"You can make a whistle with just a leaf?"

Gathered around in our little circle in the garden hut, donned in light dresses and thin shirts, they watched me pick up a leaf and blow into it, creating a shrill, smooth sound across its spine.

Luis and Michela looked equally amazed, but Nicolli simply smiled while Victor scowled in my direction.

"It is not nearly as elegant as flute-playing, but it is similar to an ocarina," he observed dryly, "it is filthy, you picked that leaf from the plant, Ava. Please don't put it into your mouth."

I turned, dismissive. 

"There are many other things you can do, simply in the garden-- I've read about some of this from the books in the library," I explained the two excited little children before me, watching Nico fill in the cups of tea for everyone, "well, maybe you two could do a little more , if you're further interested."

"Yes we are!" Michela chirped excitedly, plucking another leaf from the tree and hopelessly attempting to imitate me, "uh, how did you do it... Luis, any luck?"

Luis was shyly trying to do the same, except he was nervous about the attendants seeing him touch a (as Victor said,) filthy object with his lips. But he earnestly tried anyways, and soon that was all the two were occupied with.

Turning my attention to the other two, Victor was helping Nicolli pour the tea, insisting that she could not reach the further ones to the right. 

Terren sat in the side while he nursed his cup of tea, watching Michela and Luis with a sort of fondness in him.

I joined him.