#fenixtj

"Oh! I've met Connor, he visited through the door!"

"I'm not allowed through the door."

"Connor helped save Ramona!"

"He did? OH my" A whisper "Between you and me? i wasn't allowed through the door on my own either. I had a nice man named Olgar help me. He's a rover. He's scary looking, but has a good heart"

"And who is Ramona? "

"Ramona is my kitten! She's a tabby and very naughty."

"Sometimes the naughty ones are the most lovable" A shake of her head

"Salma's kitty is Donquito, and he is gray and very lazy. Holger and Ariel, also my best friends, they have the last two kittens but Mamacita lives in the library but Constance says she's not her cat but she absolutely is Miss Constance's cat."

"Ramona is named after a book, Salma read it to me. Salma is a very good reader, and she can read in TWO languages!"

"But it's okay, because I'm learning a secret language and I get to teach it to her!"

"A secret language? Oh that sounds mysterious"

"Oh, it is! It's called Braille and it is dots you can read with your FINGERS."

"Oh how amazinn. I can only read with my eyes"

An indignant huff. "Reading is HARD. The letters swim."

"Swim?" A moment "AH. yes. Like poor Percy Jackson"

"Who is Percy Jackson?"

"Well, it sounds VERY Far fetched but..." A stage whisper 'he's secretly the son of a myth. Can you believe it?"

"Oh, yes! Is he a book?"

"I will ask Salma to read it to me. Salma is a very good reader."

"He is in a book. Percy Jackson and the lightning thief I believe" She ponders "I'd offer to read it with you, but I don't want to step on Salma's toes"

"THAT way are the Springs, but you must shout 'Pants!' before you open any of the doors."

"Mmm. Maybe Salma would like to be read to, too?"

"I'm... not very good at it, but she's very nice when I try. But maybe she'd like to hear a story too."

"Pants?" A surprised look

"And I'll offer" she agrees

"Oh yes, it is the most important thing!"

"Most important" She nods

"Sometimes Ariel and I try to see who can say PANTS the loudest!"

"Who wins?" A smile "And do you have fun doing it?"

"Usually Ariel wins. She's a satyr and she's the childling troubadour. So of course, a troubadour must have a very nice voice."

"Oh yes, I.."

"CENTAUR!" SPeakingg of loud little satyrs

"Ariel! This is Fawn but she's not a faun, she's a centaur!"

"Centaur Centaur!" The satyress bounces on hooves "And you're on her back! You got a centaur ride! OH MY GOSH!"

"I am too short to hold hands. But it is a special honor and you must ask very nicely because centaurs are not horses."

"May I PLLLEEEEESE have a ride Miss Fawn?" Ariel looks like she might DIE if told no!

"oh my goodness, so dramatic!"

Fawn chuckles

"Satyrs are the most passionate kith." Helpful!

"I see that" Fawn says "Well, all right, but that's two of you, so I may have to stop after a bit. Now, may I please lift you up? Manners work both ways" Consistent in her teaching

"Yes you may" Ariel manages to gasp, and then throws her hands up

"Ellie, if you'd please help me with her when she gets up to you?" And Fawn picks up the little girl and brings her up to the other girl

Ellie helps!

"We aren't too heavy, Miss Fawn?"

And soon, Ariel and Ellie are on the back of a centaur together!

"Actually, one advantage to being a cenntaur is we're healthier than we would be. "

"Oh, that's good!"

"Not Troll strong, but yes, it's good" A pleased look "Come on, let's give a bit of a trot"

"Braced?"

"Oh, I haven't done a trot without stirrups. I shall try!"