#bergen_county

"Lupita should take that, it's an easy-A. Think she'd trade tutoring for math or science? I mean, not sure if SHE needs anything, but if I can get an easy language class, that's less time I have to spend on homework."

"Okay, so - Chemistry first, uhg, Trigonometry, Shop, English, Lunch, Civics, Gym, Spanish and Study Hall last..."

"Oh, Trig! That's a lot more fun than algebra. Hmmm, maybe I could swing Shop class. Think my dad would buy it if I said it was hands-on, real world experience that could have an engineering application?"

"Oh, you should! I'd help you!"

"We're gonna do stuff with metal!"

"Gonna need muffs" Jaymes says

"And Mr. Wesley has a 3-D printer..."

A sudden grin. "Oh, like.. a shiv!" A blink and it takes him a moment to parse Jaymes comment. "Oh lord. Please don't tell Ann Marie. I'll buy my own out of pocket."

"Maybe you could make miniatures on it?"

"Wait, he DOES?" Symon is practically quivering with glee. "Do you KNOW how much easier it is to 3-dee print, say, custom minis weapons rather than cutting them out of plastic flash? Oh man... "

The two adults exchange looks, and give the kids some space.

"Well, I bet you could talk to him about it?"

"And tell your dad it involves 'additive manufacturing' or whatever."

"Yeah! Now I bet I could get Dad to sign off on shop. There's a lot of computational elements with developing the CAD designs for those printers..." nerd nerd nerd He grins to his friend. "That's great. I'm actually looking forward to it. I got an exemption from Gym again, so I guess I'll just have to get my 'sports' in by watching you play. Doing basketball again this year?"

"Tryouts are tuesday, but yeah."

A soft snort. "Like you need to try out, yeah? But at least you can get an early look at potential newbies on the team coming in."

"Well, yeah"

"And we're gonna start this year, that's the goal."

"Start what?" Digging through his paperwork - here is a copy of one of the books to read over the summer, but it's half buried under character sheets and handbooks. For someone whose room is tidy to the point of austerity, his bookbag is a MESS.

"Start... be starters, so play at the beginning, not wait on the bench."

"Ahhh... like natually high initiative." He nods understandingly.

"Um. CLose!"

A grin! "You looking forward to the new semester? Homework and all?"

"Well, not homework..."

"But school? I mean, kinda. I'm glad we have some classes together." A little smile.

"I won't mind the fall weather showing up." He admits. "It's been so hot, but if I try to wear anything lighter, I burn. And the only thing uglier than a sluagh is one with blisters and peeling skin." He nods back. "Oh, me too. You help keep the muggle madness at bay. And I know that if anything... spooky shows up, ya got Flyswatter too."

"Oh yeah. I got your back. Hey, shit - you hear about the dragon yet?"

"Which one? The Gee-oh-Tee sequel, or is Dreamworks coming out with another 'How to Train movie'?"

"Noooo... Skulstryke, who is coming for the Lodge!" SHe fills him in.

"..... I'm sure we'll figure out a way to stop him."

"Well... shiiiiit. Well, you KNOW I'm in. Troll or not, you have my... uh... whatever I can do to help. No one eats MY friends, damnit." A thought. "Maybe it would choke on Dirk, though."

Snort!

"Well, if anybody can plan tactics..."

Jaymes calls out that it is bedtime!

"Oh, damn..."

A soft groan, but he obediently starts shoving paperwork back into his bag.

"We'll talk later."

"Uh, yeah, definitely. and, uh, sorry about bein' weird earlier. For a sec I thought I caught you in your... y'know, PJs. But it's a cool shirt. Should wear it again sometime."

"Well, wasn't expecting company..."

"And maybe, yeah."

He gets his stuff packed away and hesitates a moment, glancing over at Jaymes, but then simply says goodnight. "See ya at class, I guess, if not before. Shop class!"

"Awesome! G'night Symon."

"Night Dags!" He heads out and home before his parents notice him out this late.

She waves from behind the screen door, waiting until he is out of sight before heading upstairs to bed.