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The man was looking at the dog at his feet. It was a shabby looking, small dog with hungry eyes, locked on the hotdog. The man smiled, and tossed a chunk at the dog which it ate in a flash. Going for a second chunk the man spotted an observer. A girl, 15 or 16 years of age, very slim who seemed even taller because of that. She was looking at the dog and smiling pleasantly. Half hidden behind a door, the girl appeared nervous, even frightened to the man. It was 8 PM in November and all he could see were dark eyes and curly brown hair. And very unfit clothing, which made his brows collide. The jacket she wore was appropriate for the midst of spring at most.

There was fear in her eyes as she turned to him and saw him frowning. He eased his face tried a smile and handed the chunk to the girl.

"You wonna try it for yourself ?"

She smiled shyly, took the piece and threw it to the dog. It followed the first one with an equivalent speed, which made her grin even wider. She stared at the hotdog in the man's hand with a look, alarmingly similar to the one on dog's face.

"Look, I don't want any of it. Do you like hotdog?"

She looked hesitantly at him, nodded and took the food from his outstretched hand. She began eating and came from behind the door she was sticking to, up till now. The man was once again shocked by the way the girl was dressed. And she did look like a skeleton with a skin upon it. He had never before seen anybody that thin. And the girl was obviously hungry. As she finished the food he pointed behind his back.

"I can get you another one if you want. Just behind the corner..."

He never had the chance to finish, because she shook her head and run deep into the nearest alley. His instinct was to pursue, to follow her in the dark street but he silenced it and continued his way home. Every night he was passing by this place after leaving work, and he knew he was going to see her again. Soon.

The next day, he was hanging around the same place, he met her before. It was even colder tonight, and the weather forecast for tomorrow was even nastier. He couldn't stop thinking if she was going to wear the same clothes as yesterday.

The girl was watching him form behind the door. He was the same man from the previous night and he was different from the others. Many men have tried to speak to her recently, but she could see in their eyes they wanted something from her. Something she was not sure what, something she was sure was wrong. They had asked questions, a lot of questions. Actually, he had asked a question as well, but it was another thing. He was tall and slim and his eyes were dark with circles around them. He seemed annoyed. And yet, he gave her his hotdog.

Now the man was standing with two hotdogs and he was looking around for something. May be he was searching for the small doggie. Or not. For somebody? He looked as if he was going to stay there all night. But she was running out of time. She looked up to the wall clock on the tall building across the street and listened to her empty stomach. It was a tasty hotdog indeed.

The man saw her coming forth and turned to face her.

"I saw you eat the hotdog with an amazing speed last night, and I was wondering if you can eat a whole one that fast too. Will you honor my curiosity?"

He saw an understanding in her eyes as she got the food from him and took a bite. She wasn't stupid. They ate in silence for a while. She began to feel more comfortable and suddenly it was not that cold anymore. The warm food filled her with more than physical comfort. The clock said she was already late, but she felt she could not go without saying a word. It would be rude. The girl looked at the man and got him staring at her eyes. His, were full of pain. In an instant he gathered himself and tried to say something but she was quicker.

"I had to go. Thanks. And, Christine... my name is Christine."

She turned away and run all the way home, never failing to see the faint smile that crossed his face as he heard her name.

The man with his half eaten hotdog lost his smile the moment she was gone. This time he had noticed her jeans with too many stitches to be fashionable and a pair of sneakers good for an inside running, not for jogging in the snow. And she was beautiful. Even dressed like that he was sure she was acknowledged by the men passing nearby. It was becoming imperative for him to get her out of the streets immediately. He knew by experience he had no chance with her but for once he made himself forget completely about his loneliness, and think only for her. For Christine. He smiled to himself. What a strange coincidence. He was going to talk to her tomorrow, no matter the consequences. How did she manage to avoid problems till now? Or did she? On that thought he felt pain and anger in his guts. How was, that he had never seen her before. She obviously lived somewhere nearby. Christine had a plain fear in her eyes even when smiling. Fear and sadness. She was not only cold and hungry. She was really unhappy. The man vow to himself he would do anything to change the situation. And he meant it.

The next evening he was waiting for her on the same place with a pizza and was looking worried. Christine liked pizza but she knew it was wrong to take food from a stranger more than once, and she had already bypassed this rule for him. He even tried to call her. Why did she tell him that? He wasn't asking for her name. All the others had asked. He did not. It was a strange feeling in her belly. And why did he look that worried tonight. Maybe he had a bad day at work. Christine knew that if that was the case he wasn't looking for her to take it on. She knew he would hide it deep the moment she stepped in his sight. And she wanted to look at him a little more before that.

The man was so focused on his thoughts, it took him a moment before he realized she had come out. He handed the pizza to her but she shook her head and stepped back.

"I can't. It is not right. I can't take anything from you again."

He looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded.

"OK. I will put it here, and you can decide if you want it or not, after I am gone. But now I must speak to you for a minute.

Quickly, she took a step back. She never liked it when they started to talk too much. He moved towards her. She wanted to run but she could not. She was petrified by his gaze as if he had turn her feet into stone blocks. He came closer, until there was only a step between them. Christine had to turn her face up to look into his menacing eyes. They were the same brown color as hers. He began to talk quietly.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you, to stay here alone in the dark? You are a pretty girl, Christine and I bet, I am not the only one to think that way. You should stay home at night and go out in daylight. Or at least, take someone with you when you get out in the dark. I" - he hesitated and for the first time looked away from her. - "I don't want anything bad to happen to you because you are too unsuspicious. I will leave you now, but please, Christine, please at least think about that. OK?"

His eyes were not menacing anymore, they were pleading. Christine nodded silently as he stepped back and disappeared into the darkness. She took in a deep breath, confused. She was terrified by the way that man had gone from nice and calm to threatening and passionate in a second. He did scared her quite a bit, but now she was convinced he did it on purpose, to get her full attention. Christine wasn't stupid though she knew not much of the world. She was told never to trust a stranger and she believed it was the right thing to do. But her instinct told her, it was safe to take the pizza from that particular stranger, and more.

He had warned her, but Christine felt his warning as halfheartedly given. It was a rebus. Now she took the pizza and started home without a look to the wall clock this time.