Josh’s shoulders had been lifted after telling Claudia about his parents’ accident, but at the same time, there was still a huge pain in his chest. For the last two years, he had tried so hard to forget that night. He was still haunted by the nightmares to this day.

        It was the first time he had cried about it in over a year. He had fought so hard to banish it from his mind, but the memories all came flooding back the minute he mentioned it.

        It took Josh a moment to remember where he was. He could remember the night so vividly as he told the story, it was almost like he had relived it. He had felt as if he had been in his car like that night. He could feel the cold steering wheel that he gripped onto so tightly, leaning forward as far as he could while he drove, still unable to see through the blizzard. He could remember the exact sounds he heard around him and the smell of the hospital so perfectly, that he had forgotten where he really was.

        He was in Claudia’s arms. His head was buried in her shoulder, sobbing like a baby.

        What was he doing? He was about to pull away from her, until he realized that her arms felt good around him. They were so comforting. He hadn’t been held in ages.

        Josh stopped crying, but didn’t pull away from Claudia’s embrace. He pulled her closer to feel her warmth against him, and breathed in the smell of her soft hair.

        It felt so good. He didn’t want to let go, but he knew he had to.

        Josh wiped his eyes and sniffled as he reluctantly pulled away from Claudia. His eyes remained on the ground, too embarrassed to look her in the face. He had made a fool out of himself by crying so much.

        But Claudia was so glad that he had confided in her, and even happier that he had found comfort in her embrace. She knew he was embarrassed, but she wasn’t. Not one bit.

        She reached out and grabbed onto his hand with both of hers and rubbed it soothingly. It was her way of telling him that he didn’t need to be embarrassed in front of her, and that she wasn't going to turn away from him.

        A male voice came from behind them a moment later, startling them both. “Can we, uh, use this court?”

        Claudia looked up to find a tall man standing a few feet away from her holding a basketball under his arm, with a few of his buddies waiting impatiently behind him.

        She nodded and stood up. “Yeah, go ahead.”

        Josh stood but refused to make eye contact with any of the strangers that had invaded their court.

        They walked for a few minutes in silence. Josh kicked at stones in their path; Claudia looked ahead, breathing in the cold air, waiting for Josh to be ready to talk.
        “I’m sorry about that back there. I didn’t mean to get so…upset,” Josh apologized sheepishly, still staring at the ground.

        “It's okay,” she assured him. “In fact, I think its good. Something tells me you needed that.”

        He nodded in agreement.

        “So what’s next?” Claudia asked. “Do we go our separate ways or do we…go out for breakfast?” she suggested, the idea suddenly coming to her.

        As if on cue, Josh’s stomach growled. He laughed. “I think we have our answer.”

        Claudia and Josh stuffed themselves full of pancakes and bacon and eggs until they weren’t sure if they could walk.

        The mood had been lifted significantly since Josh had told Claudia about his parents’ death. It was almost as if it had never happened. They laughed and talked as if they’d known each other for years.

        “Oh my gosh look! That girl’s underwear is hanging out!” Josh exclaimed pointing.

        “Josh! Shh! What if she hears you…eww! It’s a thong!”

        They both couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

        “Check please!” Claudia cried, laughing some more. “I don’t want to stay much longer if we’re going to have this view.”

        “Wow, that was way more than I wanted to know about that girl!”

        A few moments later, after their bill was paid, they were walking down the street continuing their interesting conversation.

        “Okay, I’ve got one,” Claudia announced. “Which is worse, throwing up on your date or your date throwing up on you?”

        “Aw man, Claude! We just ate! That’s disgusting!” Josh cried.

        “I know but that’s what makes this game interesting!”

        He considered this for a moment. “I guess I’d rather throw up on my date. If I didn’t like her I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad.”

        “Now there’s an interesting excuse to cut a date short,” Claudia laughed.

        “Well, I don’t think she would be calling back for another date after that!”
 
        They continued walking for a moment. “Okay I’ve got one,” Josh announced. “If you could buy one item off of an infomercial, what would it be?”\

        Claudia answered right away. “I’d buy that pancake maker thing! You know, you put the batter inside the pan and you close it, flip it over and then they’re done!”

        “Aw, what a load of crap,” Josh scoffed.

        “No, I bet it really works!”
 
        “Hey, would you mind stopping at the market with me? My cupboards are getting bare,” Josh said as neared the market.

        “How can you even think about food after everything we just ate?”

        He laughed. “Well, it’s better than thinking about food tonight at dinner time and not having anything to eat!”

        “I suppose I should pick up a few things myself,” she agreed.

        So instead of heading straight, they turned left to the market. A bitter cold wind whipped at them as they neared the entrance and Claudia’s heart dropped at the sight of a haggard old man in ratty, torn clothes who was begging outside of the store.

        “Please, can you spare some change, ma’am?” the man asked Claudia in a weak voice with desperation in his eyes. He was gaunt and cadaverous. His torn ragged clothes simply hung on his body.

        Josh immediately reached into his pocket to pull out a few bills.

        “Oh thank you sir,” the man said.

        “You stay right here and I’ll be back to give you all my change once I purchase a few things,” Claudia insisted.

        As they entered the store Claudia grabbed a cart with a determined look on her face.

        “A cart, huh? I thought you were only going to pick up a few things?”

        “Well, there’s been a little change of plans.”

        Claudia picked up many fruits, and mostly packaged, ready-made items as she filled up her cart. Donuts, small packages of cereal, bananas, apples, pop-tarts and lastly, she picked up a large sub from the deli. When they got into line to pay for their groceries she asked the cashier to separate her items into two bags.

        As they left, Claudia asked Josh to hold onto one of her bags while she took off her gloves and placed them into the bag in her hands. They stepped into the cold air and Claudia approached the man who still stood outside of the store.

        “Put these gloves on or your fingers will freeze off,” she insisted, handing him her gloves.

        And without another word, Claudia placed the bag of groceries at the homeless man’s feet and continued walking.

        Josh’s eyes widened in surprise, and he stared at her in shock for a few moments. Josh couldn’t believe the amazing thing she had just done.

        “You bought all of those things for him? You gave him all that food?”

        She took her other bag from his hands and shrugged. “He looked like he needed it.”

        He shook his head at her in amazement. “Now you’re making me feel bad, I only giving him a couple of dollars!”

        “I don’t like to give them money. Not to be stereotypical, but it’s possible that they might just end up spending it on booze or drugs. If I give them food at least I don’t have to wonder what they’ll do with it and I know it will help ease their hunger for a few days.”

        “Wow. You are just an angel on earth, aren’t you?”

        She smiled at him and winked. “Now you’re catching on.”

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