"Nobody's two and a half," says Timio. "Only one year olds care."

"Be that as it may, sometimes kids are born in the southern hemisphere," chuckles Mikko. "We say 'and a half' sometimes to refer to those kids. Even though a southern hemisphere kid would actually turn a year older in a couple months, not a couple seasons."

Maybe she is from the southern hemisphere and that's why these people seem so different from the people she's seen before? Though she isn't sure. 

"Shahn, do you think that today you might be ready -"

"NO," says Shahn, sobbing suddenly and burying his face in his arms.

Eefa pokes her head out just a little, so she can see what's happening. It sounds scary but it's important to know about scary things - not knowing doesn't help.

"You can have a little longer, but I think Kamki and Suamesa are really hoping to meet you soon," Mikko says.

"NO," says Shahn. "I want my REAL PARENTS."

"Shahn, that's - I wish we could do that, kiddo."

Oh no, Shahn has people who he wants and Mikko is taking him away. Eefa doesn't know what that feels like but it seems like it would be really bad. 

... she can't be hurt in this way but it is not a good sign that people in her situation are being hurt in this way.

Also Mikko seems good at pretending to be nice, which is complicated feeling.

Shahn sniffles.

Anina disengages from the cartoons during a commercial break and creeps over to Eefa. "His parents are dead," she whispers, once she's in whispering distance.

Oh.

"Why?"

"I dunno. Probably a war."

"And Mikko took him afterwards?"

She never thought about where kids go if someone kills their parents but it makes sense she guesses that people would take them.

"Yeah."

"Did he take you too?"

"Yeah."

"How long ago?"

"Couple days. Mostly nobody's here too long. Lots of people want kids."

"What for?"

"To like, hug and stuff. I think."

"Is the stuff bad?"

"...I think it's not s'posed to be."

"I dunno. Probably it's bad."

Anina shrugs.

The commercial break ends and she goes back to her sister.

Eefa considers asking Shahn if he knows what happens when they leave here but she doesn't wanna risk going out across the room right now.

Mikko breaks out some coloring supplies. Shahn and Anina are convinced to color; Timio seems to prefer to watch TV on her everything.

Eefa eventually goes over to see what Shahn and Anina are coloring.

Shahn has a sea turtle and Anina has a flower. There are plenty of coloring sheets if Eefa wants one.