#anywhere

"Yes" She says still looking at the oven "She's gone at it like a bear to honey. She's not got any complaints from Clients has she?"

"How come?" Ignoring Sally Mae's question.

"How come? " she says "because demand is booming... and it could make you more money"

"How is her taking fares going to make -me- money? Or dross?" He reminds her of that very important point.

"Because you can't possibly take them all anyway... and you get a cut of each fare she gets"

He stops. "Huh?"

"It's your business, well OUR business... when we hire folks, they have to pay for the advantage of our system and name recognition. If someone pays her twenty bucks, you get two... it adds up"

"You -hired- her? Oh."

"I am your partner, figured I had that authority" She says

"Yeah, sure, I just... you know, I didn't know you were doing that and then she was grabbing, like, half the fares tonight and.... but. Ok. That's cool." It's almost like he was spoiling for an argument or fight and now the wind has been stolen from his sails.

She notices the look... "You're a competitive cuss aren't you?"

But she smiles

"I just... You didn't tell me. So.... what was I supposed to think? Anyway.... it sounds ok. So. Cool."

"I should have told you" She admits "Eden's having a hard patch. She's an emancipated minor in a time where jobs are hard to get. So I guess I thought I should give her a chance"

Adam struggles with that, nods. "Yeah, ok. I mean.... I heard she's had a rough time. I guess.... Ok. Anyway. Uh. Oh, how're you? Doing ok?"

"not really" She says "But I'll get by"

"No? What's wrong?" He's immediately concerned.

"Family trouble continues and ...well the college stuff is all a jumble "

"Yeah, school sucked but at least it was... you know, there were people." A sigh. "The school work is taking me, like, two hours and the rest of the day's been -dead-." A look of determination. "Not anymore though."

"oh?" Curious

"Yeah. If school is over, pretty much, then I can learn something else. And earn something."

"Well for me it's a professor they're trying to drive insane and bueracratic flimflammery messing with what she has to teach and what I have to learn and argh"

"Aw, Sally Mae, I wish I could help....." He drifts towards the seats at the kitchen table. "What are you watching there?" In the oven.

"Food" She smiles

Then "it's a pastry" She explains "delicate"

"Oh. You're really good at that stuff. You still want to study math?"

"I still do."

"Huh." That's puzzling, but.... "-Is- there anything I can do to help you?"

"Adam, even if you could fix my problems, I am not sure Id' want you to. Now a friendly ear? Listening when I need? That.. that's a lot"

"Well.... you want to talk?"

"Sure... you tell me, what sense does it make to have a working system with your professor only to have the adminsitration order a change to the program and .." She goes into a tale of a bueracratic nightmare strangling education. The sort of which might sound familiar to folks much older who have heard on these abuses on social media, say.. just as an example, slack.

"So my professor is ready to get on top of a water tower, and I'm ready to join her."

"... and... jump?"

"And shoot... I think she's tempted to shoot"

"Well.... if she did, think they'd pass everyone in the class? I heard they'll do that in high school. If there's a school shooting, you pass the grade."

"Don't tempt us.." But she smiles and there's a ding.. and she carefully opens "Oooo yes It didn't collapse... it's even, and that light gold..yes... " She coaxes the food out

Adam sits very still, to help.

It works. She pulls it out, and then begins to drizzle chocolate

"Do you get to take a summer break? I heard colleges don't....."

"Well, I can skip summer courses actually. No harm"

"So at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel?"

"You're right, youre right'..." Smells of chocolate and some sort of cream... like some dream souffle Eclair treasure is being made before his nose

Adam watches, smells, and licks his lips without thinking about it. "So... uh, how much longer do you have to go?"

"Oh... in about ten minutes..it should be cool enough and settled" She smiles "See, I had to put the cream in it."

"No, I mean, school?"

"And the cchocolate... is cooling..." Mmm She seems thrilled "it all comes together... and... oh... 2 more weeks"

"Aw, Sally Mae, you can do that standing on your head!"

"It's not just me.. it's.. well I like my professor and I want to .. i guess protect her.. or at least help her. But that's not what she needs and I really can't anyway. What I can do is listen to her so there's that"

"I guess you want to protect people from your troll blood?" He glances at the door to the other room. "Nadeen didn't understand how it was, you might.... kinain, I mean.... might feel ... you know, like the kith you're related to."

"Well, I was also raised so... so could be nurture much as nature" She ponders "But I think it's part of me too. We have magic in us... and the world believes and dreams of the power of blood so is true to it"