Porcupine Ridge Things I almost remember

he desperately wished to hear her tease him, to criticize him and then hoist him back to his feet and continue on shoulder-to-shoulder as his sisters might have done. but she gives him no such comfort, falling to the softhearted nature she had displayed so far.

what a twerp!

he splayed himself outward along his side, his tummy plump with the food he had devoured. "there be other kids here?" he wondered aloud, curious to how many children that woman had stolen away.