“Zorn, this is Saanvi.”
Zorn said, “Hello.”
Saanvi looked at him.
“Your name is Michael but the Mayor calls you Zorn.”
“Yes. People have called me that my entire life.”
“I understand nicknames. The Mayor says people use them when they’re friends. He said it is a ‘term of endearment.’ But that’s not how people used it on me.”
Zorn took a sip from his jar.
“How did they use it on you?”
“My last name is Fickerald, but they called me Fucktardal.”
Topher suddenly felt horrible. As strange as the woman was, he hated bullies, and she’d obviously suffered more than one in her past, and he had reminded her of it, before, when he threatened to call her by her last name. He put his jar on the ground and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“What can we do for you, Saanvi?”
“I m
