Pick Charlotte (THE END)

"I'm going to go with Charlotte," I smiled happily, and was delighted when she rapidly joined me.

"So... if you'll just hand her the apple..." Monty began, as I already did so. Charlotte said nothing, merely reaching into the case and taking out the apple, dropping everything else to the floor.

"You know this thing tastes terrible," she commented dryly, completely ignoring Monty, whose voice seemed distant somehow. "Never understood why everybody wants it. It's just... an apple."

The world seemed to stop for a moment as she held it. Everything came into full focus, and she looked at me with a sad smile on her face. Her accent became broad as she spoke, fully embracing her sultry and wanton demeanor.

"I know what you wan' to happen, Brent. You wan' everythang to go back to the way it was. But that's not the way thangs work. Much as I might want that lovelah little moment, it won't happen. Things have changed. The world that you loved? It's alreadeh gone."

I looked at the throng of people, frozen in position. It was like the entire moment had stopped, and there was only Charlotte and me, active, contemplating an apple. A throng of silent costumed figures, all concentrating on one, tiny item.

"Do I at least get to ask questions?" I asked. "I'm just... I just want to be with who I love."

"And I cayun make that happen. You gave me the way, but... it won't be like you wahnt. It'll be complicated. A lotta work. I cain't make everyone happeh. A lot of people will get pissed off by what Ah wahnt."

"And that's ok. I made my choices." I nodded. "I want to be with who I love. And I can share you."

"Are you reallah sure? Ah cahn always still just give you the prahze Ah always do. You reallah want slutty little ol' me? See, according to the world at large's playun, Ah'm the enemy." Charlotte spoke quietly and earnestly. "Cause Ah like to think, Ah like to love."

"Ah'm into freedom of thought and freedom of choice. Ah'm the kind of gal who wants to look at an formal event and think, "Gee, do Ah want to go compuhletely blasphemous today, or do Ah just feel like committin' only two or three mortal sins?" She grinned at me and pointed at the women I had been with. "Ah want consequences to choices."

"Ah want childruhn and headaches and even long stupid honey doo lists to give to you and my wife, okay?" She smiled again, "I wahnt to occasionally hit on gals in dyke bars and risk getting booze thrown in mah face if the lady really is there just to drink in peace."

"Ah want to throw a sex party for our girlfriend on our anniversary and annoy our kids with how grossly affectionate we are in public. Ah want to tell my other husband all about it while occasionally stepping out with a Dom. Why? Because Ah might really just like getting laid, OK? Ah've seen the future of that place, you know what it is?"

"It's a seventy nine-year-old paranoid psychopath walkin' around lookin' like a mummy with the nose cut out, Wipin' down their McDonald's French Fries with windex while reportin' the delivery girl for violatin' social distancin' on their brand new iphone handgun combo."

I blinked at her for a moment as she finished her rant.

"Yeah, I like your ideas better." I smiled.

Credit Music

A freeze frame shows of Charlotte looking into the van with a broad smile and a floppy rain soaked hat.

Charlotte went on to combine her love of computer troubleshooting with her love of multiple relationships, and wrote a bestselling book on saving troubled marriages. "Have you Tried Turning Them Off and On Again?"

A freeze frame of Helen swinging an axe with an angry expression.

Helen was **** to Resign from her Senatorial Position after compromising photos of her with multiple partners not her wife scandalized California. Apparently they just aren't ready for that yet... but their kids are gonna love it.

A freeze frame of Kaila with her saxophone and a black dress.

Kaila got a job with Alexandros Industries, after the CEO noted that the Band knew more about the company than the vast majority of his executives. Currently head of Ionian Division, and is next in line to take over Eastern European operations.

A freeze frame of Carla smacking Kaila on the ass with a black flogger with shiny tassles, while Kaila holds desperately to a metal railing set against steps.

Carla sometimes takes over for her sister when negotiations need to be aggressive.

A freeze frame of Nikki sitting in the Westfalia, with her feet kicked up and her hands behind her head.

Nikki is still trying to figure things out. Still holding out for her own room before moving in.

A freeze frame of Imogene typing on her phone with an angry expression.

Imogene is now a social media influencer.

A freeze frame of Mike sitting behind the counter of the gas station.

Mike eventually got laid. The worker was nice and gave him a discount since it was his first time.

A freeze Frame of Monty Hall, surrounded by contestants and smiling.

Dead.

A freeze frame of Zeus, sitting behind his desk and smiling.

Still topping the Religion Charts and filthy rich.

Single Again and Very Available, Ladies.

Call Now.

A freeze frame of a a man placing his hand over a camera lens.

Brent is currently a homemaker. Has been repeatedly approached by The Learning Channel for a reality series called "Baker Company's Dozen". Joan has repeatedly messed with their vans, and turned the family's children loose to ask detailed and contradictory questions of the film crews, as well as perform amusing antics while no recording devices are working.

Credit Music (Post Freeze Frames)