3 letter word for embrace

She tended to her garden with such daily devotion that the other courtiers of her Fathers assembly believed her a bit odd. Why would the princess insist on roughing up her hands in the soil and without a parasol of any sort, her skin was far from fair. But to the castle staff, her skin shined the golden hues that must have radiated from her good heart. 

Not only did beautiful flowers grown in princess Marianna’s garden, but so did vegetables and fruits. There was a small door in the back of her garden that led out to the servant entrances. It was draped by the ivy that crawled along her garden’s walls. None could see it unless they were looking for it. Marianna had discovered it when she was a girl. Filled with curiosity and childish glee, she nearly left the castle grounds. It was the elderly woman of the kitchen staff, Isa, who stopped the young princess. The wise Isa promised to keep the secret of Marianna’s garden if the princess promised never to run away. The two became fast friends, and Isa became Marianna’s greatest confidant.

The garden was Marianna’s dearest joy after and illness took both her father and her mother. There was not a soul in the land who failed to mourn their passing. In more ways than one. Marianna was still too young at the time to take the throne, so her uncle, Lord Ronald, acted as the kingdom’s steward.  Lord Ronald was a short sighted man, who sought to increase the wealth of the land by decreasing the wealth of the people. The people were taxed harshly to pay for an armada they did not need; were forced to submit more than their fair share of crops to feed the few in court; and mothers were torn from their sons before they knew what their own names meant.

Unbeknownst to Lord Ronald, Marianna would sneak out food through her garden’s hidden door  in the many layers of her skirts and bring them to the families waiting in the servants’ entrance. Did this several times a day, and the food in the kitchens was never missed for the over abundance of it made it hard to tally. Marianna had the love of her people, or at least those of the capital city. When Lord Ronald would ask Marianna what is was she did with her time in the garden, she replied she did nothing but gather flowers into her skirts.

Isa told Marianna of the troubles that lied beyond the castle walls and knew it would not be long before Lord would want the throne for himself. She told her princess that Marianna’s uncle might force her to marry him for the crown and if she refused, Marianna’s life may be forfeit. Marianna did not entirely believe her friend until Lord Ronald called the princess into the court’s assembly and announced their betrothal in front of all the lords and ladies.

Marianna did not know what to do, but Isa had a plan. She organized an elaborate plan to smuggle the princess out of the castle and perhaps then a force could be rallied against Lord Ronald. It was well known that there were some willing to stand against him, if only given the chance. Marianna embraced  Isa in gratitude, for she had always been her magical fairy godmother. Isa embraced her friend, but told her that she was just an old woman, it was Marianna who possessed the power to alter the balance of power.

Alas, word of the princess’ planned escape reached the ears of Lord Ronald midday of the planned escape. Enraged, he led a troop of his private guard into the kitchens and demanded that the staff return his princess to him. One young man denied any knowledge of this and he was struck down. His brother raced to his side but a blade was put to his neck. Lord Ronald threatened to take his life, but he would not tell. His mother, a castle maid, pleaded for her boy’s life and said the princess was in her garden delivering food.

Isa walked out with Marianna to deliver her last delivery of foods. Marianna made Isa promise that she would continue to deliver the food to the people when she could. The elderly woman smiled and said she could. Before Marianna could reach the door, Lord Ronald burst into the garden and tramped over the plants as he and his men approached. Isa threw herself in his path and told the princess to flee. Lord Ronald cut her down. Marianna, stunned by the death of her friend stood speechless. Lord Ronald towered over her and threatened her life and demanded that Marianna reveal the food in her skirts.

Marianna’s lips were quivering, but she said she carried no food, only flowers in her skirts, as she had told him. Lord Ronald told her that if she lied one more time that he would have her killed. He demanded that she drop her skirts from her grasp. Marianna closed her eyes and let her skirts slip from her grasp.

Dozens of flowers fell from her skirts onto the ground. Lord Ronald was shocked and slapped the princess. She fell onto the ground and was shocked to see the flowers at her feet. One flower was at her finger tips. He demanded to know where the food was. And if the princess played anymore tricks that she would be cut down like that worthless old hag.

For the first time in her life, something stirred within the princess. It was rage. The cry that erupted from her lungs was filled with the pain of Isa’s death and the betrayal of her family. She lashed out and the flowers did what she felt inside. They leapt from the ground and cut into the guard’s thighs and arms. She held the flower at her side and it grew into a whip. She slashed at her uncle’s hand and face. He fell back. Roots from her trees came forth and tied Lord Ronald down. She stood over him and was about to deal the final blow then she caught a glimpse of the horror in her uncle’s eyes. She stopped and dropped her flower.

Some of the kitchen staff came out and warned their lady that more guards were coming. Terrified, Marianna fled through the hidden door.

He sat at the cafe table right outside the entrance. It looked out into the courtyard with a large, stone fountain in the middle. Candlelit street lamps reflected off the water. The water tickled down the fountain facade and almost chimed in tune with the music the man with a guitar was playing. It was a slow, bittersweet tune. He sipped his coffee. He was going to need it.

“Author?” A man sat with him. He forced a smile.

“I thought we said we’d meet each other at the apartment, Marlyn.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Checking on my investment.”

“We can’t be seen together right now. Not everyone knows my face, but some know yours.”

“Not all.” Marlyn pulled out a coin purse and passed it to Author.

“Marlyn- in public?”

“Please, this part of the city sees all kinds of shady deals. We’re just two more men, making another exchange of goods.”

“Yes, but I don’t take money until I know exactly what it is I’m supposed to be doing.”

“You’re making a delivery.”

“I don’t know the cargo, Marlyn. I’d be a fool to deliver something that the Counselor’s own son is avoiding the authorities to see done.”

“And I would tell you if I knew, Author, you know that. But Father wouldn’t tell me.” Marlyn leaned in. “Listen, I need you to do this for me. I don’t trust anyone else more than you. And this is big for me. I’m the youngest of four, Author. Four sons. And Father is trusting me with something so important!” Marlyn pushed the coin purse forward. “Just, trust me. You’re my oldest friend, Author. I need you.”

Author finished his coffee. He shook his head and took up the coin purse.

“Thank you, Author-“

“Say something else and I might change my mind.” Author inspected the coins and put them in his pocket. “You stay here. I’ll pick up and deliver the package.” Author tucked his blond locks into his hood as he brought it over his head and began to walk away. “And pay my tab!” 

Author mounted his horse. “Easy, Ethel.” He patted her neck. “I know, I don’t like it either.”

They began to trot to the apartment on the far side of the port. He didn’t like it. But he owed Marlyn. They had been friends since they were boys. Author wasn’t born in the palace. He was acquired to work there after a time, as a stable boy. Slavery wasn’t the term in Myrnthaig. It was indentured servant. Still, the palace was the nicest place he had ever seen, and Marlyn was the strangest person Author had ever met when he was young. Marlyn was a scrawny little boy with a gap in his teeth that he kept flashing about with a smile. All Marlyn wanted from Author was friendship. It took a while for Author to understand it. When Author was a man he was released from his servitude. Marlyn gave Author Ethel as a parting gift. Author never really left. Between jobs he liked to check in on Marlyn. Someone might take advantage of his gapped toothed, smiling friend.

There was someone standing outside the apartment. He leaned on a loaded cart.

“Looks like rain,” he said.

“It only rains when the moon is full,” replied Author.

The man nodded. “These packages are to be delivered to the western seaport.”

“What?” Author paused as he attached the rope to Ethel’s saddle. “Why not send it on one of the river boats. It would be faster.”

“Don’t start asking questions.” He shoved Author back. “Deliver it in person. Package unopened. Or else.”

“I don’t take kindly to threats.” Author pulled back his cloak to reveal his dagger. “Idle or otherwise.”

The man crossed his arms. “Neither do I.”

Author stared him down. The man nodded. Author nodded back. Ethel huffed in disapproval.

The roads were dark. But it was nothing Author and Ethel were unfamiliar with. The lights from the city were a ways off when they reached the toll bridge.

“Six bronze pieces,” said the guard.

Author paid. He even flashed a smile at the guard, a show of good faith. Best way to get away with something that wasn’t altogether legal was to follow all the rules. No one suspects a lawful man.

“Arrrrrrrgh.”

Author stiffened. There was a groan coming from the cargo.

“Something the matter sir?” asked the guard at the other end of the bridge.

“No, sir. Just my stomach.”

“Take care of yourself then, sir.”

“Of course, I’ll rest soon. Thank you.” Author said as humbly as possible.

Ethel shook her mane. She wasn’t happy. Neither was Author. Once clear of the sight of the guard and the bridge, Author strayed from the road and into the cover of some trees. He leapt off Ethel and listened.

“Arrrrrrrrgh.”

Author jammed his dagger into the lid of the source of the groans and pried it open. He cringed in disgust. A beaten man was tied up and blind folded. He was barely covered by a tattered shirt and had a hard time breathing.

The man’s head looked up in Author’s general direction. “Marlyn?” he whimpered.

The night air was hot. And yet it was strange, because my body started to find it hard to differentiate cool from warm. I knew I was hot, and yet my bare feet had this odd cooling sensation. Then again, they didn’t feel pain anymore either. You think running on warm asphalt would hurt more. But they just kept running. It was all I could do, to escape the falling star.

His hand slipped out of mine. “Jasmine!!”

I turned and scooped my little brother up. “Are you hurt?”

There were tears in his eyes. “I can’t run anymore. Please, it hurts to much.”

I glanced up; I had to shield my eyes from the intense light even with sunglasses. Then back down to Kam. “Hold onto my back.”

He wasn’t heavy. He was only seven. Maybe eight, we lost track of the days. If I was right now, he wouldn’t be eight for a few more weeks yet. Kam was going to see his eighth birthday. I promised myself that. I promised myself a lot of things. Most of them nowadays didn’t happen.

I kept running.

Kam tucked his head into the collar of my shirt. I felt water drip from his sunglasses.

“Kam, sing me a song,” I huffed.

He stopped crying. “Dad’s song?”

“Yeah, Dad’s song.”

Kam began to hum as I ditched the road and began to climb a pine needle covered hill. The little needles pinched my feet. I was relieved.

“Some people live without a song in their hearts,” began Kam, “The saddest people I’d ever saw.”

I glanced behind. There had been another family running with us a while ago. They weren’t anymore. They must have followed the road. 

“As for me- I’ll sing with every breath I do draw-“

Downhill. But the trees offered little shade. The star was reaching impact. We wouldn’t make it. there was no way. Still, I ran. I couldn’t stop. I’m not sure if it was because my legs wouldn’t let me, fight or flight, or if I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint Kam. I promised myself. And I promised him. A chocolate cake. And an orange. Kam liked oranges.

“La, di, la, di lay, Lady. La, di, la, di, lay, Lady.”

I asked Dad what lady he was singing about. He said that it was our mother. Mom liked to hear Dad sing. Dad had a sweet voice. But always sad.

Kam’s voice grew a little louder. “Lady, I’ll sing for you another tune.” Good, he was enjoying himself. “If you’ll grant me one more boon.”

I didn’t know Mom. Either of us did. Dad always told me that Mom was too important a person to marry Dad. But Dad said he saw her sometimes. At work. He would come back sometimes with gifts from Mom. Like my necklace, tucked under my shirt. I was so sweat I was worried it would tarnish. One day, Dad came home with Kam.

Uphill again. Birds above us shrieked as they flew away. I wish I could fly away. But I guess my arms would hurt then, instead of my legs. “You’re the song in my heart.” I slipped and fell on my knee. I cried out. Kam stopped singing. I stood up again.

“I’m fine,” I was lying. “Keep singing, Kam. Please?”

“…Promise we will not part.”

That’s right. I promised Dad I wouldn’t part from Kam. When the colony was first hit with a wave of falling stars. The gods were punishing us. For daring to colonize the heavens. That we should have stayed back on Earth, where we belonged. Or what was left of it. At least, that’s what one old woman said in the first shelter we stayed at. Our hoverbike was stolen there. Wish I had it now.

“All I want is one more kiss, one more kiss.” Dad loved Mom. He loved her so much that he went back to the capital to make sure she was alright. He said he’d keep underground if another start fell, and not to worry about him. He sent us out with Uncle Ben. I’m not sure I forgive him for leaving us. He said he’d meet us at Uncle Ben’s mechshop soon. He never showed.

“La, di, la, di, lay, Lady. La, di, la, di, lay, Lady.”

My heart dropped. Deeper than it did when Uncle Ben shouted at me to take his hoverbike and get away from town. Looters were pounding on the front of his shop. I had to wake up Kam and run before they broke the door down. Kam was saving an orange under his pillow for him and Dad to eat when he got back. He was mad at me for a week when I had forgotten it.

There was river in front of us. To broad for me to swim across and make it.

“All I want is one more kiss. Lady, please keep your promise…” Kam stopped singing. He saw the river too. No were to go. I turned to face the star. So much for promises.

A hand grabbed my ankle. I shrieked and nearly kicked an old woman’s face in. Her body was sticking out of a hole in the ground. There was desperation in her eyes.

“Down here! NOW!” I didn’t argue. She shut the industrial door above us and spun the heavy wheel to seal it tight. At the bottom of the tunnel she threw her body over ours as we heard the star impact. Kam was still humming Dad’s song. I think I cried, but I could hardly feel the tears on my warm face.

Gladys lead Helen and Davis into the debris of the crumbled condo. The back of the giant’s head was facing toward them. There were several other goblins there, surveying the giant’s upper body. All of them were wearing black coats with yellow, official looking patches. Helen eyed them. Each patch had the image of a pair of goblin hands holding the letters GTG between them.

“I am not familiar with the work of the GTG, officer Mary. Enlighten me.”

“Certainly, Miss Marks,” Gladys pulled her techpad from her coat pocket. A small hologram projected out of its surface displaying the same hand logo the team around them were wearing. “GTG stands for the Goblin Tasks Group. We handle the- messier situations.”

“Messier than the Sixth Precinct?”

“We normally handle more corporate messes than anything. They are normally not as destructive as this particular case,” she paused and looked to the giant, “Normally.”

Davis suddenly let out a sneeze that jolted through his system uncontrollably.

“You alright there, Davis?” asked Helen.

“Yeah, chief, I don’t know- AHCHOOO!”

Gladys pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Davis.

He accepted. “…Thanks.” After a rather unattractive trumpet into the cloth, Davis straightened up. “I’m sorry, I have terrible allergies. I don’t sneeze like that unless there’s wild flora around.”

“There a plant here?” ask Helen.

Gladys nodded toward the giant. “This way.” She led the two over to the head of the giant. “His face.”

Helen and Davis leaned walked around to the front of the giant’s head. Helen’s nose crinkled in disgust. Davis sneezed again.

The giant’s face laid there, mouth agape, eyes open. Or at least one eye was open. The other eye had exploded out of its socket and a large, wilted Venus fly trap of a plant was in its place. The roots crawled out of the giant’s nose and between his teeth. A terrible stench came forth from the plant.

“That thing is dead, right? Have you removed the spore sac?”

“Yes, Miss Marks. My team has already terminated this flora and the poisonous sac has been extracted.”

Davis sneezed. “Extracted? Did you take it somewhere?”

“The GTG is interested in studying the effects of the spores. We’ve taken it to our labs.”

“The effects of the spores?” snapped Helen, “The effects are that they kill people!”

“That is not always true, Miss Marks. Sometimes they only cause nausea, headaches, or in Mr. Lee’s case, they cause unvolatile-“

“AH-CHOO!”

“If I’m still sneezing, does that mean the spores are still present?”

“Trace amounts, Mr. Lee. Nothing lethal.” Gladys displayed her techpad and tapped the hologram. Another image came into view. It was a projection of the giant’s head. It began to slowly spin and as it turned, it depicted the flora sprouting out of the giant’s eye. “We suspect that the victim unfortunately missed the sprite he was trying to catch. The sprite landed on the victim’s eyelashes and began to take root. The roots quickly spread into his head and killed him.” The projection disappeared and Gladys put her techpad away. “It was a quick death and according to the scans it would have been rather painless.”

Helen leaned in closer to the giant’s eye. “Painless? The sprite was being merciful?”

“It’s doubtful that the sprite had anything to do with the quickness of the giant’s death. Record shows that 50% of the sprites that fall are already dead in the air. 45% are unconscious and only 5% have ever been found to be aware in the morning.”

“5%?” asked Helen. “Where do you get your information?”

“The GTG has been at this for a while now, Miss Marks. Much of our data was classified.” Gladys turned to the giant. “As I was saying the victim missed the sprite-“

“What was his name?” asked Davis.

Gladys paused. She glanced at her techpad. “Victor Un’Gryphon. 89 years of age.”

“That’s still rather young for a giant,” noted Davis.

“Most giants his age have a hard time finding decent work,” stated Gladys, “My sources say that he got his job via his only living relative. An aunt.”

“Officer Mary, I would like to know why you needed to speak to my partner and I,” said Helen, “Your team seems to have the situation completely under control.”

Gladys turned to them. “Don’t you think it’s strange that you’d be called out to a crime scene involving giants and sprites considering your personal record, Miss Marks?”

Helen crossed her arms. “What do you know?”

“I know enough, Miss Marks,” replied Gladys, “I had to make a few calls to your department to get you sent out here this early in the morning to get to on a crime scene that you would normally be forbidden to even glance over the report of.”

“Damn- she’s got you, chief.”

“Give it to me straight, Mary.”

Gladys smiled. “Perhaps if you’d both follow me to my car, we could discuss this further?”

Davis glanced at Helen. She sighed and rolled her eyes as she nodded toward the tiny goblin in from of them.

“Splendid! This way please! My associates will take care of the mess.”

Gladys then walked away from the giant’s corpse. Helen and Davis followed. Davis sneezed one last time before the GTG team began to torch the flora and the body.

“What’s big enough to kill a giant?”

“Was that a pun, Hel?”

“Heh, shh, they’ll hear you.”

Helen Marks and Davis Lee approached the crime scene. A large corpse laid over a collapsed two story home. Its leg bargained the main road. A pleasant traffic jam was being redirected into side streets by several police officers.

“Damage report?”

Davis pulled out his techpad and a small digital hologram projected out. “Alright, chief. At 5:45am, the owner came home from a night of ‘leisure.’ At 5:46am he was unlocking his front door when the giant fell onto his condo, destroying it and-“

“It crushed my car!!” shrieked a disheveled man in party-stained business attire. “What are you going to do about my car!?”

“Sir, your car is private property, the public is not required to reimburse you for lost property,” replied a policewoman in the calmest voice she could muster.

“But that thing- that giant is under some government jurisdiction, isn’t it?! It was doing whatever job the big guys want it to do!”

“Sir, I’m going to ask you to remain calm.”

“This is bullshit! That giant doesn’t have the common sense to look where it’s falling?!”

“He died, sir. He could not control where he fell.”

“Who the hell are you anyway? Are you even human?” The man yanked the officer’s hat off her head revealing her long, pointed ears tucked away inside. “An elf!? Fuck this! Why am I even talking to you!” He threw his intoxicated body toward her, thrashing about like a spoil child. The policewoman coolly stepped to the side and let him fall. “ARGH HELL!”

Helen placed her hand on the policewoman’s shoulder. “We’ll take it from here, officer.”

“Please do.” She turned and left.

Davis tried to help the man up. “Sir, I’m officer Davis Lee with the Sixth Precinct, this is my partner, Helen Marks. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

The man shoved off Davis’ hand but soon found it was harder to stand without it. “Yeah, so- what do you want? Are you going to replace my car?”

“You don’t have insurance?”

“Yes, but I hadn’t registered this car with the company. Just got it yesterday- after I was promoted.”

“But before you went out to celebrate?” asked Helen.

“Yeah, so I went out for a couple of drinks.” Mr. Beck eyed Helen’s figure pasted her leather jacket and jeans. “How about you and me get a few drinks? It’ll make me feel a whole lot better.”

“Just trying to get a feel for the situation, mister-“

“Carlyle. Carlyle Beck.”

“Did you know this giant personally, Mr. Beck?” asked Davis.

“Of course not. Why would I?”

“So you’ve never seen him before today?”

“No… Maybe? I don’t know, they walk around every morning doing a job, right? Catchin’ the sprites out of the air or something before they hit the ground? I’ve seen them in the morning if the big oaf wakes me with its goddammit feet.”

“The giants provide a much needed service, Mr. Beck.” stated Helen. “If they didn’t patrol the streets of suburban neighborhoods like yours, the sprites would land and start sprouting out flora like you wouldn’t believe.”

“I think I’d rather deal with a couple of daisies than have my home and car smashed!”

“It really wouldn’t be much different, Mr. Beck.”

“Well, you know, they’re just letting everything that can speak two words together right have a job in human districts nowadays. It’s isn’t right.”

“Miss Marks?”

Helen looked over her shoulder. There was no one.

“Look down, chief.”

Helen looked down and was greeted by a rather short creature with pale green skin, large, crooked ears and large eyes. “Hello, Miss Marks, I’m Galdys Mary. I’m with GTG and I believe I have some interesting information for your investigation.”

“Fuck this! A goblin now? They’ll let anyone through-“

“Mr. Beck?” Helen turned to the drunk and eyed him up. “I think you’re done here. Please be quiet and leave.”

“This’s my house! I’ll stay here and shout if I goddammit feel like it! All these dammed things running around my house! I demand justice, you harpy!”

“I’m surprised you were insightful enough to figure that out.”

Mr. Beck’s mouth fell slightly agape. He looked Helen up and down. “You- you’re a half-breed?”

“On my mother’s side. Goodbye, Mr. Beck.”

Helen turned and walked away with Gladys. Davis leaned over and gently closed Mr. Beck’s mouth. “Have a good one, sir!” He said, almost a little too happily before he turned and caught up with Helen.

        I’m not sure when we landed but when I woke up I was very cold. I could see my breath in little puffs in front of my nose before they disappeared into the cool blue of the steel wall. I could hear Roger talking to someone outside.

        I turned over in my cot and saw Jeremy sitting in the corner of the cabin, huddled into himself. I think he was still scared. He wouldn’t talk about what happened and Roger said that if people don’t talk about something it means they’re scared of reliving it. He said it was the same for everyone whether they were human or not.

        “Jeremy? Are you awake?”

        “Yea.”

        “Where are we?”

        “A supply station, something’s wrong with the ship.”

        I shot up in my cot so fast I hit my head on the low hanging ceiling. “Crud… What’s wrong with the ship?”

        Jeremy shook his head. “I think we hit something in that ice field. Well, Roger fell asleep at the wheel. I got him up and he drove the ship here. We were drifting for a while, they aren’t sure where we are.”

        “Why were you up in the cockpit?”

        “… I had a bad dream… and had an accident.”

        I got up and rubbed Jeremy’s back. I could feel the scales under his shirt. His scales were so smooth, all but the few that had jumbled and matted over his scars. “It’s ok, everyone has accidents.” He didn’t seemed convinced. “I mean, I bet Roger nearly had one when he found out we were drifting.”

        Jeremy laughed. He pointed at his large cot. “I think it’s frozen.”

        “Martha! Jeremy! Git out here!” called Roger, “Git ya coats on! It’s colder than Earth’s sun out!”

        We did as we were told. I helped Jeremy with his coat. It was a proper coat, we had to sew three coats together to have one fit him. It looks rather ragged but Jeremy said he liked the buttons most, because they almost looked like they matched.

       We hurried down the hall to the docking bay. The door opened with a scratching swoosh, we hated the sound.

       Wherever we were, it was dim. There wasn’t much light to illuminate the dock, and it wasn’t very crowded. It must have been one of those backwater planets Roger warned us never to dock at. The ship must have been banged up pretty bad.

       Roger waved us down from where he stood. “Git on over here!” He seemed happy enough. “Straight’n up Jer, ya don’t need to hunch over like that!”

       Jeremy stood up a little taller, his shadow engulfed me. Jeremy towered over everyone in fact. Someone bumped into him and got bumped back.

       “Hey you Jurivan- you got a problem with us humans?!” shouted the man.

       “I-I’m sorry—“

       “Sorry ain’t good enough!”

       “Hey! Back off punk!” I shouted. “He’s only nine, he doesn’t need any of your shit!”

       “Watch your mouth you bitch.”

       “Why don’t you say that again,” I was rolling up my sleeves. 

       “Ma-Martha, no!”

       “I said, watch your mouth you—”

       Roger pushed me to the side. “Ya like fightin’ nine-year-olds and teens? Pick on someone ya own size, stranger.”

       That’s when she stepped in.

       “Now Ruffus, I know that we’ve talked about this before.” A hooded woman put herself between Roger and the man. “Not everyone’s lookin’ to fight you.”

       Ruffus backed off like a dog being scolded. “I’m awful sorry Ms. Adrienne. I’s thought that well—”

       “I know what you were thinkin’. But I’m not the one you need to apologize to.” She stepped aside and presented me and Jeremy to Ruffus.

       He hung his head and hid his eyes with the rim of his cap. “I’s sorry to you both. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

       Jeremy perked up a bit. “It’s ok, we forgive you.” I let Jeremy talk. I figured it would be nicer than anything I had to say.