15. The Alley Part II

Say what you want about Jews, but they know how to throw a party, Dan thought to himself as he walked home. He found himself a part of one of those chains of "I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy" and got himself invited to a birthday party for a friend of a friend of a friend who happens to be Jewish. Not that Dan ever had anything against Jews before, but even if he did, that was a great party.

Never had he before seen so much food in one place. There was egg salad, and tuna, and salmon, and bagels and cream cheese, and crackers, and cookies, and chips, and pretzels and popcorn, and cupcakes, and fruit trays, and veggie trays, and fondue, and quiche, ice cream, and pizza, and more! It was staggering how many choices there were.

They had enough food to feed a small army, but the turn out wasn't as large as expected, so they loaded Dan's arms up with food as he hugged his new friends and said goodnight. He somehow ended up with and entire pizza, a full veggie tray, and two large bags stuffed with bagels. Dan would have to invite a couple friends over to help him eat all this before it went bad.

His mind wandering on food and how to share it, Dan failed to notice that he was strolling carelessly right into The Alley. It wasn't until he heard the murmuring voice of The Alley's only resident, that he had any idea where he was at all. By then it was too late.

"Hey! It's YOU! I remember you!" She sprinted right up to him, a sharp glare on her face. Dan froze in place, unsure how to handle this. She lunged at him, and Dan flinched, but she didn't attack. She wrapped him up in a big hug, enveloping him in a cloud of her odor. She smelled like onions and a men's locker room. "You hate that damn pigeon too! I like you."

Dan was relieved, but tried to not show it too much. "Right. Yes. The pigeon. I forgot about that."

"Haha! I chased him outta here. It's my home, and I don't stand for no assholes in my home." She patted him on the back, and smiled at him with a face that seem to be saying it's your turn to say something now.

Dan was at a loss. He was afraid to say the wrong thing. This woman was so volatile and unpredictable, there was no way of telling what might set her off. Then Dan remembered the bags of food in his hands. He needed someone to share it with, and she surely needed to eat. He held out a bag of a dozen bagels to her. He said nothing, just held it out for her.

She eyed the bag suspiciously for a moment, and sniffed the air around it.

"It's a big bag of bagels. Are you hungry?"

Something on her face shifted. He couldn't tell if it was good or bad, but his fight or flight instincts were tingling. He ignored them, and stood fast.

Slowly, and almost delicately, she reached out for the bag. She took it gently with both hands, and hugged it to her chest. Her face became a strange mixture of smile and tears. Shifting the bag into one arm, she reached out with her free hand and cupped his cheek and looked her gratitude deep into his eyes. The gesture was more intimate than any kiss Dan had ever received from any woman ever. He found his own eyes mist over slightly.

Still smiling, she nodded softly and walked away, leaving Dan reeling. So many feelings all at once. He felt like a fool for ever fearing her in the first place. He felt deeply that there is still good left in humanity, and he felt happy to be a part of that goodness. Today was a good day.