The Vampire's Apprentice

"Yeah, that's fair, that's fair," Norville agreed with a lazy nod, "but maybe you're judging the therapist too harshly? And what if something you think is good really is bad?" He stared up at the clouds. "Common ground is good, man, real good, but if the whole world was just plains, then where would the mountain goats live? They'd be some sad Capra aegagrus hircus, you know?"
 
"I don't have much of a choice either way." Her hand found its way to another cookie, and she chewed on the sugary round object with a methodical slowness, contemplating. "It's nice outside, isn't it?"
 
"Yeah," Noville nodded. He glanced at her pityingly. "The courts demand it? Sorry, Cat, that's no fun, but maybe you'll get something good out of it. And, hey, if you really don't want to talk, do what I do." He grinned broadly at his joke before he made it, waiting for Kitty to ask.
 
She snickered. That was just like him, too. "Maybe I'll take your advice on that." Kitty pulled herself to her feet and brushed the crumbs off her lap. "I have a couple other things I've still got to do, so I'll see you 'round sometime."
 
"Alright. Stay level, Kitty Cat!" Norville told her cheerfully. He lounged back on his chair then sat up suddenly. "Oh! Right! I forgot! I have something for you. Hang on a dib?" He stood and shambled to the house at what was, for him, a fast pace.
 
Kitty paused, watching him head inside. She folded the chair and tucked it back where it was meant to go while she waited.
 
He returned with a small potted plant, not much taller than two inches, and looking more like a stick with a couple of leaves than a plant. "Since Mum was helping the twins with plants, I got one, and I wanted to give it to you." He held it out shyly. "It's a flower. A blue one. I can't remember the name, but I think the tag is in the dirt."
 
Her face lit up with a bright smile. "Aww, how sweet! Thank you so much, Norville!" She took the plant. "I know just the perfect spot to put it."
 
"You're welcome!" Norville said happily. He gave her a little salute then ambled back to his chair.

Sam was waiting on the doormap, a grumpy look on his freckled face.
 
Kitty closed the door behind her. "Aw, c'mon, Sam." She told the dog. "It's not that bad. How about you and I go to the park later, hm? Does that make up for it?"
 
Sam gruffed happily and wagged the stump of his tail excitedly. Park! He recognized park! Park! He danced around her, licking her elbows/
 
She giggled, setting the flower off to the side on the kitchen windowsill, then finished up what miscellaneous chores she had left to do before heading out.

Wait, one other thing. Kitty paused what she was doing, one shoe on and the other off, to grab a stray coin. Heads, she did go. Tails, she skipped. This was the decision maker for therapy. Leaning back on her elbow to face her bed, she flicked the coin. It landed on...

Heads.

She sighed, stuffing the coin back into the nightstand drawer. Kitty finished pulling on her remaining shoe and went out to the park for a while with Sam, then begrudgingly dragged herself to the office building when the time neared for her to be there. She restated to Allison that she harbored no intention of saying anything and only appeared because she had to.

It was past dark by the time she returned home, but the girl insisted on meandering on the way back as opposed to returning promptly.
 
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Sam adored his time with Kitty, showering her with love every time he romped around her. He thoroughly tired himself out so much in the park that he didn't have the energy to fuss when she left for her appointment. He was one happy, exhausted doggy!

Mrs. Turner did not push Kitty. She accepted her insistence on refusing to talk without a fuss and only smiled. She only asked a few questions here and there throughout the silence, mostly casual questions anyone might ask to pass the time. Her job, her family life, shows she enjoyed, nothing particularly invasive, and she did not linger on any subject, just made the opening should Kitty wish to take it. The rest of the time was calm silence.

There were police cars in front of the Mooney household when Kitty returned with two officers talking to a tight-lipped Mrs. Mooney on the porch. Clancy was waiting in the living room, watching out the window. Sometimes being a nosy neighbor was necessary to ensure he would not be discovered.
 
Kitty did not linger outside, instead using deductive reasoning to figure she'd know sooner or later what all that was about. Her two main guesses were that is was EJ in some trouble or Norville had been caught. The girl slipped silently into the living room, looking to Clancy for a tip towards the circumstances but saying nothing.
 
"How was Mrs. Turner today?" Clancy murmured politely, his eyes never leaving the window. "Hmm, I feel I recognize that officer. Where have I seen him before?"
 
"Is there an "Erol' living next door?" Clancy asked. "Apparently he was involved in some kind of incident, and it is not the first on his record."
 
"I believe that's EJ." She didn't seem particularly surprised. Kitty had called it prior, anyhow. "Figures."
 
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