Episode 4

Jack eased forward hoping to see a little more leg. “No, my mother was very angry with me for trading the beer for three seeds. She also wasn’t too pleased the way you took advantage of me.”

Red shook her head and waved him quiet. “But they are magical beans and you have it backwards. My grandmother was angry with me for trading so cheaply.” She smiled at Jack. She raised her leg and looked at her sandal.

Jack moved closer. “How is your grandmother? Is there any beer left?”

Red shook her head. She walked toward Jack, limping slightly on her left foot. “There’s a stone in my sandal.” She lifted her foot from the ground. “Will you take my sandal off and shake out the stone.”

Jack wiped at the sweat forming on his forehead and nodded. He knelt down and waited for her foot on his knee. He watched as she placed her sandal on his knee and pulled her skirt up a bit revealing more leg.

“You are going to need both hands.” She placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “What do you have in your pocket?”

“Nothing.” He used his fingers to push the five-dollar bill deeper into his pocket and carefully removed his hand. He wrapped his hand around her ankle and gently began removing her sandal.