Silence used to comfort. So many ways to be enfolded, with ground sounds almost as sooth- ing. Once, even plugged in, it had been nothing to lean into or away from musical confusion, distant shouts and voices, traffic noise, or the buzzdrone of adult chatter.

None of it made much sense. Even big-eye talk.

Just big-eye them back, nod and maybe smile sometimes. It mostly worked. Later you could say you didn’t understand or didn't remember. Now they expected you to listen even when they weren't making with the eyes.