On warmer days, Addie liked to go for walks around Lawrence, on her way to the shops or just to explore. She'd ridden in the cars most people used to get around town, but the speed of the vehicles frightened her, and she preferred to travel on foot. Besides, walking was healthier and offered so much nicer an experience than being boxed into a car, cut off from the world around her.
She lifted her skirts, stepping carefully over a slushy drift of snow. It was still chilly out, but at least the snow was melting, with the warmer weather of the past few days. At the sound of little feet running towards her, she looked up in time to see a young girl with wild red curls. The sight made Addie's heart ache - the little girl couldn't be more than five or six, she was barefoot and obviously frightened. What was a child so young doing outside alone? She put a hand out to block the child's path. "Slow down, little one!" She said, voice laced with concern. "What's wrong? Do you need help?"