• "You're late on your rent."

    This particular string of words were the most popular in the household, and here they were affronting Ariel again. He nodded.

    "I'm serious this time," said the ungainly old woman. "If you don't pay up by the end of the week, you're out of here!"

    "You'll get your money," Ariel assured without looking back. "Be happy with that."

    The old woman grumbled a bit, but submitted to Ariel trudging down the stairs and through the front door. A yellow dawn light was shining down on the city, but that didn't keep Robin Percival's smile from seeping through the silhouette.

    "Good morning," she said cheerfully. (Cheerfulness was the strongest of her many attributes.) "What's wrong?"

    Ariel shrugged and said, "The usual. Let's go."

    Every morning at exactly six, Robin clocks in for work at York's Convenience and General Goods. To get to work this early, Robin needs to leave her apartment at exactly five forty. At this time, the sun is just beginning to rise and fill the Dieternese streets with light. This light, like everything else, is yellow, which makes it hard for some people to distinguish the streets from buildings and buildings from the sky. Muggers and thieves like to take this opportunity to work during the confusion. So, to arrive at her job as safely as possible, Miss Percival is escorted by her dearest friend and neighbor, Ariel.

    "Daddy's sending us more allowance, now. They moved him just across the border, so it won't come as quickly, but it's coming in bigger sums. I was thinking that if I saved up enough for a couple years, I might be able to open my bakery. What do you think?"

    "Don't hold your breath," Ariel snorted.

    "I think I could do it," Robin added somberly, "in a while. After Mom and I buy a good house and get to a stable financial position. Besides, the industry Daddy's working in is growing. He'll be doing more work and making more money...."

    "Don't get your hopes high," he warned. "You should go to school, first."

    "School? I don't think so!" she protested. "That's so much more expensive than opening my bakery. Besides, I have nothing to learn that I don't already know. Maybe you should go to school, but not me."

    "Just because you don't have the money doesn't mean you have to pretend it won't benefit you."

    "Yeah, yeah. Now, shush. I have to open. Oh wait, don't go yet. I have something for you."

    Robin lost herself in the depths of her purse for a moment and pulled out a roll of dollars. She turned them over in her hands a few times before handing them to Ariel.

    "This is for you. I know you've been having some trouble keeping up, so there's your rent for the next two months."

    He shoved it back.

    "No! Take it. I told you, Daddy's sending us more allowance to support our family. And you’re a part of it, aren't you?"