Welcome back, good Reader, it's good to see you again. You know, there are times when I wonder about human morality. There are times when we believe ourselves to be the pinnacle of what's right and wrong. That it is easy to point at someone and say, “that person is bad and I'm the good one.” Ever wondered why they do something good? Or something that is bad? I apologize, I don't mean to waste too much of your time. Let us return to our story.

All the children inside the old house are in a group hug, but like many things in life, they stop hugging and move away from Ava.

“Thank you, for everything, but there's one more thing I have to get out of my chest,” says Ava as she turns to David. “David, you know I trust you, and I know you trust me, but the truth is, I've been lying to you.”

“Go on,” says David and crosses his arms.

“Your weapons, the ones that I've been selling–”

“Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there, I already knew about this.” It comes as a complete surprise to Ava.

“You did?”

“I'm eleven, but I'm not stupid, I'm actually offended that you think I would fall for something like that.”

“How long have you known?”

“From the beginning.”

“Is this about her whole lie about selling weapons to the guards?” asks Wendy.

“You too?” asks Ava.

“Well, it was too good to be true, and David told me that he didn't believe it.”

“Then why did neither of you say anything about it?”

“Well, it brought money to the table, and I assumed that you have a good reason to hide that. Besides, the only people who would buy his weapons would be regular citizens and merchants.”

“No,” says David with a stern look on his face.

“What do you mean?”

“Normal people would go to someone with a reputation, not to a complete newcomer.” David rubs his forehead before continuing. “How many gangs have my weapons?”

“Gangs?” asks Wendy as she looks at Ava, who looks at the ground.

“I don't know, the first person to buy your weapons asked how to get more, so I told him to leave a note with his order at a specific location, and it will be delivered somewhere else. I made sure the exchange was in a public area, so they wouldn't try to steal from me,” says Ava, and all goes quiet, letting this revelation sink into the minds of everyone present.

“Oh my god,” says Dorothy as she covers her mouth.

“Its fine,” says David as he takes a seat at the table.

“Fine? The slums are more dangerous than they already are, and you're okay with that?”

“Of course not, but its like you said, it brought money to the table. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to buy ingredients for this soup, or for the elixir that saved Ava's life.”

“Well, yeah, but–”

“I'm sorry,” says Ava, unable to look at anyone in the eye, “I'm sorry.” Wendy quickly realizes that her reaction may have been taken the wrong way.

“Ava, look at me,” says Wendy as she cups Ava's face and see each other in the eye, “I'm not mad at you. I know that you wouldn't have done this willingly, I just–I just wish things would have been different.” Ava puts a hand on top of Wendy's.

“Me too.”

“Are we bad people?” asks Harold, a very simple question, but the weight and impact is tremendous. None of them knew how to answer such a complicated situation to a boy his age, but one of them manage to come up with a solution.

“Have you played card games before?” asks Dorothy as she sits next to Harold.

“No, but I've seen some people play it.”

“Well, there are times when life is like a card game. You're given a handful of different cards, but you don't know what kind of combination you're going to get.”

“It's random?”

“Every time, and sometimes, you get a very good hand, one that will easily let you win the whole game.”

“Wow, that sounds very lucky.”

“Ah, but there are times when you get an average hand, and if you know how to play them correctly, you can still achieve victory.”

“Oh, that sounds complicated.”

“If you think that's hard, imagine getting a really bad hand. Sure, you could somehow win, if you have remarkable skill, and some luck on your side. Otherwise,” Dorothy looks at Ava, David, and Wendy, “no matter how hard you play your cards, or how many times you try, you still end up losing.” This leaves Harold contemplating her words, trying to understand them in a way he could.

“So, we're not bad people?”

“No, you're not, and if things were different, you could have achieved great things,” Dorothy takes a moment to let out a sigh, “but you got one bad option after the other, and had to choose.” No one adds anymore to the conversation, they didn't see the need to do so. The princess has said everything that there was to say, and they were content to leave it at that.

“How about we start eating before it gets cold?” asks David to everyone in the house, and all the children take their places at the table. Ava and David take one side, while Harold, Wendy, and Dorothy take the other.

“Go wash your hands,” says Wendy before David could take his first spoonful of soup.

“How in the world did you know I didn't wash them?!” asks David, shocked to have been discovered at such a moment when he was about to eat.

“I can still see dirt all over your hands.”

“First of all, it's oil with some clay, and second, you must have some good eyes to notice that.”

“That, and I know you too well.” Wendy gives him a smug smile to emphasize her point. David is happy to know that their banter is coming back after all the drama. He gets up from the table, and starts going up the stairs again.

“Better hurry up, or I might eat your share,” says Ava.

“Don't you dare,” says David from the top of the stairs.

“I believe you capable,” says Wendy to Ava, who gives a fake gasp.

“I'm hurt, Wendy,” says Ava.

“Wounded, even,” says Dorothy, unable to contain herself.

“Don't encourage her,” says Wendy, and they hear Harold laughing.

“You're pretty fun,” says Harold to Dorothy, and all three join him in the laughter. When David comes back from the second floor, he joins in the fun. Ava takes a look around the table, and realizes that no matter what happens, she will do whatever it takes to protect her family, including her brand new friend and savior, Dorothy.

I think I'll stop it here for today. Was it surprising to know that our protagonist, Ava, was the culprit behind the weapons trade in the slums? We never expect that a child could have the potential to achieve such a thing. Then again, the world is always full of unexpected things, isn't? I hope to see you again, since the first part of our story is close to ending.

Until next time, Reader.