It’s a beautiful end-of-summer afternoon. The sun shines beautifully and thus Kalika Fallon-Wexler has opted to go for a walk with her two youngest children, Ranger and Wren, leaving her eldest at home with the nanny. Wren clings comfortably onto her mother’s arm, but Ranger consantly manages to drop his mum’s hand, anxiously looking in the store windows. “Ranger. Ran-ger. . .” Kalika almost sings as she continually redirects his attention. “Come along dear! Mummy doesn’t want to leave her little puddin’ behind!”

Protesting greatly, Eva Fallon is dragged out of her shop by her oldest children. Josie and Essie Wexler pull their mother out of the shop, followed by their cousin Parker. “Mum, mum, mum, you said you’d take us to the book shop today!” Sighing dramatically, Eva wrenches her arms free from the grips of her children. “Okay, but only for a little while.” She pauses and puts her skirt to rights, then looks up. “Kalika! And little Wren and Rangerrrr!” She smiles. “How are you, Kalika?”

A smile is given to Eva, “Hi Eva!” And then Ranger manages to escape again. “Ranger Marley Wexler!” Kalika pulls out her mom voice. “Mum I’m just lookin’ at stuff.” And then Ranger realizes his cousins are present. He rolls his eyes at the girls and then glances at his mom as if to ask whether he needs to be sociable to which Kalika narrows her eyes. Finally the seven year old clears his throat, “Hi Awnt Eva. Hi Joe, Sissie, and Peaker.” Kalika rolls her eyes again, “Ranger you try mummy’s patience–” Wren just nods her head in greeting at her aunt and cousins, and then shyly shuffles behind her mum while still holding her mother’s hand.

Shuffling down the street and away from some of the smaller and less busy shops, Otto is enjoying the afternoon now that his duties for the morning are over. Usually he’s seen hanging about idly with Tommy Darian, but this summer seems to be slightly different. Stopping in front of a window, he stops to look into one of the more interesting displays. The teen’s attention isn’t held long by the shop and he turns to people watch as hears the Wexler name shouted out to a particular child. Turning, he looks around and spots out a couple of familiar faces. Waving to Josie, she may be younger but they share the same House, he limps over to where the women are speaking. “Hello Mrs. Fallon,” directing his greeting to first Eva and then turning to the twins “Josie,” he pauses as he tries to find the name of the other twin and actually manages to succeed. “Estelle. Summer treating you well or you slaving away in the candy shop.” He knows better, but it is his attempt at a playful teasing at the younger girls.

“HI RANGER!” Parker shouts with unnecessary energy as he bolts around his aunt and squats down in front of the boy. “What’s happening, guy?” he asks jovially and grins up at his other aunt. “I’m starting Hogwarts soon, Aunt Kalika,” he tells the woman, as if this were news to anyone at this point.

Parker says, “Maybe I’ll be a Gryffindor just like my dad!” Parker bounces back up and gives his aunt Eva an exuberant hug. “That’s enough, Parker. You’re frightening your cousins,” the woman tells him, placing her hand gently over his mouth. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I was thinking by telling Henrietta he could stay at the shop today. The boy’s energy never stops.” She shakes her head. “Oh, hello,” she greets the boy. “How has your holiday been?”"

Ranger’s eyes widen at Parker’s greeting, and then he just blinks at Parker’s energy, “You. Are. Crazy.” Ranger then peers at his female cousins, “How is that hog’s wart that you live on the rest of the year?” “Ranger, you know better. Apologize, now” Kalika warns. “Fine, I’m sorry,” he mutters insincerely. Kalika then she turns to Eva, “So nice to run into you–and so kind of you to watch Parker for Henrietta–I’m sure she really appreciates it–I think I would be eternally exhausted if I had the number of children they have–I’m tired enough with four although Wren really is no work–none at all–and Parker can’t be that much trouble–I always liked something about that boy,” finally Kalika pauses and gasps for breath. Slightly out of breath she offers Otto a polite smile.

Remembering the real adults present, the youth looks over to Eva and grins widely. “You’ve got your hands full. I thought Tommy was wild but he’s going to be outclassed if that fellow joins Slytherin.” Laughing, Otto eyes Parker in a friendly fashion but doesn’t introduce himself or get closer to the younger boy. “Oh holiday has been grand. I’ve been working over at Talari’s shop for a few hours a week. It gets me away from Tommy and gives me my own money.” And as is true to the boy he speaks without thinking, eyes kind of wide, “I never realized that having a girlfriend meant spending so much money.” “Girls are expensive.” “Well, I mean, I guess, that is, she likes to go out a lot and stuff like that.” Realizing at the very last minute that he’s surrounded by those of the female persuasion he tries to take his foot out of his mouth, but shrugs as he grins easily. “Guess I’ll never be a public speaker.” “She’s worth it though.” Returning Kalika’s smile with one of his own, he shifts slightly awkwardly and then finally says, “I’m Otto. I know Mrs. Fallon because my friend’s father buys loads of candy from her. I think he’d marry her shop if he could.”

Smiling at Otto, Eva chuckles gently. “As long as she’s worth it, then it shouldn’t be much of a hardship, right? I liked to go out a bit myself before all of the kids were born,” the woman states sentimentally, grinning to Kalika. “I don’t mind doing it now and again, and her younger ones aren’t a problem at all, but Parker is more energetic than any of mine have been.” She shakes her head while Josie waves shyly to Otto and Essie practically hides behind her sister from the crowd that seems to have suddenly formed. “Yes, Daniel is one of my best patrons,” Eva finally mentions, replying to Otto. “I’d prefer if he kept paying me for my wares, though, rather than marrying the shop.” She winks playfully.

Kalika Fallon-Wexler smiles at Otto, “Sounds like your friend’s father has quite the sweet tooth.” She chuckles lightly, “I’m Kalika Fallon-Wexler, but I suppose you’d better call me Mrs. Wexler–much shorter and easier to say. Eva married my brother and in return I married hers.” She shrugs. “Ranger is rambunctious,” she presses her lips together and then adds, “And Slytherin is a fine house. I had a brother in Slytherin once upon a time. . .” She frowns slightly and then forces up another smile, “Parker does seem to have a lot of energy. I was like that as a child and see how much I’ve grown out of it. I’m sure he just needs some maturity.”

“I want to know how he eats all that candy and doesn’t gain any weight. It’s kind of sick because he eats more sweets than anyone I know. Tommy doesn’t even eat that much.” Otto prattles a bit before he stops himself and then actually manages some degree of social politeness. “It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Wexler.” Pondering the marriage between the families he shakes his head he finally lets it go without a word. “I don’t have that kind of energy, but Tommy does.” “Hm, we could use another member of our band. Corrupt a younger student and show him around.” “I think Tommy would find a good match with Parker as far as energy goes. We could show him the ropes and uh, stuff.” Stuff, such a descriptive word but it’s a way of not really letting the adults know what kind of things they get up into.

“Hi, Otto,” Josie says quietly. “You work at the tailor shop? That’s so cool? Do you think you could make new robes for me? I love new clothes!” The girl beams brightly at the older boy and grins to Essie, who is still trying to hide behind her slightly shorter sister. Parker takes this moment to interrupt. “You have a band? What kind of band? Do you play music? I like music! What house are you in? Are you in Gryffindor? My dad was a Gryffindor. Mum tells me that I might be in there, too if I calm down enough for the hat to sort me. I don’t know what she means. Mummy was in Hufflepuff, and I suppose that would be fine, too.” Parker finally stops talking but he hardly stops moving as he shifts from foot to foot. Josie rolls her eyes. “Shut up, Parker,” she sighs, which earns her a stern look from her mother. “Josie, we don’t talk to our cousins that way,” Eva reprimands. “I think it was a fair trade. What do you think, Kalika?” She winks.

“And it’s lovely to meet you, Otto,” Kalika smiles warmly. She smirks at Eva as Otto discusses the fun he has with Tommy. And then chuckles at the Parker’s excitement, “Parker, try not to talk everyone’s ears off. I have a feeling you’re destined for Gryffindor though.” “Yeah, you should listen to mum and Joe and shut up,” Ranger agrees. “Ranger! You just heard Aunt Eva tell Josie that’s not an appropriate thing to say,” she tucks one of her curly brown locks behind her ears and shifts her weight slightly. “Yes, definitely a fair trade, Eva.” She chuckles lightly. Having been silently hiding behind her mum up to this point, six-year-old Wren peers at her cousins.

“Band?” Confused, Otto shakes his head and is left perplexed over the conclusion for longer than most people would, “Oh! No, not like a musical group. Tommy and I are just close friends. Tommy’s in Slytherin and I’m,” he almost seems embarrassed to admit this for whatever reason, “I’m in Ravenclaw. All the houses are good though.” Laughing a bit stilted at Josie’s question, he looks sidelong away as if expecting Tommy to come rushing up the street. “I could try, but I don’t have a lot of time to make a whole new set of robes. Maybe one this summer? I’d need your measurements though. It’d be a good exercise anyway and it’ll give me a break from my other projects. Did you want a school robe or something dressier?” Trying very hard not to smile at the antics of the younger kids, he doesn’t really do a very good job.

“Oh, I guess that sounds pretty swell, too,” Parker says, not looking noticeably crestfallen. “Sorry, Aunt Eva.” Parker blushes a little bit and drags his toe around on the ground in front of him, subsequently “shutting up.” “Kids, we need to get along to the bookstore. You don’t trust cousin Joseph to watch the shop this whole time, do you?” Suddenly, Josie’s eyes seem to bug out and she gasps. “Oh, mum, I forgot! Can we still go to the shop, though? I want to look at the exciting storybooks!” Eva shakes her head and takes Josie’s hand. “It was wonderful to see you, Kalika. You should bring the kids over and have dinner with Tommy and me very soon. I’m sure all the little ones would love it. Otto, come and see us in the shop very soon. Parker‘s staying until you all leave for Hogwarts so perhaps he can meet you and Tommy.” With that, Eva herds the four kids – Josie, Eva, Parker and Charlotte – toward Flourish and Blotts, shaking her head silently as they begin to bicker.

Other Interesting Logs:

• Parker Wexler is Sorted
• Sorting Day from Josie’s View
• The Last Sighting of Lindsay Fallon
• A Sweets Reunion
• A Walk at Sunset