"Talks to dirt?" Karla asked. "...Rookie?" It was like he spoke in code or something.

She figured it out a heartbeat or so later--a huge plate of leftovers made thinking hard--and laughed. "Is that how she described it? Talking to dirt? I guess it's accurate enough in its own way. Yeah, that's me. So she mentioned I might be calling?"

She felt a bit relieved to hear that, actually. Made her feel slightly less awkward.