May 6, 2440, 10:00 AM
Ron and Roy had managed to slip out of the house with their skateboards, a guitar, bongos, and a handful of V’ren energy bars without Maggie seeing them.
Or so they thought.
She snorted with laughter as she watched them on the security cameras. At ten, they were expected to look after themselves for most of the day. The real danger was not getting lost or hurt. It was getting caught by their sixteen-year-old sister and assigned work.
That was the hazard of being the building manager’s sons when the assistant building manager was your older sister.
Maggie had more important things to do than chase them. She was waiting for the vetted household lists for one hundred V’ren move-ins. Once those arrived, she could assign units, schedule arrivals, and start dispatching furniture-moving crews.
They were much better prepared than they had been the night before. Units had been identified, supplies were staged, and crews were waiting. All Maggie needed were the names and household compositions so she could start putting people where they belonged.
Until then, she had lumpia to make.
She also had a more immediate problem.
Ron and Roy were going to regret those energy bars later. Maggie knew because she was currently in the bathroom ordering stool softener from the pharmacy.
The bars contained enough fat, protein, and fruit to feed someone for most of a day. They were meant to be eaten slowly with plenty of water.
Maggie had not done either of those things.
She had already texted Lola Rhea and Annie Roxas to ask what teas might help, since they were the best herbalists she knew. Annie had immediately thanked her because she had been about to try one of the bars herself.
Maggie added extra first-aid supplies to the pharmacy order to meet the delivery minimum. She was certain North Park would need them before the day was over.
Then she placed a second order for Rocky Road because Rocky Road was a food she loved a lot more than her lactose-intolerant GI tract loved it back, and she was willing to believe it might balance the load, or be a cure for that time of the month which was close at hand.
@MagsGarcia: V’ren energy bars are dense, sticky, and sweet. They also sit on you like a shit brick. Do not recommend. 1/10 because they might cure diarrhea.
DM Exchange
@PaisleyPhillips: Hope you didn’t eat more than one. I was about to start on my second when the V’ren woman staying with us advised against it. Dad already ate three and can’t get off the couch.
@MagsGarcia: No, just the one. I wish I had asked first. Ordered Rocky Road to balance the load.
@PaisleyPhillips: That is a fine medical plan. Mom said the apartments were hosting some kind of potluck and wanted to know if y’all needed help.
Paisley was Maggie’s best friend, only slightly older but a grade ahead because of the school calendar. They both played viola, and both suffered from younger siblings who believed brass instruments should be played at maximum volume.
@MagsGarcia: Help is always welcome, doubly so from your mom. Come over and I’ll order extra ice cream. We can make pancit and devilled eggs while our siblings terrorize everyone else.
@PaisleyPhillips: As nature intended.
Maggie checked the housing portal again.
Still no vetted lists.
She checked the cameras. Ron and Roy were still moving away from the building with their instruments, skateboards, and stolen ration bars, apparently convinced they had escaped notice.
She let them enjoy the illusion.
The moment those lists arrived, she was putting them to work.
