#bergen_county

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Tove is singing, this is not unusual, but she doesn't often do Broadway

Dagmar looks up from her homework, taking a moment to listen and identify.

Anyone can whistle,
That's what they say-
Easy.
Anyone can whistle
Any old day-
Easy.
It's all so simple:
Relax, let go, let fly.
So someone tell me why
Can't I?
I can dance a tango,
I can read Greek-
Easy.
I can slay a dragon
Any old week-
Easy.
What's hard is simple.
What's natural comes hard.
Maybe you could show me
How to let go,
Lower my guard,
Learn to be free.
Maybe if you whistle,
Whistle for me.

I can slay a dragon
Any old week-
Easy.
What's hard is simple.
What's natural comes hard.
Maybe you could show me
How to let go,
Lower my guard,
Learn to be free.
Maybe if you whistle,
Whistle for me.

It's melancholy, and sweet, and sad, and hopeful.

A little frown as she listens.

"Was I off key?" She notices the frown.

"You won't be fighting, will you?"

"I'm flattered you think I might be in the running." She says, "no. Pretty sure your father would blow a gasket if I tried, and you? You might carry me off."

fond smile

"Well.. yeah. I would."

"Hmmph" She tosses the girl's hair, "That's sort of sweet. No no, it's a hearth, storm, and Mountain and I'm not officially any of those"

"Just.. the song..."

"Like..." Sigh, gesture/

"It's a sad one isn't it? I got a request... broadway Covers."

"You don't like the song?"

"It's okay. I just don't... dunno. Fighting dragons."

"I didn't even think about it..mostly it's about a woman trying to free herself from... well, her inhibitions, I guess. Lowering her guard with the ordinary interaction."

"I picked it because it was pretty, had meaning and..." Sheepishly "The royalty was cheap"

"It is pretty."

"Thanks. Hey, I'm still trying to narrow a list down. Do you have any favorite songs from Broadway? I know Olgar got you on heavy metal but if there's one from a musical you like maybe it will help me decide."

"Do you know Hamilton? Sylvi showed it to me..."

"That is a popular one, yes I know the songs. Very clever word pacing.. got a favorite song there?"

"Um. Wait For It."

"Beautiful song" She says

And begins to sing
"Theodosia writes me a letter every day
I'm keeping the bed warm while her husband is away
He's on the British side in Georgia
He's trying to keep the colonies in line
But he can keep all of Georgia
Theodosia, she's mine

Love doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners
And the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep loving anyway
We laugh and we cry
And we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there's a reason I'm by her side
When so many have tried
Then I'm willing to wait for it
I'm willing to wait for it"

"It's hopeful, isn't it?"

"It's a testament to Love yes.." After the song is sung, "Love isn't about we deserve it, it's a gift. And it's empowering"

"It's... yeah. DUnno. I like it. I know Burr is the bad guy."

"I'm not so sure, he's the antagonist, but Hamilton is no angel. "

"Well, no."

"Hamilton's kind of an ass."

"Pushy as hell."

"Yup. He is. And mean to John Adams." A nod

"Yeah."

"But Thomas jefferson DID rape slaves..."

"Historians conjecture a lot, but his DNA is certainly involved.. or his brother's." SHe nods "Yet TJ also spread some good... without his delcaration to live up to, maybe slavery would have lasted longer. "

Her nose wrinkles.

"So why did he keep slaves?"

"He inherited some... lot of families did that, remember, they treatred their fellow mortals like property. Jefferson was a complicated man. His mind was on the higher planes , great ideals, he tried to keep it in his heart... but he had feet of clay in a lot of areas. Vali might tell you more than I can. my interest in human history is older times"

"But if a man who did such a horrible thing could still give good to the world..maybe no one is entirely beyond redemption?"

A snort. "Ideals, but couldn't see what was happening around him? Useless."

"Or maybe he did see but couldn't change it. I don't know. But your grand father was useless once. He had time and good fortune ... and now he has you"

"He coulda changed it." Stubborn.

"And if he could have he should have, but we all get scared. Doesn't excuse him, but might explain him."

"I think he was selfish. Kept his own comfort, even while yammering on about ideals."

"Ooo, Mankind should be free but I literally own people!"

She listens "I can see that."

"I don't have to like him."

"Unfortunately it was all too common in his time." She ponders