She covered a soft gasp with her hand as she saw Podo trip, but he regained his balance and she was glad that she didn't have to run out there to help him if he fell.  She didn't know what she would have done if that had happened.<br/><br/>Making her way cautiously back to the laundry basket, she kept one eye on the path and the other on what she was doing.  Which is to say that the laundry got hung rather haphazardly.  She didn't care though.  At least it was hung.<br/><br/>Melva returned the basket inside and then looked at the list of chores her mother had left before going to the village earlier in the day.  Weeding.  She hated to weed.  Because that meant she had to be outside near the fence and anyone could come by.<br/><br/>Blowing a lock of hair from her face, Melva grabbed the largest hat she owned and tied the ribbon beneath her chin, then darted outside and hoped to make quick work of the weeds in the garden before anyone, especially Podo, came back by.