"Faunas, faunas, faunas," the kids whirled around in a circle, taunting their victim.
The little boy cowered, trying to hide the tiny antler nubs sticking up out of his curly brown hair. Moegi sat on the swingset, watching curiously. They had been gone all summer and when they came back to school, Ash Twine had the nubs of a deer's antler, announcing to the world he was a faunas. The kids teased him relentlessly at lunch and now were back at it after school. He was looking miserable, and Moegi was beginning to believe that the other kids were wrong. It looked like Faunas' did have feelings.
"Moegi?" a familiar voice drifted her way.
Her eyes widening she grabbed her backpack and hurried to the sidewalk were her older brother, Aoni, was standing. He frowned, watching the kids disperse as their parents or siblings arrived to bring them home. Ash was picking himself up and brushing off his clothes.
"What was going on?" Aoni asked.
"They were teasing Ash because of his antlers," Moegi said quietly.
Aoni frowned, but didn't say anything else on the walk home. They lived above their family's bakery, it was snug but warm and happy. Moegi ran up the backway into their apartment, hung up her backpack, then rushed back downstairs. The warm smell of fresh bread wrapped around her as she entered the bakery. Her father operated the stove, pulling out a fresh batch of dinner loaves.
"Moe," he called out cheerfully as he slid the loaves off.
"Papa," she smiled.
"How was school today?" he asked, dusting the loaves with flour and placing them on a cooling rack.
Moegi hopped onto a bench and related the entire day to him, finishing her view on Jett's teasing.
"Papa?"she asked. "Do Faunas have feelings?"
"What a question," he frowned and sat down the loaf he was dusting.
He walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her a stern, but kind look as he took a deep breath.
"Of course Faunas have feelings," he said firmly. "They are just like me and you, only with some cool additions. You shouldn't discriminate them like other people do."
He pulled up a stool beside hers and stiffly sat down beside her. Slapping his hand on his right knee, he rolled his shoulders back.
"Your Papa is getting to be an old man," he grimaced. "Now Moe, I have something to tell you. Your mother was a Faunas. She was a very good and kind woman, with many many feelings. She loved all of us very deeply."
"What kind of Faunas?" Moegi's big eyes widened.
"A Koala," her father smiled. "She is who you got your sleepy attitude from."
"Tell me more about Mama," Moegi pleaded.
"Tonight," her father stood up as the bell on the door clanged. "I have customers."
Moegi grabbed her lunch tray and moved through the tables. She sat down at an almost empty one next to Ash Twine.
"Hi," she smiled shyly.
His eyes widened and he glanced down at his lunch. Moegi picked up a piece of celery and munched on it quietly.
"I'm Moegi," she said quietly.
"I'm Ash," he looked up at last, a little smile on his face.