#brightwindsbarony

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And meanwhile...

Irene comes back from spending the night with Ashlee. Irene's mom had 'adult dinner' with Morthwyl

And her mom is in the kitchen almost dancing as she cooks as some song, Terri Gibbs "Somebody's Knocking" is playing on the radio

"Oh, we're dancing!" She joins in!

"Ha ha" Her mom laughs "Hey you!" Oh wow she's happy and actually dances a bit more with her, a hip swivel "How was sleep over?"

"Great! We watched Unicorn Riders and Miss Julia made POPCORN with CARAMEL and we stayed up until midnight and..."

Her mom nods a lot grinning as if hearing about Unicorn RIders for the 145th time was wonderful, and maybe it is? For she's absorbing it all

"How was grown-up dinner? Did you have wine?" Obviously, that's what makes it grown up!

"We did have wine" She nods "But not much, and I got carded even" She looks pleased at this for some reason, then goes on "The meal was very fancy, and you would have loved the dessert, it had three kinds of chocolate. I saved some for you and had it brought home"

"Ooo."

In truth it was scary wonderful to the woman how much she forgot she had a kid. She loves Irene fiercely, but that night ,she actually didn't think of herself as 'working mom woman' for hours. It was liberating to be just a woman with a man

"Yes, but first, you have to have a grilled cheese sandwich"

A dramatic sigh. "Oh, the horror!" Then a grin. "Can you put mustard on it?"

"MUSTARD on a grilled cheese?" A brow, then a smile "Regular mustard or fancy mustard?"

"Yellow please, not the weird stuff."

"Very well, but only because I respect your discerning taste" Yes, mustard added, the Yellow sort, like nature intended

"I like Mr. Morgan." She declares.

"me too" her mom looks a bit dreamy

indeed, while not enchanted ,she almost glows anyway

A giggle.

"Did you know he looks VERY good with a green tie?"

"Does he?"

"he DOES" she says

"Did you go dancing?"

"We did... He dances well too." Fond memory

"Good."

"I worried I was going to look silly but.. after a bit, I didn't feel worried anymore. Life is like that I guess. "

Irene nods, sagely. "Dancing is good, especially if it makes you happy."

"You are a very bright young lady to know that" A nod "how's the sandwich?" Purple koolaid has been provided

"Zesty!"

"Glad you like"

"Well, it's a Donaldson Special."

"World famous" A pause "Texas famous at least "

"Well, Texas is near big enough for the world."

"Miss Nessa is gonna take me and Zahab to the arcade. Zahab is funny."

"She's an odd one, Zahab, but I do feel for her. Glad she got out of Afghanistan"

"She likes tall tales." Agreeably.

"Yes she should fit in Texas fine there" Amused "And Nessa is a SWEETIE

"

"Uh-huh! And she lets me braid her hair in all kinds of fancy patterns!"

"You're good at that" An observation

"It's fun! Miss Julia was showing me how to braid bracelets. With all kinds of colors. She says they're friendship bracelets, have you ever heard of them?"

"Wow, those are still around? Yeah, when I was young I made some for a few friends"

"YOU made them?" Big eyes.

"Well, it's been a LONG time but at one time I did"

"Wow! Maybe we could make some, later?"

"Oh honey I'd love to, but last night was one of my few nights off.. and.. I have to work late today. In an hour I'll be gone"

She doesn't sigh, not out loud. "Oh, right. But that's time for dessert before you go?"

"Yes it is" A nod then "And later this week I will try to find time so we can make friendship bracelets together"