Lily laughed at the demonstration of 'booping.' She did, in fact, know what it was, but Evan's enthusiasm about having been touched by a manatee's nose was simply delightful. "I think I understand why," she said thoughtfully. "If they want to touch you, then it is because they are comfortable and, as you say, curious. But they don't understand why you'd be touching them, and it might make them anxious." This seemed fairly obvious, and she was quite sure that her son had thought of it already, but sharing thoughts with Evan was one of her favorite pastimes.
"That's all right," she assured him. "Maybe another time." She then smiled teasingly. "Of course I did, what sort of person do you take me for?"