The woman stepped away. She gave Audrey a wide berth as she headed south with long strides. She turned back to yell, “Will you be staying on your side of the canal then?”
“Yes, for the rest of my short life!”
Staying on this side of the canal seemed the safest course. It was fine to see and talk to a girl pushing a cart—from a distance. Maybe when she was older, Audrey would cross the canal. For now, it was there for a reason.