'...I owe you an apology, Desta.  I did not mean to do it, but I hurt you, and I am sorry.  I should have been more careful with the things I said.'

'I also want to say that it is quite normal to be upset about - well, everything that is happening right now - and that I am not upset with you, or your feelings.'

'Your feelings are very normal feelings to have.  I just don't want you to get buried under them - like how loud noises are bad for you, but with your feelings, if that makes sense.'

...She's seen enough kids be worried about that that the reassurance is automatic, though the comparison of them to loud noises was something she actually thought up in the moment.

Is this always what grownups are like, when you can understand them? It's weird.

"Otay."

...It's what they should be like, but many often aren't.  Is what she would say if she knew what was going through Desta's head.

...As it is, she's just...  Glad that Desta doesn't seem to be holding this against her all too much.

Even if that bodes poorly for everything else that she needs to watch for.

'There are still a couple things I need to tell you, but they shouldn't be - painful to think about, on their own.  If they are, please let me know.'

'The first thing to know is, we go outside to play in the afternoon.  Sometimes we go other places, but we're not doing that today.'

'The second thing is that we're going to get you some new clothes today, so a tailor will come here and make sure you get things that fit - and hopefully things you like.  Do you have a favorite color?'

Read, read; nod, shrug.