"That'll work," Ender said. He leaned towards Val. "C'mon," he said. "'Banana.' You can do it."

"Banana," Ender repeated, enunciating very clearly.

Ender let out a soft chuckle. "You're almost there," he told Val. "Listen to me carefully. Ba-na-na."

"You're amazing," Ender said, beaming at her. "That's exactly right! For that, you get lots of banana!"

Ender sighed. "Next time, we should let her order," he teased.

"No, no," Ender said, tugging gently on her shirt so it fell back right. "Peas don't go on ice cream."

"Peas," Ender said lightly, "But no, they still don't go on ice cream."

"Softer," Ender agreed. "The peas are our secret, okay?"

"The droid is going to tell people to make your ice cream for you," Ender said, with rather more patience than that. "Then people will make your ice cream. It'll take a little bit. Then they'll come bring it to you."

And whatever scraps Ender and Ben got on the side...

Ender let out a loud sigh.

He produced the bantha out of his bag a few moments later. "Of course."

Ender rubbed his forehead. "I can't wait until she's capable of playing this with herself, instead of us," he said.

"Don't drop it again," Ender said, to Val.

He knew it was in vain.

He tried anyway.

"Val, no." One day. One day.