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Kiri looked around the McDonald’s store. She had been worried about Alice not interacting with other children so she had arranged for a play date through the Eden Project. She hoped that being around other children might make Alice talk more or at least be less dependent on Kiri.
Even through she didn’t like to think of herself as a snob she rarely came to places like this since she didn’t like the food herself but Alice seemed to like pretty much anything food related and was presently happily playing in the play area, after being promised food later if she was good.

Kiri stood near the gate to the play area where Alice could see her but where she could see the store and part of the parking lot. Looking around she wondered what Rowan Abidon and Alexis would be like. Alexis had sounded like a girls name but she was sure that the note had said he was a boy.

Kiri gave Rowan one of her social smiles and accepted the hand, shaking it briefly before letting go. "Yes, I'm Kiri Faeson.", she confirmed, "I'm pleased to meet you and thanks for bringing Alexis out to meet Alice. She only grew a little while ago so she hasn't met many people yet."

She wasn't sure what she thought of this tall gentleman yet but it was to Alice's advantage for her mum to be nice to the other Eden parents.

Alice had been told on the way here that they were coming to meet another Eden. She didn't really grasp the whole Eden concept but she had come to the conclusion that they were going to meet someone who was her friend, they just hadn't met yet. So when she spotted Alexis from where she had been climbing she instantly jumped down and ran over to him. This must be her knew friend, after all he had said hello to her.

Reaching him she instantly gave him a big hug then gave him a big smile. It didn't occur to her to say hello first, mummy always understood her without words. This greeting done she waited tail wagging and ears perked for what her new friend would do.

"It isn't just me at home so I can get some help with minding Alice but I'm still thinking once she starts talking more of looking into day-care for her. I figure it's a good way for her to safely meet others." Kiri thought Alice seemed happy about meeting Alexis but her social skills needed work. She had a habit of just assuming that everyone was her friend.

Alice's tail dropped a little as her new friend stiffened up but cheered up again as soon as he spoke. She kinda remembered this part from when she was saw Simon the first time, what Lexi had just said was his name, now it was her turn. "Alice" she said then not sure about the humming part tried to hum it back, she got the feeling that it was some type of polite greeting.
She was more interested in the glance he had made towards the slide, in her mind body movements were the most important thing. Now ran over towards it before looking back at Lexi to see if he followed. From previous explorations she knew how to get to the top and thought it was fun, she wondered if he thought it was fun too.

Kiri smiled "Working at home doesn't mean you'd have time anyway. I work from home and I still don't have much time for Alice."

Lexi was right about Alice not being good at singing, talking either but what she was good at was reading body language. She didn't know what he had hummed but she did understand him starting to climb.

Happily since there was room for two to climb at once she followed him up before bouncing slightly on the platform waiting for what he wanted to do next. She liked this, unlike Simon and Mrs Potts Lexi didn't seem to mind her not talking and he enjoyed doing fun things like climbing.

Kiri blinked, she hadn't realised what she had said made it sound like she had started working at home for Alice's sake. "I already worked at home when I got Alice's leaf." She explained "I work as an artist and illustrator so I find it easiest to work from home. However it just means its easier to get absorbed into your work if you know that you don't have to stop to go home."
Kiri wondered what work he could be in, she couldn't tell by his appearance or actions.


Alice was a bit confused, had Lexi hurt himself getting up? He seemed to be moving a bit funny. But surely he would know best and he wanted to go down the slide. It was the quickest way down, if he had hurt himself it would be good for him to get down and if he hadn't hurt himself then surely he would enjoy it since it was fun, so the slide was a good idea.

She ran over to it then waited to make sure he was following her and that he didn't need help. Concern for her new friend showed in her eyes and the way she kept glancing over at him but it didn't occur to her to ask if he was okay. She wanted to help him but since she didn't know what was wrong she didn't know what she could do about it so she just bounced on the spot and watched him.

Kiri noticing his glance wondered if a change of topic would be a good thing, this topic seemed pretty much finished. She wasn't much of a social talker and it didn't appear this gent was either but she didn't think that letting them drift into silence was a good thing either. So with a gesture to Charity she asked, "You're daugher?".

Alice was relieved when Lexi got to the edge of the slide, she still didn't understand what was wrong but he seemed better near the slide. This concern if not destroyed certainly minimised she happily took his indication to go down and jumped onto the slide before desending at a high speed with arms raised and a big smile on her face. Once at the bottom she moved out of the way and looked up at Lexi, waiting for him to join her.

Kiri was curious now, how could you not be sure if someone was your girlfriend? Since he hadn't seemed to take her curiousity amiss she decided to ask. "How can you not be sure if someone is your girlfriend?"

Alice too was curious, Lexi seemed to be pretty much better now that they had gone down the slide. Alice looked around since she figured that it was her turn to find something to do. And saw the see-saw, she had explored it earlier but it looked like you needed two to use it so she hadn't been able to play with it, but now she had Lexi. With this in mind she pointed at it and looked at Lexi to see what he thought of her suggestion.

Kiri blinked, Oops. She didn't have much expereince dealing with touchy people and figured that it must have been a sore subject for whatever reason. This meant that the fault for upsetting him was with her so she commented "Sorry, I didn't realise it was a bad subject." Then since he seemed more interested in keeping an eye on his sorta girlfriend, she decided it was best for her to keep an eye on Alice and the little boy. She just hoped that the two of them would figure out how to use the see-saw fine.

Alice noticing that Lexi chose the higher side got on what was clearly a seat on the other end then tried to figure out how to help Lexi get onto the seat at his end, he might be able to reach it but she didn't think it would be easy to get on. Holding onto the handles she experimented in try to lift her side and was gleeful in seeing Lexi's side go lower. Now he wouldn't have to reach as far to get on, this toy needed more thought than the slide but it promised to be fun.