" Invocation over, Dita was already in the chair behind the desk, her hands folded primly in front of her. “Valancy,” she said, “we’re all here now. Are you ready?”

“Oh, yes.” Lea could feel Valancy’s answer. “Our Baby’s asleep now.”

The group laughed at the capitals in Valancy’s voice.

“You didn’t invent babies,” Dita laughed.

“Hah!” Jemmy’s voice answered triumphantly. “This one we did!”

Lea looked around the laughing group. “They’re happy!” she thought. “In a world like this they’re happy anyway! What do they have as a touchstone?” She studied the group as Dita began, and under the first flow of Dita’s words she thought, “Maybe this is the answer. Maybe this is the touchstone. When any one of them cries out the others hear—and listen. Not just with their ears but with their hearts. No matter who cries out—someone listens— "

― Zenna Henderson , Ingathering: The Complete People Stories