#rivervale_lodge

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A basketball hoop is an amazing thing. It appears to have a magical power to get you guests. May and Dalena Gonzales for example

Unenchanted, they only know that Sam is damn strong, knows how to play... and has a hoop. Jaymes eyes them from the window as they play . Normally a stand offish man, he finds his life somewhat awash with female energy. Olgar warned him of this.

The squeak of rubber on concrete as Sam evades her friends - getting clear to launch a shot.

Gonzolez is short but quick and aggressive, Sam has learned not to let her guard down. May is more timid, but under the examples of her two friends has been less so... so May leaps trying to block the shot

"Awww - nice!" A laugh, and she jogs off to grab the displaced ball.

"I can't believe I did it" may grins

"Believe it girl, when we're done with you you'll be the third best ball player at school" Gonzalez says

"Third, Gonzales?" She bounce-passes the ball to the short girl. "You forgetting Giamatti?"

"Well, I'm too busy being number one to keep track" she says cockily and begins some impressive weaving of the ball to hustle in for her own shot

"I'll settle for not letting the team down" may says

"Well, you ain't gotta worry about that..." Sam treads light, getting between Gonzales and the hoop. She is a TALL barrier.

Gonzalez sometimes slips and plays street, though against Sam, it doesn't matter much. It's kind of elbowing a brick wall, doesn't stop her from trying. And failing as Samantha snags it with a leap and her natural height. The sky is the realm of the thundergoddess!

"Ain't gonna work, Gonzales!" Dribble, dribble - shoot!

It goes in , bit of a bounce, but it goes in

"Darn, you're tall, you don't need to get fast" Gonzalez grumbles then claps Dag on the back

May grins getting the ball back.

"Oh, you met my cousin Siv - SHE is fast. Couldn't talk her into basketball, though."

"Gonna try track and softball in the spring - in track, y'know, there's one event that's just throwing stuff super far!"

"Oh like the discuss or shotput" May says "Oh wow yeah, or maybe the javelin"//"Don't folks only do those sports for the olympics?" Gonzales asks//"No no, you just only see them on TV then" May assures. "And I met your cousin , Siv. She seems nice. Odd accent though."

"Well, homeschooled. She just got back to America."

"She's cool" May says

"She is. I'm still getting to know her."

"Your other cousin or whatever she is, sylvi? she's a bit stuck up" Gonzales says

"maybe we caught her on an off day?" May asks

A frown. "She was in a mood that day."

"Well, I don't trash others famila but she rubbed me wrong, you know?" Gonzales admits "Glad she's not always like that"

"Yeah. Me too."

"Hey girls," Tove calls out from the window, "You thirsty or hungry yet?"

"Oh!" She looks at the others. "You hungry?"

"little..." may admits//"That means she's famished" Gonzales translates "and I sure wouldn't say no. Who's she? "

"Tove? She... well.. it's complicated? She visits a lot. She's nice, you'll see!" Sam tucks the ball under her arm. "FOOD! We're coming, Tove!"

The girls make their way in, Tove says "Wash your hands, please." There is a smell of home made chicken nuggets "This is just something I whipped up, the ones on the left are extra spicy, the ones in the milddle only mildley spicy, and the ones on the right pretty dull but savory"

Twobit comes up to bark at the strangers in the house, fierce, like a doberman!

"TWO-bit! They're allowed! Tove, this is May and this is Gonzales. They're on the team. Guys, this is Tove."

"Oh she's adorable" May gushes at the dog.

"She's not a real dog, but don't tell her that. Or do, she'll ignore it."

Twobit likes praise and barks. She certainly THINKS she's a dog.

wagging butt

Sam DOES wash her hands, and leaves the water running. No towel, hands wiped on sweatpants.

"nice to meet you, May, Gonzlaes" Tove says

The other girls follow suit, Gonzales uses a hand towel though, perhaps her own family deosn't let you get away with skipping that. May no sooner washes and drives them off then she pets the dog, "You are too a real dog aren't you yes you are."

Tove sighs at the mixed attempts at washing hands andd keeping them clean "Okay , should be enough for at least five chicken chunks for each of you."

"Nice to meet you, Miss" /"Senorita" A nod//"Oh it's just Tove, thanks"

A snort and a grin at May. "Yeah, you and Jaymes. Feeding her lies."

Waggity

Sam grabs plates and hands them off. "Dibs on the hot ones!"

"Hey," Gonzales says "I want at least one or two, because, no offense, when white people say spicy? They don't really mean it" Boy is she in for a surprise

"Cola , Tea or water?" Tove says setting up drinks

"Ain't all white." She harrumphs. "Tea, please."