#rivervale_lodge

"Well, let's just say if you need to move things strength is handy."

"Sure. Maybe that's what I'll do when I get out of school."

"Maybe" she nods "Happy to give tips"

"Well, like, be strong for whatever. I like working on the house."

"Construction might also do you" She smiles , and it seems there's MORE to it than that 'If you get the chance again"

"Well, yeah. Gotta be older to work."

"I was planning to get emancipated at sixteen. Get a job and my own place..."

"Well, for pay, but there's this thing dad told e about... habitat for humanity? Folks build affordable housing. It's not a charity exactly but it's kind of.. he says it helps some mortals who can't afford a house and there are other groups like it"

"Yeah?"

"Sure, ask him about he might know. "

"I guess."

"Well, I hope you don't emancipate right off at 16. I think Uncle Jaymes would miss you"

"Yeah... I mean... " A wistful sigh. "Lot can happen in two years."

Siv looks thoughtful "Yup. In two years I'll be 18...maybe considering college. I'll be dating a bad boy just to make dad twitch, that'll be fun. Maybe I'll be on a ship again, but I'd be back for some of the holidays"

"Oh..."

"Don't worry, nothing set in stone for me either. One thing I've learned about me, I don't plan, not REALLY. I just let it happen"

"Well, planning is stupid. World likes to fuck those up."

"AIn't that the truth?" She agrees "Still wish I were better at it sometime"

"It'd be nice to just go wherever you want..."

"yeah" Pained look "Well, we'llsee, each of us in our own time right? "

"Right."

"I mean... It.. I wouldn't wanna hurt Jaymes none."

"Yeah, Uncle Jaymes IS pretty cool." She agrees, "He is hard to get a smile out of though."

"No he isn't."

She looks surprised "you sure he's awfully..." she puts her hand over her own face and lowers it to reveal a stoic visage

"Well, sometimes."

"He doesn't grin like an idiot. But he smiles."

"Huh. I thought mom smiled more than he did, and she doesn't smile often" Siv is sure she's missing something

She shrugs. "I see him more, maybe?"

"Maybe he likes land more than the boat?"

"well, that's fair," She agrees "Mom loves the woods like I love the sea, and dad has a love of the road. Maybe Jaymes is like your glome friend, he's tiedto the earth itself. "

"Maybe! OH, you should see! Klump helped with the house!"

"I should do something nice for him, but I'm not sure what a rock would like."

"Oh, maybe some smaller rocks like at some new age shop? There are some lovely stones there even if they're over priced"

She wrinkles her nose. "Maybe I can find cool ones in the lake?"

"Ooo maybe. But then he might fuss about htem being taken from home..shoot.Idon't know how Glome think"

"Me neither. Okay."

"mm what do stones like... oh! I ...do you think he'd like music with deep tones? Like 'misty mountain' from the movies?"

"Maybe! I could ask Tove, she can sing."

"Or Torin her da, hee has a deeper voice but.. mmm well we don't know but almost everyone likes SOME Kind of music"

"There's a lot of music here."

"Maybe some kind of sampler with variety then"

"I don't think he has a radio."

"Maybe we can get him a radio" She says

Siv ponders "Okay, sorry, I'm butting on YOUR plan without asking if you mind my opinions"

"I'll just keep thinking on it."

She nods "Fair enough. Gee, Da is taking for ever with that new phone.I..oh da" she sighs "I bet he's making note of every boy's phone number on there"

"Ha. He's gonna go glare at all of them."

"I suppose I should just see him as the dragon guarding my moat. If the boys can't brave the danger then I shouldln't bother with them anyway" Trying to be philosophical about it

"Hmph. You don't need boys."