Both siblings blinked with wide eyes at the question.  Edmund was grateful for Mable's full mouth; if it weren't, he was sure she'd dig this hole he made even deeper.  Though, Edmund was just as likely to do the same.

"We did," he said quickly, "live on a - a farm, I mean, but.  Our father was - he was sick a lot, so it was just us two on our own, taking care of the farm most of the time."

"And our mothers are probably dead," Mable added, having finished chewing.  "Only the Lord knows where they are now.  It;s very tragic, really."