James put his finger on his chin and looked up at the sky in a mock-thinking way. "Nah," he concluded.

Saoirse was on the verge of just giving up and admitting defeat. "Or don't, I guess. Not like I care."

"Okay..." The child said. "I'm hungry again."

Saoirse frowned. She financially could not allow herself to buy this child even more food, but she felt guilty even so. "Well, get your brother to buy you some food, then."

James looked around, and then back at Saoirse. "I can't find him."

"Well, then, get someone else to buy you food." How long does she have to debate this?

He pouted and gave her puppy eyes.

Saoirse looked away.

"I'm going somewhere else now... to starve to death quietly," he said in a dramatic voice, and he walked away - actually he decided to look for the priest or Mr. Ward, who sometimes gave him food.

She knew that he wouldn't starve to death, now, but it was still kind of guilt-inducing. "Have fun with that," she said, watching him walk away.