“All I asked him to do was watch his sister. It’s a simple task, and he couldn’t even do that!”
“And what about you? What were you doing?” Penelope countered.
“I… I was just talking to an acquaintance for a moment…”
“So, as the adult, you get to shirk your responsibility and blame the child? And because he’s a child and can’t fight back, he has to bear all the guilt?”
“Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I haven’t even blamed you yet!” the woman shot back, embarrassed.
“You can blame us if you want, but don’t blame the child. He’s too young to carry such a heavy burden.”
“You’re ridiculous!” the woman muttered. She grabbed her daughter’s hand and stormed off, leaving the little boy standing alone on the sidewalk. He looked after his mother, wanting to follow but too scared to move.
Penelope’s heart ached for him. Seeing a street vendor selling candy apples nearby, she bought one for him. But just as she turned back, the woman returned, grabbed her son by the arm, and dragged him away.
Penelope let out a sigh and saw Theodore still standing by the car, his expression having softened. She ran over to him with a smile, holding out the candy apple.
“Here! Bought this for you!”
Theodore chuckled, the last of the gloom vanishing from his face. He took the candy apple and bit into it. “It’s sweet.”
“Really?”
“Try it.”
She took a bite from his hand, and the sourness made her face scrunch up. “You liar!”
Theodore took another bite. “I still think it’s sweet.”
“If you like them, I will buy them for you every day!”
“Are you looking to get punished tonight?”
“Have mercy, my lord!”


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