River seemed genuinely interested in how we lived. Her eyes lit up at every little quit or innovative device we had to save money. The thing that seemed to interest her the most was our mini farm we had out back, she stopped and stared- no marveled at the small farm, we were currently growing cabbage and carrots in addition to the apple and orange tree we always had, she eventually averted her eyes and followed me up the stairs; the stairs were in the kitchen which was connected to our living room, upstairs we had a bedroom for me, a bedroom for my Mom, and a bathroom. My bedroom wasn’t very big, it was intended as a walk-in closet after all, but it wasn’t tiny, although sometimes I wonder why they didn’t just clear out the attic and use it as my room. I, as a child, practically got on one knee and begged for it. She had a similar reaction to my room as she did the farm. My room consisted of a twin sized bed with purple and black sheets, a desk with a small computer that I suspect had been around the house for ten years, a wardrobe, and posters I had collected over the years. Her eyes lit up at the sight of my teddy bear, Mr. Chub Chubs. He was quite dapper in his little suit tie and top hat, although his stomach stuck out a bit, hence the name. Whenever mom called him fat as a child I would always reply with “Moooommmm! He’s just big boned”. I sort of winced as River picked up the bear and started to hug it. “Is this yours?” River asked. I fought off the urge to say “Nooooo, he’s my mom’s” instead I just nodded my head. River in reply decided to ask where I got him. “Oh, old granny Eve made it for me when I was 6, you wouldn’t know her, after all you are just moving in today.” I said, River looked curious in the way a puppy would look at a new kitten. “She owns a giant garden and lets us pick fruit and eat it whenever we want in exchange for us helping to weed it and water the plants.” “That doesn’t seem like a great deal to me.” River replied, I then said this; “well smarty pants, first off you have like five other people helping, and secondly, she doesn’t just give us food.” River then remarked “wow, people in the country are a lot nicer than back in my old town” “Yeah! She tells us stories, and gives us candy and wait-” I cut myself off “Where did you say you were from again?” “Oh… we moved around a lot for my dad’s work, but the last town we moved to was called Fathom city!” How did she manage to be enthusiastic about everything, it made me sick of her and myself at the same time. River all of a sudden was quiet and before I could ask what’s wrong, she said this, “hey, can you show me around town later, I really don’t know anyone here, and I doubt many people will, without your help that is.” I could tell it was heartfelt, so I decided to accept this awkward invitation. “I wouldn’t mind you hanging around for a bit, until you find friends of your own.” Her eyes lit up at this response, and I had to admit, she was cute when she was desperate. For the rest of the evening we played an array of games that the little miss city girl didn’t know, although she was kind enough to make constant references to online games I had never heard of.  But time flew by, and when I checked my watch and saw it was 7:01, River’s mother was going to throw a total fit about this, I just knew it. And so she left, and I was left alone to eat dinner, and sit alone for the rest of the evening, while my mother was reading a book called “the guide to ultimate revenge”. Based on her reaction to the neighbors earlier, I assumed this was about them.