When the elevator reached the next floor, it opened, and a woman came in. She held her son's hand, and they stood in the center of the elevator. Kylie held Ethan's hand and felt his fingers stiffen. Then she noticed that Ethan was looking at the thin little boy.
The child was stunted and carried his head low as if he was ashamed that he was alive. It obviously didn't make it easier for him when people stared, and it made Kylie angry to see Ethan staring at him.
Perhaps this child evoked some childhood memory of Ethan's, but it didn't matter to Kylie. "She nudged him and hissed in his ear, "Stop staring. It's rude! You make him feel uneasy,"
Ethan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Dora saw his reaction to the boy, and the smile in her eyes quickly disappeared. She hunkered down and spoke to the little boy. "Hey," she asked him, "how old are you?"
