ashes

He can act nice sometimes, but he’s not. If he’s ever mean to you, you’ll tell me, right?

...Oh. He's not mean to me. My teachers are, though. I like him better than them.

  August Winslade told you that? It is a bad word, and I’m sure Gale would agree with me. But that’s because August isn’t a very nice man.

But what does that mean? He was nice to me.

That’s because the big guys upstairs don’t like letting me have fun. But they can’t keep me away from you now that I’ve found you. You’re stick with me.

They don't like letting me have fun either. But I do anyway, shhhh. I don't like school, so I hide instead. But Mr. August told me to tell them to sod off instead. What does that mean? I think it's a bad word but he wouldn't tell me. 

I miss you. I don't see you lots anymore.

… Posy?

Why do you look so sad? 

Got who out? Where? What?

……..Exactly. You’re a baby.

I just said I'm five!

Tell them they smell like pee, then. It’s not dumb, it works.

It is dumb. And baby-ish. I'm not a baby, I'm five.

But if you do end up saying it, don’t tell anyone you got it from me. Nooo, you shouldn’t. If they’re not nice to you tell them they smell like poo.

No, that's dumb.

I should say it then. They're not nice to me.

Conseq— …Bad things.

You…. left.. There could be some serious consequences to your leaving, you know.

Consewhatces?

Well…. I suppose we are, in a way. Aren’t you supposed to be in school or— something?

...Yeah. I don't like school. I left.

I like tunnels! They're super super great for hide and seek. Are you playing hide and seek, mister?