#bergen_county

The twinkies at the store are going fast . Jaymes sees them dwindle. The demands for Toilet Paper greatly reduced. The call for drinks? Constant, but varied... but always, they crave the twinkies.

Even Connor has noticed that they are in high demand, and he has swapped his Payment over to hostess fruit pies for the duration. When one works for the people, you must consider the people's needs...

Jaymes advised there were advantages to coin of the realm but he respects Connor's choice.

What Jaymes hasn't noticed yet, but Connor has, is that recently, now and then...it seems like there appears an extra twinkie somehow fallen in the back. It's always there when the last twinkie is gone...and it doesn't happen often. But a golden sponge goodness... which smells of glamour now and then appears. So strong is the craving and the dreams that the twinkie will always be there even if the world crumbles... that there is, now and then, DROSS!

A chortle of glee, and he hoards these gold bars against a rainy day, in a spot where even quarantine hoarders will never look - behind the gluten-free, vegan cauliflour pasta boxes. No one EVER wants those.

Sadly- this is true.

Well, Piper might have come in once, then commented she could grow better herself or have her moms mail her some

Jaymes is clueless to this, and then one day? A boggan comes in. One Connor has never seen before. She's a grump. The crinkles around her eyes make her look a bit older, but it's balanced by the eyes themselves being bright and twinkling and younger looking. He'd guess she's closing in on 280 years old! uhm.. 40.

Buddy eyes this new lady with interest, giving the Yip! To indicate to Boss that there is a Person Of Interest coming into the store. A tentative wag of his tail. She looks like the grandmotherly type that has a purse full of sweets or treats.

Jaymes looks up, nods a thanks to Buddy with a scratch on top, then says "Can I help you?"

"Yes, yes. You must be Jaymes" She says "Torin told me about you, as did Anne Marie. I'm Myrttle Anne, but lots of folks just call me M.A. ... when there's an Anne Surplus. I'm a herbalist."

Jaymes nods. Yes. He must be Jaymes.

M.A. sees Buddy "oh how adorable."

Buddy lingers back near the counter. Polite, but a little shy, perhaps? Though, his tail swishes in a friendly manner.

"oh, right, uhm why am I here?" Myrtle says "I was thinking of moving here, but I'm an herbalist and I will need ah..fertilizer. I'm told you might have extra? "

He nods "In the back."

"I was also hoping for your advice about local business laws and... well, rather mundane things' She says.. and a treat has magically appeared when Jaymes wasn't looking for Buddy.

When it is just them, no mortals anyway, He hands over some notes he has, "Herbs?"

"Oh yes," She says with a smile "Good demand on it."

"And you want a store?" He ponders.

"Well, yes, lot of the sales online but nothing like the personal touch" M.A. explains

Crunch crunch crunch.

Jaymes turns to notice the crunching, then gives M.A a LOOK

Innocence!

Washing a paw.... he must have learned that one from Mackerel.

"Yes?" Oooo she's a good bluffer!

"mmph" Jaymes says

"Nnnmmmf."

Even Buddy can speak that.

Instead Jaymes says "Torin seems to like you."

"I like him, it was a nice date" M.A. says

Jaymes wrinkles his noses "Tove.. my wife, is his daughter. She is fond of her father."

M.A. fights a chuckle, "Good. Daughters should love their father"

"Yes well." A hrm "I mention this because, well, it's been a long time since Torin has dated"

A head tilt to one side listening curiously.

"Well, it's not been THAT long, I was there" She looks up at the younger taller man BLINK BLINK

"I mean..not counting that" Ahem

"Torin said my date didn't count?" M.A says "Huh. I need to up my small talk"

"I.. no, that's not..." Jaymes stumbles, then gives her a brow.

She beams "I have no intention of breaking torin's heart, and , if I may say, I haven't been so flattered in years that any saw me as a femme fatale? A saffron selling siren the lured good men to their ruin? I blush. But no, while there's always a risk of bruised feelings... I am not callous or cruel.. and my intentions, for what intentions are worth, are generally good."

Jaymes coughs fighting any embarrasment, then nods "Good."

"Now, about that fertilizer?" She smiles

"Right. I'll help you pack it" He rises and heads out briefly

The boggan looks at Buddy and winks whispering "He's a good son in law, isn't he?"

Edging closer, hopefully.

"Boof!"

"Boof " She agrees softly, and moves out to lower the tail gate.

A sigh, seeing that no more treats are forthcoming for the moment, and he disappears into the back, returning with one of Frank's oversize winter hats, and helps to load up the bags of "Smelly Dirt."

"Thank you, young man. " The woman says "What's your name?"

"My name tag would say Connor, but it would be silly to wear one when Buddy's the one with a job here." A shy duck of his head.