#rivervale_lodge

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While in the kitchen...

Sally Mae and Dagmar don't always get to talk, except when Dagmar needs help with math and Symon's not around.

"Surprised Hearth Kerri isn't back yet," Sally Mae admits "Then again most of the food is prepped. " SHe's working on some smaller desserts. "I'm going to need a taste tester for these cupcakes"

Dagmar raises an eyebrow. "That... is not a lie."

Sally Mae sighs 'SO glad I didn't have a Gwydion around when I was younger. I lied all the time then."

"Well, I know a volunteer..."

"You would get honest feedback!"

A smile at her "I'd get my ear whacked or put in a corner is what I'd get, and sometimes did. Swear, to this day I probably could tell you more about room corners back on the farm than a tour guide. Now, onto the volunteering..." Sally Mae lathers on the chocolate, "Try this without sprinkles, and tell me if you think Sprinkles are too much or would help?"

"Can do." CHOMP.

Sally Mae tilts her head and waits for the verdict.

It's really quite good.

But then, she's been training under two hearths so Sally Mae better be good

"It's really good. Can you add sprinkles to what's left and I can try it with?"

"Good plan" She agrees, and puts on the homemade sprinkles. Dagmar may not have known before moving here that one could make their own sprinkles, but, well gosh, you can

the sprinkles add tiny islands of variety sweet on the lake of chocolate dark.

"Well, I like them..."

"mm how about I put sprinkles on half of the cupcakes and that way..." she lets the idea hang

"Choice!"

"Yeah, some of the grumps might be all 'Oh, that's too sweet.' Like that's actually a thing..."

She winks "They can be wimps can't they?"

"I know, right?" She finishes the cupcake.

"I hope Gerd'll be in a better mood after all of this."

"I hope so too. This has hit her hard." Concern marks Sally Mae's features. "She's such a sweet girl normally."

"Yeah. Cheery. But I got her this awesome nail polish - it looks like it's black but it's ACTUALLY purple sparkles, but only when the light hits it right. Isn't that cool?"

"THat is cool...very eyecatching at just the right moment"

"I hope she'll like it. I had a dollar left, so I got stickers with it."

"I think Gerd will like it. You put thought into it. You showed you cared what she liked. That's a lot more important than price."

"Well, I hope so."

"I didn't have time to make something, and I wasn't sure WHAT ot make..."

"You're worrying too much" Sally Mae says "Gerd is... trying to find out who she is ,who she wants to be. And while maybe I'm wrong, I bet what she thinks she's going to want now is not going to be what she wants later. With growth, there is change, and revelation."

"Well, yeah."

"I mean, I remember not wanting to be anything."

"Well, I'm glad you seem to realize there is a lot you CAN be and it's okay to work for those dreams. I bet the hard part is figuring out which path from here on," A guess

"Yeah, it is."

"I mean... lots of ideas?"

"Got a bit of that myself" she admits "So it's okay at your age that you see all these paths and aren't sure. It's not a down hill race.... you can turn around if you have to or want to." A nod

"Right. I mean, if I am good enough I might be able to go to college for free. Coach says another year, and I might start breaking state records for shotput."

"I don't know if it's cheating, but I'm really good at throwing heavy stuff."

"It's not cheating, it's just you...and it's not like you don't work to build those muscles up" She reminds "I've seen you practice hard. Lifting heavy things, swinging fly swatter around. You have a gift, but it's not one you take for granted. "

Sally Mae then smiles "Besides, I might put some money down on a bet on you breaking that record"

"Ha! I'm gonna try to break the boys' one."

She grins "Good on ya"

Sally Mae chatters for a bit about her own college exploits and the differences between it and the home schooling she knew "Lots of folks to get used to, and I can't always trust a professor to be as patient as one of my family members- but my word so much to learn ,and more choices in a lot of ways. Definitely suggest a schoalrship though"

"Oh, I couldn't do it without one. It's too expensive."

"And I'd have to make it worthwhile. So, like, make up my mind? I'm not as smart as Symon or Sylvi."

"Lots of smart people drop out of college all the time. It's not about smart... it's about self discipline and not giving up."

"Well... I can be pretty stubborn."

"Turn that into study focus and you'd be surprised. Also... don't be too proud to talk to the professors for any help they can give if you struggle. Some of them are pretty willing to point you in the right way"

"Well, I have to finish high school, first."