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What’s all this in aid of? I says What’s got Eh turns quickly It’s a birthday party Molly pulled it together Ain’t she a wonder?

Molly’s birthday? I says

No, stupid, Emmi’s She’s ten

What? I says Today?

Last rief Anyways, bad brother, you fergot too Why didn’t you corease on yer face

You needed to sleep He swipes with his sleeve an inspects ive old Peg the Flight so stakes All tired an wrinkly an big dark circles--

I slap his are of cake You what? He blinks blue-eyed innocence at me as he nibbles on a lilybulb Sorry, cain’t hear you

Saba, hey Saba! Emmi comes runnin She pulls at abbles full tilt, while I choke down the cake Molly gimme a comb fer my hair--her very own favourite corow beautiful jest like hers I cain’t wait, I already bin couess what? He ate fire, he truly did, you should of seen! An then he pulled a button froic Here it is, look, he said it’s imme this special medicine necklace to stop the rickets an--

Rheuh

I should know, it’s my necklace, an it’s rickets, she says An Mercy says she’ll make me a new shirt jest as soon as she finds one to cut down an we’re gonna have dancin in a bit an--

Eh follow She stands in front of Toround Creed an Peg stop playin to watch

Keep still, Toht an stretches her ars out the dainty little birdcage with the tiny ently in her hands

Open, he says

She opens her eyes A gasp of wonder Joy lights her face Fer a second A breath Then it darkens to shocked dismay

There’s puzzlee is a rarely fine object The best To is a buckle

That’s quite the present, I says It les her head an shakes her bow Never you mind, she says The boy offered, I took, it’s business, our business, his an mine, Miss Nosy Poke, not yers

Tommo, you didn’t Emmi breathes the words in disbelief It’s clear she knows full hat he’s traded An she don’t like it, not one little bit An Tommo don’t like her reaction He scowls darkly His cheeks flush

No, says Elarin at Elares back at hi, uncomfortable silence I notice Nero makin free with the food table