Kathy worried her bottom lip for a moment, a deplorable habit that she found herself getting into from time to time now that her parents weren't around to stop it. He had a point. Something could eat him and she would feel just horrible-more than in fact-if she learned that he died when she could have helped him. At the same time, well ... television was rather helpful. Good breeding and genuine human curtesy warred with common sense. The second, and a good helping of the first, beat out the third quite easily. It was the Lord's wish to help those in need.
Slowly, she walked towards him. When she was a little bit more than a grown-up's arms length away, Kathy said, "I am helpin' ye 'cause it is the right thing ta do. If ye try an' hurt me, I will scream me head off an' then, I will stab ye." Her tone could have easily fallen into deceptive calmness if she had a few more years of experiance. As it was there was a slight tremor that shook through her voice, nevertheless, she managed to raise solemn eyes that looked into him that showed her complete and utter seriousness.
Opening the device, she walked closer and extended it for him to see when she was just a few feet away. She wasn't going any closer. She would drag her Mary Jane's into the sidewalk if he wanted to grab at her by the arm.