"Okay, well, I'm not three, and the storks bring babies to creches, I've - seen them do it, and parents are a thing animals have."

"...Well, of course I'm an animal, are humans plants in your universe?"

"No, humans are more like animals than like plants, but we don't have parents. We just happen, and storks collect us from wherever we are when we're babies and bring us to population centers nearby."

"...People don't just happen, that doesn't make sense. But even if they did, why would that mean you don't have parents?"

"...How in the world would I have parents after just happening?"

"They would adopt you! I'm adopted."

"I have an apprenticeship. Well, had. I just left it. Is that what you mean?"

"If an apprenticeship means the same thing to you than to me then no."

"I went to live with him when I was a kid and studied servantmaking."

"I guess maybe then. Most kids are with their parents from when they're babies but Mama didn't come for me until I was four."

"I was older than four, and it was still earlier than most kids get apprenticeships. Some people never do."

"Oh. I don't think it's quite the same thing then. I wonder why, don't people want to be parents?"

"I've considered getting apprentices of my own, but I can't imagine wanting a baby. They're a little much to deal with even for people who like them and take creche work to deal with them all the time."

"Well if you've got a lot of babies and only a few people of course it's a little much to deal with. Why wouldn't you want a baby? They're little and cute and they love you so much."

"If babies love people I've yet to see one express it in a more interesting way than vomiting. They're all right to hold for a short time but why would I want to have one? I can get pets if I want things to be little and cute, and then they'll also be useful."

"But they won't grow up into a person! And babies do love you, the telepaths say so."

"The telepaths!"

"Are these people who read minds?"

"Sometimes! They do lots of other stuff too and they don't read your mind without permission unless they're a bad guy or too little to know better and Mama kept Erik from doing that either most of the time."

"Well, as long as they need permission... what other stuff?"

"Well, they can talk in your head, and they can keep other telepaths out like Mama and Daddy too did with Erik before he learned better and probably Raven too but she knew better by the time I came home, and they can tell where you are from where your mind is even if they're not actually reading it, and if you let them in your head they can help you remember stuff."

"But they only do any of this with permission?"

"Well, I mean, they can't stop knowing where you are, and I don't think Mama or Daddy asked Erik's permission to keep him out of anyone else's head, but other than that yeah."

"Okay then."