#bergen_county

'The matter is settled young man," Brenda says "And that's that."

Adam seethes.

Then it vanishes and he relaxes. "Ok, mom."

"Thank you" His mom says "Now, if you really want to help out on the fae stuff, take these papers to the lodge. Your father did some more finances and things for them."

"Oh... can I get a ride back? This wasn't the adventure I meant to take. I could still go to-" And then he claps his hands over his mouth. "No where in particular."

Brenda Thomas' own emotions were shaken there, fear for her son mostly, but she's calmer now, "That would be very nice if you would give Connor a lift to the lodge too"

"Sure!" He takes the papers. "C'mon Lil Dude. I got you." Adam fishes his keys out of his pocket.

"Can I go there to play, mother?" Lily says

Adam rolls his eyes. "Jeeze, Lily, don't you have homework or something?"

"No, Lily, I think you should stay here while the Hearth is sick" Brenda says

"Don't want to grow up quiet AND stupid...." Adam grins.

Lily glares at her brother and says "I know how long it takes a spider's egg sac to hatch while it incubates in the human ear." And she eyes his left ear

"First, nice try. Second, I have a stereo. Your move."

Connor sticks his tongue out at Adam. "Something small and crawly might nest up in the speakers and chew through your cords..."

"Adam, one of you is supposed to be the mature sibling, which was that again?" His mom asks

"The one volunteering to give -Connor- a ride?"

"I have to stay and keep Lily company."

How quickly he switches allegences!

"Be nicer to your sister, " Brenda says "And go onto the lodge" She makes she he has the papers. "Connor you can go or stay your call"

Lily sighs "Go on, Connor. I have terrible revenge to plot"

"No you don't," Her mother says

"Heavy metal, Lily." Adam nods. "Like, sick stuff."

"Norwegian."

Brenda rubs at that spot between her horns.

"Okay. I'll go and next time I come back I will have an Amazing present for you. I'm working on it, just you wait and see."

"Cool. C'mon, Littlest Dude in the Dude Society."

He whispers something in Lily's ears, just for her hearing... "He doesn't like surprise bugs. That's funny. I like bugs!" ...before joining Adam. "Yeah! I'm a cool dude!"

And Adam will take Connor back to the Lodge; Conner gets buckled in the back seat, but can roll the window down if he wants.

He get buckled in, but when Adam glances back to check on him, he is a puppy with his nose blissfully stuck out the cracked window and tongue flying, though the seatbelt is still clipped through his collar.

"Dude, don't strangle yourself!"

A thump of his tail, wind in his face bliss.

Adam walks him into the Lodge and delivers the papers as instructed; although the Hearth is down....

"I'm sorry you got Middle-name-scolded." He offers to Adam. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I just am really good at it."

"Nah, we're good Lil Dude. I really -really- am not worried about it."

"Okay. I have to go find Snow... she might be worried about me. Or she might have a tummy ache from too many bananas."

"Tell her hi from me?" Adam looks for an obvious place to leave the papers.

Connor helpfully points out where Kerri keeps her "to-do" work, after first suggesting they could go in the fire "to keep 'em hot on the presses" or in the garden to "sow interest".

"To-do, thanks, Connor. You cool by yourself now?"

He rubs his head. "I think a pineapple fell on me. Am fine!" And waves Adam off before heading out to search for Snow.

(Redacted because I forgot what he was up to)

"Hey, what grocery store was that?"

He calls back, "The one with the big green sign that says Organic, even though I didn't even see any organs. Watch out for Molasses Swamp!"

"Molasses.... yeah, ok!" He waves the younger boy away, and heads home.

..... via a slight detour......

Should Adam drive by the forbidden Grocery Store, well, there it is.

Adam parks and watches for a while, hoping to see.... something. Anything.

Banana peels ! AH HA

Well, besides those, it looks like a parking lot

No view inside from the outside?

Yes, mostly customers.