Page 21 of Dawn Caravan
“But what did you do when Lara pushed Jason?” Dema’s voice was slow and steady. “Did you push her back?”
A long sigh from Sadia. “Yes.”
“And did you get in trouble?”
“Yes, because I should have told a teacher and not pushed Lara harder.”
Ben could hear the amusement in Chloe’s voice. “You pushed her harder?”
“Yes.”
Good. Ben approved of that tactic. Little Lara Bright wouldn’t be pushing Sadia or Jason again if he had to guess.
“Tenzin told me that’s what you need to do if there’s a bully,” Sadia said. “If someone hurts you or your friend, then you hurt them back more so they don’t do it again.”
Freaking Tenzin. Again. Ben scowled.
“And we’ll talk about that tactic when you’re older,” Dema said. “But for now, when there is a teacher or responsible adult close by, you tell that adult, all right?”
“But what if—”
“No buts.” Ben walked into the kitchen and rubbed the top of Sadia’s head. “That was good advice from Dema, and I bet Baba and Mama agreed with it.”
Sadia looked up with large, dark eyes. “Baba did, but Mama didn’t say anything.”
Ben muttered, “This family is full of vengeful females.” He looked over to Chloe. “Hey you.”
Chloe was looking at him, her lips pressed together. “Hey.”
He could see some kind of emotion shimmering in her eyes, and he held out his arms. “Two years and I don’t get a hug?”
Chloe blinked hard and walked over to Ben, throwing her arms around him.
“Big dumb boy,” she whispered. “I missed you so much. Don’t you ever go away for so long again.”
“Missed you too.” He pressed his cheek to her hair and inhaled her scent. Chloe smelled like vanilla and plain soap. She’d never worn perfume, but her scent was distinct and comforting. “I’m sorry I took so long.”
She leaned back and looked up at Ben, examining him carefully. “The eyes are throwing me. They’re more noticeable in person. Really bright.”
“I’m still not used to them.”
“You’re paler.” She patted his cheek. “Other than that, you look the same.”
“You want to see my fangs?”
Chloe threw up a hand. “I’ve already seen them on the screen. Don’t be weird.”
Sadia was bouncing on a barstool. “They’re justnormalfangs. They’re not curvy like Tenzin’s.”
Seriously? Sadia was going to end up giving Ben a complex about his boring fangs.
“Hey,” he said. “Isn’t it your bath time?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?” Ben asked. “I can always throw you in the pool.”
“No!” Sadia giggled and slipped down the barstool; then she ran into the living room. “Dema, get him!”
