[Thinlómien]

First she was dismissed and she waited. Then the boy said: "You can come up, if you’re wanting to find out what the problem is." Somehow, he had the skill to make Brith feel stupid. Actually, most people had the skill. Brith felt herself stupid very often.

"I - I'd rather not", she said embarrassed. She knew she wasn't in the condition to climb up ladders. She cursed by herself. I shouldn't have put my nose in this thing. Now I only seem more stupid.

"I'll wait here, and if you need any assistance ...erm... from below, I'm glad to help", she said. Then she thought of another thing: "If I somehow disturb you or if you want privacy, please tell me and I can leave." Her voice betrayed a tiny bit of her feelings, though that was what she had tried to avoid. Again, unwanted. Needless.

She bit her lip that she wouldn't start crying. The girl probably had more severe problems and she was younger than Brith was. Her mom had always told her big sister and big brother to put Brith's worries higher in their priority, because she was smaller. And that was actually just what Brith decided to do with that crying girl. Help her, and put her own worries aside. And just then, she had to sound pitiable and attention-desiring.