They'd said her accent was already fading after just a season up north. With laughs and friendly shoves, of course.

Daddy'd patted her back, chortling at her not to get too city girl on them, before Mama'd pulled her in and lilted that she must've missed real, home Cajun suppers. (She had.) Lucas'd gone outta his way to talk to her, even - she done any partying up at uni? Scoped the local tech and counterculture scenes?

Come dinnertime, she'd smiled wistfully in her old seat, glancing between 'em in familiar places. Lull of rich twanging accents. Old voices, bickers, jokes...


July 21st. "Home".