"No matter," he mumbled, not looking up from his notes.  "You have perhaps the growth spurt?  Unusual but not impossible.  Or you are distracted?"<br/><br/>He shifted to give her a little more room.<br/><br/>"The others will be here soon, I imagine, and the mandatory socialization will begin."  Was that wry, dry humor in his tone?  "At least here there are not the same expectations..."<br/><br/>Ah.  No, that was cynicism.  Wherever he'd been before, he must not have liked it very much.