She shook her head. It was sweet of him to say but she didn't think he could hurt a fly. He'd throw himself in the river before he'd stand on an ant.
"You're not odd, Jube," she said gently, affectionately playing with his hair. "And I will get annoyed if you say you don't matter. You're really important to me, Jube. You know that, right?"
She'd moved so that she was knelt infront of him.
"The only odd thing about you is how you put up with me," she added. "Oh, and that you're a boy."
She grinned to show she was teasing, turning her back to him and leaning against his legs.
They were a strange pair, he in the chair and her on the floor, resting against him. She sometimes wondered if she hadn't met Jube if she would have be all alone. He cared for her and she trusted him completely.
"I promise," she said, looking at the wall oposite, "no matter what happens, I'll never leave you, Jube, okay?"
She let her head fall back so that she could see him and gave a grin.
"Come on, what shall we do, Jube?"