caveat uxor

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara is beginning to be concerned.

There's a pattern here. She knows there is. But it's subtle, it's so subtle she thinks she might be imagining it. A flyer appears on the wall of the coffee shop, announcing that his band has a show there that week. There's so few details that she thinks she must be mistaken, someone else here must have decided to use that same band name, it wasn't that creative- but she goes back to look again the next day, just to see, and it's gone.

She finds a jelly doughnut left on the hood of her car while she's out shopping. They're Kevin's favorite, and she has to talk him out of eating it- they don't know where it came from, it can't be safe, just throw it out, see how someone's already cut it open? It's oozing red jelly out over the roof of the car.

Little things, one at a time. Spaced apart enough that she's never quite sure they're related to each other. A week before something new happens? Two? Once there's two incidents in three days, then nothing for almost a month. She could be imagining it.

...maybe.

She finds a stuffed dog in their front yard. It's very generic, one of those silly plush dogs you can get at any store for a few bucks, and it's arguably, plausibly, a dog toy. But the tag on the dog's collar says 'Tammy'. And it's been torn almost to shreds, viciously. And none of her neighbors have dogs.

Tamara calls the Watcher's Council. And then she calls Bella.

Comments

[keyed_up]

"I can swim, I dunno if I can swim while keeping a little kid afloat. Thank you for doing my magic homework for me. Is there any other stuff I should know?"

[older_and_wiser]

"...of course. It's my job, after all, and you're doing me an enormous favor. It's the least I can do." She considers the swimming issue. "Kevin isn't a stellar swimmer, precisely, but he can certainly keep himself afloat under his own power. I'll talk to Alli about getting emergency potions. I'm afraid I can't think of anything else, but I'll let you know if it occurs to me."

[keyed_up]

"So he's not allergic to anything or afraid of plastic jewelry or - whatever? Okay. What are we paying me?"

[older_and_wiser]

"He likes cars...? Nothing unusual as far as I know. I admit I haven't a clue what American salaries are like. Say 'base wage' and leave it at that, whatever that is?"

[keyed_up]

"Minimum wage is - I think six-something? Six-fifty, six-seventy-five? If we assume the McDonald's that Meg works for pays minimum wage to teenagers, which I think we can assume."

[older_and_wiser]

"From what I know of McDonald's, that seems fair," Tamara agrees dryly. "I'll have it for you your first day. Just let me know what exact day that is when you have a moment, please?"

[keyed_up]

"Iiiiit's - we're off on Friday, so Friday."

[older_and_wiser]

"All right. I'll see you next Monday, then. Good luck on your exams. And thank you again for your help."

[keyed_up]

"You don't want me over Friday? I don't go to school on Friday, that's when we're over with. I think maybe AP exams happen then but I'm not in any AP courses."

[older_and_wiser]

"Oh, so you're all done Thursday then? Thursday seemed an odd final day, but the advanced exams make sense. Friday it is."

[keyed_up]

"Okay, I'll be over that morning, Bella will probably drop me off."

[older_and_wiser]

"All right then, we'll see you on Friday."

[keyed_up]

And Friday morning, Soph is dropped off, with her DDR-related objects in hand. (Bella walks her to the door.)

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara, for her part, brings her son to the door to meet Soph.

"Kevin, you remember Bella? This is Sophia, her sister. She's going to be your babysitter," she tells her son. "Behave for her, please."

Kevin peers nervously around her leg. Misbehavior is not looking nearly as likely as chronic shyness.

[keyed_up]

"Hi, Kevin. You can call me Soph for short."

[older_and_wiser]

"Hi Soph."

[keyed_up]

Soph decides he will probably get used to her. She goes in, not verbally invited, and waves Bella off. She puts down the video game stuff but doesn't start setting it up yet.

[older_and_wiser]

"Thank you, Soph. Have fun you two! I'll see you tonight. Call me if... you need me."

Tamara departs for work, and Kevin- after a panicked look at the door after her- decides to inspect these strange new electronic devices. (From a distance). He's not at an age yet where he has been to an arcade; he is not going to recognize them by himself.

[keyed_up]

"I brought some video game stuff. Do you want to see?"

[marrinikari]

"Okay." Then, after a manners-recollecting pause, "...please."

[keyed_up]

"It'll take me a bit to set up."

Soph knows what to plug in where, and there's a TV, so in a short while she has DDR up and running.

"I'll show you one and then you can try if you want."

She plays a simple song - she can do harder, but she doesn't want to intimidate the poor kid.

[marrinikari]

Kevin is eventually coaxed into trying the new game. His legs aren't really long enough for the activity, but he does fairly well considering, and ends looking rather pleased with himself.

"Thank you!" he chirps once he's done. "So... Bella said you were Glinda, right?"

[keyed_up]

"I'm a good witch, if that's what you mean. But less pink."

[marrinikari]

"That's good!" he tells her sagely. "Then the wicked witch won't know it's you. You can be all sneaky."

[keyed_up]

"Yep. I dress up just like a regular person! Am I doing it right?"