"Oh!" she says. "I think there is a game like that where I'm from. It's just called boules - I guess it would be balls. You aren't knocking down the pins, though, you try to roll it close to another ball." She's never played. It doesn't work well in the city, where it's so close, and there's work to be done.

It's such a strange childish thing to be invited to play a game with someone, and yet very much a novelty. Much less go to spend time with someone and their -- well, guardian, of sorts -- that's meant for nothing but fun. "I'd like to play, if I might," she says, tentatively, oddly unsure if she'll be welcome to.

"Though," she warns, more self-assured, "I can be competitive."