An elderly lady sat upon a park bench on a sunny afternoon.  She was watching the children playing, when she realized someone had sat down next to her.  She turned to see a tall, thin, young man dressed in tattered jeans, a black t-shirt and black leather jacket.  She looked him up and down and found him also wearing black leather army boots.  In one hand, he was holding a lit cigarette, in the other, a bottle of beer.  His bleached blond hair was cut in a mohawk style and spiked high.  He had an earring in his nose.

* * * * *

He saw the look of fear flash over her face to be quickly replaced by uncertainty.  He smiled at her.

“Nice day, isn’t it?”

She smiled.  “Yes, it is.”

“You from around here?”

“I live a few blocks away.  I like to walk here on nice days and watch the children play.  The walk does my body good and the children do my heart good.”

“You remind me of my grandmother.  I sure do miss her.”

“Did something happen to her?”

“She passed away when I was ten years old.  She had cancer.  She used to make the best chocolate chip cookies and tell me the greatest stories, stories about her childhood and her life with grandpa when my dad was growing up.”

“Sounds like you and she loved each other very much.”

“Yeah.  We sure did.  I spent a lot of time with her.  So, how ’bout you?  You have grandkids?”

“No, I have one son who lives in the midwest.  He and his wife are very career minded and don’t have any children.  They’re busy.  I haven’t seen them in three years.”

“That’s too bad.  You seem like you’d make a good grandma.”

She smiled and stood up to go.

“Can I walk you home?”

“That would be kind of you, and it just so happens that I have some chocolate chip cookies that I baked yesterday.  They may not be the same as your grandma’s, but you’re welcome to have some with a glass of milk when we get there.”

He stood and offered her his arm.  She took it and they began to walk slowly.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“Sadie Thompson.  What’s yours?”

“Zach Jeffries.”

“You know Zach,  I think we were supposed to meet today.  We just might become good friends,”

“I’d like that.”