Winter was coming. You could actually smell it in the air. Leaves were on the ground. Snow would be falling soon. Stores were putting out decorations and playing holiday music. People were starting to be nice to each other, as if it were mandatory to take a break from being a jerk to everyone only during this time of year. As much as he loved the holidays, my dad was one of the last people to put up decorations. I had no motivation to be jolly.

Like every morning, I checked my email before going to work. One particular morning, when I logged onto my email, Katie was online in chat mode. I sent her “Hi,” not expecting anything in return, but, that day, she did actually respond.

KatieGurl: Hi. When you going home? Maybe we can take the train together.

1DrFul: I think this year I’ll stay with my dad.

KatieGurl: Oh.

Oh. What does that mean? Was she disappointed?

1DrFul: Maybe I’ll go to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen and help out.

KatieGurl: Really?

1DrFul: Yeah. I’ve been thinking about that for a while. I pass by a bunch of homeless people on the way to work all the time and I want to do something to help them.

Although it was true, that sounded like a line, even to me. It sounded as if I was trying to impress her. Which I was, to be honest.

KatieGurl: Wow. That’s really cool.

I started typing, “So, what’s going on with you?” but, before I could press Enter, she responded.

 KatieGurl: Rico’s here. Gotta go.

“Boy, that guy sure keeps her on a tight leash,” Jeff said later, when I called and shared the conversation with him. “What are you going to do?”

“Do? What can I do? It doesn’t seem to bother her.”

“No, Dude,” he said. “About the holiday. Are you going to stay there?”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess I will.”

“I’ve got a whole month off from school. Maybe I’ll come down and visit you, then.”

I said. “That’d be awesome!”