Jemima sat on the steps of the store waiting for her mama to come outside so they could walk home together. The town was busy this afternoon. She could see the new girl from school talking to a bigger girl outside the newspaper office. She hoped that she could be friends with Melissa, she thought that she seemed friendly enough.

She sat there quietly, scuffing her boots in the dirt of the street, not moving, just as mama had told her. Trying to remember what it was that she had to do when she returned home, her mama was always so busy, and Jemima helped out wherever she could. She knew that she was too small to be any real help, but she couldn�t help it, she worried about her mama. She was suddenly startled as someone sat down on the step beside her, but it was okay, she thought, its only mama�s friend Rachel.

"Hello Jemima." Rachel said softly to the serious young girl.

"Hi Aunt Rachel." Jemima said politely. "Mama is inside the store," she told her.

"I�m on my way back to the Express Station, Jemima." Rachel reached into her pocket and pulled out a peppermint stick. "I thought you might like this." She handed it to Jemima.

"Thank you, Aunt Rachel." Jemima took the stick from Rachel and stuck it in her mouth sucking hard on the sweet peppermint.