Babysitting

Harper knew she had agreed to help babysit little Adelaide, but man she may have offered before really thinking about it. She hadn't prepared in the slightest for this and was now scrambling to figure out what to do. Think. She had to think. What is it that pups like to do? What did she like to do that they could do together? Harper spent most of her time these days caring for her hive of bees and tending to her herb and tea garden. While that was all very nice, she didn't think it was exactly the right kind of activities for a young pup. Thinking on it a little harder she finally had an idea, arts and crafts! After all, who didn't like to get creative? Quickly, Harper scrambled to gather any supplies she could think of, ignoring the questioning looks from her mate Zoey. She grabbed paper, pencils, markers, glue, even pasta and some dried tea leaves. She placed her spoils into a basket and prepared to head out, hoping Addie would enjoy what she had prepared. 
Zoey accompanied Harper back to the newly established Tide Pool building. It was a beautiful, almost hotel-like building that the caretaker Leon had filled with so many plants Harper felt it was almost more like a garden, which to be fair, only made her like the place more. After exchanging a pleasant chat with Leon, informing him that she was ready to take over watching little Addie so he could get to work on the replacement rings, Harper gently placed her little basket on the floor and allowed Adelaide to take a look inside. She was beyond relieved when she saw a twinkle in Adelaide's eye and a hint of what seemed to be excitement in her voice. Adelaide composed herself enough to confirm with Harper that she was allowed to play with anything in the basket, which after getting confirmation, she excitedly pulled out the contents of the basket and spread them in front of her on the floor in a haphazard fashion. 
Adelaide paused when she found the tea leaves, confused. She turned to Harper, who was gathering some supplies for herself from Adelaide's mess, and questions why there was old leaves in the basket. Harper explained that they were leaves for tea and they smell good and she thought she could use them to make something both look AND smell pretty. Adelaide seemed to think on it for a second, then excitedly asked if Harper could make her a real cup of tea because she had never had one before. Harper agreed, but told her she had to be super careful because it would be very hot when it was ready. Adelaide nodded obediently, and agreed to draw while Harper got everything ready with the tea.
By the time the water had boiled and the leaves had been steeped. Adelaide had already made some pretty good progress on a piece of art of her and Harper drinking out of some very fancy cups. Harper couldn't help but laugh as Adelaide seemed a bit shocked by the very normal looking mug she was handed. Harper explained that while tea cups are fancy and lovely to drink out of, as she does at home, they aren't necessary and the facility did not seem to have any. She warned Adelaide to be very very careful when taking a sip, to blow on the liquid to cool it and take the first sip very slowly to make sure it wasn't still too hot. Adelaide took a sniff of the hot water in her cup and seemed a little unimpressed, but slowly followed Harper's instructions, and after successfully taking a sip without burning her tongue, seemed to light up. She looked at Harper with glittering, wide eyes and thanked her for making her tea. She had always known leaves to taste pretty bad, or not be allowed to nibble on them per her grandfather. It turns out, some leaves taste pretty good!