Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 12, 2012 17:28:00 GMT -8
"Deal!" Calliope replied with gusto, "You are doing very well for not having any practice! I'm afraid you will have a lot more to teach me than I will you." Calliope had to grin. Between the two of them, she was surprised the room hadn't exploded from the amount of energy and vivacity present. Charlie was the first person she could remember meeting whose personality was as cheery and lively as her own.
She looked around the back room, taking in the baking pans and cooling cookies. "When would you like me to start?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 12, 2012 20:26:41 GMT -8
"Deal!" "You are doing very well for not having any practice! I'm afraid you will have a lot more to teach me than I will you."
"Nah," she said with a dismissive wave. "If you can stir and mix, you're more than halfway there."
"When would you like me to start?"
Charlotte looked to her Aunt Fae for the answer to that.
"You're welcome to start now but if you've a prior engagement, then tomorrow morning." Fae headed back toward the swinging door. "I'll leave the decision of hours up to you two." With a smile, she returned to the front.
Charlotte looked back at Cali. "Would you like to start now or tomorrow morning?"
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 13, 2012 18:11:24 GMT -8
"I can start now!" Calliope quickly signed back, "Where should we start?"
After all, she had a lot of learning to do and she cleared her schedule completely for the job hunt. Nothing was waiting for her at home. Calli went to the cookie tray on the counter and picked up the abandoned oven mitts. She wanted to get to know her new boss anyway.
"How long have you been baking?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 13, 2012 18:58:07 GMT -8
"I can start now!" "Where should we start?"
"How about with one of the basics. Chocolate chip cookies," she said, heading for one of the large pantries. She grabbed a huge commercial sized bag of chocolate chips and carried it over with both hands.
"How long have you been baking?"
Charlotte looked thoughtful for a moment. Her hands full, she spoke without signing. "For as long as I can remember." She placed the bag up on the counter and got out a clean mixing bowl and utensils and a clean baking sheet. "Even before I was tall enough to reach the counter. I had to use a step stool," she said with a grin. "Have you ever made chocolate chip cookies?"
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 14, 2012 18:24:53 GMT -8
Calliope made a face, "Well, I don't think made is the right word. My sister Candace and I tried to once but they came out more like misshapen hockey pucks than cookies. Of course, Candace made our sisters eat them anyway."
Calliope smiled at the memory. Coral and Cleo had temporarily put aside their lifelong feud to dispose of the cookies without Candace knowing. She could still see her eldest sister's look of surprise when she realized all the cookies were apparently eaten. Calliope moved closer to Charlie so that she could better observe what she was doing. It would be nice to be able to really make chocolate chip cookies.
"Neither of us had any idea what we were doing so I think that I'll do a lot better following your baking lead!"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 16, 2012 22:28:21 GMT -8
"It's quite simple, really," Charlotte said, retrieving the recipe index card holder and sifting through the 'C's'. "With baking, it's all about patiently following the rules." She pulled out the one labeled 'Chocolate Chip Cookies' and placed it on the counter. The neatly typed instructions had a few notes in the margins and a couple of numbers crossed out and exchanged for different measurements in Charlotte's neat handwriting. "Well, some rules are meant to be bent a little," she said with a grin. "I've made a few adjustments over the years to some of the recipes. It's always a risk. Sometimes you end up with a disaster and sometimes you end up with something better."
Charlotte read the instructions aloud, adding the ingredients to the mixing bowl. She set the bowl on the mixer and switched it on then dipped a measuring cup into the bag of chocolate chips. She shook a small pile of chocolate chips onto the counter. "Help yourself. One of the perks of baking," she said, popping a couple of chocolate chips into her mouth. "When the mixture looks consistent, turn down the speed and slowly shake in the chocolate chips so that they get evenly distributed within the mixture." Charlotte adjusted the speed of the mixer and held out the measuring cup of chocolate chips to Calli with an encouraging smile. "Go ahead and give it a try."
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 19, 2012 18:03:34 GMT -8
"Go ahead and give it a try."
Calliope held the measuring cup over the bowl. She resisted the urge to enthusiastically shake it and instead carefully released the chips into the mixture as Charlie had instructed. The small brown chips quickly disappeared as the mixer pulled the batter over them. It already looked so good that Calliope could feel her stomach start rumbling. She popped a chocolate chip from the pile on the counter into her mouth.
"Now what?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 19, 2012 20:18:19 GMT -8
Charlotte switched off the machine. "Now we separate this onto the cookie sheets," she said, placing the bowl near the cookie sheets. She handed one of the spoons to Calli and demonstrated. "Scoop out some dough about this size and then roll it between your hands." She rolled the dough until it was a perfect sphere, then placed it neatly on the baking sheet. "You don't necessarily have to roll them into spheres but it does help them to bake into nearly perfect circles which looks better when you're putting them on display." Charlotte continued forming the dough and placing them on the sheet, explaining the logistics of spacing them out.
"So you have two sisters?" she guessed, based on Calli's story.
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 20, 2012 3:14:47 GMT -8
"You don't necessarily have to roll them into spheres but it does help them to bake into nearly perfect circles which looks better when you're putting them on display."
Calliope did her best to shape the dough into little spheres. It took a few tries until they began to resemble the ones that Charlie had rolled but she soon got the hang of it.
"So you have two sisters?"
Two! If only! She shook her head earnestly and paused in her action to reply, "Actually, I have six. I am the youngest. But they still live at home with our father and I don't get to see them very often anymore." She picked up a bit of dough but put it back down as she thought of something else, "Do you have any sisters or brothers?"
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Post by Cora Mercouri on Sept 20, 2012 12:57:22 GMT -8
***Cora enters from the Mayor's Office***
She ducked into the bakery off Main Street, taking stock of the new business. Gold's latest investment, and a wise one it would seem. The decor was cozy and cheerful, the sort that made one want to linger over a coffee and pastry. And the display cabinets were full of treats for sight and scent. She focused on a red velvet cupcake with a tower of perfectly spiraled icing that seemed almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 20, 2012 20:38:00 GMT -8
"Actually, I have six. I am the youngest. But they still live at home with our father and I don't get to see them very often anymore."
"SIX!" Charlotte exclaimed quite loudly. She reflexively covered her mouth and looked toward the door to the front, then giggled at herself over her reaction. "Goodness gracious, that must have been wonderful. Always someone to talk to; to play with. Never having to be alone."
"Do you have any sisters or brothers?"
Charlotte scooped up the last of the dough, rolling it between her hands as she spoke. "No. Just me," she said with a sad sigh. She carried the bowl and utensils to the big sink and dropped them in then washed her hands, stepping out of the way so that Calli could do the same. "I would have loved to have someone my age around at all times." She dried her hands then handed the towel to Calli.
"These should be cool enough to move to the display tray."[/u] Charlotte made quick work of arranging the cookies she'd removed from the oven when Calli had first entered onto the display tray. She snapped the plastic label that read 'White Chocolate Macadamia Nut' to the front rim and held out the tray to Calli. "Could you please take this to the front and place it in an empty spot in the display case? And if you happen to accidentally overhear any interesting conversations in progress, feel free to take some extra time fixing the arrangements on the other trays," Charlotte said with a mischievous grin.
FAE
As a new customer entered, Fae took her place behind the counter. Of the three, she was by far the most patient and personable so there was no argument when it came to deciding who would primarily help the customers.
She heard a muffled exclamation from the back and Merry mumbled something about Fae and her bright ideas as she wiped the counters. Ivy rolled her eyes and shushed her which led to another session of whispered bickering. At least the two were mindful enough of the customers to keep it to hushed tones.
Unfazed by the normalcy of her world, Fae's welcoming smile didn't falter. "Welcome, dear. What may I get for you?"
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Post by Cora Mercouri on Sept 20, 2012 21:31:43 GMT -8
"Welcome, dear. What may I get for you?"
"Oh, I don't know; it all looks terribly tempting," Cora mused. "But I also wanted to stop by to say congratulations on your new business. Looks like the grand opening has gone smoothly." She deftly pulled out one of her business cards, placing it between her index and ring finger and offering it across the counter to the other woman. "My name's Cora Mercouri, I run the community theater. Have you ever been to one of our performances?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 21, 2012 19:22:13 GMT -8
FAE
"Oh, I don't know; it all looks terribly tempting," "But I also wanted to stop by to say congratulations on your new business. Looks like the grand opening has gone smoothly."
"Thank you, dear. It's a big change for us but yes, thankfully, it has been going smoothly."
"My name's Cora Mercouri, I run the community theater. Have you ever been to one of our performances?"
"Why no, I can't say that we've had the pleasure, Miss Mercouri. I was not even aware there was a community theater in town." Realizing that last part may have unintentionally come off as insulting, she quickly added, "Oh, but my sisters and I have led quiet, simply lives. We've never ventured very far into town."
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 21, 2012 21:28:34 GMT -8
"No. Just me," "I would have loved to have someone my age around at all times."
The sadness in Charlie's voice wasn't lost on Calliope. "It's all great until you can't get into the bathroom or get tired of hand-me-downs or you all start fighting over who stole who's Malibu Barbie." A bright smile accompanied her sign in hopes that it would cheer Charlie up a bit.
"These should be cool enough to move to the display tray." "Could you please take this to the front and place it in an empty spot in the display case? And if you happen to accidentally overhear any interesting conversations in progress, feel free to take some extra time fixing the arrangements on the other trays,"
"Charlie! Do I look like an eavesdropper to you?" Calliope fixed a look of mock indignation that morphed in a matching mischievous grin, "Just because I knew all my sisters deepest secrets without them having to tell me a thing...." She picked up the tray and pushed through the door, quickly giving Charlie a thumbs up signal.
"My name's Cora Mercouri, I run the community theater. Have you ever been to one of our performances?"
Calliope entered the main area quietly. Community theater! How she wished that she could sing. That was her only regret about the way she was, no voice meant no singing. But, always looking on the bright side of life, no singing meant that she channeled her musical abilities into every instrument she could get her hands on.
Taking Charlie's advice, she placed the cookies in an empty spot and began rearranging the other trays in the case. This might turn out to be a very informative conversation. She could hardly wait to tell Charlie!
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Post by Cora Mercouri on Sept 22, 2012 11:02:02 GMT -8
"Whyno, I can't say that we've had the pleasure, Miss Mercouri. I was not even aware there was a community theater in town. Oh, but my sisters and I have led quiet, simply lives. We've never ventured very far into town."
"Well, we shall have to remedy that," Cora declared. "Our first production of the season will be a musical. The Sound of Music, to be precise -- a classic and a crowd favorite. If I might interest you in a business proposal...."
She leaned forward and lowered her voice, as if she was about to share privileged information. "I always offer refreshments to the attending audience on opening night. Free food and drinks, you do what you must to fill the seats. But I assure you it will be the social event of the season. Well, alright, it will be one of the social events of the season. If you and your sisters could be persuaded to cater it, I would give you a full-page ad in the program. Does that sound like a fair trade?" she offered.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 22, 2012 15:27:07 GMT -8
FAE
"Indeed it does," she said with a smile. "But I would need to talk it over with my sisters and be sure we'd be able to accommodate your needs. How many people are you anticipating?"
She knew Charlie would be over the moon about catering for a town event and would say yes without any qualms of baking all day and night before the event but Lord knew Fae and her sisters would fall over of exhaustion long before that. She wanted to be sure they'd be able to make a workable plan.
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Post by Cora Mercouri on Sept 22, 2012 17:30:39 GMT -8
"Indeed it does. But I would need to talk it over with my sisters and be sure we'd be able to accommodate your needs. How many people are you anticipating?"
"Oh, no more than 200," Cora answered with a casual wave of her hand. "Of course, the menu would be completely up to you. As sophisticated or as simple as you wish to make it. And you can have as many staff people and volunteers as you need," she added, tossing a smile at the young girl who was arranging samples in the display case.
"I realize you've got a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak, but I would give you plenty of time to prepare. The curtain doesn't go up until I say so. At least tell me you'll consider it," she prompted. "And while you're considering it, I'll take one of those red velvet cupcakes to go, please."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 22, 2012 18:56:04 GMT -8
FAE
"Oh, no more than 200,"
200! Fae's eyebrows shot up.
"Of course, the menu would be completely up to you. As sophisticated or as simple as you wish to make it. And you can have as many staff people and volunteers as you need," "I realize you've got a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak, but I would give you plenty of time to prepare. The curtain doesn't go up until I say so. At least tell me you'll consider it," "And while you're considering it, I'll take one of those red velvet cupcakes to go, please."
"It will be quite a task but we will most definitely consider it," she said with a reassuring smile. "Calli, dear, would you please box up one of those red velvet cupcakes for Miss Cora?"
Merry placed one of the small pre-assembled boxes bearing the Storybrooke Country Bread logo on the counter as she passed. They made a great team, her sisters and Charlie, and now with an additional pair of hands, Fae was confident they would be able to take on this task. But the decision was up to Charlie and she had to be sure she had the cooperation of her sisters. "We'll discuss it tonight and have an answer for you tomorrow morning."
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 23, 2012 14:05:50 GMT -8
Calliope's eyes widened in excitement. Catering for such a large event sounded like such a great opportunity! Maybe they would get to stay to watch the show also! Charlie was going to love this!
"Calli, dear, would you please box up one of those red velvet cupcakes for Miss Cora?"
Calli carefully removed one of the delicious looking red velvet cupcakes from the display case and nestled it into the box that Merry had placed on the counter. She was sure she looked like a crazy person, her smile was so big but she just couldn't contain her joy on this new prospect. But still, she managed to restrain herself as she handed the box to Cora. Not able to wait any longer, she rushed back into the back room where her hands became a flurry of motions.
"Charlie! Charlie, the best thing just happened! This woman came in and she wants the bakery to cater her play and there are going to be hundreds of people there!
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Post by Cora Mercouri on Sept 23, 2012 16:11:26 GMT -8
"We'll discuss it tonight and have an answer for you tomorrow morning."
"Fabulous! My number's on the card," she replied, retrieving the box from the young girl. Wondering if this was the reclusive little bird that Gold had spoken so highly of, since she didn't see any other young women in the bakery. "Well, thank you very much for this, and I hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye, and good luck!"
***Cora exits to elsewhere***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 24, 2012 20:34:22 GMT -8
"Charlie! Charlie, the best thing just happened! This woman came in and she wants the bakery to cater her play and there are going to be hundreds of people there!"
Charlotte looked at Calli, wide-eyed. "Hundreds of people?" Charlotte automatically sat down and stared in awe at nothing in particular before a smile slowly spread across her face. "I think we can do it! That is, if you don't mind putting in some major overtime?" She looked hopefully at Calli.
FAE
"Fabulous! My number's on the card," "Well, thank you very much for this, and I hope to hear from you soon."
"First thing in the morning," she promised.
"Goodbye, and good luck!"
"Thank you, dear!" she called after Cora's retreating form. As soon as the door closed behind Cora, her sisters descended upon her.
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Sept 25, 2012 9:36:10 GMT -8
"I think we can do it! That is, if you don't mind putting in some major overtime?"
"Of course we can do it!" Calliope agreed, hurriedly pushing up the sleeves of her turquoise shirt once she was finished signing. Her optimism was back in full force- she just knew that this would be a fantastic opportunity for the bakery and, in turn, for Charlie. "We better get back to work! I'll have to learn quickly if I'm going to by any help you."
Eagerly, she went back to their work station- raring to keep going. She stood there blankly for a moment and then laughed, a little embarrassed, "What do we do next?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 27, 2012 19:10:29 GMT -8
Charlotte also found herself in a daze as her mind worked furiously on what she'd serve and what needed to be done. She knew her aunts were discussing the prospect of catering the play. She anxiously awaited one or all of her aunts to approach her about the catering. That is, if at least two of them were in favor of it. She was sure that Aunt Fae would be in favor. She was always the most lenient of her aunts and Charlotte got the sense sometimes that it was out of guilt for bringing her up in such a solitary way. Merry and Ivy hardly ever passed up an opportunity to disagree with one another so that meant even if one said no, the other would say yes. The odds were in her favor.
"Next? Hmm." Charlotte looked thoughtful. "I think it best we make something that we may serve at the play. How about brownies?" she said, heading for one of the storage pantries.
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Oct 2, 2012 10:27:03 GMT -8
"Next? Hmm." "I think it best we make something that we may serve at the play. How about brownies?"
Calliope nodded vigorously, "Of course! They would be perfect for a setting like a theater- no noisy wrappers and they are soft enough not to crunch if someone wants to eat them during the show." At just the mention of the delicious chocolate treats, she almost taste them. Brownies were a particular favorite of hers.
"And they are so delicious!" she added after popping into her mouth a few of the chocolate chips Charlie had set aside.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 11, 2012 12:54:10 GMT -8
Charlotte looked at the clock as she dried her hands. The brownies were done along with another batch of cookies and a batch of red velvet cupcakes.
"The decorating will take some time and practice but you're doing great!" she said, referring to the process of icing and toppings of the cupcakes. "I usually stop baking around this time and head on out. My aunts stay and keep the front running until closing." Charlotte covered a yawn then stretched out her aching muscles before continuing. "We don't open until seven but I'm usually here by 5 am to start the baking. Is that too early for you?"
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Oct 29, 2012 20:15:58 GMT -8
Calli's jaw dropped before she could stop it. She had always considered herself a morning person but five a.m. was still a good deal earlier than what she was used to. Actually, never could she remember ever having to be somewhere that early. But she was as stubborn as she was optimistic. Though it would be difficult at first, she was sure it was something she could get used to.
"I can do it. Like my sister Coral always says, 'The early bird gets the worm' right?" She finished loading their latest batch of cookies onto a display tray. "I'll bring these out." A thought occurred to her, "If you leave now, how do you get home without the town seeing you?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Nov 4, 2012 14:31:36 GMT -8
"I can do it. Like my sister Coral always says, 'The early bird gets the worm' right?"
"Right... but the worm might still be asleep," Charlotte said with a chuckle.
"I'll bring these out." "If you leave now, how do you get home without the town seeing you?"
"In the mornings, it's easy. Most of the town is still asleep. The afternoon is a little trickier but I just head out the back and right into the woods."[/u] Charlotte gestured toward the general vicinity of her home. "We live in the woods,"[/i] she clarified.
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Dec 29, 2012 8:12:41 GMT -8
"Right... but the worm might still be asleep,"
"That's what coffee is for." Calli returned warm smile.
"In the mornings, it's easy. Most of the town is still asleep. The afternoon is a little trickier but I just head out the back and right into the woods.""We live in the woods,"
Calli's eyes widened slightly. She had always been partial to waterfront property but a home in the forest seemed exciting nonetheless. It spurred thoughts of adventures and daring heroines and handsome princes...though Storybrooke had none of those things. At least, none that Calli had ever seen. But the locale seemed to make sense of how the aunts had been able to keep Charlie from sight for so long. Not many of the town residents ventured into the woods and most of those who did stuck to the main paths.
"Would you like some company on the walk home?" In truth, Calli was not looking forward to returning to her empty apartment just yet. She must have been spoiled from the afternoon full of pleasant conversation with someone who could actually communicate with her. Suddenly the thought of being alone again, save for the fish that bobbed and darted through the large tank in her living area, was a daunting prospect.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 14, 2013 21:34:24 GMT -8
Would you like some company on the walk home?
Charlie beamed a smile at her. "Oh, I'd love that! I could show you my home."
She wasn't sure how her aunts would feel about Calli knowing where they lived. If anything, they may be slightly annoyed but she figured they would shrug it off so she didn't clear it with them first. This was one of those harmless 'easier to ask forgiveness than permission' situations. She talked them into this bakery, now she would work on some smaller steps to continue loosening the tight, protective hold they had on her.
Charlotte headed for the door, grabbing her jacket and handing Calli hers. "Ready?" she asked as she zipped up her jacket.
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Calliope/Ariel
Newbie
"Where would we walk? Where would we run if we could stay all day in the sun."
Posts: 41
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Post by Calliope/Ariel on Jan 19, 2013 0:10:21 GMT -8
"Ready?"
"Let's hit the road!" Calli responded after she too had pulled on her jacket. She walked towards the back door and poked her head out, checking either way for any sign unwanted observers. A bit down the way, a man was carrying a bag of trash to throw in the dumpster. She held up a hand towards Charlie, subtly keeping watch as the man accomplished his mission and disappeared back through one of the many doors lining the back of the building. Once she was satisfied that no one else was lingering in the alley way behind the shops, she turned back towards Charlie. "Coast is clear."
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