Northstar Vale Phyllis -- a woman -- has uslurped my role as Santa.

Yes, it was a rock. Lilitu seemed quite focused on it. She kept trying to get her mother's attention and after further prompting, Ibis at least understood that it was important to her to give it away, to have her mother be attentive and present. The woman did her best. How many of these little moments would she get?

Ibis lowered herself so she could look at the rock and at Lilitu together, carefully nosing at the object to get a glimpse of the pattern upon it. It is very pretty, just like you. But it still wasn't a toy for someone so small, she thought. Can I keep it? Ibis asks, intent to build a collection of things - mementos of her daughters childhood mostly.