#bergen_county

Is that the clacking of wood in the back yard Adam hears?

He's just waking up this fine morning, no school today.

Oh Weekends! Ok, so a job, work.... keeping his bball skill sharp... but still, that first glorious moment of waking when it's the WEEKEND!!!

He lolls, and looks for Nab nearby?

Nope.

No sign

A resigned but happy sigh Good dreams.... And he sits up to rub his face and scratch his bare chest in waking. Glorious Saturday.... not a care in the world until 3 p.m. work......

"Nab?" he checks.

No response. Where ever she is, she's not in earshot.

And more clacking of wood from the back yard

Curious, he sits up. And stands up, dresses, and goes to peek.

In the back yard, Olgar, and Adam's father are going at it with wooden practice weapons!

An inital interest! Blades! Swords! Fights!! But...... dads...... Adam goes to get showered and dressed.

After the shower and dressing, he smells breakfast.

MMmmm... HUNGRY Boy..... He follows his nose to the food.

Thank goodness, no. It looks like pancakes

And some bacon

"Help yourself" His mom gestures from the table, she's looking out the back window smiling

The teen boy DEVOURS the food, as much as he can; pancakes, BACON, fruit, milk, juice......

"Easy, wolf boy," His mother says amused, "Let's not starve the rest of the village"

"Mmmph?" Mouthful,

"Your father may want seconds as might Olgar when they come in. They're going to build up an appetite. You want to join them?"

"MMmph?" Adam puts more on his plate, pre-emtively. And more juice. And milk. And food

"Do you want to go out and practice with the weapons?" She says

"Mmph." He eats.

"So glad we have these conversations" She sighs and goes back to writing and peeking out the window.

Adam fills himself. It takes a while. Then..... "Wow.... Good, mom."

"Glad you like, it's an ancient recipe taught to me by my grandmother Bisquick"

A satisfied sigh.

A glance. "Olgar and Dad?"

"yes. The Rover is helping him learn weapon skills"

"Mr. Davidson.... " a shrug. "He's ok."

"Well, I hear he taught you some too. He says you're a quick study at weaponry."

A shrug. "Like B-ball. Offense, defense...."

"Utility" she says

"But however works for you" She says "I think between Dagmar and this you might become quite a good swordsman" She says "See what a supportive mother I'm being when I get news my son wants to go get in swordfights?"

A moment of uncomfortable awkwardness, but he nods. "Yeah. Thanks, mom." He means it.

"I reserve the right to freak out later though. Satyr's have a 'get out of over reaction free' card I'm told" Brenda says

"Mmm."

"I think you're hanging around the trolls too much" His mother says "Lots of 'mmms'"

"Well, the Chief and all are trolls."

"True, but one of your best friends is a satyr. Zane doesn't seem the monosylabic type"

A charming grin. "Ever seen him hungry?"

"Fair point" She concedes

"Right!" Her boy bounces up, ready for action! "So, going to get some practice in before work.'

"Enjoy" She waves

Adam heads out to his hoop.

Olgar seems, if anything, rougher on Kyle than he was on his son. "You're tall, you're tough, you're a guardian kith, but if you're all defense and no offense you're useless" He tells Kyle.

Mr. Thomas frowns "You told me my stance was good."