"Strawberry's House Pest" is an episode of the first season of Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.
Synopsis[]
When Strawberry offers to watch Jadeybug's cousins, she attempts to be a perfect hostess. But her patience is tested by their rude behavior.
Summary[]
Strawberry is in the middle of practicing her newest song for the upcoming Cafe Cabaret night when Jadeybug comes in and asks for tea. While preparing chamomile tea for her, she notices how nervous and jumpy she is. Jadeybug explains that her cousins were "invited" for the week. She isn't happy about having to tell them they can't come over since her guest room is being "painted," nor does she have the heart to tell them she doesn't want them to come.
Strawberry offers to let them stay at the Cafe during their visit but Jadeybug tries to talk her out of it. They behave so poorly. Strawberry is sure that she can handle it, but just to make sure she decides to pay Blueberry's a visit to borrow a book on how to be the perfect host. The berry girls get an idea to hold a Welcome Tea Party for their guests at the Cafe and work on gifts for them.
On the day of their arrival, Jadeybug is surprised to see how effort they put into this and attempts to say something- only to stop realizing the bus dropping the girls off is there. The berry girls and Berrykins arrive while Jadeybug goes to greet her cousins. The younger girls ignore her to ask about food, and Strawberry quickly introduces everyone to them and explains that she will be their host during the stay. Kadiebug and Sadiebug hand all of their bags over to her. While heading to her place, she points out that the guest room is on the upper floor of the cafe, they can stay there when not visiting Jadeybug. The girls inform them that they didn't plan on hanging out with her though, all they care about is that there is food for them to eat. The others assume it's a joke but Strawberry notices the lack of surprise coming from Jadeybug. However, she decides to give the younger ladybugs the benefit of the doubt.
At the Party, Kadiebug and Sadiebug decide to check out what they got in the gift-bags and argue over who has the better things while Mr. Longface pours them tea. Sadiebug suddenly demands for a straw while Kadiebug steals one from a nearby Berrykin and they start fighting over it. Strawberry points out that a straw isn't necessary for tea, and Plum reminds her that the book said one should tolerate their guests' quirks.
For a moment the room becomes peaceful after the straw the ladybugs were fighting over breaks. But then they have a tea fight. Seeing this, Jadeybug admits how misbehaved her cousins are as she watches the Berrykin, influenced by the ladybugs join in. Strawberry tries to stay positive, refusing to give up just yet.
The next day Strawberry goes to visit Orange to deliver some muffins with the ladybugs behind her. But when they start to act up she quickly leaves for Sweet Beats Studio, where everyone else is in the middle of practice. Kadiebug and Sadiebug grow bored so they decide to "Show their moves". Plum is the only one who finds the interruption to be amusing, and she suggests they do a comedy routine. Strawberry gently warns her not to encourage them, and the berry girls voice concern over her losing control on the situation. Strawberry doesn't believe the girls are bad, but they did take her bedroom, instead of the newly-prepared guest room and didn't even ask. She isn't sure what to think. Just then, the ladybugs knock the curtain over and dance practice is called off. Everyone sees this as amusing, but Blueberry is beginning to get frustrated.
Strawberry finds herself getting used to the girls, until she finds mud all over her kitchen. She also discovers the mess they made and that they went through her fridge, so she tells them to lend her a hand cleaning up. They refuse so she sends them outside, giving her a break from them. She decides to practice her song to unwind, until they overhear her and run back inside wanting to "help". She nearly snaps at them after forcing them to stop, but she quickly calms herself and tells them that she has a surprise for them. She doesn't want it to be ruined, so she had to quit. Mr. Longface arrives to see how she is doing, and he offers to watch them for a while so that she can have time to herself. Strawberry doesn't want to get him involved, but he assures her it's okay. Strawberry is very grateful for his kind offer, and she promises not to take too long.
Strawberry heads off and decides to read a story to Pupcake and Custard. But finds herself too concerned for the cafe and can't focus. However, she worries about the cafe and gives up, unable to focus. She returns to find Mr. Longface running away in terror and he warns her to be careful; they got butter on the floor and it's very slippery. Strawberry hesitates before heading inside, and she finds the juice machine overflowing, on top of the mess they made. Her patience is at its limit and she kicks them out of her home and closes the cafe. The berrykin involved apologize for making her upset and offer to help Strawberry clean up later.
Kadiebug and Sadiebug feel no remorse as the juice and butter send them outside, and they bail to avoid having to help out. The Berrykin return as promised, followed by Blueberry, who suggests that Strawberry give up on the ladybugs and send them home. Strawberry, although frustrated, refuses to give up on them and comes up with a new idea. Once cleaning is finished, she gets the girls and sits down with them to explain how unacceptable their behavior is. She tries to be nice about it, offering to give them another chance and even help them if they're willing to listen- but this causes them to accuse her of being rude, and they leave in a huff.
The next hour or so is spent by the sisters visiting the other girls to ask for permission to stay with them while they visit. Each girl comes up with an excuse to avoid them, which doesn't surprise either girl. Blueberry decides to be honest with them though, explaining that nobody is willing to give them a chance. The other girls appear, having felt bad for their deception, and they admit that they were lying because of how inconsiderate and rude they are. This appears to finally get the sisters to realize they weren't behaving well.
Back at the Cafe, Jadeybug is trying to comfort Strawberry. She comments that Strawberry held out the longest out of everyone who has ever watched them, and was the first person to not kick them out so she should feel proud of herself. Kadiebug and Sadiebug return, and they apologize for the way they acted. The girls find their apology to be confusing, but Strawberry is willing to hear them out and let them stay. She will also teach them good manners, on the condition that she also teaches them how to sing. The twins agree, albeit warning Strawberry that teaching them how to sing will be prove to be a challenge, since they sing pretty badly. Strawberry agrees.
By the time of events arrival, Strawberry ultimately proves successful in teaching the twins how to sing as she lets them perform with her.
Quotes[]
- Strawberry: (angrily) The café is closed!
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- Mr Longface: I'm sorry, Miss Shortcake, I tried to stop them, but they're...UNSTOPPABLE!!! They buttered the floor!!!!
Lessons[]
The twins learn that they should not take the kindness of others for granted, and they should be appreciative and respect their home and rules.
Meanwhile Strawberry learns that in her attempts to be a good host, she let the twins get away with unacceptable things. But after angrily telling them off, she realized that being a good host means that besides wanting to provide a comfortable home for someone, she should also make sure they aren't upsetting others and walking all over her.
Trivia[]
- This was Jadeybug's second major appearance in the series.
- Likewise, the twins are formally introduced in this episode.
- This is the first episode to show Strawberry getting angry at someone.
- This is the first time in the series the closing sequence featured music that isn't the opening theme.
External links[]
- Strawberry's House Pest at the Internet Movie Database