Our routines continued through the following week: Sleep, eat, work, eat again, sleep again. Somewhere in there would be chores, showers, whatever need be should I have the time. Riv would help me with chores, eagerly so, and while those things often went slower I found them much more enjoyable than I would by myself. I couldn't really imagine looking forward to something like dishes or laundry otherwise.

Taking the academic outline I had begun putting together simple learning sheets for reading and writing, an attempt to begin Riv's journey into basic literacy. He was slow at first, but took to it well after some time and encouragement. I couldn't help but feel a little proud as he read and assembled simple, short words and learned how their letters and sounds worked.

It wasn't long before the groceries were running low and I would need to shop again. While that didn't bother me much, I wasn't sure how to go about this errand with the crowds by the grocery store. I could go at night, but I didn't want to keep Riv from sleep to take him with me as much as I didn't want to leave him at home by himself.

The more I thought about it, the more worried I grew about the house's security. I was...not really in any condition to ward off threats should they decide to invade. Those people knew where we lived, too, as I recalled. I clenched my jaw just thinking about it.

Finally one sunny afternoon came a knock at the door. I opened the door to take in the sight of some people from the carpenter's shop here to deliver the chair and table I ordered for Riv. With it even came a loaf of bread, a kindness that meant more to me now than it might have any other time. They were like Ulimi and the woman at the shop, not faradens...thankfully.

I wondered.

"Ah, thank you very much," I said, taking the heavy furniture into the house and leaning the folded table against the wall. "I, um, would like to know if any of you would be willing to grant me a favor."

The three of them turned around, seemingly interested.

"I-It's maybe a strange favor, but, uh, would one of you be willing to watch my child for a short time tonight? I need to get groceries but can only do so very late."

They all looked at each other.

"Please, I will happily pay you for your time," I begged. "I'm sorry this is such an odd thing to ask for, but I--"

"You're the one with the new type kid, right?" one asked.

"...Y-Yes, he's my foster child," I answered. "How did you know?"

"People talk," he said. "The front desk worker was pretty enamored and told us about him. Guess she thinks he's pretty adorable."

"Oh, um, thank you," I said, scratching my head and looking down.

Not the response I expected, but the one I preferred.

"I take it the dock workers by Ulimi's place gave y'all a hard time," another said. "We heard about it after the fact, sorry we couldn't be there to help when it went down."

"It's quite alright, please don't apologize. Um, i-is anyone willing to help me with this? Perhaps on a weekly basis? It should only take about twenty minutes. I just don't want to risk him getting hurt by taking him with me or leaving him here by himself."

They looked to each other and shrugged.

"I know none of you know me, but--"

"Sure," the largest one said. "Just let us know a time and day. Not like there's much more to do at night and I'm sure your kid's well-behaved."

"...Th-Thank you, thank you very much," I said, shaking their hands. "Would, say, nine o'clock work for you? If that is too late I--"

"Nine sounds fine," one said. "Relax a bit, man. We'll be here around then."

They all turned away to head back into town, but one looked back at me.

"If I were you I'd, uh, maybe see 'bout cleaning off your door when you get a minute," he said before continuing on his way.

I cocked my head and looked at the outer side of the door. 'RACE TRAITOR' had been scrawled across it in some kind of paint. When...did this happen? Fortunately Riv, uh, couldn't read words like this yet. I sighed and turned around, heading to the kitchen to grab a bucket, alcohol, and an old rag. Riv was upstairs taking a shower so I had a little time to start on this.

With water in the bucket I made my way back to the front door. I soaked the rag in the alcohol and sponged it across the writing. I wasn't happy knowing this would probably damage the door, but I'd rather deal with that than allow tripe like this to adorn my house. Wringing out the rag I attacked the paint, scrubbing as hard as I could to wash my door of these cruel words, hoping to make some progress before he was finished with his shower.

Riv was soon done with his shower and had carefully cut across the lobby to see what I was doing. It was probably a little strange seeing someone trying to scrub a door, after all.

"Whatcha doin'?" he asked, looking at the patchy door.

"Some people...wrote some unkind...things on the door...sometime this morning," I answered between motions.

"...Because of me?" he asked.

"No, because...of them," I replied. "You are...just fine."

After a minute more I stopped to take a few breaths. I wasn't used to doing things like this and it didn't take long for it to catch up with me. I'd made enough progress that it was barely legible, too broken up to be read. The door was damaged, but that'd be a problem for another day.

"What's that smell?" he asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Oh, rubbing alcohol," I said after another breath. "You use it to clean stuff like this, or even to wash scrapes and cuts. It hurts, but it works well. Remarkable substance."

I resumed my attack on the door, scrubbing whatever I could find until I was satisfied. I'd certainly feel this in my arms and shoulders later, but it was a small price to pay.

"Alright, that should work," I said, looking over the door.

I rose to my feet and grabbed the bucket and alcohol, going on my way to return everything to the kitchen. Riv scooted after me, as always, as I dumped the bucket's contents down the drain and put the alcohol in a high place. Well, higher than me, so hopefully enough. After everything was put back I washed my hands, rinsing off the smell of the solvent.

"Alright, Riv, I need to get groceries tonight," I said as I dried my small hands in a towel. "At least one person from the carpenter's shop will be here to watch you while I'm away, but it should only take about twenty minutes, okay?"

He nodded, but looked worried.

"They're ramiotrans, like Ulimi," I reassured, patting his head. "They're excited to meet you. I guess the woman at the front desk said a lot of nice things."

"Really?" he said, pale eyes suddenly full of hope.

"Yes, really," I responded. "It's a shame you were in the shower at the time, but you'll meet them soon enough."

I hadn't seen him so eager before and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Now, I have something waiting in the lobby for you," I said, holding out my hand. "I do hope you'll like it."

Curious, he took my hand and we walked back to the lobby. I grabbed the small table, unfolding it on its side, and stood up to right it. His eyes were big in awe.

"Wait, there is one more thing," I said, grabbing the chair and unfolding it.

I quickly bound to my desk to acquire the spare cushion I'd kept, coming back to tie it around the base of the stile. Everything was just the right size and could still be used as a personal desk when he got older.

"Do...Do you like it?" I asked through an uncertain smile.

Without a word he bolted down the hallway at a speed I'd never seen, coming back with paper, his folder, and a box of crayons. His smile was almost as big as his eyes, so I guess he liked it after all. It was reassuring; for a moment I thought I'd upset him.

"...I'll take that as a yes, then," I quietly laughed. "Now you don't have to sit on the floor while you're out here. I can move the table wherever you'd like, too, provided it fits."

"It's okay right here," he said, climbing atop the chair and laying out his supplies.

I smiled and pet his head before turning back to my desk, ready to continue my own work. As the day progressed I often looked up and over to him as he colored or filled out the worksheets I'd prepared, his softly kicking his legs as they dangled from the seat of the chair. I was glad I could finally do something right.

After dinner and evening chores I wrapped up whatever work I had left, which wasn't much. I figured I'd also take my work with to drop off while I was out as I remembered at least a few of the buildings had dropboxes. Hopefully the people I'd asked to watch Riv wouldn't mind if I took a few extra minutes.

I waited in the lobby well into the evening, helping Riv with his schoolwork. Sure enough, around nine was a knock on the door. I opened the door and let him in and introduced he and Riv to each other.

"Riv, this is Tamani," I said, bringing their hands together. "He'll be watching you while I'm away. Please be good for him, okay?"

"Okay!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"Everything will be fine," Tamani said, picking Riv up. "You go deal with your errands."

With that short outro and effects in hand, I left.