The girl skipped along beside her mother, clutching tightly to her hand.
Her cork-screw curls bobbing in time to her steps;
long, hoppy, steps, taking two or three for each of her mother's.
Toes todded from safe to safe, each crack a chasm.
Suddenly, the dull gray-scape dropped off into blue sky;
a startle-eyed child with a halo of yellow hair stared up at her.
Startled by the intimacy of the gaze, the girl shrank back.
Her mother urged her on, but she sat fixated not daring to move a step nearer.
Cautiously, peeking through fingers, she peered over the edge of the puddle;
the face peered back, hiding her eyes.
The puddle girl was shy too.
The mother made an impatient sound and tugged the girls arm,
but the child was suddenly oblivious to the world around her.
Only the puddle and the girl remained.
Gathering her courage, she waved to the child and leaped over the puddle,
as if it would reach up and bite her.
The child waved back.
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