|
As Sondo was talking to her, Sassy grew a little irritated. Here he was wanting her help and saying all the wrong things. Did he really think she wanted to be reminded that she was ‘just the little sister’ and that she wasn’t really supposed to be here at all. Sometimes he was so annoying!
The sincerity of his request did sink in as he talked on. And she began to soften a bit, because in her heart she agreed with him. Falco was a sneak, big rat. And she was going to keep her eye on him anyway. Her impish nature, however, was not going to let her agree to Sondo’s plan so readily. He was her big brother after all. And how many chances did she get to make him squirm a little. A mischievous twinkle glinted in her eyes as she raised her grimy face up to him.
‘Well . . . I could help you. ‘Cause you’re right, no one really takes too much notice of me. But . . . why should I help you?’ She put on a sour face and planted her hands on her hips. ‘What are you gonna do for me?’ She let him stew a bit, then threw out an offer.
Sassy pulled her little sling from her pocket. ‘You know . . . when we lost the raft and all got dunked in the river, I lost all my nice round stones for my sling. And we’ve been walking along so fast, I haven’t really had time to find many new ones.’ She pointed with her chin toward the area beyond their little camp. ‘Four eyes are better than two, Gran always says. And it wouldn’t take as long to get more stones if you came along.’ She looked up at him expectantly. ‘So . . . fair trade? You help me first, then I’ll help you . . .?’ She started toward the outskirts of their camp. ‘Come on!’
|