It was not Jilitse's attitude to help out in the Welcome Home, but when her time permitted it, she made herself available to the children. Like Clarissa, the other kids took kindly of her. They talked to her just as they would any other person, and treated her like Stitch. That is to say, sometimes they push her around. If there were a set of humans Jilitse found curious, it would be the Welcome Home's orphans. These children no longer had kin between them, but take to each other a normal human family would. The camaraderie between the children amused the Nuit, who was not accustomed to groups of people. Among the three, Trish was the one who loved playing with her. Actually, Trish was the one who would play with anybody who would agree. Jilitse hated physical activity, but Trish was a ball of renewable energy. She tolerated the little girl's musings of wanting to play catch in the garden - which Jil agreed to play once and then never again. Jilitse was neither thankful of Clarissa, who always seem to have an excuse to keep Jilitse about her as often as possible - to the distress of the Nuit who often wished to be alone.
"Trish!" Fentya called out, appearing from the kitchen. Jilitse was amazed of her the most, because she was mature for her age. She looked like she was preparing food for lunch. "Told you not to go to the garden! Don't play there. Go to the playroom instead."
The young vibrant girl just giggled happily and trotted out into the porch. Trish gave Jilitse a pleading grin. "Jillie," she said, "Can you please look out for my flowers? Some of my blooms are just about to open and she might start plucking them again." She stuck out a tongue and crunched her nose to show her irritation, "And besides, I have to cook. So... pleeeease?" She smiled, face brightening. Jilitse was unaffected by her charm and cuteness.
"When you say 'pleeease'," Jilitse tried to imitate her charming voice, "Does Stitch immediately agree?" She had seen its effect on the blind man. Although he could not see her bright smiling eyes and sweet smile, the gesture affected Stitch just as it would melt the heart of any human.
"Oh, Jillie, stop asking me weird questions," she laughed heartily as she disappeared back into the kitchen.
Confused, Jilitse turned her way to the porch, where Trish was dancing happily to herself. She was waving her arms and jumping every now and then. The Nuit stared at Fentya's back then shot a look to Trish. She decided that since Fentya was at least polite, and that she had her own promise that she will look after the kids if Stitch was not around, Jil slided her way out into the porch.
Trish loved the company, and started to sing a harmonious incorrigible song. The melody was very sweet, and just as energetic as she was. Once the little girl realized Jilitse was around, she became ecstatic. Trish looooved having audiences. She loved it better when her audience joined.
Not wanting to jump about and dance, Jil took her place on one corner and tried to follow Trish's voice. "Hmm hmm hmm." She hummed. The little girl's song number did not seem to have a particular beat or rhythm to it, but Jilitse tried anyway. Trish looked very happy, and the Nuit could not imagine how a person could stand singing, dancing, and laughing for almost a bell.
"Jillie," Trish admonished her, "join me, join me!" More giggles.
"I can't Trish, you know why." Jilitse had come up with the excuse that she was weak and sick and thus could not engage in physical activities. That didn't mean Trish understood, nor care. The child was simply... happy. The little girl marched her way towards Jil, arms stretched out. Trish and Clarissa were a touchy bunch, and they loved hugging Jil. This had caused the Nuit to ensure that she was clean, using perfume at times if she needed to interact with them. She didn't want them to get used to the smell of death and decay, at least one of the widows who visited the Orphanage suggested as much.
Trish was a small bundle of joy(terror) as she pulled Jilitse by her hands. The child could give a good tug when she wanted. The Nuit grimaced. She thought of it earlier, that looking after Fentya's flowers actually meant looking after Trish. She should have just stayed inside her room. Jilitse tried to keep her pace with the child as they went out into the garden.
