The small shadow came down from the rafter. Slowly, the figure melted into a thin frame veiled in a ridiculously large cloak. Upon further inspection it was a drape fastened with a clip at the young boy’s neck. 

“What’re you doing up here?” I asked in a low voice. I didn’t want to scare him, the kid seemed skittish. His pale face was ashen and smudged with soot.

He sits near the furnaces to stay warm. 

The kid made an odd face and raised his right hand, in quick succession he made several deft signs. He couldn’t have been older then ten. I moved a step forward and with a light foot he retreated back. His oddly serious look demanded a response. 

“Whats your name?” I asked. He flared his nose. The boy made two signals with his hand, and sounded out,

“O-K,” the boy squeaked. 

“You’re okay up here? What’s your name?” A flare of frustration showed on his face. He pressed his right hand to his chest, and redid the signals.

“…I am… O-K,” he said. We held our eyes for a moment.

Ah, he’s renamed himself. 

“I’m Andres,” I said. The boy cocked his head. 

“Andis,” O-K said weakly. 

“Andres,” 

“Andis,” I breathed out of my nose and leveled down to the boy. I made the Standard signal for,

“A,” I said. O-K raised his hand. 

“A,” he said crisp. I nodded. The young hermit boy tossed back his hood to reveal a shaggy head of blonde hair. He made a gesture of linking between us. 

“We’re A O-K,” he grinned a toothy grin. I smiled. 

“We sure are,” Up in the rafters of the Great Parlor room O-K hopped up and down chanting, 

“A O-K! A O-K!”