Taylor looked into his frightened, owlish eyes, and felt a sigh heaving in her chest, clawing it's way up her throat, and being released in a puff of air. "Sammy..."
"Please?" he said, swallowing. "I can't - I'm too small to paint the whole thing. And I'm scared. I need you help, otherwise they'll - they'll- " Sammy looked dangerously close to tears. "Please?" he whispered.
Taylor closed her eyes. If she helped Sammy do his chores, that would mean that her jobs would be left unfinished. And the (Nurses?? Nuns?? Orphanage workers? What are they called? lol)
would be furious at her. There were punishments for unruly kids. But Sammy was just a little kid... Bad Idea! Her instincts screamed at her. Leave! Go do your chores! You don't need Sammy... Before, Taylor had thought she hadn't needed anyone. But look how that turned out, she thought bitterly.
Taylor didn't necessarily need Sammy. But he needed her. "Okay," she said wearily.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Sammy crowed, rushing at Taylor and wrapping his arms around her leg.
"You're welcome, Sams," Taylor whispered. "But..."
Sammy obediently unlatched himself from Taylor's leg before the (Nuns/Nurses/Workers) could see. "What other chores do you have?" she asked him. "Paint the wall, fetch some more soap from market, and sweep the kitchens." Sammy recalled, counting on his fingers. Taylor groaned. The market was a while away, and walking to and from the place was a hassle. And all for...soap?
Sammy looked at her hopefully. He can't go alone, Taylor reasoned, even though her instincts said to let him go alone.
"I'll come with you to the market," she said.
"Thank you!"
"Yup," Taylor said. Sammy smiled. "Whatever. Let's start," she said, looking up at the large expanse of wall that they had to paint before supper. She grabbed a paintbrush that was at Sammy's feet, dipped it in the bucket of paint besides her, and started to paint, working at the high part of the wall that Sammy couldn't reach. "Hey Sammy?"
"Yeah?"
"If anyone asks, you used a ladder."
