Her stomach grumbled mightily. And she licked her lips.

“Oh how rude of me,” the crow looked at the amber colored apple, “would you like one of these delicious apples for yourself?”

“Yes please,” she anxiously shifted so her hand was held out to the crow. He dug around in his bag and pulled out a juicy, ripe apple. He acted like he was going to hand it to her, and his hand recoiled the chance for hunger’s reprieve.

“I guess this my last apple, which makes it infinitely fmore valuable to me, you know, being the last one and all. I couldn’t see the value in just giving it away.” the crow smiled and tilted his eye to look at her’s, “maybe you have something of value you’d be willing to trade for this ever so valuable apple.”

He twirled it in his hand, the sunlight reflected off it in a intoxicating manner. Lily searched her pockets but only discovered a collection of lint. “I don’t have anything,” she helt out her hands palm up. Showing the crow what she found in her pockets.

“What about that,” he pointed to the turtle necklace Lily had hanging from her neck. She clasped at it, holding the turtle within her palm.

“This is my mother’s necklace,” her fingers traced the word etched on the stomach of the turtle, “she gave it to me.”

“Well, I couldn’t trade for a special necklace your mother gave you,” the crow nudged the overstuffed mole, “we have quite a predicament don’t we Charles?”

“Yes,” he had a high pitched sleepy voice, “yes I suppose you do.”

“How can we solve a predicament this tricky?” the crow asked his mate on the river boat.

“You could always play a game of skill and chance. That way the fates decide what shall come forth.”

“Oh Charles, what a wonderful idea! We shall play a game!”

“I don’t know…” Lily was very suspicious of what was happening.

“No it’s easy. I have three cards, all you have to do is pick the right one,” the crow laid three cards down, he lifted one and showed it dramatically to her. It was a queen of hearts. “Just follow the queen,” he began to mix them up, stacking them and turning them. She followed his hand movements as he deftly went through a series of slight of hands to distract her. She was sure it was the card in the middle. He looked at her expectantly and lifted his hands away from the little table.

“Hmmm,” she thought for a moment, “that one?” she pointed at the card in the middle.

He lifted it and sure enough, it was the queen of hearts! “I won?” Lily was surprised how easy the game was.