Ivan blushed. (She is very pretty… Can we talk? In Russian, of course. I sound like an idiot in English…)

“Why don’t you two go upstairs and play?” Jessy said, looking at Ellis and Cassidy. “I wanna talk with Ivan some.”

After they left, she turned back to Ivan. (So you’re a Russian Swarmer?) she asked. (I thought they were a tropical race.)

Ivan nodded. (Usually, they are, but my mom and dad are weird,) he replied, chuckling. (We CAN thrive in cold weather, we just need a decent source of heat.)

Jessy nodded. (Nice meeting you, Ivan…) She paused. (What’s your last name?)

(Dufour,) he responded. (I’ll go see what the girls are up to.) He turned and walked away.