#bergen_county

Then , there's a knock

As kerri knocks on the door

Indeed. One hand knocking. The other carrying a covered basket.

It is Anne Marie who opens the door. She looks like she's been busier than usual "Oh, kerri, hello"

"Hello, AnneMarie. I hope this isn't a bad time?" she adds, noting her busy demeanor.

"Oh, I just cleared out a room, then filled it again... " She admits

"Ahh. This has to do with your new member of the household?" A knowing grin.

"Oh Vali gossiped with you before I could" She huffs for show.

"You were busy. I bring offerings," she indicates the basket. "And two arms to help, if you'd like."

"come in, come in" The door frame may require her to duck

She's navigated the Lee doorway before. "How's Bruce?"

"Stoic as a troll... but he had someone die on his table. You can imagine how he hates that" She guides her friend to the kitchen

"Oh, no. I'm sorry. I imagine that happens, but it must be troubling."

She gestures to the counter "There, please." Meaning her basket "And thank you. Yes."

Kerri sets down the basket and pulls back the covering dishtowel to reveal a generous amount of cookies. "So, tell me more about this new girl? I hear her name is Cleo?"

"Oh she's a sweet girl, age 8... and tries to be no trouble but she's ...well, she's hurting, of course. But she's really been helping about the house. Cleans a lot "

"Coping mechanism, maybe? I mean, in addition to boggan instincts."

She lowers her voice "I worry it's borderline OCD but ... too soon to make judgements like that" She speaks normally as she looks at the cookies "Oh Kerri, my waistline. Oh yes, this needs to go to the kids so they can save me from antoher half inch"

"Mm, see that little tin at the side? That's for Symon. I got some from my stash that got a little bit soggy and moldy."

"You are so conscientious to him" She says with gratitude "He'll love it. Thank you. Would you like to meet Cleo?"

"I would, if you think that's okay?"

'well, unless she says otherwise" Anne Marie calls out "Cleo dear? Are you up to meet a friend of mine?"

Cleo comes down peeking around the corner behind her glasses, then ..cautiously, she steps out "Uhm. Hello?"

"Hello, Cleo." Kerri nods. "I'm Kerri, Hearth of Rivervale Lodge." While she towers over the girl, she does not speak "down" to her, nor take on a childish tone. She treats her as a sensible person.

This seems appreciated. The 8 year old looks up, then takes her glasses off, cleans her lenses, and puts them back on "It's nice to meet you, kerri. What's a hearth, please?" She fidgets a bit as she asks

"Hearth is one of the leaders of a Lodge, the one who cares for the sustenance and support of the rest of the Lodge. Functionally, that means I do a lot of cooking and cleaning," she adds with a bit of a grin. "I brought some cookies. Would you like one?"

"The person who cooks and cleans gets to leaaad?" Okay, for a moment she smiles, liking the notion

"Very sensible folks, trolls" Anne Marie nods

Kerri chuckles. "There is a Chieftain, who leads overall, and who is usually also one of either Hearth, or Mountain, or Storm. Rivervale's Chieftain, Brekke, is also Storm."

"Oh, and...well, if its no trouble?" Cleo says At the cookie offer

Anne Marie nods that yes, it's okay

"There's chocolate chip and snickerdoodles."

"Ooo, Snickerdoodles" She says. "Funny name that" She grabs one

Darn it. The Mountain will take a victory lap for that

"Isn't it?" Kerri agrees, and envisions Vali's smug expression. Well, he's not wrong.

She says "Thank you very much, Hearth Kerri. Everyone has been so nice to me here"

"I'm glad to hear that. If that's ever not the case, you should let one of us know."

Cleo eats her cookie, starts to, but seems almost super cuatious about driping crumbs.Not to glutton , but fear of making a mess.

both Dames notice this

"i don't want to be any trouble" Cleo says

"Well, messes happen. I'm sure you know how to clean up after yourself, right?"

"Messes are only a problem if the person who makes them doesn't take care of them, after all."

"I.. i do... i ... things get messy, and you can't do anything.. but maybe clean... and you try to wipe it away" Cleo swallows "And I... I will try. I can do that . I can clean. I can't stop the mess but I can..can..." her eyes start to fill

Kerri crouches down and offers a hand to hold if she wishes. "I know. And sometimes, some messes can't get fixed by one person. Or at all. Others can help, if you wish."

Anne Marie is on the girl's other side "And we will. I know. I turn to Kerri for help all the time. She's a good friend. She's here for others. And so am I "

The girl by will power recovers "YEs, yes, thank you I'll be okay. I'm sorry to be trouble"

"No trouble. You should see all the times I've turned to AnneMarie for help," the great big troll lady says.

She withdraws her hand if it's not held, but stays crouching. "Also, you should feel comfortable coming to the Lodge whenever you wish. It is there for all of us in Rivervale."

"You are not trouble, Dear. you're a person who had trouble in her life. Not the same thing"

that from Anne Marie