She talks about her home with affection, ayuh, an' I smile.

"Sounds nice," I say. "You miss it? I ain't been back wheah I came from in a long time. Sometimes wish I could go back, but it's a long way off."

"I did...I knew that she was becoming...more suspicious, towards the Carnival, and those within it. But to do this, it..." I am startled again, this time by how close I am to tears, "...it was beyond anything I had believed."

"Times like the ones we in seem to make people strange," I say. "Strange an' cruel. I'm sorry it happened to you." I look down at my cup, but I don't think I'm going to drink it, an' she looks like she could do with a glass of watah an' a sit down. So I hold out my cup. "Heah, drink this, an' why don't you sit down on this bench." Must hurt for her to stand up anyway, with her feet like that.