"Miss Ember to you," Gavroche says primly with the air of someone who's still imitating an admired adult. "It's more respectful, see?"
Scout breathes heavily, finally removing the cigarette from his mouth to breathe fresh air. He looks exhausted.
"Lamb was the first one to grow up. Miss Ember lived the longest." Scout's voice is watery and shaky, but a little more in control than it was a moment ago. "She's in charge of all of us."
"Some of the other ones who grew up tried to be in charge instead, but kapow!" Gavroche punches his fist into his hand. "Mama Ember puts them in their place, so they get with it or get gone."
"And no one wants to get gone." Scout's eyes are hollow as he loosens his grip on his knees, staring at nothing in particular. Gavroche oozes affection for Ember, but Scout is clearly more reserved about it. "People don't like us. They think we're weird and scary. The only ones who act normal and treat us right are others like us."
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Scout breathes heavily, finally removing the cigarette from his mouth to breathe fresh air. He looks exhausted.
"Lamb was the first one to grow up. Miss Ember lived the longest." Scout's voice is watery and shaky, but a little more in control than it was a moment ago. "She's in charge of all of us."
"Some of the other ones who grew up tried to be in charge instead, but kapow!" Gavroche punches his fist into his hand. "Mama Ember puts them in their place, so they get with it or get gone."
"And no one wants to get gone." Scout's eyes are hollow as he loosens his grip on his knees, staring at nothing in particular. Gavroche oozes affection for Ember, but Scout is clearly more reserved about it. "People don't like us. They think we're weird and scary. The only ones who act normal and treat us right are others like us."