#bergen_county

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"I want to touch it" Layne says gazing at Connor's left ear

"I'll feel like a pooka ear because that's who he REALLY is now" Jack scoffs at the gir'ls ignorance

"Yeah but peoples don't see it now" Lane fusses

Connor blushes a little, and his pink, round ear turns red too, which is weird because he's not used to HAVING little ears that don't show what he's talking about - at least, to Mortals.

"I always was a pooka. Except when I was just a dog." Connor protests to Jack.

"Well, yeah" He nnnods "But you know what I mean... I's when you don't feel fluffy to US we should worry"

"Lane can touch my ears if she likes. She let me pet her mane." He offers. For some reason, he wonders if Lily would be upset, but he's not quite sure why.

"Only once or twice, honest" Lane says "Oh wow, Connor guess what!"

He tilts his head curiously, then sits up. "I got it! You have already have saved 15% or more on your car insurance! But... when did you get a car?"

"Uhm no?" She says "Buut.. you can come o my house now and meet my parents up close!"

He BLINKS. This hadn't occurred to him, and he shuffles his feet a little, shyly. "What if they don't like me?"

"I don't know how to talk to NORMAL folks."

"tthey'll like you! you're very likable" She hugs the boy

Jack nods "Yup. I'm the bad influence, not you" Proud!

His tail thumps, but doesn't actually stir the breeze.

"Can I tell you a secret? It's not really a secret. Well, it kinda was maybe."

"you may" Lane assurres him

"We might even keep it" Jack observes sagely

"I was awful worried." He says solemnly, to his two friends. "Really terrible like, in my stomach where the good stuff should go."

Jack gives his best supportive look at..whatever this is!

He rubs his belly demonstrably. "My Knight's little brother is getting bigger. Soon he'll be a Real People and not just a baby. But he won't be a real real person. Except maybe someday, except maybe not, because we can't tell if he will or won'ts.

But he would be a mortal persons, and when he's not a baby no more and can talk, then I wouldn't be able to visit any longer."

He exhales, and adds in, "And now Miz Tiffany has babies coming too. And then THEY would grow up. And maybe THEY would be mortals too, and then I wouldn't be able to go visit GERD either."

"I waren't going to say nothing because it would maybe make my Knight and my Sister feel bad on account of neiter of 'ems can't fix it. But I'm Real Glad it got fixed."

He heaves a sigh, a weight off his shoulders at this worry he had been carrying.

Lane admits "I didn't understand all that, but.. I can tell you, it can be hard lying to my parents even when it's easy because they donn't see, but .. i would be Exra hard if I had to stay away all the time, but if you need help EVER we're here, and we're glad you cann go where we go with two legs"

Jack nods "I got dopted by changelings so itt's different, but I worry one day dad torin will get old and forget more ofenn... but I got ggift of pann and I'll fight the banality on him with it and prunes. "

"But you have four legs." Connor replies to Lane with a goofy grin.

To Jack, he considers. "Torin is already old. He's all wrinkly. But the Shadowpaw won't let him go nowhere." A firm nod.

Jack pats Connor on the back "And yeah, CJ will get big and maybe normal, but we'll just teach him how to dream, right? "

"Right!"

Lane nods "And Gerd is STILL your sister, because she's just too big for anyonne o say she's not"

"She's humumgus like all trolls" A nod from Jack

This appears to be a feature not a bug when it ensures sisterhood

Lane sighs " Iwish I had a sister , we would play and share and always get along!"

"Maybe trolls are normal sized, and everyone else is just small?"

Jack gapes "MIND BLOWN"

"Pop" Lane makes a tiny explosion sound

"You think it's a plot to keep the good rides to themselves?" Jack asks Connor

"Rides?" Connor is puzzled.

"Like at amusement parks and state fairs and... " His eyes widen "Connor, have you ever been on a roller coaster?

"

"Of course I have...." Connor says, kicking at the ground a little. "I mean, I've SEEN 'em, and that's about the same?"

"I ride on Dagmar's n' Me's bike, and sometimes on Star. Not on Stormy anymore though a'cuz he got feisty."

"Is t like that?"

"Oh, and I've been on car rides and you get to stick your head out the window!"

"Oh I never could go either! I was too poor " the boy says, "But this summer I got to ggo to some thanks to my folks and there are log flumes and roller coasters..."

"And Merry go rounds" Lane adds

"And tilt a whirls that make you dizzy!" Jack says "Conor, they can make you PUKE, it's awesome"

He looks uncertain about THAT.

"it doesnnn't usually, don't eat a lot first is all" Lane suggests "But you probably WOULD have fun"

"Is there food to eat there too? I went to the Apple Pickin' Place and we went on a hay ride, and they had baby goats, an' a corn maze! And Kettle corn and donuts..."

"Oh yeah" Lane nods "Lots of them have pretzels and hotdogs"