Small Cottage

"No," replied Hugh. "I win!"

"Darn it! Let's play again. You don't know him? That.. That seems wrong. Well, I'll tell you a secret. I like him very very much. But I'm going to law school, and when I'm there, I miss him a lot. But when I come back, he doesn't like to talk to me."

"Bitch, please. I'll have your head for this!"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I don't think he likes me very much. There was this one time where he seemed to, but.. It was a long time ago."

"What's your favorite color?"

"My favorite color is.. Um, I would have to say blue. It used to be pink, though." Where the hell is Elroy? I can't take care of this kid forever, and there's no way I'm unfreezing that bitch.

"Okay!" Hugh gave up on the game they'd been playing. Better to quit while he was ahead. "I want to go home."

"I'm not sure you can go home yet. Your mommy's still sleeping. Hey, what's your name?"

"She needs to wake up! My name's Hugh."

"Nice to meet you, Hugh. My name is Serenity."

"You're pretty!"

"Thank you, Hugh!" Serenity said, smiling. "You're a very adorable little boy. What animals do you like?"

He thought for a moment. "I don't like dogs."

"Neither do I. I like cats." Serenity said. "It can't take that long to get bread.."

"I don't like cats!" He frowned.

"Well, then what do you like?"

"Rabbits. They don't bite."

"Rabbits are very cute!"

"And they're soft!"

Elroy was walking up the road with the grocery bag over his shoulder. He let out a sigh upon seeing that Serenity hadn't yet removed the petrification charm from Irene. Then again, he didn't blame her.

"Alright, Hugh, I'm gonna un-petrify.. Wake up your mother now." Serenity got out her wand and muttered the incantation for the release, keeping her wand up defensively.

It took a moment for Irene to regain her balance after being frozen for so long. It had been what, an hour? "You--" She began, taking a step towards Serenity. The moment she noticed that twig aimed at her chest, she took two steps right back. "You're all insane! Forget the money! Never... Just..." She couldn't find the right words. So, she just huffed, got back in the rental car, and drove away, nearly running Elroy over on her way over the hill.

Serenity just sort of sat down on the ground, right where she had been standing, and sniffled pathetically. She stared out down the road, then noticed Elroy, and got back up quickly, starting to walk off towards him. "Elroy." She said, as soon as she got within earshot. "I want to go to a doctor."

"Don't be silly, it'll heal within the week." Elroy didn't slow his walking pace.

"I meant a therapist. I want to go before I go back to law school. Something's wrong."

"Like what?"