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Denice is in speech therapy. Today is pretty much like any other day. She repeats random syllables back to the therapist, as usual.
Denice gets et by a magic
"Ok. Well, if you realize you need to use a restroom, and you call us, we can walk over with you. And if you don't want to do that, and you want to do it yourself, or try to, that's absolutely alright. And if you realize in the middle you need help, or something goes wrong, that's still alright, and we can come try to help then."
"Ok. Do you want company, or would you rather be on your own some more? Nod if you'd want me to stay, or Shen to come back. We won't mind either way."
the light inside
(This is so weird, this is not how anything works, any moment now she's going to give a wrong answer and... she can handle it, whatever happens, she knows she can, but not knowing what will happen, or when, is scary.
Whatever. She'll deal with it when it happens. Relax, relax, everything goes so much worse if you let them get to you...)
She shrugs.
She can tell Denice is tense, but that kind of help needs more knowing about her than they have. She keeps her body language and tone as reassuring as she can.
And, she doesn't seem wanting-but-pushing-it-down, and asking them to come back later can be easier done than asking them to leave later.
"OK. If you want us or need something, just push the signal button or call and we'll be right there."
And she leaves again.
the light inside
Hopefully it won't be too awful when this finally blows up in her face.
She goes back to watching out the window.
Even if they knew about it more exactly, this is a sort of problem that is hard to address directly. Except by not blowing up, and keeping anything else from it, and waiting.
the light inside
Even if she wasn't incredibly good at handling boredom, this is new. She'll watch as long as she's allowed.
(Yes, it's approaching dinnertime. Yes, she's hungry. No, she's not going to do anything about that. They'll feed her or they won't, and thinking about it is not to her benefit.)
if-not-otherwise
And before too much longer she will see a man walking down the street toward the building she is in, holding a young boy's hand while a girl skips ahead. Depending on angle, she may or may not see them go inside. Soon after that may or may not hear the door, and then talking in the entrance hallway.
She comes out to hug Laeres and the kids, explain what is better done so in person, warn Zasi and Leran not to go into the living room for now.
Then she goes back to the living room.
"Hey, my husband just came home; we asked him to pick up some food that might be better for you than what we just already had. We have some new food bars or drinks, or we can make something more meal-like for you.
Do you know what you might want better?"
the light inside
She doesn't quite manage to hide the alarm that this question evokes, but she makes a good attempt, and shrugs.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.
Nod if you want a bar, and I'll bring you some, and if not we can get a meal together for you?"
the light inside
She looks for a moment like she's going to curl up and stop responding again, but instead just turns away.
"OK. I'm going to get your tablet to show you some meal options. If you find one you like, you can touch it on the screen, and we'll get you that one. Otherwise we'll just get a selection and you can pick from that.
Whatever you pick is alright, we're just as glad to get you whatever it is you might like."
"I'm sorry.
You don't have to believe me, but it's ok, whatever problem there is we won't be upset at you and we'll do our best to help and whatever you need is ok..."
"Ok.
If you'd like me to stay with you, nod or do something like that? And if not I can leave you alone again."
That is not something like nodding, and this is the best she can do with what she has right now.
"Ok. The tablet will show you the meal ideas - you don't have to look at them. You can call us any time."
And she leaves.