She pictured him rolling his eyes at her and ended up rolling her own eyes at herself. Sorry, I didn’t think about that.
Blayne: Well enjoy your pizza and call or text when you get back to the hotel safe and sound
Kaylee: I will.
The cold air bit at her exposed hand, and she fumbled to pull her glove back on, promising herself she wouldn’t remove it again until she was seated inside a warm pizza place. As she walked, she kept her head down, staring at the pavement of the sidewalk. She knew it was better to look up and stare your surroundings straight in the face, but it was cold. She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but she was not scared so much, but maybe apprehensive? She’d always thought Denver was a big city, but this…it was unbelievable. Cars honking, people fast-walking down the sidewalks, sirens, construction, no one obeying the “walk-don’t walk” signals. And the homeless. So many homeless people laying or sitting on the sidewalk, in the alleyways, in the alcoves of closed businesses. Cardboard box shelters. No shelter. Worn coats, fingerless gloves. No coats or gloves or hats. It all hit too close to home. And Kaylee wanted to help them, all of them. But knowing that she couldn’t, she just tucked her head and speed-walked, following the directions on her phone. Just like everyone else surrounding her. If you can’t help, then you ignore—is that how it was?
She couldn’t accept that and knew she could help a little bit. She squared her shoulders and lifted her head. An old man in a ratted denim jacket leaned against a streetlight, shivering, a tattered foam coffee cup at his side. She slowed her walk and looked him in the eyes with a smile and a nod as she passed. The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, and he nodded back. She did this each time she saw someone like him on her route, thinking that maybe just being treated like a human being for a fleeting moment would brighten some of their days.
She reached the pizza place just as the owner flipped the “open” sign around and unlocked the door. She sat on a barstool at the counter so she could take advantage of the warmth wafting from the kitchen, and ordered a slice of pepperoni to eat there and two large pizzas to go. She pulled her notebook out and looked over her notes, adding to them as thoughts entered her mind. The smell of pepperoni, melting cheese, and baking pizza crust drifted to her, making her stomach growl in anticipation.
When the guy now working the counter finally slid a plate in front of her, the aroma was like what she thought heaven must smell like. At least the “food” part of heaven.
“Be careful, it’s hot,” the man said.
Kaylee looked at the napkin next to the plate then asked, “Do you have a fork?”
“A fork?” He folded his arms. “You aren’t from around here, are you?”
“N…no. I’m from Colorado.”
“Well, I’ll get ya’ a fork if you want, but around here we fold our slices in half and eat them like pizza was meant to be eaten.”
“Isn’t that messy?”
He laughed. “Only if the pizza is any good. That’s why we give you a big napkin.”
“Okay then.” She shoved her notebook back inside her bag and folded the large slice in half. Cheese and grease dripped out of the front of it as she lifted it to her mouth. Burning her tongue was so worth it. She savored every messy bite, stopping only to drink from the can of soda she’d ordered along with it and to talk to the guy at the counter.
“So, what brings you to New York?” he asked.
Kaylee swallowed the large bite of pizza. “A thesis project. I just needed to talk to some people who weren’t too keen on talking to me by phone.”
He nodded. “How long are you staying?”
“I leave tomorrow. It was a short trip, and I have to get back before this semester starts.” She turned to look out the windows facing the street. “I’d love to come back for a longer visit. Just with…someone else. Not by myself. And I’d prefer to stay in a better hotel,” Kaylee mumbled.
“Well,” he wiped down the counter then wiped his hands on his white apron. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the slice and maybe you can stop back by when you visit again…with someone.” He winked and smiled then moved down the counter to help a group of customers who’d just come in from the cold.
She finished her pizza with a smile on her face as she imagined walking the streets of New York with Blayne. Hand in hand. Stopping to take pictures in front of Time’s Square, the Empire State Building, the 9/11 memorial. Her heart fluttered at the thoughts.
Warmth rushed up her neck as her imaginings were interrupted by the counter guy sliding two large pizza boxes next to her. “Here’s your to-go order. You must be hungry.”
Before she could answer, he hurried off to help more customers. The lunch crowd had arrived in force.
Kaylee bundled herself back up to go out into the cold, then grabbed the pizzas and headed out the door. She retraced her earlier steps back toward the school, stopping at each homeless person she came across to offer them a slice of pizza. She knew it wasn’t much, but it was something. Like throwing starfish back into the ocean, she thought, remembering a story her grandma had told her when she was young. I can’t save all the starfish, but I can save this one.
By the time she neared the school again, the pizza was gone and kids streamed out the doors. What should I do now? She didn’t want to go back to the wretched hotel just yet—the idea of spending all evening there was not a pleasant one.
