In the Vending Machine yesterday, Ben was given the option of buying either A) Terri’s care package from home, B) Travis’ care package from home, or C) his own care package from home.
Based on the fact that Terri got a letter from home just last week, Ben decided to vend options B and C. Terri, who remained happy for the two boys and their mementos from home, excused herself to the Bathroom where she cried privately.
Ben had sensed that Terri was upset and tried to strike a deal with BB to trade something (anything!) for Tezz’s care package.
The answer came through on the phone in the Kombi. “Big Brother has an offer Ben. Big Brother will supply Terri her care package but he will trade it for the treadmill. There’s more: you must keep it a secret from Terri – you must distract Terri and get the treadmill into the Diary Room.”
Ben breathed heavy and left his four-wheeled abode to talk to his fellow Housemates about the proposition.
“No way,” Rory sighed. Travis wanted to tell Alice immediately and Ben gave him permission. “All right, I’ll go tell her,” Travis quipped, scurrying away to find Al.
“Benny just spoke to Big Brother,” Travis explained to Alice in the Bathroom. “Big Brother apparently just said Terri can get a care package but she’s not allowed to know if we sacrifice the treadmill.”
Alice’s answer however, was surprisingly curt, “Nah.”
Rory, who had joined the pair, was shocked, “You serious? Really?”
“That’s so unfair,” Alice explained, calling for Big Brother to take something away from the group collectively as opposed to targeting the treadmill. While the treadmill does belong to all the HMs and is used by Ben and Terri also, Alice felt she was the only one making a big sacrifice.
Rory could not understand and reasoned with Alice that not only would she be giving it up for a total of five days, she would also be giving Terri some precious items from home.
“I’m sick of this f**king treadmill being such a big f**king deal,” Alice exploded. “It’s a passion of mine in the outside world and it has nothing to do with care packages.”
Travis tried to soothe the situation, “Let’s not get upset …”
“I’m only upset because – why does he [Big Brother] keep pushing that button?”
“Because he knows it shits you.” Rory calmed.
“I don’t want to fight fire with fire. I stand here feeling bad, I’m taking away the connection with her family so Alice can be a ‘Little Miss Bitch’,” Alice said, worked up. “There are a lot of things I’d give up.”
Alice decided that she didn’t want to take out her frustration on the group, so she marched to the Diary Room to talk to Big Brother.
“Don’t feel under pressure Al,” Ben called from the Backyard door.
“It’s no pressure. I do not ever fall under group pressure, of course I would rather Terri have a care package,” Alice argued. “I just want to know why he keeps pushing that button. It’s like he’ll take one thing away from one person to give everyone something. And I don’t understand why…”
“[He] knew it would get to you Al,” Rory counseled.
“I’ve got no animosity towards Terri,” Alice pointed out. “The only people I have animosity towards is you and Big Brother because you were throwing things like ‘oh my God, why is it so important?’ and you don’t have to understand, but just let me have something that’s crucial to me.”
In the Diary Room, Alice shot BB with fire: “Big Brother, I’m not trying to play games. I just want you to justify how this is not a personal attack on me …”
“This is not a personal attack,” Big Brother reassured her.
But the Vet wasn’t sold and remained upset long after she’d exited the Diary Room. She admitted to feeling guilty about blowing up, finally conceding to Rory, “I reckon you’re right.” Rory told her that they had to be strong and get over BB’s mind games, “Just let it go.”
