<em>~Mila, responding to Bo~</em><br/><br/>Mila noticed that Bo seemed a little quiet as everyone else chattered.  She noticed, mainly because that tended to be how she was in group settings.  The staff Christmas parties at the community college she taught at were always a awkward for her, as she sat shyly while others socialized.  But she knew that Bo was not quiet for the same reason she usually was.  He did not seem timid or shy, and she knew that both words would describe her.  So she wondered what it was that was holding him back.<br/><br/>When he asked, during a lull in the conversation, about her art, she smiled warmly at him.  "I didn't bring any of it with me.  I do have a web page.  I support myself by selling some of my pieces online, in addition to the classes I teach.  But I understand that we won't be allowed access to the internet from here, so I'm afraid I won't be able to show you."  In a way, she was relieved.  Art was such an individual thing; what was beautiful to one person could be distasteful to another.  What if Bo saw a portfolio of her work and didn't like it?  "Do you draw or paint as well?" she asked, curious.  She was always interested to see the work of others who dabbled in art.  She asked the question of Bo, and then realized she wanted to know if any of them had that in common with her.  She looked at everyone else, too, making sure that it was understood that anybody was free to answer.