>"...are you kidding?"
>I stare blankly at the homeless human, drunk off his ass, pants slightly falling, stained red hoodie and red sweatpants standing in my skin row apartment.
>He blinks his glazed over eyes, bald head and long white beard on full display.
>"Oh! There you are!" his voice is slurring and thick with drink.
>I quickly drop the grocery bag I'd been carrying and fumble into my pocket for my pocket knife. I grasp the handle as he's merely a few paces from me.
>" 'sh yoursh, boy." He's holding out a package. Bright red bow on the top. I swallow and pause. I dread what's inside the thing.
>I very slowly and gingerly reach to grab the thing, flinching away right as I grab hold of the surprisingly non-soiled wrapping.
>I glance to him a few times as he steps back, letting out a small hiccup and a smile. His face is flush and swollen. I go ahead and pull out the knife, using it to tear into the package. I prepare for the worst.
>And am let down. Not in the way you'd be let down if you were expecting a birthday party and instead got a mere card but in the way that you were expecting a few broken bones after a car crash but made it out with nothing but a few scrapes.
>And a DVD box set of the new Saturnia season. Writer commentary included.
>I flip it over a few times and glance up to a distinct lack of an AA escapee. I quickly swivel my head around a few times, there's nowhere he could really be hiding but surely he didn't just...vanish?
>I look back down to the little box and notice a card taped to the back. Unfolding it reveals some writing, swirly and fancy.
>"One good deed deserves another. Merry Christmas."
>I flip it a few times and check for signatures. No dice. I shake my head and pinch my brow.
cont one more.