#rivervale_lodge

"yes, theyr'e the house that didn't run... they don't hold with monarchy"

A blink from Sally Mae

she looks at Connor

"I think cold chocolate milk will do for you, young man"

"Or strawberry" She offers

"Are all Sidhe part of a House?"

"Every one I've met, but I don't know that much about them compared to some"

"Huh." More thinking.

“Strawberry!” He beams. “Unicorn of grey and black, this Sidhe does nobility lack. Silent warriors, stayed behind, to most commoners are kind.”

Adam looks like he might be getting a headache.

Connor sneaks a tot off Adam’s plate.

"Very good, Connor" Sally Mae says and makes two small glasses, one strawberry, one chocolate. And leaves them both nearby. She's testing a theory

He eyes the glasses, tempted.

"Hey!" At the theft, but good naturedly.

“One milk for you, Adam!” His nose twitches as he pushes the chocolate towards the tall boy.

"Thanks." He takes it and drinks.

A soft sigh, and he takes the pink milk. Though, his tail wags as he drinks it.

Connor gets a kiss on his forehead from Sally mae

He blinks, but smiles. And his tail wags harder!

Adam looks hopeful.

Connor climbs onto his chair and plants a sticky pink kiss on Adam’s cheek!

"Such a good young fellow" Sally mae says

A sigh, and he gives the little guy a hug. "Thanks."

“Adam’s helping to take the chocolate away. I’m not allowed to have it, because it’s for People.” And he gives an exuberant hug back!

"Connor, you're people... and some people have allergies"

“I can still smell it, and that’s just as good. Yup. Just as good.”

"I'm sorry, Connor." Adam says empathetically. "She's right, though, you are people. Just people with an allergy."

His lip quivers, and he stoutly proclaims, “I don’t even want any.”

And gulps his own milk.

Sally Mae tuts "Now now.. how about you chase Jack down and have fun after this?"

Adam looks at Sally Mae, worried.

“I can chase him but can’t catch him!”

"mm guess you'll have to head him off at the pass"

He fills his pockets with tots. “I Can set a trap though, with a box and a stick...”

He chortles and snags the last of his chicken, bouncing out as abruptly as he arrived.

A belated call back, “thanks for lunch Adaaaaaaam!”

"Sally Mae made it!!" He corrects as the boy rockets away.

Sally Mae grins, then watches him go. Before looking at Adam, "You're not bad with little kids, Adam. "

"Thanks. He's ok. My sister's a pain, but...."

"Oh, everyone thinks that about THEIR Siblings or cousins. lord there were times that if I saw Clem playing in the creek I found myself wishing I had a toaster with a longer cord"

Adam laughs. "Yeah, you have a pretty big family, don't you?"

"HUGE" She says "Brothers, sisters, mother father, ten aunts and uncles , and 25.. no, twenty seven, forgot about those births... first cousins. "

"Then there's second cousins and third cousins .. and honestly when we get to 4th Cousins I don't care anymore"

"That's kind of cool, though."

"Trust me, half the shows you see about huge famillies do not have nearly enough tears and fights to be realistic"

"You like it better here?"

She stops and pauses, "yes. I do." Quite serious and quite soft

"I'm glad. And I'm glad you're here." Also serious and soft.

A smile At him, forced a bit, but there, "Sweet of you to say. Now.. anything else you need tutoring on today?"

"You have a great smile."