I’ve been watching what humans do when they come back.

When one of them has been gone — even for part of the day — and then returns, the others move toward them immediately.

They do not check the room first.

They go directly to the one who came back and press the front of their bodies together.

They stay like that.

Their arms go around each other and hold.

With some pressure.

Then they stop.

Sometimes one of them lets go first while the other one keeps holding for a moment longer.

Then they separate and go back to what they were doing.

The one who was gone is now inside the house.

No one checks anything else.

I have watched this happen after short absences. A few hours. Sometimes less.

The human leaves, and when they return, the same thing happens.

The pressing.

The holding.

The stillness.

The arms go around to cover more surface.

I think they are checking whether the other one is still whole.

You feel along the outside.

When they separate, they have decided everything is still where it should be.

That is what the pressing is for.

June (quietly): What if they find something?

Walter: They do not separate as fast.