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"What'd I say?" Victoria asked, looking confused and hurt. "No one's gonna hurt you."
"Uhh, Mom..." Kalie called from the kitchen. "I think it's the coat. I heard Annie say something about the people in white coats that ran those... internment camps, for lack of a better term."
"Oh... OH!!!" Victoria exclaimed. "I'm sorry, kids! Give me a moment." She vanished into the kitchen, and reappeared without her coat. "There. That better?"
They let-out a collective sigh.
"I didn't mean to scare you all." Victoria said sweetly. "Those bastards must have you scarred for life, I bet." Then she noticed Sammy's position and smiled. "Oh, how cute and noble of you. But I'm not a monster."
Annie hugged him from behind, and he relaxed, reaching back to stroke her hair affectionately.
((I imagine Annie and Sammy seeming a little bit like a mini-version Caya, and Victoria noticing this and not knowing what to think))
Victoria's smile faded, and she looked at Sammy and Annie a moment longer, then turned to the others. "If anyone wants something to eat, come with me."
They all went with her, Annie and Sammy's joined hands swinging between them.
Victoria watched Annie and Sammy out the corner of her eye with concern. She wanted to learn more about this, but pushed it aside. "So, is there anything you want in particular?"
They all shrugged.
"We take what we can get, Nana," Annie supplied, "They don't 'zactly give us gourmet fare at the School."
Victoria gave her a stern look. "Child, what have we told you about referencing that place?" She demanded. "You're no longer, it's not a part of your life anymore." She looked at everyone else. "That goes for all of you. Got it?"
"Mom, you had a psychology minor. You should know that they won't forget that easily." Kalie said.
"Yes, but I also know that they're in the stages of their lives when their minds can be most easily worked and reworked." Victoria said. "I know what I'm doing."
They all looked at her like she was fuckin crazy.
"What? What's wrong?" Victoria asked, looking offended.
".....We didn't really understand most of that, Ma'am.'" Sammy offered quietly.
"Okay... Let me put it to you like this." Victoria said thoughtfully. "Are you still in that place?"
"No."
"Then stop acting like it." She said firmly. "Okay?"