Firefly Glen all these years you tried to kill me, boy you ain't made a dent

it appeared the female had limited patience - and who could blame her, when an errant boy labored to answer a simple question? arcturus watched, helpless and hurt, as the female made her leave.

it would not be the first or the last time he was struck mute in new company; such was a trait that would cow him the rest of his life. he felt a heat rise to his cheeks in shameful defeat, and he wanted to roar - to scream at her receding form - anything to show her he was worth her time, and that she was mistaken and how dare her for turning her back on him and underestimating all he could be --

but she was right; he was an uninteresting, mute little boy. hardly worth the ten seconds she had given him.

he watched her walk away, and his expression darkened -- the ugliness of his grimace remaining long after she had quit his company.