Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

She could call her Auntie Zeng, or even Auntie Lois, but both of them already see Cora as something volatile, a rescue dog that needs to be carefully coddled or it will bite and scream and pee all over the floor. The idea of flying during a pandemic feels like a death sentence, but Cora has already resigned herself to hunting down some N95 respirators just so Delilah could give her modeling dream an honest try. But, as always, just like a moon pulled into orbit, Cora finds herself drawing closer to the subway, readying her MetroCard, closing her eyes as she descends into darkness and the curtain of stiff hair brushes her face. She turns to Cora, and Cora wonders if, finally, Delilah will speak.