Hellion Child

From TFC Galactopedia

Six-year-old Roxzannah sat on the cold stone bench, kicking her feet and glowering at the little group huddled over by the fountain. Their giggles were just audible even over the splashing water. "Stupid 'Selle," the girl muttered.

Across the courtyard, Kiselle Touras, all of eight years old, tossed her glossy black ringlets and whispered something into the ear of the little girl next to her. Whatever she said set off another spate of giggling. Zannah's little brother Tigre looked up from his toy landspeeder. "'Selle?" he asked.

"'Selle's a dummyhead," Zannah told him. Tigre shrugged, and went back to pushing the toy speeder across the paving stones, making what he thought were repulsorlifts sounds.

"I think she's pretty," Snow piped up, brushing the skirts of her dress straight.

Zannah scowled. "You're a dummyhead too."

"Am not!"

"Are so."

Snow's lower lip quivered. Zannah stuck her tongue out. "Crybaby!"

The younger twin sniffled. "Am not!"

"Crybaby wants to be like stupid 'Selle," Zannah taunted.

Snow stood up. "I'm telling Mumma!"

"Go on, tattletail."

Sobbing, the younger girl ran off. Deprived of her easy target, Zannah turned her attention back to Kiselle's group of friends. "Meanies won't play with me." Her eyes narrowed. I'll show them! Concentrating hard, she reached out at the girls by the fountain. Focusing on Kiselle, Zannah turned her reach into a push. Suddenly overbalanced, the older girl toppled into the fountain with a frightened squeal and a splash. Kiselle came up sputtering, sobbing, and soaking wet, her friends falling over themselves to pull her out of the water.

"My dress!" she cried, "My brand new dress! It's ruined!"

Swinging her legs, Zannah smothered a delighted giggle behind both hands. She hummed contentedly to herself as she watched the group scurry off. Tigre looked back up at his sister.

"Zanny mean."

"Nya."