#rivervale_lodge

*************************
The Lodge phone rings.

It picks up "Sally Mae here, you've got the Kings Residence"

"Hey, Sally Mae!" Adam's cheerful, confidant voice. "You got a minute?"

"I guess, sure?" She says

"So were you for real about tutoring me?"

"WHO IS IT? Who is it?!" Pipes up a voice from the background. "Is it for me? Have I already won a bajillion dollar sweet steaks?"

"Yes, of course, I help folks with math all the time" SHe says then looks down at Connor "it's Adam...and it's about about math"

"Cool! When?"

"Like, this afternoon?"

"I can make the time. Just you, or do you have a study buddy?" she says

"Uhhhhh.... Not sure. Maybe. Me, for sure though."

"I'm a Buddy! I can study!"

"Wait, Math?"

The background noise goes quiet as he retreats.

She fights a chuckle, then says "You for sure then. Two hours of my time is now your time. Do not be too late okay?"

"And invite Piper or whoever else might want or need it" She says

"If you like"

"Will do, Sally Mae, thanks!"

"You're welcome. Oh, don't forget my cut for your business. We'll settle that this afternooon"

"Oh. Yeah. Well, yeah, ok. Cool. See you then...." it sounds like he might be grinning.

"See you" She hangs up and goes to flush Connor and Jack out with some treats

------------------

"Banana Bread!" Jack bounces happily munching.

"muhnunna breb!" Connor crows, spraying crumbs.

"Mmm" agreed

A knock at the door, polite rat-a-tat.

Jack moves to the door and opens it "Yeff?" Crumbs spraying

"Uh, hey. I'm Adam. Here for Sally Mae?"

"Oh.... " The satyr says "Want me to get her?"

"Yeah dude, if you could?"

He turns his head "SALLLYYY MAAAAAAEEEE!"

Sally Mae pops out of the kitchen, "Jack... what on...." She sees Adam "Oh, bit earlier than I thought you'd be. Have a seat, Adam. Can I get you something to drink before we start?" then a glance to Jack "And Jack, next time come to the kitchen, not everyone likes yelling"

Jack blushes "Yes, Miss DeBukes"

"Thanks." He steps in and smiles. "That'd be great, Sally Mae." It would seem he is solo for now.

((Unless Piper's right behind him in which case I edit!))

"ooh oh, you got a DeBuke Rebuke" he teases Jack. "Can I take some nanner bread to Tove?"

"You may," Sally May says to Connor "And that's very nice of you" She prepares some for travel and Gets Adam's usual favorite drink which hopefully she knows by now

Jack says "It's true, I was troll tole" He sighs "But I deserved it"

Whatever she brings is his favorite.

He pats Jack on the back, and trots out and down the path. "Bana-nana, doot doo, doo doo doo! Bana-nana, doot doo doo doo!" Until out of earshot.

She just gets him a cold Dr. Pepper, and a drink for Jack too so he doesn't feel too bad.

Piper slips in - or she would, if her hooves didn't clatter on the wooden floors. She has her arms crossed over her chest and looks a bit wary.

"Hey, Piper, what would you like to drink?" May says

Jack looks shy as another satyr comes in

Adam glances over and then breaks into a happy grin.

She shrugs. "I'm fine." A small smile to Adam, but she doesn't seem exactly thrilled to be there.

"All right. Oh, Torin was in here last night talkin about a Floating Star Fish you found? He thinks it's the neatest thing since sliced bread"

He stands and goes over, concerned. "You ok?" Quietly.

She shrugs and mutters, "Just still a little prickly about last night." Though she flashes him a grin, relenting a little. "Not your part. That was good." And her head pops up when they mention the starfish. "Oh, Twinkle? As chimera go, that gal's alright by me."

"How do you know the sex of a star fish? Y know, nevermind, I can live without knowing" Sally Mae sits down and breaks out the mathbooks