Listen here........ Now, that ain't workin', that's the way you do it

 Lily had been sick since classes started. It didn't help that all the good jobs were taken these days and she was starting at the bottom at the big named grocery store. She was the girl who brought in the shopping carts from the cold parking lot. Never in her life had she done such a meaningless job. Well, in her book.

But she stuck with it, hoping she got on at the deli soon. This felt like punishment braving the elements daily. And of course, there were always extra hours for this kind of work and she took them. She needed the money. She did her best to tell her mom and her grandmother every night when they called that things were fine.

Only, she was alone, and what she'd give anything to have someone to come home to. Even a cat.

Still, it was frigid weather. She heard it all the time, how much worse it could be. All sorts of strangers had to tell her about all the snow storms of the past. Funny, she thought of Florida when she was little, and then she was sent to stay with her grandparents. And she guessed she remembered the snow. She'd remembered Brick when they were kids. Yes, those were the best times. She wanted to go back to those times. 

But she went out on her hourly duty to chase down carts, put them in their proper place then push them into the cart carral inside.

"Are you sure you can handle that?" A voice awoke her of her past thoughts. Honestly, she hated for anyone to see her this way. She knew for certain an icicle was dripping from her nose. But when she saw it was Brick, it didn't really bother her. She kept going. It wasn't like she couldn't do it, but after all, he was the professional when it came to pushing grocery carts for the long haul. She'd watched him do it back in their hometown through the summers. Only, she wouldn't let him have at it. This was her job.

He watched with his arms crossed as if she might be doing it all wrong, but she wouldn't look. She didn't care.

"What time do you get off?" He called to her.

"Why?" She looked back at him.

"I got a little Christmas money," he said. "Thought you might like to go to that new place around the corner. I hear the steak and lobster is good."

She wasn't sure to smile or not, but she managed to say sure. She'd have to actually wear something nice, she guessed, and so would he.