#debukefarmhold

Earl winces at that last "I was not a cute baby"

"Earl you take that back, you were adorable" Eloise is offended.

Earl says "The pictures of my cousins as babies have these jolly thick cherubs. Me? I looked like a gangly defeathered owl, big eyes, lots of staring"

"Feh. I know Mama hath shown you that picture."

"Oh" A smile "That's different , you really WERE an adorable baby" Earl assures

"I maybe moved to lose my temper" eloise huffs as her son denies his infant perfection

"I like this one." She shows him the sketching photo.

"Oh..wow. " He says looking over it "Yeah, I was so into it I didn't even see mom with the camera"

"Aye. And thus, we can see thee. Unvarnished."

Eloise nods "She's right. It's the artist unvarnished, which kind of rhymes"

Earl chuckles "It kind of does"

"And I see thy quest was also successful."

"Yes. He said that he wanted to meet our .. uhm.. first born if we ever had one. I told him we would have visited anyway, but then he said it was now a pact and not a courtesy and you'd explain the difference to me" MORE blushing, for a different reason

"mmmph" Eloise frowns "I never liked that scarecrow. You don't oath anything to him, you hear?"

"I hear, ma, I hear" he assures

"Oh. Hm. A fair price, then. Acceptable."

He looks relieved. The hat is not bound to the scarecrow as much as his own straw from him would be, but it is of the same stuff as him, and he has worn it. There's a use here, and even perhaps a blessing.

It should add to the house nicely

Eloise still looks doubtful but lets it go

"Now, let me get you some tea too, Earl. Will you two be staying for dinner?" She asks

"Ah..." A touch uncertain. She glances at Earl.

"Forgive us , mom, but what Zara is too nice to say is we're kind of organizing all our plans at Earth Runes and need to ...well, strategize there with friends and t he people for the land purchase" He says contritely "So this is likely our last cup of tea. We'll make it up to you?"

"Well, you've done nothing wrong, but how about I see you folks after Imbolc? That's when you'll put the house up I imagine" She observes

"Pardon?" earl says

"Seems like the best time to at least set down the first stone" Eloise observes "Or am I wrong on that?"

Earl blinks. The idea of laying some part of the claim on Imbolc itself had not occured to him

Zara brightens!

"Oh, that is a good idea."

"Imbolc, or wait until Beltaine."

"THat's not bad" Earl says "Mom, you're a genius"

"I'm just learning that myself" Eloise says with gentle humor

A bit more tea, and things gathered up, and farewells are made!

Earl carries their prizes on the way to the trod "Imbolc or Beltaine, something else to think about" he kisses her gently on the top of the head

It's been a good visit

(End Scene)