Philotes squirmed as she stood there, with her big brother smiling at her. She wanted to hug him so bad! 'Cause he was saying that her cake was as good as Mother's and it was better than extra nice. He said it was special. Which meant that she was special too. And he was just where she could hug him really good, she could get her arms right around his neck with him all scooched down like that, but she couldn't. Because she was holding her mister peas, and she didn't want to ruin it.
So she couldn't hug him.
But she wanted to hug him.
So she squirmed and tried to figure out where she could set down her mudpie so it wouldn't get stepped on while she gave Than the best hug he ever, ever, ever had. And that would be something because Lottie had given him some of her very best!
But then he said he couldn't make another one with her. He had a job. Stupid job. Lottie's lower lip began to quiver as she tried not to cry. She didn't want to cry. It wasn't Than's fault, and she didn't want to make him feel bad, and he always seemed to feel bad when he saw her crying so she tried really hard not to. But the harder she tried the harder it got, and one tear managed to sneak down her cheek, but she scrubbed it away with the palm of her hand so he wouldn't see it.
Her voice still sounded a little funny when she said, “Alright. But I'll miss you.” Then she suddenly brightened as she had the best idea ever, and Lottie blurted out happily, “I know! I'll come with you! I can help you! Then we can both make stuff when we get back, right? Right, Than? That's a good idea, right?”