"We did! It is!"

"And we got cakes and caramel apples!" agrees Keziah, picking up Peninnah to toss her into the air and catch her again as she wafts down on braking wings. "It was fun. When you're a big girl you'll go too."

"I'll be big and eat cake!" laughs Peninnah.

"A flawless plan."

"Yes. Is a good plan," says Peninnah, fluttering happily.

Damaris grins at her.

So does Keziah. Back into the Eyrie they go.

Whee!

It is a couple of months later when Keziah can be found sort of moping in her room, lying on her front on her bed with a book open that she isn't reading.

A knock on the door.

"Come in?"

"Oh, just - stuff?"

She squirms. "I dunno. Just - I have a crush on a person."

"Aha," says Micaiah. "Everything is explained."

"Really?"

"Well, maybe not everything. A lot, anyway."

"Oh. It's complicated," complains Keziah.

"I'm good at complicated," he assures her.

"Ahh," says Micaiah. "Yeah, that's complicated all right."

"I told you!" Keziah puts a pillow over her head and groans.

"Nooooooo."