Chapter 2
It was a good week and a half before Crawa finally forgave Garaf for the escapade that had ended with one of her favourite dresses covered in mud. Although Crawa still studied on her own with Esslar, she had begun to drag the boy (once literally) to some of her tutor's lessons - a project which Garaf did not seem to appreciate nearly as much as anyone had hoped.
“For the last time, we're not trying to indo-.. induct-...indoctamate you - stupid!†Crawa hissed across the table at the sullen figure on the other end. “I'm supposed to look after you. You should learn something too!â€Â
The boy stuck his tongue out and made a silly face. “Nuh uh. I can take care of myself jess fine. Yer prolly younger 'n me, even!â€Â
“Yeah, well, you still act like a baby! Stupid.â€Â
“... Children?†Esslar entered the room in the usual manner: cloth bound book in one hand, tea in the other, and the skeptical scowl that seemed permanently affixed behind his spectacles ever since the young Duskwight had come to reside at the Temple. Crawa snapped to attention as the Lalafell came in, while Garaf yawned loudly o slouched lower into his chair. “I'm afraid I shall have to let you alone for just a few more minutes. Your grandfather has a short errand for me, Crawa, and I must complete it before we commence today's lesson. I assure you it is quite unavoidable but should only occupy a few moments of this afternoon's lesson plan.â€Â
“Okay!†Crawa answered obediently.
Garaf only mumbled something under his breath as Esslar left. The door had only been shut for a few short minutes before the boy piped up at his usual volume. “I'm hungry.†he proclaimed to the roof as though it should somehow redress the situation.
“You should have eaten breakfast, stupid.†Despite having a voracious appetite for someone his size, the boy had developed an uncanny knack for missing meals.
“... meh. Why bother gettin' up that early? I'm gonna get somethin' ta eat.†He hopped off his chair and strode for the door.
“Hey! Wait! Where are you going?†Crawa leapt up and followed him.
“Tha kitchen... where else?†he tossed back with a shrug.
“The kit-... you can't just take stuff from the kitchen! We're not allowed!â€Â
“..So?†Garaf ran through the door and down the hall, Crawa following with an unending barrage of childish threats and admonishments. Despite her best efforts, they found themselves in the otherwise deserted temple kitchen. The boy started casting around, opening cabinets and drawers while Crawa wavered nervously in the doorway.
“We're going to get in trouble, stupid! ...Hurry up!†Her mind was full of notions that someone would find them at any moment and all the terrible punishments that would inevitably occur.
“Yeah, yeah... oh!†Garaf had stumbled upon a large ceramic urn, which upon opening the top was revealed to be full of cakes. Each one was bigger than Crawa's two fists combined. Garaf wasted no time in pulling two out before replacing the lid. He crammed one into his mouth, spilling crumbs everywhere.
“Messy...!†Crawa muttered, frowning at the crumbling cake.
Garaf paid her no heed. “Har,†he mumbled through his full mouth. “Hab 'un.†He held the second cake up in front of her.
Crawa wavered, looking out the door and into the hallway before ascertaining that nobody would see them. She quickly snatched the cake out of his hands. “Don't talk with your mouth full.â€Â
“Blaaaaaaaa,†Garaf retaliated, opening his cake-filled mouth wide. Crawa made a face and bit gingerly into her cake. “You're gross.â€Â
“Yer a goody-boo.â€Â
Crawa set her hands on her hips in her best attempt at an indignant stance. “Am NOT! Take it back, stupid!â€Â
“Nope.â€Â
“Meanie!â€Â
“Goody-boo.â€Â
“I'm gonna tell Mister Esslar!â€Â
Garaf raised an eyebrow. “Then yer gonna get in trouble iffin yer still eating cake.â€Â
Crawa frowned and stared at her cake. “Fine. But we're going to go back to the library now before anyone catches us. Okay?†Garaf just shrugged and followed her out.
By the time the Lalafell returned to the classroom, there was no trace of any cake on either of them thanks to Crawa's meticulous cleaning. When the lesson was over, the two children made their way out of the room together.
“Ya know, cakes ain't bad...â€Â
“Shhh! We were stealing! That's bad!â€Â
“Heh, didn't seem ta stop ya from enjoyin' your sweet bit anyway.â€Â
“I'm never doing it again! Ever!â€Â
Garaf only shrugged and pulled another, rather squashed cake out of his pants pocket and wordlessly broke it in half and offered a piece of it to Crawa. She hesitated, then grabbed it from him.
“Don't tell anybody,†she mumbled.
“Why'd I ever tell?â€Â
“Promise?â€Â
“Goody-boo.â€Â
“...you're still stupid.â€Â
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![[Image: sig_Garaf.FF.jpg]](http://randirim.org/img/sig_Garaf.FF.jpg)
