My little Tavi

The market had less vegetables than I remembered. It's probably under the influence of the depression as well. The groceries didn't look too fresh either, but I guess I have no other choice but to deal with what I have.

I picked some apples that were not yet rotten or filled with worm holes and put them inside a plastic bag, which was tied at the opening and placed into my shopping cart. I counted the items in my cart, planning the meals for the upcoming week. Since I have to keep three creatures (Including Sam) alive, I need to pick the cheapest stuff possible. However, I still need to keep some nutrients in them since Octavia is still injured. I have to squeeze in some vitamins here and there to keep us healthy. Maybe I should get a gun and try hunting. Rumors says that with the lack of population, wild animals were starting to come back near the sub-urban. If I can manage to hunt some it could be a huge help. It will also be a great defensive tool if someone decided to try and rob my house. But when I thought about the price, I immediately realized that right now it's quite far out of reach.

I looked down on my almost-full cart. It was filled with cheap sauce and discount bread, but it should be enough for the next week. I couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought of leaving Octavia home alone with Sam, so I turned my cart and walked towards the counters to check out. Doing the math in my head, I frown at the cost. Sure I wasn't broke yet, but I was dangerously on edge, so dangerous that I almost wanted to grab the groceries and run out the door which was only a couple feet away to my right. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't sink that low. Besides, Octavia would sure get upset if she found out these food she'd been eating was stolen.

I stood there silently as I watched the cashier scanning each item, one after another. She seemed tired but mostly bored, her stony face not showing a slimmer of happiness or interest in what she was doing. It made me feel like if I just grab the goods and ran, she probably wouldn't even had bothered to try and stop me. People say that you should be dedicated to your job, but I can understand her because In fact, I was just the same, doing a job I don't care about for some cash that I desperately need.

"That would be 56.72. Cash or Debit?" Her voice sounded dry and hollow, like a rusted Christmas bell laying in this depressing city, her life washed away in the flow of time.

"Cash." I replied shortly and pulled out my wallet. I gave her three twenty dollar bills and she gave me the change. I dropped a quarter in the tip jar. She merely nodded at me to show appreciation and turned her attention to the next customer.

I walked out of the shop with my hands full of grocery bags. With some trouble I pulled out my phone and looked down at the time. It had been only about 40 minutes since I left the house. However it was autumn, and it was getting slightly dark. I didn't want to wander around the streets after dark and risk losing these food I had just bought, so I quickly started to pace towards home. Robbery had been reported around here, and I dare not lure around after dark.

Unfortunately, the odds didn't seem to be in my favor that day. Without walking more than five feet, my right hand suddenly flew upwards. Surprised, I looked at my right hand in, only to find a broken plastic handle clenched in my fist.

The plastic bag's handle had broken off, and all it's content had spilled onto the side walk. For a second I just stood there, watching my food rolling around like an idiot, and then suddenly I realized that I was really in some deep trouble. I quickly put the other bags down and took of my jacket. Using it like a bag, I started picking up everything and stuff them into the pockets. However, the street was built on a hill. Though it's not that deep, some apples had started to roll down the road.

This is bad. I kept thinking to myself as I constantly looked back at the other groceries bags. I was completely vulnerable, and anyone could grab my groceries and disappear down the alley and I wouldn't be able to do a single thing about it. I secretly prayed for that to not happen and picked up as much as I can. Worst case is that I have to give up part of the fruit that was already half way down the block and get the other bags home safe.

However, just when I had almost finished scavenging whatever was around me, I heard food steps approaching me from behind. All kinds of predictions exploded in my head, mostly about a shady man with a knife. The next second he would tell me to stand where I was and keep my hands where he can see them, or maybe he would go straight for the kill and stab me in the back. Strangely, I didn't panic much, which surprised even myself. In fact, I was considering raising my hand and surrender immediately, giving up the food. It would be hard to squeeze out more money to get another week worth of food, but at lease I would be still alive, able to look after Octavia and Sam.

But before I could make up my mind, the footsteps had stopped. I froze in place as I felt his gaze upon my back. There was nothing but dead silence. I could feel the blood in my eardrum pumping with each pulse, and my finger tips shaking slightly with fear. I stood there motionless, trying my best not to do anything rash. "Take my food, take my money, just let me go." I thought cowardly as I heard the person behind breathing in air, waiting patiently for their demand.

"Are... are you all right?"

To my great surprise, he didn't spout dead threat or nasty demands. My neck unfroze and I turned to look at the stranger.

Stand behind me was a boy around my age, perhaps younger. He was wearing a long, thick cotton jacket with a red scarf around his neck, the end hanging from the side. His eyes were fixed on me, his emotions neither threatening nor scared. He looked at me as if I was an old friend of his, warm and welcoming.

"Urg... yeah, yeah I am fine. I just dropped my groceries by accident."

"That sucks." His eyes narrowed as he looked down the slope, watching some of the apples still rolling. "Well, those are goners now."

It wasn't until then had I noticed how amusing that must had been. I was standing in the cold autumn wind with nothing but a thin shirt on, my hands full of difference groceries. There were egg plants on the ground, there were broken eggs on the side, and a couple apples were rolling down the hill like snow balls.

He chuckled and so did I. He was certainly not holding a knife or trying to take my food, he was simply another normal everyday person who just happened to pass by.

However quickly I realized that he wasn't like other people. Before I can say anything, he walked towards and bent down, starting to pick up everything else that was left on the street.

I stood there, mostly because my brain couldn't really understand what was going on. He certainly wasn't trying to rob me, my other pile of goods were just sitting there inches away, it would have been way easier to just take those and run instead of picking up what was left on the ground.

He grabbed the last couple cabbages and walk towards me, putting them gently into my jacket. He then walked towards my other pile of grocery bags and lifted them up. He then walked back to me and held out his arm, waiting.

I nudged over a bit, finally managing to stretch out my left hand without spilling what was inside my jacket. He smiled and handed over those bags over to my left hand.

"All right, you are all set!" He smiled and waved. Just like that, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction.

I stood there numb for a second, and then the very basic manners finally came back to me. I couldn't wave back to him, but I nodded and smiled as well, "Thanks so much! I really, really appreciate it."

He simply turned and waved again without another word, like it was just something that he had been doing all along. It was hard for me to imagine that such kindness still exists in the world, and meeting this... guy certainly brought some warmth into my heart, some faith back in society.

And then I realized that I didn't even know his name yet. Looking at the shadow of his back, I yelled, "Sorry, but what is your name?"

He turned around, looking a bit surprised, but quickly he grinned and yelled back, "It's Kevin Foster. You can call me Kevin."

"Very nice to meet you Kevin. You are a nice person."

He laughed, "I get that a lot. Well, I guess I will see you!" With that, he turned around the corner and was gone from sight.

I started walking home again with my hands full of food. I got the strong feeling that I will see him again, and suddenly I realized that for the first time in my life, I was smiling.