[Arry]

Willy and Hanson lit out after Neviel, their shorter legs pumping fast to stay up with the Elf. Their curiosity was peaked at some new boy come to school. And why couldn’t he walk , Hanson wondered aloud as they hurried along. ‘Might be like one of Gaffer Lambswort’s sheep – the ones from last season. There were two as was born lame. Remember?’ huffed Woody.

Neviel was already speaking with the older girl, Camille, when they burst in, and crowded up behind him. Hanson recognized the posture the big girl had taken. Same’s the one Woody had when older kids had picked on him or their littler sister.

‘Don’t get too close to her. She looks like she might smack you if you do,’ Hanson whispered to Neviel. He peeked around one side of the Elf and grinned at the boy. ‘Hey!’ he said. ‘My name’s Hanson. This here is Neviel and that’s Woody. My big brother.’ He nodded to the open door to the schoolroom. ‘We’re all outdoors. Come out and play some marbles with us before the teacher gets us all back inside.’

He felt Woody nudge him to be quiet. Hanson shrugged away from his brother’s reach and stepped closer to the boy. ‘Come on! Then we can break into teams. You can be on me and . . . Neviel’s if you want.’

Hanson turned and stuck out his tongue at Woody.