Random Bystander

"That... Explains a lot, actually. Uno is a card game. (Insert explanation of the game, cuz I'm lazy)"

Elsie let out a strangled noise. "What's... Did you even have a childhood?!?!"

Elsie scanned the party. "Hey people! Anyone wanna play uno with me?" She asked.

She just smiled, good mood partially restored.

She smiled a genuine smile. "Good. I never can tell. I don't want to annoy people, but I often end up talking too much or something."

"Hey, do you think I'm annoying?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

She nodded. "Right, yeah. Sorry."

She hugged her sheep. "Do you think my mom at least cared about my dad?"

She shrugged. "I'm not scared of dying. That just means I'll be able to find my dad. And... Maybe my mom will end up being one of the few that cares."

"For what?"

She looked at her shoes. "Oh."

"They... They don't?" She said, voice breaking a bit.

"But... We're their kids. They have to care, right?"

"Oh."

"Do you think my mom will claim me if I help enough on this quest?" She asked. "I don't know how the whole claiming thing works."

"Nice. Ninja style." She said, the expression on her face completely serious.

She nodded. "What's your backstory? How'd you join the group?"

"Yeah. I then stole his van. I drove it from Arizona to North Carolina. It took me two days. I then ditched the van, and stole some jerk's jeep. Which I crashed. And then I ended up wandering in the forest you guys found me in."

"Yeah. He had three other kids in the van. I snuck away from the van, found a big stick, and knocked out kidnapper out."

"Hm? Oh, well, last week after my grandma died, the nurses kept me in the hospital while they waited for social services. I snuck away, and hurried to my mee-maws house to pack. However, I forgot food. Or money. So when a dude in a van offered me a ham sandwich..." She shrugged

She beamed at him, obviously proud of herself.

"I can be really helpful. I'm extremely sneaky." She said. "I once managed to escape a kidnapper!"

"Yes. I'm sure. I'm just processing. I won't be a burden."

Elsie grabbed her stuffed animal, and hugged it tightly.

Eventually Elsie just sat down.