#debukefarmhold

"I'm not going alone .Who will protect me from social embarrassment?"

"I don't know how we're... I wanted to try and help Vashti and Shalimar..."

"I know. Maybe the greening?"

A nod. "Mayhaps."

A knock at their door, very soft.

Zara closes her eyes, listening to the breath and movement beyond the door.

Shuffling, fidgeting, possibly mumbling.

a whisper "lo?"

"Come in."

The door opens to reveal a seven year old boy, and a nocker

Zara falters, struggling to put on her "public" face for a moment - neutral and pleasant, unruffled... yes, there. And she rises to get tea.

"Hi, Jake" Earl says

The boy winces like he heard a shrill noise "It's Jacob"

"Jacob." mumbled.

"Apologies, Jacob" Earl says. "Hi, Miriam."

Zara fusses with the tea.

"Hey."

She is very meticulous - knowing how all prefer their cups. It takes a great deal of attention.

"A'right, so... listen."

"Aye?" She asks, polite and neutral.

Earl appears to be all ears

"Retirin'."

Zara looks over, hands stilled mid-stir.

Miriam slouches into a corner.

Jacob nods to Zara

Earl looks at Zara to watch her response

"Oh." Faintly.

She sets the cup down and double-checks the tray.

"Well, that's wonderful, Miriam" Earl says , "Where do you plan on staying. Maybe we or the others here can help?"

"Got no plans. Yet. I'll figure it out."

"I'm sure the Uncles would help. They offered before."

She carries the tray over, carefully setting out cups for each - spoiled cream for Jacob, extra sugar for Miriam...

and Jacob hugs his sister, "thank you."

"Those bozos?"

Her lips thin, just a hair. "A thought, only. They care deeply for you."

"You are welcome, Jacob."

She perches primly in her chair before taking her own cup - all manners observed, holding the china just so, posture demure (head tilted slightly down, with pale bangs straggling across her eyes.)

Miriam takes a cup if handed one, slurps it. She eyes Zara.

Of course a cup. She is a guest, manners are minded. Zara knows just how she likes it.

"But sis, thanks to you I knew and we got to talk We get Mom... uhm.. mother? What should we call you?" Jacob looks to Miriam a toothless smile

She shrugs. "Miriam, I guess?"

He wrinkles his nose at that, "That doesn't seem proper, you sure?"

"I call her that."

"Yeah, s'fine." Slurp.

"Well, okay" Jacob says reluctant, "if that's how it is."

Earl says "There are worse things to be called than your name, right, 'Jacob'?"

"She does not wish me to call her something else, nu?" A shrug.

"Oh." THe boy says and sips his tea, then "if zara and I end up sharing a room I want the top bunk"

"I will be going to college soon. We shall not share a room."

A sharp look at Zara, but she speaks to Jacob. "Zara's goin' ta college. You an' me 'll figure something out."