Well, she’d see about a tree on the way home to get whatever Ms. Barden needed for her cake. ‘What do you need, Ms. Barden? I’ll bring it to you...if I can find it at home.’ ‘Flour and sugar mainly. And maybe a few eggs. Oh, and do you happen to have any vanilla?’ ‘I think I can rustle that up,’ Joyce answered with a little sigh. ‘Oh, and I suppose it should have some icing. Maybe you have whatever goes into that.’ ‘Yes, of course, Ms. Barden. I’ll be right over.’ ‘You might bring a recipe book. We had never talked on the phone, always in person, so this was something of a surprise. “Sure, what’s going on?”“You saw the news yesterday, right?” she asked.“Yes,” I said. I knew what news she was talking about and never even thought that she might have been one of those attacked, or worse, dead. “Are you okay?”“No, I’m scared shitless right now.”“Where are you?”“I don’t want to say over the phone, but I’m keeping on the move.”“I’d suggest my place, but I’m pretty sure it’s being. This way, while there would be one hundred twenty boys in our overall program, only twenty-four of them would be connected together, in any sort of a meaningful way."Kenny, the next extension after this one should be for girls." Joyce came up with this from out of nowhere. I didn't even understand what she meant for a minute."Girls? What about them?" There's plenty of girl orphans too, I'll bet. Why should all of this be only for boys?" Because I'm a boy. Because, when I help one of the other. Finally, Erin had her fill of teasing me, and she got into her car. With a wave and a cheerful "Merry Christmas," she drove off, leaving Alex and me behind. We waved at her receding car until we couldn't see it anymore.Without looking at me, Alex said, "Will you stay with me tonight?"I felt a lump form in my throat. I thought enough of her to not want to disappoint her, and yet at the same time I felt a slight surge of resentment at her for even asking."Alex, you know I want to..." But you.