#rutgers

“You know, I was thinking.” He says, suddenly. “And I try not to do that too much, because it gives me those weird lines on my forehead.”

"Hope you didn't sprain anything."

“I think.. maybe I can try going to school, too. With the other kids, not just the blue ones. You think, maybe?”

"Well - there will be Jack and Lane, right?"

"It could be fun."

“Well, Jack wasn’t sure he wanted to go, see. But maybe trying new things is worth it sometimes. Except not KALE. Never, ever, EVER kale.”

"never Kale."

“Cross my heart and hope to lie.”

“It’s late though, and someone has to tuck Squire Valter in for bed. He doesn’t know that he gets a cookie and milk, and will just GO to bed without it.”

“it’s very sad.”

"Well, you are an expert on being a squire, so you make sure you take care of that."

“Maybe next weekend, you can come by to make peanut-butter-pupkin cookies?” Hopeful.

"Yes."

"It's fall, after all."

“It’s not fall until leaves fall down!”

He chatters for a while longer, but eventually yawns and is reminded that he too, like Valter, has a bed time.

“See you soon. Have more adventures between then and now so you can tell me about them!”

"Go to bed - I'll see you for cookies soon."

"I promise."

“GOOOOD NIIIIIGHT SYYYYMON!” He bellows.

The sound of a dog barking in the background. “shhh! Go back to bed! Shhhh!”

And the call ends.

Dag smiles a little bit to herself. Maybe things aren't ALL bad.