Tom put on his most charming smile. “Hello Clare. I’d like to talk to Marv. May I come in?”
“Yes. I mean no. Wait.” She raised her hand. “Dad’s not home. And I may not let anybody in.”
“Will he be back soon?”
“I guess.”
“I’d like to wait for him. It’s not like I’m a stranger.”
“Yeaahhh. I guess.”
When he was less than half a step inside, Clare said, “No, sorry, but they said ’anybody’.”
He wanted to push in, but the refusal was stronger than he was.
He’d have to try again for that sweet little morsel.