Some days Maxine walked to school. Other days there was a bus stop. She'd grown accustomed to The City's changing streets and locations, but unlike the adults, had adapted so well to the phenomena that she hardly questioned it.
Maxine trundled slowly toward the bus stop. With Wash in the hospital, her world was in a fog. School stopped being interesting and she struggled, as always, to make friends her own age.
She sat on the bench next to Sam, who looked like a giant next to her. The rest of the school children maintained their distance. A distinctive bright yellow school bus came by a few minutes later to pick up the children, but Maxine did not board the bus. Instead she watched the other children climb on and the bus leave dispassionately.