#rivervale_lodge

"Well, you picked the prettiest patch of Jersey to settle in" she assures "But I am a nut about the sea."

"Yeah? I've been a few times. You.... Nah, nevermind."

'No go ahead"

"Nah." Smoothie. "I'm not bein' 'that guy'." A grin.

"That guy who talks about the sea? It's okay. Maybe you've seen a part of the sea I haven't or even just had a great experience. I don't consider it mansplaining ...unless you try to tell me how to sail. Because you re looking at a girl who can tie seven types of knots"

A blink. Now -he- colors a little.

"Uh. Well, no. Never been sailing."

"Oh it's fun. Not that I don't just enjoy sunbathing or swimming."

"Yeah. Yeah, exactly. The beach. They say 'down the shore' here, right?"

"Well, truth to tell around here most of us hit the lake. Oh gosh I should tell you how to get there. During the summer it's the hang out spot for a lot of folks our age. you know?"

An excited grin. "Aw, that's be great! Been looking for that kind of place!"

"I'll be happy to show you sometime. Busiest afternoon to evening" she says "But now an then somdone throws an impromtu party"

Another started and abandoned comment. "Yeah. That'd be great, thanks."

"I better get home. I have chores soon" A finish of her drink "Thanks though . This smoothie is the best apology I've tasted in ages. " a pause "Oh, ah..can I have your phone number? That way I can call you when I have time to show you the lake?"

His jaw drops. "Uh. Yeah. You want to put it in your phone?" He recites it for her.

"I got it. " She puts it in, then rises to strut off "Bye" And gets into her car...leaving him to mull over just what all this was.

ANd...did she seem blue ish for a second?

Nahhh

(End scene)

******************************************

Gerd cleans the kitchen

She sighs "Others are doing cool stuff... but not me. Nope. I'm cleaning. Wheee"

The Goth girl mutters something about the injustice of it all.

.............