#rivervale_lodge

Bix chokes, perhaps stiffling a laugh as he hears about this

Frank lifts an eyebrow at Bix. "I suppose." he answers Zane.

"Put it this way, Zane. You -won't- ever be as smart as your dad if you don't try. And try hard, I think."

"mumble mumble " under the car

"That oil stop draining?"

"Yes sir" Zane says "And.. Nadeen said something similar" A sigh

Bix nods "All well here, Mountain. Zane, your dad change his own oil?"

"No" Zane says confsued "He pays folks. Why?"

"Well, there you go... you're now more educated than your dad.." Bix says simply "A lot on what is valued more depends on where you are and what's needed at the time. If the mountain don't mind me speaking up "

"Zane, get down there and remove the drain pan if it's done, put the plug back in."

"Yes sir... " Zane follows, his voice thoughtful

"Get those plugs good and tight. Can't have the new oil leaking out."

"Yes Mountain" Both boys say at the same time

"Ok, get on up here and we'll put the old oil in the can and get the new oil in." He shows them how.

Both boys are attentive.

"Now, you won't have gotten -all- the old oil out, but enough. See the difference in color? You can feel it too." He has them dab fingertips in both old and new to get the feel of it.

Zane goes "Okay, yeah. I didn't realize it was.. huh. I always thought oil was oil"

"Oh no it is not" Bix assures him. He is an old hand, but doesn't seem to be gloating so much as just assuring

"Bix, seems like you know this stuff better than maybe you let on."

"Oh sorrry sir, thought I said, I'm good with cars and tractors.. work with them on the farm" Bix says "Not so many makes and models"

"Well, you said. Just seems like maybe you were soft-selling your skills."

"Well, didn't want to brag, " Bix says

He chuckles. "Kith trait."

Zane says "Yeah, trolls sure don't talk much. Thank goodness you have us satyrs to balance you out. Mmm maybe pooka too"

Bix smiles at that

"OF course, not fair to paint with too broad a brush. There are chatty trolls."

"Sir Vali, or maybe that's by comparision.. and Siv sometimes" Zane says

The grump nods. "Yes."

"Hello?" SPeaking of Siv

Frank turns. "Hello, Siv."

"Da.. hi boys" She smiles. Zane smiles back, Bix just nods, then she blinks "Dad.. is.. is MY car ready? I mean.. to drive? Not just look at"

"I think the question is, are -you- ready?"

"I've been ready since winter" She says excitedly

"I think this is a consensus decision, Siv, not unilateral." Dryly.

"Well... I consent to driving. " She bounces "where did I Put my keys"

"In my dresser, which I'll thank you not to rifle through. Siv, how do you change a tire?"

"I show a bit of leg to a handsome male friend of mine" Wrly

Bix snorts

Zane blinks "I gotta learn how to change a tire"

Frank nods. "Bix, get the stuff from the ... no, nevermind. Everyone over to the trunk. Bix, show them where they can find things to change a tire." Frank observes the following.

"Dad, I was joking " Siv says and sighs , proceeding to say how to change a tire ,which it appears she knows

"Ok, Siv, you can narrate while Bix shows and Zane learns."

Trolls don't whimper, but she trolls pout "Yes, father" She says resigned that no, the car is not hers, not yet. She mutters something low under her breath, then gives instruction

Frank watches the three interact.

The hard part for Bix is waiting for the instructions as he could probably do this blind folded. Sometimes Siv is a bit vague, but Bix understands. Zane scrambles...not used to all this, but the boy seems game to try

So Siv's problem is an eagerness to get this over with. And Zane? Well, inexperience

And soon the tires is changed for the donut, and then everyone switches places and they put the tire back on.

Siv 's fangs might be grinding

"We finished changing the oil... want to show me where the fluids are?"

"Tell you what, why don't you show Zane. Bix, come on over here." Frank leads Bix a little bit away to allow Siv to work... but he keeps an ear and an eye on them.