#brightwindsbarony

"Yes, Ashlee, she's the onee with the..." She decide perhaps it's not a good role model to label a child by ugliness "She's the tall one right?"

Irene nods. "Uh-huh."

"She's staying with Mrs. Harkson now. And she's WAY nicer."

"Mrs. Harkson is also way nicer than Mr. Harkson was. You wanna see my drawings from the art center?"

"I would, and frankly, no one liked mr. Harkson, that man was a selfish tick on the whole area. Do you know he stopped an animal shelter because he was afraid it would make too many barking noises near a golf course?"

"But don't tell his widow I said that. Now let's see that art"

"I won't. I don't know if she knew what he was like." Irene takes out her drawings - there are rhinos, and angels, and centaurs...

Landsharks!

"Ooo that's new... " She says noting the shark fins . She DOES try to pay attention, in truth, she's rather glad she's adding stuff and hasn't stopped at angel. She just doesn't have time for her overtime laden work, helping her daughter on the weekends with school projects AND to take her kid to church Sorry, Grandma, I think God will understand "The rhinos are still the good guys right?"

"Her name is Rhonda and she's very good and she likes plum jam and grape juice and other purple foods."

"Does she" A smile "Well guess what? I hope you like purple jam too, because some is in your sandwich today" A happy look as she hands over the brown bag "Now, you dressed warmly? It's FREAKY cold out there?"

"Annnnd peanut butter?" A winning smile and bright eyes.

"Now would I put in Jelly or Jam and forget Peanut butter ? " She says then eskimo kisses her daughter with the nose "Yes with Peanut Butter!"

Not yelling mad, now, the excited echo of her daughter's own enthusiasm. Irene loves video games, and thta was fine but for a bit it was all she had and that.. that's not healthy. And it really bothered Mrs. Donaldson that she wasn't able to DO more. Stupid 50 hour work week

"Do you think my friends could visit, sometime?"

"oh honey.. maybe on fri.. no I have to do the paperwork on the Kenzie report... " She ponders then "Not this week. We'll talk later about it"

Irene's mom is always so busy. Some folks parents don't have ANY Jobs these days, and her mom tells her they're lucky. But when her mom is here, she's still working on thep hone or lap top, or in a rush to get TO work. This was a nice chance to talk to her though

"I know, Mom." Resigned.

A flash of guilt, then a breath "There's my brave girl. Now, let's get you to school. Get your mask"

"I'm gonna wear the purple one!" She declares, as she runs to get it from her room.

A soft smile. One of these days that kid is going to learn about body paint and I'm going to have to explain to her she's not allowed to be a purple person. _ A Look at the time _Shit, if Lowbern throws one more TPS cover sheet lecture at me today, I am going to hurl hot coffee in his face. IT's a guideline , not a rule

The happy violent thought of doing physical damage to Lowbern rallies her and she looks at the time "Did you find it?" She calls out

"YES!"

"OKAY THEN... need to get going!" She calls back

There house is not large, but it's not small so she can justify yelling across hallways

Irene returns, purple mask, sparkly Jojo barette-bow, rainbow sneakers...

And COAT?

Mother practicality kicking in. All the purple in the world won't protect her kid from 20 degrees

...Hoodie?

(Purple Hoodie?)

(It just may be!_

"Oh honey at least get a ..." She gets her daughter a thicker coat "I know you like purple and I will get you a purple coat as soon as I can but today, you're wearing this too. " And her daughter now has a yellow coat on her

"Yes mom."

"Now, I .. ah, there's the bus," SHe moves with her daughter "I cannot believe they are not canceling in this weather"

"But then you'd miss work!" Kiss on Mom's cheek. "Love you!"

She wants to tell her daughter she's more important than work, but if she doesn't work, her daughter does without so.. the circle feels steel tight at times "I wouldn't say I miss it, Bob" She quotes one of her favorite movies then smiles "Love you too. " a kiss on her daughter's cheek in return, ANd while her daughter goes to the bus, Mrs Donaldson rushes to her own car. She's in danger of being late

Irene gets on the bus. She misses Ashlee being on the ride together.

Siiiigh.

But hey, there's a dreamer.. and for the first time in awhile, she's allowed to muse her without sharing or stuff. The Bus driver has an amazing voice she normally only uses in Church

"Miss Nance, do you know any songs about snow?"

"Oh so many songs, not all of them Christmas" the woman smiles "Funniest snow song I heard had good advice... you wanna hear it?"

"Oh, yes please!"

"Now, the prefer to be called Inuits now or something ... so if you meet a real eskimo you call them that, or better yet, ask their name and you call them that, okay sweet child?"

This has gotten the interest of others riding and the conversations quiet so they can hear

And the woman begins to sing "Dreamed I was an Eskimo
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)
Frozen wind began to blow
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)
Under my boots 'n around my toe
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)
Frost had bit the ground below
(Boop-boop aiee-ay-ah!)
Was a hundred degrees below zero
(Booh!)
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)
And my momma cried:
Boo-a-hoo hoo-ooo
And my momma cried:
Nanook-a, no no (no no...)
Nanook-a, no no (no no...)
Don't be a naughty Eskimo-wo-oh
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)
Save your money: don't go to the show
Well I turned around an' I said:
HO HO
(Booh!)
Well I turned around an' I said:
HO HO
(Booh!)
Well I turned around an' I said:
HO HO
An' the Northern Lites commenced t' glow
An' she said
(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop...)
With a tear in her eye:
WATCH OUT WHERE THE HUSKIES GO
AN' DON'T YOU EAT THAT YELLOW SNOW
WATCH OUT WHERE THE HUSKIES GO
AN' DON'T YOU EAT THAT YELLOW SNOW"

BIG eyes, and then lots of laughs.

Miss Nance soon is teaching the kids the song and they join in

and Irene can feel the glamour haloing around the woman like a rainbow...sharing light

Irene catches some of the extra in her hands, drawing it close and warm.

And sings along!