#rivervale_lodge

"We're so asking for that reward," Lupita says with zero guilt

"Okay okay, just be tactful mm?" Tove suggests "You three want to handle this while I stay in the car, or you want me to go with you?"

"We got this. Right?"

"Definitely" may says

And so the trio march up the walk and ring the bell.

Theo is probably Losing His G-D Mind.

OH HELL Yes.. his breed of terrier is considered by some a calmer breed of terrier...

But still a terrier.

but that's kind of like like saying someone is a more decisive Gemini...

The doorbell wrings...

but it is the barking that draws attenion as a young boy yells "It's THEO!"

Another woman's voice says "Mike, wait for..."

But the door is opened as a 9 year old mortal boy cares not who he might hit and without even seeming to SEE the girls, rushes down to hug Theo who is liking him all over the face

Dagmar grins.

As the only changeling at the porch, Dagmar is the full recipient of a rush of glamour that is..wow!

And blinks, momentarily overwhelmed at the rush.

"Oh my ...you found him, you really found him" A woman smiles almost as energized as her son, "I can't thank you girls enough"

"Hello, ma'am. He probably should see the vet, he got scratched up some and we fed him and gave him water but I don't think he ate much..."

"Yeah, might want to get him checked for tetnus or whatever it's called " May says.

Lupita adds "He was done in a pit, some jackass set one up for game and I guess he got caught"

"That's probably why nobody found him earlier, poor guy."

"You girls are the greatest," Mike says "Thank you so muucch.." A look at his mom "he's gonna be okay right? Despite the pit and..."

"We'll get him to a vet right away," the woman looks much better. She clearly had not slept as well as usual but is perking "Thank you girls so much. You.. saw the posters?"

Sam nods. "Yeah, so we went looking."

"Well, there's a reward..." She says.

"FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS..." Mike exclaims

His mother looks at him "FIVE HUNDRED, Mike."

Sam chews on her lower lip and nods. "Yes'm, we saw that, too."

"Well, he's worth five thousand..." Mike insists

"Well, " she looks to Sam and May and Lupita "I hope Five hundred is okay because that's what I have handy"

"Like, see, there's this basketball camp..." She falters, looking embarrassed.

"and we really wanted to go..." Lupita says

"But it's not cheap so when we saw the sign " May admits "not that we wouldn't help a dog anyway, we love dogs"

"We do love dogs!"

The woman smiles, "What are your names?"

"I'm Sam, and this is Lupita, and this is May."

"My mom's in the car..."

Tove waves from the car

"Well, Sam, Lupita and May, " The woman says "You earned your five hundred, and the fact you did a good thing to get it is nothing to be ashamed of. Even fire fighters usually get paid. Okay? Take it from me... too many women are afraid to speak up about pay scales...."

Mike rolls his eyes as his mom goes feminist

"And that's one of the things that holds us back. A deal's a deal and I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. You three wait right here. Is cash okay? I've got five one hundred dollar bills. Or would you prefer checks?"

"Um. I don't have an account. So you'd have to give it to... cash would be okay, yeah."

"Happily" she vanishes into the house.

Mike and theo are both bouncing around as if they were on sugar crack!

Which makes May smile and she whispers "The family seems nice"

Sam nods. "I'm glad we got him home safe."

"Theo totally missed you, Mike."

"Yeah I SURE MISSED HIm" the boy says

The mother returns with an envelope "Here is is" She hands it over to Sam who has been speaking the most. "Count it if you like. Can I get you girls or your mom some drinks or anything?"