[On pops the little boy with the question that is most important to anyone old enough to still believe...]

Does Santa come here too?

[And Shin is talking to one of the plants he brought inside to take care of. He has no idea the phone is on so everyone can hear him.]

Uh-huh. And I'll be six this time.

[Pauses he's hearing a response.]

Mm. I'll see you lots.

[Hello, Mayfield. Have a VERY excited voice on the phone rather suddenly.]

Himeno! Himeno! I can hear them!

[His voice is very shy and quiet when he speaks. Almost like he's a little scared of the answer.]

Um...are the plants happy here?

[He's still trying to figure things out but he thinks he might have the phone down!

...He just doesn't realize that he didn't just call Himeno. He called everyone. Really, he only meant to call Himeno!]

Um...can I come play?

[There happens to be a new arrival today who is only five years old. He's scared of the new place and confused about what happened. On top of all of that...he can't hear his friends anymore or feel them. So the first thing everyone hears is a small child crying.]

W-w-where is everyb-body? [Great big sniffle.]

*yawns*

Are all the people back again?

Um...Can I go to see my friends in the forest sometime? I miss them and...they want to say Happy Birthday...

But if people are busy...that's okay...

Um...Can I play checkers with someone?

...Even without a curse?

[A beautiful blue flower in his garden closes and seems to bow. Shin smiles and pats it gently.]

Thank you. Umi's back now so you can sleep.