“Kenzie,” Mrs. Yamada said.

“Yes?”

“There’s no pressure.”

Kenzie only smiled in response.

“It’s okay,” I said. I was glad to have a window to speak. “I like your outfit too, Kenzie. Good clothes are so hard to get these days, aren’t they?”

“This outfit was part of a birthday present, but I think it was expensive, yeah. I wanted to look nicer since we had someone new today.”

“There’s no need to go to extra trouble. Not for me.”

“No trouble, no trouble,” she said, very cavalier. She looked at Mrs. Yamada, “How are you today, Mrs. Yamada?”

“I’m doing very well today, Kenzie. How are you this morning?”

“Can’t complain,” Kenzie said. “Does it matter where I sit?”

“Nothing’s changed from the prior sessions. Sit wherever you’re comfortable, it doesn’t matter.”

Kenzie smiled. “I think it matters. It means something. Can I sit here?”

“Sure,” I said.

She seated herself in the chair next to the one I was standing beside.

I snuck a glance at Mrs. Yamada, and I saw concern. Because of the others who were due to arrive?

“You probably caught my name, I’m Kenzie.”

She was extending a hand for me to shake. I shook it, then turned the chair a bit as I sat down. “Victoria. Some call me Vicky, but I’m using that less these days. You can use it if it’s easier.”

“And you’re a heroine?”

“I used to be. I’m on hiatus.”

“That’s the coolest thing,” Kenzie said. “Costumes, fighting bad guys.”

“It had its ups and downs,” I said. I glanced at Mrs. Yamada. Her focus was on her notes.

She noticed me looking and asked, “You used to be her patient?”

“I did.”

“She’s the best,” Kenzie said, leaning over and speaking with a voice quiet enough that Mrs. Yamada wouldn’t necessarily hear.

“Yeah,” I said. Except for her apparent mistake here, which I wasn’t equipped to make a judgment call on. Not quite yet.

“It’s good here; I always look forward to coming. Everyone’s pretty neat. That might not mean a lot coming from me, though.”

“How come?”

“I think everyone’s pretty neat,” she said.

“I see. That’s admirable.”

The papers rustled. Mrs. Yamada put the files in a filing cabinet beside the desk at the end of the room, locking them away. She spoke aloud, “Can I get you two anything? Water?”

“I’m fine, but thank you,” Kenzie said.

“No thank you,” I said.

“The others may be a bit late, with the weather being what it is.”

“I think we’ll survive the wait,” Kenzie said. “Right, Victoria?”

“We’ll survive. Past years have taught me patience, if nothing else,” I said.

“From being a Ward? Were you a Ward?” Kenzie asked.