Series: Idioms - A series of stand-alone stories based off random idioms.
A/N: All definitions can be found in From the Horse's Mouth by John Ayto.
A/N 2: I don't actually mention an age but I have Vala at around 5 in this.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination.
Idiom: a chip off the old block: someone who resembles their parent, especially in character.
A Chip Off the Old Block
"But, mister, I didn't meant to." Tears fell from the little girl's silver eyes as she tried in vain to wipe them away with the dirty sleeve of her worn dress.
"Listen here, young lady." Philean stated, waving an angry finger in her face. "I know what I saw. You purposely ran into my cart and knocked over that cake. What I want to know is why."
"I didn't!" the girl shouted through her tears. "I swear I didn't. It was an accident."
The little girl was quickly becoming hysterical and Philean grew worried. It would not look good for him to have a sobbing child in front of his stall. He was already receiving disapproving glares from passers-by. Kneeling down, he tried his best to calm her.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Just...just calm down, kid."
"I didn't mean to." she said in a tiny voice as she grabbed tightly to his vest and pulled. Philean attempted to dislodge himself from the raven-haired tot but she had too tight a hold on him.
"Listen, it's okay. It's only a cake. How about we forget it and you just run along?"
"Really, mister?" the girl asked, eyes growing wide in hope. "You don't care?"
"Naw, I can always make another cake. Just don't run in the streets any more. You could get hurt."
"Okay!" A huge grin lit her tiny face and he melted at the sight. "Thank you, mister!" She ran off at a gallop and Philean smiled...which quickly dissolved when he discovered his change purse was missing.
"Hey!" he called but the pint-sized pick-pocket was already gone. He'd just been scammed by the universe's smallest con artist.
()()()()
Jacek was standing by the Chappa'ai, waiting for his little girl to meet him. He grinned when he saw her tiny frame rush up to him and caught her as she leapt into his arms.
"Did you get it?" he asked, already dialling to a little out-of-the-way planet in order to throw anyone chasing them off their trail.
"Uh huh!" she said excitedly, producing a big change purse and shaking it. The grin she wore matched his perfectly.
"That's my girl." he praised, pulling a pigtail and hugging her close. "You ready to go home?"
"Yup!" She carefully tucked away her trophy as they stepped through the Chappa'ai. Jacek couldn't help the pride he felt at the thought of Vala's first job being successful. She was going to make a great con artist. A chip off the old block.
The End