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 Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:55 pm
Michael had the flu, and Lithle was, well Lithle. So with both parent and back up plan called, the third stringer had been called in. Jane did not like being Michael's 'fall back girl'. A childhood friendship didn't mean she agreed with the man he'd become, and if she loved him, for what she remembered of the young idealistic boy, she hated the man as much as she'd ever cared about him.
But she answered the phone, and when she heard him croaking into the phone, she accepted babysitting duty without any hesitation. The older one, Earako, could take care of herself well enough, but her classes kept her busy. So Jane had been left to sweep the young one into her arms, and take the bubbly, brat of a young girl off to find entertainment.
She'd settled on going to the farmers market, after some hesitation. She needed fresh fruit anyway, and in the middle of the day, the sights and sounds should be enough to keep a young girl entertained.
They appeared, indeed to be a bit too entertaining. As Jane squeezed avocados critically, Tansi tugged impatiently at her hand, trying to wriggle free of a grip that she had no real chance of escaping. Jane'd dealt with more slippery customers than this.
So there they were, a woman in her thirties, with dark bronze skin and a bright orange dress, squeezing avocados while the toddler she held onto squirmed impatiently her expression one of entitlement and shock at not getting her way.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:08 am
It was all so very bright here. But nothing like the books. No. The books made the marketplace seem like another world. Something exotic and primal where adventures were supposed to begin. But this... this was just space filled with people and stalls. It was so much more basic and common...
No. It was nothing like the picture books.
Won Je's grip on his father's hand tightened, and his expression wrinkled into one of slight disappointment as he took in the sights. JD had been bullied into visiting the market with his sisters as an extra set of hands-- and so both sons and father were out in the sunlight.
In public.
In.... well, danger, for WJ.
"Narayan NO."
It was the same, wasn't it? Narayan always made sure the public was a dangerous place to be... and with a sigh, he slipped his hand out of JD's grasp.
It would be better, less embarrassing, to be far away from him before he caused a scene.
And it was this reason that had WJ lose his away somewhere in between the avocados and the turnips, staring up at the woman with dark bronze skin and the little girl who was, remarkably, rather like something out of a picture book.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:40 pm
Tansi noticed the boy before Jane did. Maybe it was a sense of sameness, a calling back to before times. Or maybe it was merely that, self centered though she was, the girl enjoyed the company of others, should those others be willing to entertain. And maybe it was that the boy looked pretty, and she liked to surround herself with pretty things.
Though not as pretty as her, of course.
She ceased her restless jerking against Jane's grip, and tossed her head proudly, her hair a multicolored vale about her shoulders. A smile, inviting enough, if a bit arrogant, and she reached out for the boy, fully intending to pull him over if needed.
"Hi! Come play." Not so much an invitation as a demand, but she still sounded friendly. He hadn't said no to her much.
It was this that called Jane's attention, as the ceased squirming had not, and she peered down at the two children, not happy to see an unattended boy next to the tot at her side.
"Who's this, Tansi?" She asked, her voice relaying a tired patience.
"F'end." Tansi explained, confidently. The boy would be a friend, soon enough. She liked new toys.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:35 pm
WJ's eyes widened with surprise, and embarrassment. He had been caught staring! And was it... was it talking to him then? His cheeks darkened with embarrassment and his head ducked down, muffling a noise of delight.
Ooh eee. She wanted to play!
Used to obeying dominant female figures and far more willing to listen to someone so much more colorfuller-er than he was, WJ shuffled forewords with a sheepish smile.
"Hi~"
It was a lot worse than a Lilo and Stitch commercial.
At the question, the right inflection, WJ looked up and his face darkened further. They were quiet! Quite different from the louder demands made by the female members of his family.
Quite different.
"Won Je." he answered, beaming. Yes he was!
That was his name alright. And what was hers?
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:25 pm
Jane pursed her lips in irritation. What sort of irresponsible parent let a child wander off in a busy place like this. Still, she was smart enough not to say anything. Sometimes, a lost child could be completely calm until someone actually pointed out to said child that they were lost. If Tansi kept the boy entertained, then Jane could try to find the parent. Though how she'd locate them was yet a mystery. She watched the children with a frown, planning her course of action with care.
Tansi, meanwhile was happy to have been granted exactly what she'd demanded, and she grabbed for the boy's hand, fully intending to keep the new friend close by. She'd gone so long alone, with just the family. But she thought she liked friends, people her own age, who never got angry at her, or told her she was being naughty. She wasn't naughty, really. It was just sometimes they didn't let her have what she knew she had to have.
"I's Tansi." She introduced herself in turn reaching out with her other hand to pat the boy's hair curiously. It was nice, like hers. A pretty color, and it looked soft.
"Well, Won Je." Jane began, with careful, non-threatening friendliness. "What parts of the market have you seen?"
Hopefully, if he'd describe where he'd come from, she'd know where to take him.
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