#bergen_county

The room they go to is smaller than her old one, but servicable, it is also about a third full of stuff.. or was

Now there are boxes. And Gerd looks around "You didn't lose the candle stick did you?"

He glances down at his hands, and offers it out. "If you drop the baton, you lose the race."

She takes it, and puts it up on a shelf "Well, then we just won. Thanks"

He turns around in a circle, looking over the room curiously. Peeking in the closet, and under the bed.

The bed has gray satin sheets, a bit of lace. Very 'goth girly'... the closet is large, not quite a walk in but close.

Under the bed is disturbingly empty!

He squirms under there to look around,. A giggle from the hiding place, though his tail peeps out.

"Hey" She says "WHere did he go?"

Pretending she doesn't see a tail "Why, it's like he's gained the power of invisiblity"

Muffled giggling!

"Could it be, has Connor joined the 'Shadow Paw NInja clan'?" A gasp

If anyone her own age saw this, heard it, she'd be mortified

But now she relaxes openly

He turns around (bump thump thump) and peeks out. "My ninja clan is sworn to protect the princess of the night!"

"Oh, there you are. I'm glad you're on my side, oh shadow paw ninja" A smile

He grins up at her, upside down from half-way under the bed. "Someday I'll learn to poof too, and then I'll be like a real ninja. And it will be easier to get places, too, without needing someone to walk me."

"I'll teach you what I can " She offers "If you like"

"Really really? I would! I'm the best student too, 'cuz I try hardest. Ask any of the teachers at the farm, they say I'm extemely trying."

"I heard," She says "Though they know of your challenges. Apparently you do try to wander off during some classes?" A BROW, almost brekke like

A huuuuuge sigh. "How can I sit at a desk all day when the sun is shining? Or there's a bird outside? Or someone is cooking and I can smell it?"

"With effort." Firm, "I'm your big sis, and I want you to have a good education."

"I don't know why i need to know all the muggle stuff, though. I'll never need to know all that. Can't I just learn useful things? A head full of numbers just feels like cobwebs."

"You're working inventory with Jaymes" She reminds "As in, keeping count of things"

A huff." I guess. But History of SPAIN? I can't even spell Con-keest-ador. And even flicker-flash can't time travel, so do I really gotta learn about them?"

"THey did have cool hats, though." He allows.

"The history of Spain, sir, is important. Because they were a world power that connected, for good or ill, the globe. Also, they later got their Armada sunk by witches so that's cool"

"You should just take your classes and then teach me. It's more interesting when you tell it." A grin.

"Oh no, you have to suffer like the rest of us. That's what generations are all about"

"Owwww awoooo awoooooooo." He howls. "A dread faaaaaaaaaaaaaaate."

"Poor you," Gerd says sympathetically "Doomed to repeat history until you get a passing grade"

"Forever... and ever... and EVER." He agrees.

She assembles other parts of the bed room as they talk "I know it's hard, and boring, but I have faith in you. You can handle this."

He siiiighs. "I guess I'll try. S'long as you teach me the fun stuff when you're around."

"I will" She says "I don't know how good a teacher I am, but who knows? Maybe you'll at least be walking through walls soon"

"ooooh. Then I could get in and out of the classroom without anyone noticing! Just floooop down through the floorboards!"

BROW again.

He winks. "I'm kidding!"

"mmm" but a smile escapes