When they noticed how Loretta stopped trying to look refined, the way a man might imagined her, Chéri started to smile a little wider. Chéri was glad of knowing Ruby did not see the need to pretend in front of them and felt like they could get to know her better now that they were seeing her, they felt, behaving the way she pleased.

Chéri shook their head “No no, you” they knew that word “uè, uè” they tried to make the gesture for small first, then the one for cradling in one’s arms then the one for a small height, growing slowly taller “Whitby” they added. Were you born here? Did you grow up here? They were trying to ask. “Are you Whitby?” Best they could do.

Chéri would have probably laughed at the idea of the long horse. They maybe would have even drawn it, to remind themselves of that. Chéri shook their head. A short time. Not even a month. “New,” they added.