<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><em>~ Marisol on the tour with everyone ~</em><br/><br/>The tour was <em>a lot</em> to take it. So much so that Marisol felt like she should have brought a notepad or something to write down the important tidbits that Cathy was telling them. As she walked with them through the inside of the house, checking out the food pantry and the overabundance of food, Marisol wondered what would happen if they really did get stuck inside the house for weeks. That could make for some fun times...or some very stressful times. Giving her head a mental shake, Mari continued on the tour, listening to everything Cathy went over.<br/><br/>There was a slight feeling of loss that took over her as she continued to listen to Cathy. True, she had been raised in a small house in Puerto Rico with all of her family but it was never a...ranch. There was a slight feeling of inadequacy that was filling her and try as she might, she couldn't stomp it down. But as always, Mari did not let it show; it might show in her eyes, but never would she have uttered the sentiment. Instead, she vowed to herself to ask Nicci and Mila for help. Both girls seemed to be taking this in a little better than she was.<br/><br/>When Cathy mentioned the manual, she breathed a small sigh of relief, feeling a little foolish that she would need a manual but really worried she might break something. Or do something wrong. The castle was so beautiful and so different that even if it felt a little silly, it felt necessary to have a manual. Regardless, she was very glad that she would at least be able to read over something and make sure she was doing it right.<br/><br/>She kept glancing down at the wellies, her eyes flashing with merriment. They might not be the latest fashion but they were still...interesting. She liked them. And it appeared that they would serve a very important purpose as she walked outside with the group, listening in on the sheep and the chickens. "Wow..." She murmured to herself, having not really understood that they would be...<em>really</em> on their own. It was like Little House on the Prairie...but in modern time. And...none of them were related of course.<br/><br/>By the time they made it back inside, Marisol felt like she had been overloaded on information. Taking off the wellies, she went and st down with the group, nodding at Nicci as she ran her fingers through her hair, "Yeah. I feel like Cathy just opened my head and dumped a bunch of information inside. I was thinking of the huge amount of food we had to the find out we have sheep and chicken and..." She shook her head at the coffee question, reaching for a cookie instead.<br/><br/>At Bo's question, Marisol was so engrossed in her own mental musings that she answered automatically, "I seriously don't feel ready..."<br/><br/>Realizing what she just said -- out loud and to the entire group nonetheless -- made her pause and glance around the table, the feeling of vulnerability hitting her hard. Swallowing, she forced herself to smile, adding with a soft chuckle, "But I'm eager to learn." <em>Great,</em> she scolded herself, <em>Juuust great.</em> It wasn't easy to just...be honest and trust the group. She felt like she could, and she hoped that they wouldn't take it as her being difficult just...answering truthfully.<br/><br/>She was surprised at herself, though. Normally, Marisol <strong>did</strong> answer as honestly as she could, to anyone!...But...never had she felt so exposed at doing so. It was still the fear of the unknown with her new 'family'. The persistent doubt that she was not as strong or as wanted as the rest in the group.</span>