Tash looked taken aback. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry. I want you to understand.” Vovo’s voice was still quiet. “You came here to toughen up, I’d reckon. Learn discipline, earn a bit of respect. But for some of us, this was the only way out.” Vovo looked at me, and I felt my ears flush red. “Vallon knows,” he said. “I can tell he’s been without food, too.”
understandI hadn’t, I’d just always been greedy. I felt my appetite leave me.
“I’m sorry,” Tash said again. When Vovo went to correct him, he hurriedly added, “I know you don’t want me to be. But I am. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Thank you,” Vovo said primly. “And if you’re not going to eat yours, then give it to me.” Wordlessly, Tash slid over his still-full plate. Despite his purported hunger, Vovo shared it with me
