11. Knight in Shining Armor on a White Horse

Missy giggled in that very immature, girlish manner of hers. "What about that stranger?"

"What stranger?" It wasn't really a question that needed to be answered. They both knew what stranger Missy had referred to. The question was a tactic--Sellah's way of putting off that silly manner that Missy used so easily.

"That one who winked at you. What about him?"

Sellah really didn't understand Missy's fascination with gossiping about boys and who liked who. It didn't really matter to her. Of course, she figured that some day she might fall in love, but that was bound to be far away.

"Well?" Missy nudged Sellah with her elbow impatiently.

Sellah sighed. "No. Not him," she said in her most flat, exasperated tone possible.

"Then who? A knight in shining armor riding a white horse to sweep you off your feet?" She was being sarcastic but playfully so.

Sellah studied Missy. Yes, Missy was a girl who would want a knight in shining armor on a white horse. She aspired to the common fantasies of every girl and would probably end up being just as happy as the baker's wife.

"No." Sellah spoke so seriously that it almost sounded like an act. "Dark horses are far more romantic, and having a thief steal me away would be far more thrilling." She smiled.

And then she began to laugh. Missy joined in. Because it was, of course, only a splendid jest.