#rivervale_lodge

"Give it a minute, by then she should be in the parkling lot and you can call her " Lupita advises but keeps walking towards the Barn

"So, wouldn't it be awesome if all of us make it to camp?"

"I don't know, sometimes you guys are a paiiiin" May of all people throws shade and sass now.

"Oh really?"

"Such tude now," Lupita shares a look with Sam.

"JUUST saying" May says then she can't hold it in anymore and gives a laugh snort "Of course it would be great, the three of us again"

"Exactly!"

"You know, they MIGHT even be impressed with our teamwork? for girls our age i mean?" Lupita says

"Sure. And y'know, college coaches will be there..."

"Oh geez that's right" May says

Lupita takes a breath "College. Wow."

Odd that their often most fearless member seems perhaps the most intimidated

"Well, I mean. Maybe."

"Totally worth a shot, and since do we not take the shot?" May is far more confident than she was.

"Right!"

Lupita perks at that "I guess you're right. Now, about that do..."

and Dagmar's phone rings

"Hello?"

"Hey..." A bit nervous in her tone, "They tell me there was a slip up and kids got out early...ahem. You didn't call to let me know that"

"We were headed straight home! I didn't think you'd be gone yet!"

"Well, when I showed up and you were GONE I got worried" WOw. Tove is fussing! Sam has had more than one foster who wouldn't have given a shit

"I'm fifteen! I can walk home!"

"Hey, don't take that tone with me, it's rude" Tove says over the phone.

"Uh oh" Lupita mutters to May/May mutters back, "I think you guys might have a pause on that dog search"

"But I mean you didn't need to worry..."

"I thought we'd get to the Barn in plenty of time."

"Well, I'm driving back..no need for you to walk all the way. Wait, you said 'we', are you with your friends?"

"Uh-huh. Lupe and May."

A moment of silence, "Well, do they need a ride to their homes, or do you three just want to walk the rest of the way or what? No harm now that I'm out here anyway"

"Uh. We were gonna hang out, maybe?"

"Fine. Do you all want a lift to save you the next 8 minutes or so of walking to the house?"

"we're okay, right girls?"

They both nod, with Lupita chiming up "it's cool"

APparently Tove heard that then "Well, you three did just get out of school. Best to burn some energy with fun right? Okay. I'll meet you there. Maybe get some snacks out for you"

"Snacks!"

WOOTS from both May and Lupita at that.

ANd Tove chuckles, "Definitely snacks. I'm glad you three are ok. I love you very much. See you soon"

Sam blushes. "Yeah yeah. Seeya!"

"Parents, right?" Lupita says consolingly "So uncool"

"My dad tells jokes." May says agreeing "And he think they're funny." A sad tisk

Siiiiigh. "Yeah."

"Tove was cool, but now she's a mom."

Sympathetic nods.

"But, I mean... she's good at it?"

"ANNNNND..." May chimes in "Snacks!"

"Snacks" Lupita agrees

"Snacks!" The trio marches home, with their cant.

By the time they get home, well, the car passed them, and they see Tove is almost one preparing a tray full of snacks "Okay, these aren't proper food now... pretzels , nuts, that sort of thing..." She places the bowl down, "Kind of Chex Mix ala Tove."

"Thanks Tove!"

How long does it take three teenage girls to inhale a bowl of Chex Mix?