thanks Leni but, I don't even care about that anymore.

[Lori stops dead in her tracks when Leni says something else]

Leni: Almost as many as Bianca and Sooyoung.

[Lori looks at Leni's phone and sees Bianca and Sooyoung's selfie, her phone rings and she answers]

Lori: Hey Carol, I just did. I know, they think they can beat us, with a 'BFF' selfie?! [Sky flying background] Oh, it is so on.

Me: (from behind) Ahem.

(Lori looks back at me. I look at her with my arms crossed, reminding her not to make the same mistake twice. Lori quickly abandons her thoughts of trying to upstage the other 2 girls.)

Lori: (sheepishly) Um, on second thought. I don’t care about that anymore. You neither Carol? Greeeeat. (smiles)

EPILOGUE

(Lori and Leni are at the mall, and I’m with them. They’re taking me to meet Carol.)

Me: Do you think Carol will like me?

Leni: Oh, she’ll totes like you! (pinches my cheek) Who wouldn’t?

Lori: Leni’s right Nolan, you’ll be fine. (notices Carol) Carol!

(Cuts to Carol who’s walking with a smoothie.)

Carol: (notices Lori) Lori!

(They run and hug)

Lori: You look gorgeous!

Carol: So do you! What are you doing here?

Lori: I came to hang out with you. And I brought a few people. You remember my sister, Leni, right?

Carol: Yeah, I remember, hi Leni!

Leni: Hey, Carol!

Carol: (notices me) And who’s this little guy? Is he a new sibling?

Lori: (giggles) No, this is Nolan. He’s been our best friend ever since he moved here a year ago.

Leni: And he is just the cutest, sweetest, kindest boy, you’ll ever meet!

Carol: Oh, is that true? (To me) Hi, sweetie. My name is Carol.

Me: Hi, Carol. My name is Nolan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Carol: Oh, I like him already.

Lori: Alright, girls and Nolan. Let’s go.

(Lori, Leni, Carol and I head off)

THE END