#rivervale_lodge

Baaack to the fridge, holding it open as she pokes around.

"Hmm. A hankering you can't figure out, Dagmar?"

"Yeah..."

"Dunno. Can't sit still. Thought I was hungry but I don't know what I want."

"Wellll....do you want to make something?"

"Dunno. Maybe?" Cupboard!

"Why's she acting so weird? Is it the adolescence again?" Gerd says worriedly

"I think...it's because her saining is so close," Kerri answers Gerd.

"Who came up with this year and a day bullshit, anyhow? Why not a year? Or 360 days?"

"Language." Kerri taps on the counter. "It's an ancient time period. The entire cycle of the sun. Think of it like...you've seen that symbole of the ourobouros? The snake biting its tail?"

"it's important" A nod

She nods. "So think of the year like the snake in a big circle, plus a little more so the snake's tail can fit in its mouth...and that's the day. It sort of locks the cycle in place."

"Mmmph."

Kerri smiles. "It's not so bad. It'll be past, soon. How about...popcorn...with chocolate drizzle?"

"I guess. Jaymes is taking me to court for paperwork on Thursday though, the day before..."

"Popcorn?" She brightens. "That sounds good!"

"I could get hungry for chocolate drizzle" gerd opines

"Do you need witnesses for court? Oh, of course, you've got Tove." Kerri gets the popcorn from the cabinet and starts setting up the oil in a pot with a lid.

"Gerd, get me the double-boiler, please, and fill the bottom part with water."

"As I understand it's mostly a formality. Mr. Wayburton and Ann Marie helped a lot."

"They're good like that."

Gerd gets to work "Right away, Hearth"

She wanders around in an aimless circle. "I mean, that's... that's all real and legal too, ain't it?"

"You don't think it'd go wrong, do you?"

"Jaymes won't let it go wrong." Gerd says

She chews on a hangnail and nods. "Never been in one place this long, not for years."

"I don't think anything will go wrong. And even if anything did go wrong, it would only be a delay. We would find a way to fix things and make them okay. I'm sure of it. Now...where are those chocolate chips...."

"I saw them!" She goes to another cupboard, leaving the first hanging open.

"Good." Kerri drops three popcorn kernels in the hot oil and waits to hear them pop-pop-pop before adding the rest of them and covering the pot.

"Yup. You're stuck with us now, " Gerd grins

She grabs down the bag of semi-sweet chips. "Yeah."

"Double-boiler on the stove, burner up to medium high. Dagmar, add about a cup of the chocolate chips." Kerri doesn't watch the measuring too closely...but she does do the work of keeping the popcorn pot moving so the kernels don't burn.

Gerd follows the orders like a trooper

It is a generous cup.

"Dagmar, use a wooden spoon to keep the chocolate moving around in there once it starts to melt." And then it's a waiting game...and a bit of a race...will the popcorn finish popping before the chocolate is liquid? "Gerd, we'll need the big bowl. You know the one."

Dag stirs, being careful - she remembers the time the chocolate seized up and wants to avoid a repeat.

"Got it" Dash and fetch

Kerri grins at the girls. At least the aimless banging around has stopped.

Ah, and then the popping has begun.... pop-pop....pop....poppity-pop-pop! Shake shake shake shake....

Stir stir stir.

Gerd makes sure there are plenty of paper towels too! Above and beyond

"You think I'll have to go to school Friday?"

"I think that's up to Jaymes, not me. But I also think it would be a better way to spend the day than waiting around, aimlessly ransacking somebody's kitchen," Kerri teases gently.

"Heyyyy."

...poppity poppity poppity...shake shake shake....

"How's the chocolate?"

"Looks great" Peeking

"Melty."

"Okay...Gerd, you're going to get to pour it over the popcorn...which is...just about...almost ready...." Shake-poppity-shake-poppity- pop-pop....pop....poppity....

pop....