#anywhere

Then looks at the book, "Doesn't look familiar, but ... mmm maybe I should see. She and Gerd have been doing a lot of goth victorian type stuff... books might qualify. Moment"

"Thanks so much," Kerri effuses, then without losing the smile as he goes, mutters to Anne-Marie, "Any ideas?"

"Be on the look out for the signs, though if she's wearing goth make up we might have brouble seeing them. Mmm" She whispers back

Footsteps and... down comes the Erika, dressed in black lipstick, dyed hair

Kenning almost automatically. "Hi, Erika. I'm Kerri. Not sure if Gerd has mentioned me?"

"Yeah, like, once" A touch of chill. Not strong, but there. And sometimes Banality is more in what you bring, not just who you are. "Uhm.. Dad said you had somehting you thought was mine?"

"Well, Gerd said it belonged to one of her friends, and I couldn't remember if she said you or somebody else." She holds out the book -- a fantasy book of the pre-teen variety.

"Oh, thanks. I've been lookign for that" she takes the book, "Your'e very kind. Please tell Gerd I said hi"

A momentary pause....but she'd intentionally chosen a book that she knew Sylvi wouldn't mind missing. I hope. "I certainly will. She mentioned you just yesterday."

"Yeah? "

"Absolutely. I was asking about her hair, and she mentioned you. Do you do yours yourself, or go somewhere to have it done?" Kerri's trying to keep the girl talking a bit, and trying to get a good sense of her, too...is she vain? is she distrustful? does she seem frightened or skittish? or is she angry at the world?

"Oh...I get it from a store... Gerd knows the stuff. I told her. Uhm.. is there anything else you want? I kind of have to go do homework"

"Oh, I..." a pause and a glance at Anne-Marie. "Not really, I suppose. I'm just...glad we got the book back to you." Anne-Marie would be able to tell that Kerri's not at all sure what to do now.

"Homework? Oh my...what class?" Anne Marie chimes

"English" The girl says

"Oh that would be Mrs. Peevly? Haven't seen her in years. She's well?"

"She's fine" A shrug

"YEs yes, pardon us, nice meeting you" Anne Marie says even as Erika closes the door

Anne Marie mutters "She just stole a book, and lied to our faces. And there is no Mrs. Peevily, either she doesn't care to correct me, or she's making up homework excuses"

And the two women walk away to discuss this.

(Pause/End)