The sound of a cart approaching was not unusual, but Mable still paused in her game at the sight of a tall man accompanying it.

Less than a year ago, someone like this was a person Mable would have avoided.  In her memories of him, her father had been massive, a giant of a man who used his height to intimidate and cause violence.  But since leaving home, she'd seen and met many people who looked just like him, but were nothing like him at all.

So Mable picked up her rock when the man sent her a polite smile, taking it as a sign, and skipped up beside him.  She would try just once last time to have a nice conversation with a stranger, and if it didn't work out, she'd keep to herself until breakfast the next day.

Hopefully, it woudn't come to that.

"Hello, sir," she greeted, "what are you up to today?"