he still sleeps with a stuffed animal and forgets to brush his teeth . he hugs me tighter , swaying us both to the music . `` at first we played for sherbet lemons , but now the stakes are higher . i do not expect you to help me without any benefit . '' she stared into his eyes , and her gaze dropped down to his lips . he liked to sit away from everyone but still liked to see who was coming and going . we stopped walking and she put her hands behind herself to loosen the apron strings . 