"I can help you apply it. It helps make the pain go away faster." She said and drawn by the obvious kindness in her words and actions, Ezra found himself nodding. For the second time that day, he was befuddled, his tongue had thickened and he was certain he would say something unintelligible if he opened his mouth. So he nodded glumly and held out his elbow.
Right there, under the hot sun, the son of the devil stood in a black top and trousers, his elbows raises as a smaller girl rubbed an ointment over his bruises.
She had been right. The pain dulled in a few minutes.
"There." She muttered. "Good as new."
"Not quite. But thanks."
She nodded meekly, tugged at her little brother's hand and walked away quickly. Her legs carried her faster and further away from him.
Still feeling tongue-tied, Ezra made his way back to the diner. She had to be the only good thing that had happened to him that day.
****
