#baronyofthesilverwolf

Janice smiles a little to Trina. "It's no rum raisin, but it's good."

"GRANDMA GWEN!" Frankie chortles

...She does eat all of her ice cream.

"Since this isn't a date, I don't have to show you baby pictures of Trina, do I?' Dad offers, eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Dad!"

"HEy" huff

But she eats some ice cream

He laughs. "I won't, I won't." To Gwen, "I always threaten. But I won't. Or will I? Gotta keep her on her toes. It's revenge for the time she filled the fax machine with paper-clips, and announced it was 'Fixed'! "

Not above embarrassing STORIES, it seems.

"Hey, if it worked, it worked" Gwen chuckles though

"It worked, but even after I thought I'd cleaned them all out, it would spit out pages clipped together. Never did figure THAT one out."

"That way they wouldn't get chuffled."

The second spoons hit empty bowls, Frankie is tugging at Gwen and Trina's arms. "C'mon, you PROMISED we'd play games now."

"I think I'm being kidnapped " But she lets the much smaller boy 'drag' her

Was Briar ever this crazy? Or filled with energy? She may appreciate Rochallor's calmness more after a visit.

"We did promise. Crash the Marching-Band Coot."

"OOOKay... Marching Bands and jocks are natural enemies anyway. I swear that girl with the tuba is out to get me. Honks anytime I get within 10 feet"

PROBABLY joking

"OOM-pah."

Frankie laughs, and soon the game is bleeping and blooping. The teal never, and another couple who snuck in who-knows-when, are transfixed by watching this!

Trina does smile a bit, even if she gets trounced by her brother.

Gwen definitely gets trounced. Her fingers aren't meant for this sort of work

but she doesn't whine when a kid curb stomps her

Frankie, to his credit, doesn't gloat much, and makes sure everyone gets a turn.

"You're really good at this, Frankie. But your sister and I probably should go"

"Awwwwww." He sighs, but tosses the controller aside. "When are you coming back?"

"It's a dad weekend coming up."

"Yessss! It's a Trina weekend!"

"And we'll go sledding!"

"We will. Promise."

"Just remember to use your turn signal " 'Grandma' Gwen advises humorouslky.

Frankie laughs, and Dad escorts them to the door. "Don't be a stranger, now, Gwen. If Trina doesn't want to visit her ol' Pops, you can come by any time. Especially if you have tickets to a game."

"Ha, I'll think about it, Mr. Smyth. Thanks agaain for the meal, Janice"

Janice was hanging back, letting Dad say his goodbyes, but waves when Gwen speaks to her. "Drive safe!"

The little teal never that was hanging around looks like it will stay in the house - but then as Trina steps out, it makes a split-second decision and zips out to follow her as well. Soon it's making little never-angels in the dusting of snow that has accumulated on the car hood.

She opens the door and gives the Never a chance to come in the car with Trina

Zip in, zip out, oh, RIDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER

SWISH SWASH SWISH SWASH

Mmm she starts the car up once Thistle is in and buckled up

It zips in. Landing on the dash, little legs dangling. Oh! The air vent! The RADIO! VOLUME KNOBS!

She chants as they drive "Take my hand, we're off to Never Neverland" The bunk invoked, to willow whisper the teal never

And she asks her first question, hoping the cantrip took root "Did you put the metal in the food?" she whispers

Trina exhales, slumping into the seat

The little teal never is distracted, fiddling with the volume knob. "Yes, me? CHIME! Funny!"

"Why do you think it's funny?" Second quesionn

Teal giggles, a silvery bell-like sound. "Fun! Fun! Funny! Chew chew CRUNCH, ptuuuey! It's good to laugh!"

Thistle squints, listening.

"So you didn't know it might have hurt him? badly"

Blink Blink, blink. "Not hurt. FUNNY! She needs to laugh! Ha! Ha!" A little foot stomp on the dashboard.

"Foeey. Big blue not know funny if it bit..." The tiny voice fades into tinny tinkling noices.

And then, distracted by a shiny button on Thistle's jacket.

"And that's the cantrip" A look at the never "Oh well, she didn't mean harm"