Because I Want It

Four-year-old Uma narrowed her eyes at Harry as she saw him walking down the street. He had something in his hand he was licking that looked suspiciously like candy…but she knew that wasn't likely. Candy was hard to come by on the Isle. Who would waste it on a little kid? Or, more accurately, who wouldn't steal it from a little kid?

She stood to the side of the street, half-hiding behind a stand selling watches and ignoring the glare of the salesman.

"Whatcha got there?" She asked when Harry reached her.

He jumped in surprise, but she withheld her snicker. There were more important things at stake here than making fun of him for being scared by her. Young as she was, she was already getting good at reading the emotions of others. She was pretty sure she saw a flash of guilt in Harry's eyes before he shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothin'."

"Really?" Uma asked, crossing her arms and jutting out her hip. "It looked like you were eating something." The look she was giving Harry now was one that already made many thieving customers at her mom's restaurant own up to what they'd done.

He shrugged again. "Jus' somethin' I nicked on the way here, that's all. I gotta keep up my strength." He gave her a smolder that Uma was pretty sure made other little girls giggle, but she didn't care.

"Show me," she demanded.

"Uh-uh," Harry said, shaking his head. "It's mine. Get something from the Fish and Chip shop if you're hungry."

"I'm not hungry for food. I'm hungry for candy."

"I don't have candy," Harry said, his eyes widening innocently. "I wouldn't even know where to steal some. Everyone sells out or has it stolen from them the moment they get some."

Uma began tapping her foot in annoyance. "I'm the boss, so give it to me."

"I don't have any!" Harry yelled, angry now. "And why are you the boss?"

"Because you always do what I say. That makes me the boss."

"Well, I'm not doing what you say this time! And I don't have any candy!" He hurried to add.

Their stare off lasted only three more seconds before Uma tackled him to the ground, using her knees to pin Harry's arms behind his back before rifling through his pockets. "Ha!" She exclaimed triumphantly when she found the sticky treat. It was a large, multi-colored lollipop, the most brightly colored thing Uma had ever seen. "I knew you had some. Where'd you get it?"

"The magician's assistant gave some to CJ for bein' cute," Harry sneered. "She's not even old enough to appreciate it, so I took it." His voice took on a whiny tone. "Why do you get it?"

"Because I want it," Uma said simply. "And I'm the boss. The boss gets everything good." Despite her words, Uma broke off a piece and fed it to the boy pinned beneath her. He was her first follower, and she had to treat him well so he'd stay.

And so, the two began a tradition that any food of Harry's was also considered Uma's, but she always made sure he got a fair portion.