#rivervale_lodge

As she speaks, Kerri's moving easily around the kitchen, handling this task and that almost automatically.

"Well, I am not looking for a white picket fence any time soon" She says working along side the hearth "Gradutation, building a nest egg so I am self reliant, and honing more skills first. "

"Precisely. Which reminds me...anything you need help with in that regard? The day-to-day, beyond these walls?"

"I wear a mask where I can, online learning is something I'm not a stranger too though Ireally DO miss the personal interaction" She admits "Some of my professors are great, but I do miss being able to rush their offices when I needed it. Afraid not much you can help with there. Adam's 'knight heart' service is doing well, helping Eden out. I could make a lot more money if we expanded but I'm trying not to do that without Adam's okay as he is my partner. " Amused "Mixed up kid. Lot of good and clueless in him. But he's got heart. Let's see... oh... apparently my attempts at home made syrup failed." A frowns "I don't handle maple as well as I thought I would and it's out of season now"

"I think Knight's Heart is brilliant. I hope you and Adam get to collaborate about that. I get the sense sometimes he can be a bit challenging to schedule. And what happened with the syrup?"

"I tried to improve on mother nature and she smacked my hand" Embarrassment and... she explains how her attempts to distill and mix in just a feewww additives collapsed

Kerri nods the nod of a woman who's been there. "I hope you're not going to let a single failure dictate whether or not you try again," she says with the tone of challenge.

"Of course not, if at first you don't succeed, try try again... and then after the 13th time, get an axe and teach that tree a lesson" Smirk

Kerri grins. "Not anywhere that the Chieftain can see, but I get it."

"Might I ask you for a few pointers, or do you want me tackle this challenge on my own a few times"

"Well, let's do our part to save the forests, and I'll give you some tips. First off...." and Kerri begins tutoring, or at least giving notes the next time there's raw sap available.

And Sally Mae takes notes nodding , and waiting for the best time for WHEN to ask further questions. By the end of an hour, it looks like the Sally Mae/Maple War maybe averted.

(End Scene)