Arla stared at him for another few seconds, a bit taken aback by... what, his warmth? His friendliness? She had to take another bite of ice cream before she answered. "Arla. I teach math. Not from Chicago. Dead siblings. I don't like dogs." Another bite of ice cream to punctuate that and she turned her attention to the television like the conversation was over.
----Then she turned back to him, tilting her head like an inquisitive bird. "Um. I'm sorry. You've been here how long?"