Child's Mom asked the old man how much it cost.
At the same time, she turned to the girl beside her and smiled gratefully again.
The girl shook her head.
"Let's go."
After paying, Child's Mom looked down at her child, who was having the time of their life playing with the balloon.
"Okay."
The child was just about to reach for their mom's hand when they suddenly remembered something.
The child pulled their hand back.
They pattered over to the girl.
The child fished something out of their pocket, then stretched up on tiptoe, holding it out to the girl.
"Big sis."
"Have some candy."
The child's chubby little hand opened.
A round fruit gummy sat in the palm.
The girl was taken aback.
Seeing the sparkle in the child's eyes, she quickly bent down and took the candy.
"Thank you."
The girl smiled.
"You're welcome."
The child hugged the white cat balloon. "Big sis gave me a balloon, too."
"What a clever little thing."
Child's Mom patted the child's head.
A smile rested on her face.
Child's Mom left with the child.
The girl curled her fingers into a fist and was just about to leave...
The old man selling balloons called out, "Do you want to buy a balloon, too?"
"I have plenty of other nice balloons here."
Watching the old man's age-spotted hands tug at one balloon after another so she could see each one clearly, the girl felt a little too awkward to refuse.
Oh, well.
It was just one balloon, right?
She'd buy it.
The girl looked up at the cluster of balloons.
She planned to pick another one.
Oh.
"I'll take this one."
It didn't take long for the girl