Summer Shade
As she watches her sip delicately at her tea, she can't help but think that Angelica is such a lady. Petrushka almost wants to berate herself for feeling intimidated, sitting across from such a small girl, but she picks at her meal and feels so self-conscious.
"Miss Petrushka," the little girl chirps in her sweet voice, and she's brought out of her thoughts. "Are you okay? You look..."
She doesn't know the word to describe it, and neither, Petrushka admits to herself, does she. But she smiles and answers, "I'm okay."
I'm really okay. This is... nice, after all.
She feels her smile grow a little bit wider, a little more truthful at this thought, and she finally looks Angelica in the eyes. She has so many things to learn from her, but so little time. But if this is the only moment they'll ever spend together, Petrushka thinks, she'll be fine with just this memory.
Suddenly, Angelica pushes her plate aside and holds out her hand, beaming. She makes as if to shake it, the manners Alessandro has taught her, but Angelica only laughs. "No," she says through her giggles, "no, like this — are you done? Okay, stand up —"
And she takes her by the hand and runs, her laughter ringing through the air as they go.