‘You’re an awesome dancer.’ Robin complimented the young one, grinned, dried her eyes.

‘It was very beautiful, even though it made me sad.’ Jenny commented as she petted Alba’s hair. ‘But it was supposed to, right? And at least now I know the perfect nickname for you.’

‘How about Al?’ Tina suggested before the writer could voice her idea.

‘Hey, that’s mine!’ Alice protested, joked being miffed. ‘It’d confuse things.’

‘Then how about Ba?’ Bette said.

‘No, not Ba.’ Alba denied it, shook her head vigorously.

‘Why not?’ Marina asked, thinking about a funny retort to that.

‘Because it reminds me of sheep.’ The teen explained, received puzzled looks. ‘You know, baah.’ When she actually managed to utter a very good bleat, they cracked up.

‘No, what I thought up is way better than that.’ Jenny declared. ‘Why don’t the ones who can’t say your Spanish name, namely me, call you Rose?’

‘That’s not a nickname, is a new name.’ Dana pointed out as she considered the possibility. ‘But I like it.’

‘Yeah, it might remind us of her origin.’ Tonya agreed. ‘Or at least of Flamenco. What’s with those dancers who wear giant flowers in their hair?’

‘It’s an adornment and one way of calling attention to yourself. I like Rose, though I wonder why you chose that particular Spanish name, Jenny.’ The girl leaned on her side so as to stare fully at the writer. ‘Anything at all to do with the dancing?’

‘The way your fingers moved.’ Ms. Schecter admitted. ‘It was so charming, and somehow reminded me of a rose opening up its’ petals.’

‘Perceptive. This- ‘ She twined her fingers effortlessly, giggled whole-heartedly at the women’s attempts. ‘is called floreo and has the same root word as "flower".’

‘Ah, Ok. So Rose it is?’

The others nodded, then yawned and chuckled at it. They talked in smaller clusters about their expectations for the week and plans of buying Christmas gifts. Alba laid her head on a pillow and watched the interaction with no wish of being a part of it. The sadness of the Soleá was too freshly imprinted on her mind.

She began to drift, but was startled wide awake when a small, bony hand enclosed her shoulder. By touch alone she could tell that it was Jenny.