Last updated: 2 days ago
“And would the little man like something?” asked the vendor, smiling. Young Neiji pointed to the toffee jar on the register’s left. “Only if the little man brushes tonight,” chuckled Mr. Lisma from behind, patting Neiji’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “That’s fifty-four,” the vendor said, handing over Mr. Lisma the receipt and Neiji the jar. The kid slid his tiny hand in and tugged at a block, but the weather had been hot and the toffee was all stuck.
“Here, I’ll take that out for you,” said the vendor softly, gently taking the jar back, yanking out a generous piece, and giving it to happy Neiji. “Got something to say, lad?” Mr. Lisma chimed in. “Thank you, miss,” Neiji uttered, as if out of habit. The lady smiled. Mr. Lisma nodded and picked up the bags, and the two walked out back into the blistering heat. A couple minutes into waiting for the bus back home, Mr. Lisma turned to Neiji. “That woman—you see the threads around her neck?” he asked. Neiji nodded. “That girl was Vas scum — the worst kind,” said Mr. Lisma with contempt. “The kind that feigns kindness.”
“Here, I’ll take that out for you,” said the vendor softly, gently taking the jar back, yanking out a generous piece, and giving it to happy Neiji. “Got something to say, lad?” Mr. Lisma chimed in. “Thank you, miss,” Neiji uttered, as if out of habit. The lady smiled. Mr. Lisma nodded and picked up the bags, and the two walked out back into the blistering heat. A couple minutes into waiting for the bus back home, Mr. Lisma turned to Neiji. “That woman—you see the threads around her neck?” he asked. Neiji nodded. “That girl was Vas scum — the worst kind,” said Mr. Lisma with contempt. “The kind that feigns kindness.”
