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Tim and Wren took the dishes and flatware to the table and set it. They did not mind being invited to breakfast before doing more work, though Tim promised himself that he’d be sure to complete anything they needed done in return for it. He wouldn’t be treated as a beggar...but, then, he couldn’t be letting his pride get in the way of what might be best for his sister.
The two of them gathered what things Ginger asked them to fetch and once they were all sitting down and the tea was poured and the food served out, Ginger opened conversation.
“So, where are you two from?”
Wren glanced at Tim and Tim looked at the tea pot, noticing for the first time the pretty design of leaves and strawberries. The fork that had traveled half way to his mouth went back down to the plate and he dropped his eyes.
“We come from somewhere near a little town called Bree, a way East of here, I guess.” He glanced up quickly. “We’ve just been...walking a lot lately, ‘s all.”
“Walking a lot,” Wren said with something of a disgusted tone in her voice and she sent her brother a surprisingly fierce look from her large brown eyes. “I’ll say,” she muttered.
‘Why won’t he tell them?’ she wondered to herself, turning her eyes to her food. She had told Woody the evening before of their misfortune but had not really thought about it. Now Tim’s keeping it back and she knowing that he didn’t want it mention made her think of it. There was nothing to catch her attention like the kittens had the night before and stop her thinking. Her appetite suddenly fled and her hand went to her mouth in a futile attempt to keep a sudden sob back. More followed, and in a moment, she was in tears.
“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry,” Tim said, springing up from the table. “I didn’t mean to ruin your breakfast.” He couldn’t look Ginger in the eye. He couldn’t have looked anyone in the eye just now. He bit his lip in a violent attempt to either not say anything sharp to his sister, or not to start crying himself. It was not a very sufficient solution to his problems, however, and he couldn’t help the tears that started suddenly to his own eyes.
He sat back down, put his elbows on the table, and covered his face with his hands, at least until he had gotten a hold on himself and had thought of something to say.
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