#rivervale_lodge

Gerd's phone rings - and while she may be hoping it's a call from a certain Nocker, perhaps she may not be TOO disappointed to see the 🐶 icon that accompanies the entry for her little brother.

She picks it up "Hey little brother"

A muffled fumbling staticy sound, as he remembers he needs to talk TO the watch.

"Um. Um. Um. Hi? Am I doing it right?"

"You are coming in loud and clear" She says getting her gear in case she's needed.

He doesn't sound frantic or urgent, no sirens or wails of horror in the background, but his tone is a bit concerned. "Can you help me with how to be a good square? I think maybe I've gone rectangular, or maybe even triangle."

"Sure. Where are you yodeling now?" Giving him a lie that might work

"Outside on the porch because my Yodels will wake up folks otherwise. They are MIGHTY."

She clambers down the steps and opens the door to the front porch

He pops up from his spot on a bench. "That's your flickery-est flash yet!"

"I was getting help with math from Sally Mae" She explains "What's up?"

He heaves a loooong sigh. "I'm a triangle, and my three pointy bits are hard to work around, when maybe I should be a nice stackable square, or even make things circly-smooth.

"You don't feel like you're fitting in with Squiring? I didn't realize they were so particular" She sits down next to him

"Squires are supposed to be helpful and make things easier. I try to help, but the nights are more busy then ever and it bleeds over into the day. I think I make more work than I fix? I don't know how to fix that. Maybe I need more hands."

"Ooooo" Realization "Were you eavesdropping on folks again and hearing things that you blamed yourself for?"

His ears twitch and he has a guilty look. "No! I'd never."

"But...." He adds, "Maaaaybe a GOOD do- a Good Squire might help find a solution?"

She hugs her brother "Connor. Dagmar would be working even HARDER Without you there. She'd still be going to the stables at the rescue. She'd still be handling the clean up for Star and Stormwake. I've seen how hard you work to help her already. She bites off more than she should sometime, but you are not a drain on her resources"

"I'm a good biter and I can help chew. But maybe more people can help. I mean, I know erryone is busy... and she picked these jobs herself an' no one MADE her, but Dagmar the Just would never Just leave them undone and I have to find a way to help more, or find more help, because that's what a good squire does."

"Mmm what do you think she needs help with most?"

He scratches at his ears. "There are an AWFUL lot of horses at the new horse place. She likes 'em, but if more people helped with the dirty and timey bits, she could have more time for Miss Tove, and her maths, and still have time to just go an' LOOK at them some."

"Huh " Gerd nods "you know, ithink I'm more people. I'll help" She wrinkles her nose "it's not my idea of a fun time, but.. then I do have the advantage of being able to transport fertilizer with a snap of my fingers"

He gives her an impulsive hug! "I knew you'd have the answers. I like to HELP but it's hard to ask OTHERS for help sometimes." A frown at that.

"Yeah, but pooka are good at getting folks to fes up sometimes when we need to talk to someone, so that balances" She hugs him back, "Nothing wrong with you, little brother. You've got some challenges, true, but I see how hard you work too. Especially to help folks. And you know what? You're a GOOD Squire. Dagmar is proud of you. " A smile "So am I, but you're used to that"

His tail wags in approval, though the boy blushes a bit at the praise. "Shucks."

"Truth to tell? I've been distracted. Wudlig is a great guy and I'm kind of liking him making a fuss, but baring homework and witchy stuff mostly what I do is play Flicerkflash taxi. Which makes me useful, but I have a lot more free time than most when Sally Mae and Squire Brogan are in the kitchen . I need to buck up and get to work too. Can't have a troll slacking. Folks will talk. So I'm glad you told me this. I'll buck up."

"You're no slacker! And I'll give anyone who says that WHAT FOR." He doesn't quite seem to know what 'what for' might be, but is ready to dish it out!

"If you need more witchy stuff... we could go have tea? With Lily... she might be lonesome."

A glance around, cautiously, checking the shadowy parts of the porch, before leaning in to whisper, "I just take Pretend Sips when she pours it, because sometimes it's chunky in there."

"You" She whispers "Are a wise pup." A nod "I see. Move fertilizer, tea with Lily. Anything else?"

"Woofles and bacons?"

"Woofles and bacons? Those are only for the bestest little brothers.." Then her eyes widen as she acts like she's seeing him for the very first time "WOW, well, there you go."

He blinks, looks down at himself, and looks behind himm and back to Gerd. "Where do I go?"

"I mean, What are the odds I would have one of the besteest little brothers RIGHT here" She takes his hand "Let's go stuff you with bacons and Woofles"

He perks up! "And after woofles and bacons, we can go look for him!" A grin, and to the kitchen.

"I'm saying YOU are the bestest little brother" She moves on "Though I suppose we should also share with Jack Flap even if he's not my little brother. What do you think?"

"I think he can't eat flapjacks because it's close to can-nibble-ism, but woofles are proll safe!"

"Woofles for the three of us then" And she calls for Jackflap

Jack comes out the garden , hands dirty

'Woofles" She says then eyes his hands "AFTER you wash your hands"

"Awww.."

"It's good HONEST dirt!"

"It's getting washed, both of you go wash your hands while I make the woofles and bacon. ALL the way up to the wrist, tops of the hands, buttom of the hands, sides, between the fingers"

Complaints trail after him, but the call of Bacon is too strong and he heads to the Soap Dungeon.

Jack goes as well, muttering some complaints of his own. "It's part of the Clean-spracy"

"How's them green peepers of yours doing?" He asks Jack as they splash as much soap and water onto the counter and floor as onto their hands.

"Hot hot hot" Everyone knows the more wave the more it counts

"Tove says you can take peppers and stuff em with CHEESE." Eyes wide. "I told her I could save her the work and just eat the cheese with no green things, but she laughed at me." A sigh. "Just tryna help is all!" Grin.

"YOu're a giver!" the boy agrees then says "Ah... Connor, don't be mad at me? but.. I think I'm gonna get adopted"

His ears twitch in surprise, and he pauses in his wash-capades for a moment, then finishes up with a rinse and cursory motion at drying on his shirt and pants. "Why'd you gotta go and do that for?" Looking confused.

"Well, I want a family" he says

"And Mryttle Anne and torin like me.. llike a SON"