Fifth Floor Common Room, Saturday Evening

[thismaskiwear]

Katchoo being shorter than Francine wasn't new; Katchoo being this much shorter than Francine was

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[awakestheghosts]

Chloe had been wandering and hiding from ghosts exploring when she heard the noise coming from one of the bigger rooms.

That was why there was now a shy little girl standing in the doorway.

"W-what's g-golf?" She asked in a soft voice.

[thismaskiwear]

"Stupid," Katchoo announced immediately (and loudly), shaking the remote at the TV. "An' boring."

Mmm, strong opinions as handed down by a four-year-old.

[awakestheghosts]

Chloe moved further into the room, her eyes on the TV.

"W-what are t-they d-doing?"

[thismaskiwear]

"Hitting a stupid ball." Katchoo waved one fist in a gesture that would have been vaguely obscene if it was a little more refined. "An' then people clap and 'S NOT LIKE IT'S THAT HARD."

[awakestheghosts]

"Are t-the p-people dumb, t-then?"

Because, really, why would so many people watch someone hitting a ball and clapping about it if they weren't?

[thismaskiwear]

Katchoo sniffed. "Uh huh. 'cause people're always dumb."

That answered your narrative question, Chloe. In the opinion of someone who currently actually was no bigger than a sneeze.

[awakestheghosts]

"Big p-people are really weird," Chloe said with as much assurance as a five year old could. She crept closer to Katchoo, keeping a wary eye on the remote control.

"I-I'm C-Chloe."

[thismaskiwear]

"And stupid sometimes." Way to be optimistic, Chewie. She waved her non-remote-holding hand. "'m Katchoo."

At four, the issues that went with sharing the nickname hadn't yet cropped up.

[awakestheghosts]

"And s-stupid," she agreed. "It's nice t-to meet you, Katchoo."

[thismaskiwear]

"You too, Chloe!" See, there was a time when Katchoo could be cranky and friendly at the same time. And yet, also without compunctions about teaching other young children questionable words. "D'you wanna stay an' eat with us?"

[awakestheghosts]

Chloe nodded. "I'd like that," she said with a smile. "W-what are we eating?"

[thismaskiwear]

"S'ghetti. Francine s'ghetti," Katchoo added with all due emphasis because that was the important part. "'s the best kind ever."

[awakestheghosts]

"Ooooh. That sounds really good," she said with a nod.

[thismaskiwear]

"It is." Katchoo, she believes you. There's no need to keep insisting. "Francine knows how to make lotsa food an' there's gonna be plenty for people!"

[awakestheghosts]

"Yay," Chloe said with a big grin. "Spaghetti for everyone on the whole wide island."

[thismaskiwear]

"Maybe not everybody," Katchoo considered. "Let the 'dults get their own food. They're big, they can do it."