Caught in the Act

The girl in the next row is sooo lovely. She’s a tiny fourteen and made of silk. She’s busy fixing her hair, reading, checking the mobile phone and looking at maps. She dresses mature and has the air of a self-conscious teen

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Suddenly, she drops something behind her chair. She tries to fetch it, but I pick it up and hand it to her through the crack between the chairs.

It’s a tiny worn-out teddy bear.

She looks at me shy, sideways and gives me a conspiring smile for being caught in the act of being a child.