#anywhere

Kerri, armed with a good success, and a bit of knowledge, has a couple of follow ups after she drops off her groceries. She could seek out the Mountain and talk about Gerd. Or wait until Gerd's shift is over later and try to get details. SHe could hit up Anne Marie and see if the Boggan Knight has some good gossip in regards to same

Oh, far better to gossip with somebody who isn't Gerd's guardian. Besides, she purchased a few things for Anne Marie and needs to drop them off, anyway.

And so she does. It is Dirk who opens the door when she knocks "Hearth?" He looks about "Whatever it is that brought you to talk to mom, I didn't do it"

Kerri smiles easily. "Hello, Dirk. You're not in trouble, don't worry."

"Is Anne Marie home?"

"Oh yeah, mom's in her office. Actually, she could use a break so your'e like useful' He looks upwards and yells "MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWMM"

Then follows up "KERRI'S HERE!"

Kerri manages not to flinch at the bellow. "Thank you." She heads on through to Anne Marie's office.

Anne Marie comes out in the hallway "Good lord, Dirk. What if your brother were here? It woudl blow his eardrums ou..." Then she meets Kerri half way "Oh, Hello, Kerri."

"Hi, Anne Marie. I brought those things you wanted..." she hands over the bag.

"Oh thank you, I've been so swamped I lost track." She realizes "Oh look at the time. Yes, I guess this can be my break so to speak. JOin me in the kitchen?"

"I was hoping you'd say that. I could use a bit of a break myself."

She follows the boggan along.

"oh then I'll start some thing up for us to drink while I put this away then we'll chat. Coffee or Tea? "

"I'll be scandalous and say tea," she replies with a grin.

"You rebel, you" She starts it up, and puts the things away. Fortunately the ceiling is high enough Kerri can move about. And because they have troll guests, Kerri has a chair that can be comfortable for her. "Now, you say you could use a break. What have you been up to?"

"Oh, do I have a story for you!" She settles into the troll-appropriate chair and begins to regale her host with the saga of the supermarket checkout line.

"Oh I hate those things" She says "I mean, I know some folks are introverts, but I enjoy a little interaction. And to add insult to injury, I was in Trenton last week and you know what one of those 'self check out' machines tried to get me to do?"

"I can't imagine. What?"

"It wanted me to tip. TIp.. a machine. I searched out my own grocieres. I put them in my bag. Then I had to check myself out...and it wanted a tip. And options STARTED at 20% Am I wrong or is that insane?"

"You can't be serious! That's absurd!"

"Oh you could 'custom enter' a zero but they made the button for that VERY small. I'm sorry, I am not paying a machine 20% for MY work. Especially when I have zero faith it's actually going to the workers" A shake of her head

"Exactly! Perhaps a portion of it is going to buy the workers a pizza party or something, but it's certainly not all getting to them. That's disgusting." She shakes her head.

"I'm a social worker and I can tell you, pizza parties do not help single mothers pay the bills." She mmphhs and says "Oh here's the tea." She pours it for both, and joins her friend more formally "Now I think I interupted. You were saying how you talked to him but there was more?"

Kerri accepts the tea gratefully, then continues, "Yes, he finally called in more help, and he worked a register himself until they arrived. Imagine my surprise when Gerd turned out to be one of the back-up cashiers!"

"Well I heard she was job hunting, I didn't know she found one" A sip "Good for her, though it sounds like the manager may not appreciate his workers"

"If I get a hint that he's not doing right by her, I'll speak to him again...perhaps a bit more forcefully." A sip. "I hadn't realized Gerd was looking for work, but I suppose most wilders like to have some independent money."

"She did mention that she's saving up for something, but she didn't say what, exactly."

"As far as I know, Vali and Tiffany aren't hurting for money," She ponders "So if it's helping them it seems a bit needless. Could be an urge to be self sufficient. Trolls have a strong work ethic." she smiles "At least the ones I know." mmm "Maybe she's saving up money for someone's birthday? "

"Oh, that's certainly possible, I suppose."

"It will certainly keep the bedlam away. " Sip "I know she still visits Silverwolf a lot. And I did hear... " A pause "oh well ,maybe I shouldn't say"

"Hmm?" A casual inquiry as she sips again. But Anne Marie can probably tell that Kerri is very eager to know whatever it is.

"Well the LAST time she came back from a visit there.. she was groaning something about a terrible mistake she couldn't get out of. Interesting, no?"

Kerri's grin goes away. "Oh, dear. That doesn't sound good. I hope she didn't commit to some sort of oath she shouldn't have."

"I hope not either. I know her boyfriend is there but they're both too young for truehearts in my opinion. "

"I agree, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time young wilders had gone that route impulsively."

"OH my, WE were never that young" Wryly, then "I know they've made a pitch there to recruit her to SIlverwolf before. " A sip "Perhaps that Baroness you helped foster knows something about it?"

Of course, that's also a clue that that's the end of Anne Marie's knowledge, but yes, Kerri has options on who to go to next if she wishes

"Perhaps..." she agrees quietly, sipping her tea.

The conversation shifts to less tantalizing talk about summer recipes until the tea is done.

(Fade to recipes exchange)