Mouse Eggs

Kneeling on the dock this morning
I met a solemn-eyed girl.
Around three years old, I think
But I'm not a good guesser.
I smiled at her. "Did you just have breakfast?"
She didn't smile back but answered
"Mouse eggs,"
It's on the kid's menu.
Seaweed whiskers and thin sausage tail.
I start up toward the caf?.
"I think I'll have that today."
"You can't," she says "You're big."
I grin at her
She shyly pulls her hair across her eyes.
I ruffle her hair, ignoring that I hated it as a kid
Then stop in shock.
Her little finger has been chopped off
And replaced with a metal one.
I can't bring myself to touch her.