Make Your Own Episode

This story took place 42 years ago, when Nina was 8 and Melanie was 11.

One night, Nina couldn't stop thinking about bad things, and was tossing and turning and moaning and groaning to the point where she woke her sister up, who dashed into the room.

MELANIE: Nina, what's up?
NINA: I can't sleep!
MELANIE: Oh, why can't you sleep, Nina?
NINA: I can't stop thinking about those shows like My Sister the Car, and Logan's Heroes, and The Flying Canoness, and ... and ... and I keep seeing them in my sleep and thinking about them even IN my sleep!
MELANIE: Listen, Nina, those shows aren't real, they haven't been making new episodes in years, and only mom and dad are supposed to watch them, so you're okay.
NINA: But I'm STILL thinking about them! What if ... what if they NEVER escape my head?
MELANIE: They will, eventually.

Fortunately, both girls at the time were obsessed with The Gibson Gang, a sitcom that aired a few years earlier about a blended family containing 17 kids, after the mother of 9 girls marries a father of 8 boys with a dog named Leopard, and their middle-aged housekeeper, Larissa, nicknamed, "Larry" despite it mainly being a boys' name.

MELANIE: Listen, how about, to get your mind off of the bad adult shows, how about we make our own episode of The Gibson Gang?
NINA: I'd like The Daily Special, please.

The Daily Special was another favorite show of Nina's at the time. It was about people and puppets working in a shop together and learning something new each episode would focus around.

MELANIE: Okay, how about this? Everyone's having a great time at the shop, playing and dancing, when suddenly Lachy* falls down and scrapes both his knees, and so Kathy has to give him bandages. Then, it's time for Francine the Finch's checkup, so everyone goes to the doctor's office and the doctor checks her heartbeat, eyes, and ears. Hey, Nina, what else goes into making a Daily Special episode?
NINA: They have songs, guest musical artists, and show all kinds of shorts from around the world, like Hedge and Hog*, and Emery*, and...zzzzzzzzzz

Nina had fallen fast asleep, tired from telling her sister more about The Daily Special.

MELANIE: Good night songbird, I love you.

Melanie then decided to stay with Nina in the latter's room for the night, sleeping on her knees and cuddling with her sister, who herself was holding her doll, Lupita, tight. The moral of our story is to think of something happy in your hour of darkness - you can even make up your own episode of your favorite TV show as you go, just like Melanie and Nina.

* = The name of the big male doll serving as the store's mannequin, kind of like Stitches
* = A stop-motion short from Czech about two hedgehog siblings
* = A hand-drawn animated short from French about a girl in a blue hood and her stuffed bunny rabbit