#rivervale_lodge

Connor is not underfoot much as the girls buckle down and take up the mantle Kerri has set aside- and maybe that’s a blessing on its own, as the boy is a handful at the best of times. He helps out in his way by being scarce- that is, when he’s shooed out of Kerri’s room. Somehow he keeps sneaking back in, and curling up as a puppy upon her feet. While he Can be shooed out, for a time, it takes a lot to not feel bad at scolding those sad puppy eyes.

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

Snow peeks inside the window of the kitchen "Emergency!"

"Big blue hero friends? Emergency?" Snow calls out again

"Oh poop"

After school means horses first!

After the horses are tended, anyone entering the kitchen will find a bloated monkey admid banana peels and apple cores. She has fallen asleep trying to warn the world

Dagmar's eyes widen at the mess and the monkey in its midst. "Snow?"

Snow wakes up "Mergency?" She shoves an orange peel

Oh god, monkey has made a mess

"Emergency? Snow, what happened?"

"Oh, it was horrible! Snow went to the land of 'Aisle Four, Aisle Four, Clean up on Aisle Four- Herb!' and so beauitful were the many fruits... lovely lovely fruits... fruits to help the Hearth get healthy! For Fruit is best for sick, is also best for Health.. let us face it, Fruit is best! Yes? no? YES!" A ramble "Then came the Chin with a can attached! BOOM! He fired, endangering the fruit! Snow was not scared, no no... " (Lie) "Well, a little" (Less of a lie) "Okay yes. Snow was scared. Food could be hurt!"

"...you went to the Kroger?"

"Then ARF ARF ARF came the little waggy boy! TO save the fruit! And Snow respected the wishes... and grabbed the fruit to take to safety! But when snow looked back, boy was in grip of silver haired powdered donut muncher snuggler!"

"...Someone grabbed COnnor?"

"THIS IS what I am saying" Snow nods "I Had to run to save the fruit to get to the hearth, and warn others... and I came here but .. no one was here..." SHe looks around, "And now..." Tearful "The fruit is gone, and dog boy risked waggy self for nothing. Oh tragedy!"

"Yes. The fruit IS gone. And now there's a mess."

"Yes." The monkey pats her belly "Tragedy and woe."

A voice, Sally Mae "i'm back from family visit, everyone? Anyone here?"

"And who made the mess?" Patient, but implacable.

"We must not point fingers during time of crisis, good kind friend, we must sing the song of lament, and perhaps save boy?"

"I don't need to point fingers, Snow. Because if we are irresponsible with fruit, will we get it in the future?"

Sally Mae swings the kitchen door open "I hear you girls have been working... what in the name of Thor's butthole?" THe iowan blinks

Window open, monkey go zoom!

"SNOW!"

A frustrated growl "Goddammit."

"I was told you girls had this" Sally Mae says grabbing a garbage bag

Jaw-jut.

"How dare you!"

"Are you talking to me now?" Sally Mae says not looking up as she cleans

"Or snow?"

Snow appears to be gone

"Excuse me? You come here, and you fucking insult me?"

"Because I literally just walked in on the damn monkey explosion less than a minute ago?"

"That invalidates the last four days?"

A hand on the hip "Dagmar. You might want to back up yourself a bit here. I didn't insult you."

"FUCK this. I'm going to go find where the fuck Connor is since some mortal took him from the supermarket."

She stomps out.

"But I MAY owe you an apology" A breath

"IF you'd give me a damn moment to offer one" A sigh "Damn it."

She hunts for Oak or Edie.

She finds Oak and Eddie in a dog pile... and on that pile... a sleeping Connor

in puppy form

Wrath is softened by relief. "Okay then."

Sally Mae comes out "Dagmar, you'll want help. The mess doesn't matter if Connor is.." She stares at the puppy "Oh thank goodness"

"Yeah. He's here." Jaw is still set, she's still irritated but now a bit off-kilter by the unexpectedly curtailed mission.

"Well, I want to apologize.. and I hope you'll let me. I was so stunned by the mess I didn't realize it was all dumped in one moment by Snow."

"But I should have thought more clearly, and kept my own distress better. I did you wrong and I apologize. Indeed, I did all you girls wrong but you were the one to catch it in the face. Aunt Agnes would not be happy with me acting like that, and I'm not too proud either"

The college student's words ring true, and she is carrying a garbage bag