Destitute

Chapter Two

"Absolutely. I just can't afford to go to school, I have Cari and she has her funds too." Stephanie nods and messes with Cari's little curls. Cari still hid behind her mother's leg and stayed frightened by Andre.

"I-I understand. I had to stop too, obviously." Andre ended the conversation awkwardly when it revolved back to his economic status. He peered up at the menu and wanted to order damn near everything on the menu. But he would never allow himself to, so he settled on ordering a number 10 and plenty of sweet and sour sauces. The checkered tile beneath him kept his attention as they continued to move up in line.

After ordering their meals, Stephanie approached a booth and table near the children jungle gym. Andre sat on the outside, in the chair as Stephanie and Cari took the booth. He wanted to dive into his bag and eat like a wild animal but was more cautiously watching what she was doing for Cari. Her eyes fixed on setting up her small fry and milkshake onto her tray. Andre couldn't help but stare and recognize the patience she shared with her daughter. He was caught staring at her side profile as Stephanie looked up and blushed.

"You can eat, no worries."

"Thank you." He says and opens up his paper bag, beginning to eat. The taste of food satisfied his taste buds as he has not eaten all day. He barely paused to look up or care to engage in conversation. Finishing off his meal, he took every swig of his soda and placed it empty onto the table top. Without even trying his burp largely erupted around the restaurant and he quietly excused himself.

"Andre!" Cari shouted slamming her fist onto the table top. Andre was thrown off guard as he noticed the little girl screamed his name, and wore a red and uneasy chubby face. "That was super duper weak!" Cari giggled.

"Cari don't-" her mother warned as Cari began to playfully hit her chest and let out a princess like burp causing Andre to laugh at her endearment. Stephanie couldn't help but laugh either, bur she noticed Andre's smile was one in a million. Andre noticed he hadn't smiled or laughed like that in years. He was confused of why this was happing to him or why he sensed happiness around a corner. He didn't understand why Stephanie came to him or who sent her.

"Thanks Stephanie, you've been more than kind to over the past few days. I- I don't know how to tell you how appreciative I am of you." Andre couldn't face the fact that he had just been taken out to dinner by a person who actually cared to give him the time of day, attention, and had good intentions. He never met anyone like Stephanie in the two years of his homeless experience. He felt as if his heart wasn't lonely anymore because she had warmed him up in ways he didn't imagine.

"Andre stop thanking me, it's okay." She showed an innocently sweet smile and wiped Cari's cheeks clean of ketchup. Cari closed her eyes and yawned, letting Stephanie know it was getting pretty close to her bed time and that she needed to get going. Stephanie didn't know if she should show more hospitality to Andre or leave him back at the hospital where he usually stayed.

"How old is she?" Andre asks, he lowered his eyes to look at Cari's sleepy demeanor and waited for Stephanie's reply.

"She's just four, she'll be five soon."

"I can tell you do everything you can to make sure she's a good kid." Andre spoke in a monotone voice, but was truly fascinated with Stephanie's parenting skills. How articulate and caring she was to Cari, he loved that she took pride in being a great mother.

"Oh, I wouldn't trade my daughter for the world. She's everything to me." She says placing her phone and wallet into her backpack purse and standing Cari up. Andre stood with them and looked around the restaurant as it began to empty. The sound of fryers boiling down and brooms sweeping concluded the atmosphere for the night. Andre wasn't sure of what he was going to do, walk back to the hospital or ask for a ride back to the hospital.