#rivervale_lodge

"I could call CPS."

Jaw drop. "You think he'd abuse you? Or wouldn't feed you?"

"Well, if I screwed up..."

Sylvi stares at her. "You think he'd do that stuff if you did something wrong?"

"Maybe, yeah. Especially if he was stuck..."

A quiet moment. Then she says, "He wouldn't. Y'know why?"

"He'd send me away, first? That's usually first."

"No." She stands again. "He wouldn't do it, first, because he'd be sworn to take care of you. That's the main thing. And then on top of that, even if he ever did, which he wouldn't, but if he did...Uncle Frank would kick his ass. And the Chieftain would help. Then my Dad, and my Mom, and me, too." She folds her arms. "But he wouldn't do it, anyway."

"Well. We just.... we just need to convince them that the Browns are fine. They are. I'm going to do better in school so I don't get in trouble again. So I can stay."

Sylvi frowns, listening, "Dagmar...you're trying to protect him? That's backwards."

"The Browns get Five-hundred-eighty-six-dollars a month for me. I know how it works."

"So? If you leave, they'll get five-eight-six for the next kid they take care of. What does that have to do with it?"

"So what does he get?"

Confused. "You're worried he can't take care of you? He has a job...and he's got what the Browns don't have, which is the support of a whole Lodge. You know that that's kind of a huge advantage for us, right?"

"No..."

"I know he has a job, he told me."

"So...?"

"So!" A frustrated noise. "You don't get it. You act like... like it's just going to be fine, like some movie."

"But life isn't like the movies."

"Maybe not...but for us, life is like stories. It really is, Dagmar. You get that, right?

Dagmar's face screws up, and she pushes to her feet. "You don't get it."

"Maybe. But neither do you. Yet." Sylvi shrugs. "You will, but...look, it comes down to the fact that things can change for real now. I happen to think you and Jaymes would do great. My two cents, or whatever."

"I gotta get back. Homework. You coming?"

Her chin juts out, tears threatening. "I left my homework at the house. I gotta go."

And before Sylvi can say more, Dag is off at a jog.

"Yeah...okay. See you tomorrow."

The dogs look after her, ears cocked, wondering what just happened. The stand and stretch and shake...then look expectantly to Sylvi. She sighs. "Okay, guys....Flopsy...algebra awaits." And she heads back to the Lodge.

The dogs were a nuisance, one dare not get too close. the girls talked? About what, only snippets were heard. Still, the important thing? the day maiden walked off away from the lodge. not towards it. Good. Fewer to have to slay.

(end scene)