Re: [Lake: Misha/Damian.]
"But what if he can't understand? I reckon that's Dietre's trouble some too. Folks got to be empathetic some, be able to put themselves in other folks' shoes, to really get on and understand when they're hurting. Dietre and Adrian, neither of them are real good at it. And if you tell them, they feel real attacked, and so I ain't got no clue how they ever go learning a thing." He was all set to hear what Damian had to say, but Damian asked after the dog, and Misha just turned some on the dock and gave the other boy a look. "You're trying not to argue with me. I know when that's what you're doing, Ahuvi," he said, and he did know. He hadn't at first, but he was better at sussing the other boy now. "The dog's a crutch now, if you ask me. He's got to take it everywhere." He knew 'bout folks having service animals, and he reckoned Dietre's dog could be considered one, but Misha wasn't never going to warm to no large dog. He even kept a respectful distance from Titus, who he'd known since a pup.
Damian, he destroyed that ringlet Misha worked on so hard, and Misha slapped at his hand and re-ringleted as he talked. "I know it's on account of loving me. You wouldn't go helping with the Vatican or a crisis center otherwise." He sounded smug some, and his smile was dimple-deep.