Jackie ended up falling asleep on Olivia’s couch. Sometimes Olivia didn’t want people around her in the morning, but today she was estatic about it. Jackie awoke to an unfamiliar smell of breakfast. She was the kind of girl who felt like she never needed it.

“Is that bacon?!” Jackie exclaimed.

Olivia jumped to the sound of her voice and laughed.

“Yes, indeed it is. Geez Jackie. When is the last time you had bacon?!” She asked like the girl must be starving.

“I don’t even remember. I try to sleep until noon.” Jackie explains.

“Well that’s a shame. Maybe if I could i would too though. Haha. Have to work or I’ll end up on the streets. No choice. ”

“Yeah. I realize we have different lives. But maybe that’s why we get along. You give me a different perspective Olivia. You’re half street smarts and half intellectual. I have no street smarts, am babied I admit, and still am afraid I’ll fail at college. I need a friend like you around. Your value is immeasurable. And all I have is money and loneliness still.” Jackie says as her eyes look downward.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself Jackie. You have it in you to do whatever makes you happy. Your parents are just trying to make it easier for you to do so. So just think hard about what you want and be grateful you can just go for it. Once you commit to something, you’ll gain street smarts. People will admire you. You’ll meet all kinds. That’s why I am the way I am. I have known all different people; rich and poor.”

“You always know the right thing to say. Thanks Olivia.”

“No prob Jackie. Anytime. What should we do to help Urma today though? We do have some money left to spare. Maybe we should just put it in her mailbox like we did for Stephen. We’ll let her decide what to do with it. Hopefully she prioritizes right. She seems off lately.”

“True. Sometimes all you can do is try to help and hope the person chooses to help themselves.” Jackie says.

“See Jackie. You are street smart. You just are too down on yourself. I’m going to start pointing things out to your blind eyes. Haha. Do the same for me, okay? I’m not as perfect as you perceive me to be. Sometimes I have blinders on it feels like.”

“I have your back. Haha.”

They drive to Urma’s home. It wasn’t the greatest house on the block. Clearly, she was struggling a bit more than the rest of the neighborhood. Faded paint, broken stairs, and a roof of moss stuck out like a sore thumb. Olivia wanted to pick up the abandoned looking lawn equipment and get to work.

“Gosh, this place looks awful. Is this what happens when your husband dies and you have no one left around you? So sad. I wish there was more help for people like this. It’s like I’m walking up to a blown up building with $20 to invest in fixing it. Wish I had more.”

“We’ll get more money Olivia. It’s not like your powers have disappeared. We can keep helping her. We just might have to become sneaky with how we get the money to her. If she’s home all day, she might be on the lookout to thank us. And we don’t want that attention. That’s for sure.” Jackie says in a firm tone.

“Definitely. Haha. Might be best to drop it off stealth like at night. Walk a block or two.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Well she’s not home this time. Driveway is empty. I’ll do it since she doesn’t know me. Could be nosy neighbors.”

Jackie casually walked up to the mailbox and put the envelope inside. There was a note saying: “I thought I could help you. I ran into some extra cash. Please take care of yourself and I hope this makes you burdens a little lighter. Best regards, a good Samaritan.”

“It feels nice making people’s days Olivia. Thanks to you I can be a part of it.”

“Thanks to you I can do this. I wouldn’t be able to without a friend like you either.” Olivia admits as she smiles, watching the sun try to peak through the trees.

“There’s so much darkness in the world. But if you can bring any light, it’ll illuminate the world.”

“That was deep, Olivia.”