"Has it been very hard, staying through the winter?"

She's chattiah than most townies are with carnies, but I don't mind that none.

"Ayuh," I say, an' rub my hand along my stubble. "Hard work stayin' in one place at the best of times for most of us. Carnival's made to wandah. Made for open roads. An' aftah everythin' that's been going on..." I shrug. "It's strange. But we could have ended up in much worse towns." I nod, thinking of some of the places we've been. Worse, ayuh. "You heah shopping some someone?" I say, smiling. "Got a Valentine?"