"I can't believe that you just did that," Shannon said as I got changed into my "real" clothes. "I mean no one ever stood up against him."

"Well, I'm used to bullies. He is like an "older" version of a school bully," I replied as I stepped out of the room. "I have been bullied and picked on for most of my life, actually."

"And you're still kind to people."

"Some people," I corrected her.

She took the shirt and the pants and placed them in a cart, before looking at me, a frown on her face. "So, what are you going to do now? How are you going to find money?"

I sat down and placed on my boots. "Guess I'll have to find work somewhere else."

"But what will you do?"

I stood up and looked at her. "Don't know. But I'll find something. Doesn't matter as long as I get the money for my mother and the bills."

She shook her head and chuckled. "I like you, Joes, and I'm jealous."

"Don't be jealous. It won't get you anywhere."

"I'm just jealous of your attitude. I'm jealous on how you look at life. You make life seem as if it is not that hard."

"If life gives you lemons, make lemonade or throw them at people. That is a rule I try to follow."

She sighed and shook her head. "I can't do that. Life is too.... uh never mind."

I shook my head and snorted as I started to walk out of the changing room. "If you say you're life is too hard, then look at mine," I said, bitterly. "Life is rougher for me than I guess those who have a house, tons of clothes, tons of stuff, and a lot of money."

"Don't you have enough to eat?"

"Well... ya sometimes... if we can't buy it, then I usually hunt during the weekends or gather up fruit or stuff."

"When it gets cold..?"

"That's when we try to eat "stored' food. We will use money for bills," I replied as I pushed on the door to go into the main area.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," she said, looking at me.

"We will see each other more often, I bet."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that this was my dad's favorite place to meet people..." I said, trailing off as I spotted Michael Ham coming toward us.

"Can I steal you before you leave?" he asked as he came up to us. He smiled at Shannon before looking at me.

"Uh... sure. Oh, my dad wanted me to tell you that 'it's time' whatever the hell that means."

He looked at me and nodded. "All right," he replied.

I turned to look at Shannon. "Thanks for being my friend. I really appreciated it," I said, holding out my hand for her to shake.

She broke out into a toothy grin as she took my hand. "Actually, thank you for teaching me that even if my problems might be big, there might be someone with bigger problems."

I smiled, looked at Michael, and nodded to show him that I was ready to go.

"Then follow me, Child," he, said mysteriously as he walked out of the restaurant.

Hopefully, I wasn't with a psycho. That'd be really bad.