"Agreed on both counts."

He pets the still-apparently-sleeping Trouble.

"Is he still asleep? Do I even want to know what you did to him after I left?"

"He looks it, doesn't he? And you're welcome to ask."

"I think I will refrain."

He laughs.

"Robin, how far away are the fascinating pigeons?"

"Close enough," she says. "We could nip over there and say hello right now, if you wanted."

"Let's go as soon as Trouble wakes up."

"All right," says Robin.

Bella heads back to the kitchen table to spread Robin's notes out and skim them. She translates bits and pieces into her notebook.

Andi is a flopped heap of inertia.

Robin leans on Ethan and finishes her popsicle.

"We're supposed to go a place and pet birds," says Andi vaguely.

"Pigeons," contributes Robin.

"Great," laughs Trouble. "Are we waiting on me?"

"Yeah. You ready to go?"

He yawns. "Sure."

"Are we walking or busing?" Bella asks Robin.

"Busing."

"Okay then." Bella puts her current notebook in her backpack, and out they go to the bus stop.

Robin leads them to the promised pigeon loft, and introduces them to the promised sweet little old lady, who offers everyone oatmeal cookies and insists that they call her Babs. She is fascinating, if you like pigeons.