Alice

There is a long moment of silence between the two before Mr. Jones says to Cotton, “It’s getting on, best you go see what’s taking Jimmy.”

“I can do that.” After Cotton is up and gone, Mr. Jones looks out to his surroundings which has her following suit in taking in the streaks of yesterday hanging around even after a year of silence. Leveling his eyes upon the fire, Mr. Jones keeps to himself all the while she is beginning to feel the effects of having food and water in her system. “I need to find a bush,” is all she says as she waits for no one’s permission.

Upon her return, she sees that Cotton and Jimmy have joined Mr. Jones around the fire. They all look at her, but nobody says anything as she puts herself next to Mr. Jones.

Time drifts along then, the shadows taking over to where the red glow of embers stands out. In that odd, yet exciting moment, she thinks of roasting a marshmallow. Of her twirling the flaming goodness before giving it that puff of air. With the gooey madness to follow, she finds herself wanting to reach for that imaginary bag that will never be on any store shelves soon. That thought alone is enough to move her to thinking that these three think she is special.