#rivervale_lodge

"Yes, they do." Fondly.

"The baby isn't gonna be near connor and my bedroom often is it?"

"I mean, I'm too young to babysit" Crossing arms

"No, Jack." Gently. "The baby has a home to live in."

"Whew. Good. Babies are like.. soft headed and loud and stuff." He nods

"You have to treat them carefully, yes."

"And keep them away from Filch"

"Who?"

"Filch, he used to steal kids"

"Well ,probably still does"

"Can you tell me more about him?"

"Oh, " A frown "he worked with the old gang... I thought he was a piskie, that's what he would tell folks? But someone else said he was a sprig somethin"

"Hmmm. Where did you say this group operated?"

"Memprhis.." He says cautious "Why? " Nervous "I don't to go there again"

" you do not have to go there again. You can stay here."

The boy was ready to hyperventilate, but he calms and nods "South MEmphis.. not nice.. don't go near Crump Boulevard and South 4th Street. okay? You're nice. It's dangerous"

Frank nods gravely. "I will remember, and be careful."

"You didn't say you werent' gonna go" The boy is not dumb despite his comments to the contrary

A gentle smile. "That is right. I did not."

"I know learning to trust takes time. I am not planning to go, but I may go anyway. That is the truth."

The boy looks ready to cry "I hope you don't. You could get hurt. And everyone here is so nice"

Frank offers his hand to the boy, but doesn't -take- his. "Jack. I am not one to rush into things blindly. I will not go unless I know I am prepared."

"Okay" He puts his hand in the big man's "Just... you got two daughters. They'd be SO mad at me if you got hurt cuza what I told em"

(Presses SEND this time)

A smile. "I plan to come home. I always plan to come home."

"Good." Slower breathing.

"Good." Frank repeats, calmly.

And calming more, Jackflap says "So.. do you have chores for me, sir?"

Frank nods. "I think I would like to have Kerri assign you chores, for now. But we can also look into schooling where Connor goes. Can you read and write?"

"not really good" He says "But a little, if there aren't too many letters"

Frank nods. "Let's work on that till Kerri's available."

"yes Mister Frankenmountain" A nod "Thanks for the hot coco. It was good!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm no Hearth, but making a good cup of cocoa is a life-saving skill every man should know. Now....." He gets a couple old English lit text books from the shelves and brings them over. "Look through these. See if there's something here you'd like to read to me."

"Does it have trucks?" He asks "or cars or motorcycles?"

Frank smiles gently and gets up again, getting books aimed at a much younger set. There are plenty about animals, toys, and yes, even a few with motor vehicles.

"Cool" He says "I like things that go fast" He admits "I go fast"

"I've seen it!" Frank confirms.

"If you go fast, you can get away and maybe not get hurt..." And he starts reading

Frank waits and listens patiently.

"Close up the motorcycle look-ked even better than he ex... expe.." A focus "Ex-Pectorated?"

Expected is the word.

"Close." Frank points with a great blue finger. "Ex-pec-ted."

"Oh" He says "expected. Gee I'm stupid" ANd he goes on reading"It was new and shiny and had a good set of tires" vehicle words he gets. "Ralph walked all the way around it..." the boy reads excitedly of the Mouse and the Motorcycle, though somewords are way over him and when it happens he fusses at his failure.

On one of those occasions, Frank pauses to observe. "Do you know the difference between a beginner, and a master?"

"One sucks the other is good?"

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has tried." Mildly.

The boy blinks, then stares "What?" He slowly processes, and gets that 'mind blown' look

"So...you're saying... that failure is..for smart people too?"

"Yes. That's how you get smart."

"SO, even if I'm not smart NOW, I could GET Smart?" Unaware of his TV show reference, he beams