#bergen_county

"Go ahead and knock." Frank encourages Connor, keeping back just a bit.

His tail wags back to Frank.

And the door opens, the big man is surprised to see Connor, and what seems to be a scowl fades "Yeah?"

"Hullo! Can Jodie come out to play?"

"You're a friend of Jodie?" He asks

Nod nod! "We're in Mrs. Trashcan's class together."

Oops. Handclap over his mouth.

"Oh, you're That kid" he says with a shake of hsi head. Then a more cautious glance at Frank "that your father or something?"

Frank lifts a hand in greeting. "Frank King."

"Oscar Darling" he says as if expecting lip on the last name "didn't know jodie had made friends. She's faced some...challenges" he turns and calls in "Jodie, you have a friend here"

"Friend?" the voice coming down from the stairs sounds confused

"Pleased to meet you. You folks recent arrivals?" making polite conversation.

"Joooodie! We didn't get to finish co-lo-ring!" He calls with a wave.

"Pop-pop 'n I are walking over to the new park. The one with the flowers and the tetherballs and the swings and the fountain."

"Not exactly, this belonged to my parents, wasn't too proud to say no when they offered it to me and the kid"

Jodie comes into view of Connor looking surprised, but also bleary "I don really feel like it"

Oscar looks at jodie "Jodie, you need some sunlight...might as well enjoy"

"mmph" She shrugs but shuffles out. Yes, that drug certainly takes her zip

"Thank you! You know, you're not a grouch at all." He says, approvingly, to Mr. Oscar

Oscar smirks "I have been. Work in progress"

"Amen, brother."

Oscar looks surprised at that "Can I get you a drink frank? Feel I owe you for babysiting"

Jodie looks at Connor "Let's go?" A shrug

"I'm good, thanks. Always a pleasure to spend time with Connor."

"Your kid or grandkid?" he asks

"Grandkid." Frank says. "We have two daughters."

"My Dad lives in New York." He says, quite matter of fact as he starts walking.

"Oh" A nod

jodie follows connor to the park

Frank trails after Connor. "What time does she need to be back?"

He asks Oscar.

"Dinner will be ready in an hour and a half" Oscar says

"You got it." Frank pledges, and follows to the park.

"Debbie knows it's Prince Spaghetti Night!" Connor agrees cheerfully. To Jodie, "Have you been to Shadowpaw Park yet?"

"Nope" She shrugs "Dad would take me but folks think a guy watching a girl is somekind of pervert these days and I don't want him in trouble"

"But he's your Pop."

"People are stupid" She says "Also he's an ex con"

Frank walks along, listening; might as well be deaf, being an old man and all....

"Then you need to stick up for him." He nods.

"I do" She flares a bit "you saying I don't stick up for my dad?" GLOWER

and some of that gray off

Innocent blinking. "You're doing a good job right now. But if you're at the park, and, let's pretend I come over, and am all "HEM HEM WHAT WHAT? WHO'S THE GROUCHY OLD POOP WATCHING OVER THIS MAIDEN FAIR? SOMEONE SHOULD CALL THE FUZZ?"

He does his best 'Entitled Middle-Aged Soccer Mom' voice.

He shakes a finger!

"I'm not supposed to get mad" The girl says seeming to calm "I can't. I take meds for it"

"So dad avoids trouble" She adds

"You don't have to get MAD. You can just Be HONEST. Say what you MEAN."

A glare "I get in trouble when I do that"

"Jodie has anger issues. Jodie has a VIOLENT tone, Jodie's language skills are 'behind'"

Obviously quoting someone