The idea that someone would kick Mable out just because she wouldn't or couldn't buy something from them offended her, but she supposed Edward was right.  People were so selfish, especially the ones well off enough to be selling jewelry.  She'd have to be very careful asking around, then.

Mable was oblivious to the worsening state of buildings around her and Edward as they walked, but she was very aware of the carefully chosen paths they took.  When some way looked too scary or dangerous or dark, Edward pulled her a different way.  The boy called Edmund would do the same thing, but with Edward as young as her, she didn't know if it was for her sake or his.

Maybe it was for the both of them.  They were just kids, out late after the sun set.  There were not many more stupid things in the world, but there also weren't many more fun things either.

"I think it works any way we'd like it to," Mable argued, but she wasn't upset by the other's words.  "If I had a secret place, I'd show you where it was too, because you're one of my very best friends, even if we did just meet.  But I don't have a secret place, not here anyway.  But if I did, you'd be the first and only other person to know!"